Abstract: An exemplary method includes a monitoring system identifying a time period during which a vehicle equipped with a tracking device travels at least a threshold distance, determining that the tracking device fails to acquire a desired signal for a predetermined amount of time during the time period, and, in response to determining that the tracking device fails to acquire the desired signal, determining that the tracking device is potentially being interfered with during the time period by a signal jamming device.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a monitoring system identifying a time period during which a vehicle equipped with a tracking device travels at least a threshold distance, determining that the tracking device fails to acquire a desired signal for a predetermined amount of time during the time period, and, in response to determining that the tracking device fails to acquire the desired signal, determining that the tracking device is potentially being interfered with during the time period by a signal jamming device.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a monitoring system identifying a time period during which a vehicle equipped with a tracking device travels at least a threshold distance, determining that the tracking device fails to acquire a desired signal for a predetermined amount of time during the time period, and determining, based on the determining that the tracking device fails to acquire the desired signal for the predetermined amount of time during the time period, that the tracking device is potentially being interfered with during the time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: A device may receive a request for imaging of a particular location. The device may identify one or more sensors associated with imaging the particular location. The device may select a sensor, of the one or more sensors, for imaging the particular location. The sensor may be associated with an autonomous vehicle. The device may cause the autonomous vehicle to move the sensor to the particular location. The device may receive imaging of the particular location based on causing the autonomous vehicle to move the sensor to the particular location. The device may selectively combine the imaging of the particular location with archived other imaging of the particular location. The device may provide imaging of the particular location to fulfill the request for imaging of the particular location based on selectively combining the imaging of the particular location with archived imaging of the particular location.

Abstract: A delivery server may generate two separate security codes following a transaction between a user and a vendor, as well as a hash of the combination of the codes. The server may provide the first code to the user and the second code to the vendor, and provide the hash of a combination of the codes to both the vendor and the user. The user's vehicle may receive mapping information for the vendor's location, and may use the mapping information to autonomously navigate to an exchange station at the vendor location. At the exchange station, the vendor and vehicle may exchange security codes, and both vehicle and vendor may create a hash of the combined first code and second code, and use this to authenticate each other (by comparing this hash with the hash received from the delivery server). The vendor may then provide the goods to the vehicle, and the vehicle may automatically receive them and return them to the user.

Abstract: Provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses for aftermarket telematics. In one aspect, provided is an apparatus comprising a telematics control unit configured for consumer installation, consumer use, and the like. The apparatus can be installed in a vehicle. In another aspect, provided are systems and methods for operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a monitoring system identifying a time period during which a vehicle equipped with a tracking device travels at least a threshold distance, determining that the tracking device fails to acquire a desired signal for a predetermined amount of time during the time period, and determining, based on the determining that the tracking device fails to acquire the desired signal for the predetermined amount of time during the time period, that the tracking device is potentially being interfered with during the time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.

Abstract: A vehicle head unit may receive a request, from a user device and by the head unit, to establish communication with a control device of a vehicle. The control device may be in communication with the head unit via a vehicle communication network associated with the vehicle. The head unit may establish communication between the user device and the control device based on the received request. The head unit may forward a message between the user device and the control device based on the established communication. The message may be forwarded between the user device and the control device via the head unit.

Abstract: A device may receive a request for imaging of a particular location. The device may identify one or more sensors associated with imaging the particular location. The device may select a sensor, of the one or more sensors, for imaging the particular location. The sensor may be associated with an autonomous vehicle. The device may cause the autonomous vehicle to move the sensor to the particular location. The device may receive imaging of the particular location based on causing the autonomous vehicle to move the sensor to the particular location. The device may selectively combine the imaging of the particular location with archived other imaging of the particular location. The device may provide imaging of the particular location to fulfill the request for imaging of the particular location based on selectively combining the imaging of the particular location with archived imaging of the particular location.

Abstract: A delivery server may generate two separate security codes following a transaction between a user and a vendor, as well as a hash of the combination of the codes. The server may provide the first code to the user and the second code to the vendor, and provide the hash of a combination of the codes to both the vendor and the user. The user's vehicle may receive mapping information for the vendor's location, and may use the mapping information to autonomously navigate to an exchange station at the vendor location. At the exchange station, the vendor and vehicle may exchange security codes, and both vehicle and vendor may create a hash of the combined first code and second code, and use this to authenticate each other (by comparing this hash with the hash received from the delivery server). The vendor may then provide the goods to the vehicle, and the vehicle may automatically receive them and return them to the user.

Abstract: Upon initial boot-up, a telematics device receives a PID map in response to a PID map request. The TCU may send multiple PID map requests for different mode and PID combinations over a vehicles communication bus, and then may append each received PID map to the already-received PID maps. The multiple PID maps appended to one another form a composite bit value, or composite PID map. The composite PID map is processed according to a hash algorithm, resulting in a pseudo-VIN. Upon subsequent boot-ups of the TCU, the TCU sends the multiple PID map requests over the vehicle's bus and generates a pseudo VIN following the same steps as it did at initial boot-up. The TCU compares the currently generated pseudo-VIN to the initial pseudo VIN; if it determines a mismatch, it sends a notification to an interested third party that indicates improper usage of the TCU.

Abstract: Vehicle diagnostic tests may be performed by an owner of a vehicle on a self-serve basis. In one implementation, a method may include communicating, by a vehicle diagnostic device, with a vehicle through an OBD connector of the vehicle, to obtain diagnostic information relating to operation of the vehicle. The method may further include receiving instructions relating to the obtaining of the diagnostic information and playing, via a speaker associated with the vehicle diagnostic device, the instructions as audible instructions.

Abstract: A vehicle head unit may receive a request, from a user device and by the head unit, to establish communication with a control device of a vehicle. The control device may be in communication with the head unit via a vehicle communication network associated with the vehicle. The head unit may establish communication between the user device and the control device based on the received request. The head unit may forward a message between the user device and the control device based on the established communication. The message may be forwarded between the user device and the control device via the head unit.

Abstract: Vehicle diagnostic tests may be performed by an owner of a vehicle on a self-serve basis. In one implementation, a method may include communicating, by a vehicle diagnostic device, with a vehicle through an OBD connector of the vehicle, to obtain diagnostic information relating to operation of the vehicle. The method may further include receiving instructions relating to the obtaining of the diagnostic information and playing, via a speaker associated with the vehicle diagnostic device, the instructions as audible instructions.

Abstract: A vehicle head unit may receive a request, from a user device and by the head unit, to establish communication with a control device of a vehicle. The control device may be in communication with the head unit via a vehicle communication network associated with the vehicle. The head unit may establish communication between the user device and the control device based on the received request. The head unit may forward a message between the user device and the control device based on the established communication. The message may be forwarded between the user device and the control device via the head unit.

Abstract: A device is configured to receive vehicle information associated with a vehicle, and determine that the vehicle has been in an accident based on the vehicle information. The device is configured to generate an accident report based on determining that the vehicle has been in the accident and based on the vehicle information. The device is configured to provide the accident report for display, and to receive a confirmation that the accident report is accurate based on providing the accident report for display. The device is configured to output the accident report based on receiving the confirmation.

Abstract: A vehicle head unit may receive a request, from a user device and by the head unit, to establish communication with a control device of a vehicle. The control device may be in communication with the head unit via a vehicle communication network associated with the vehicle. The head unit may establish communication between the user device and the control device based on the received request. The head unit may forward a message between the user device and the control device based on the established communication. The message may be forwarded between the user device and the control device via the head unit.

Abstract: Upon initial boot-up, a telematics device receives a PID map in response to a PID map request. The TCU may send multiple PID map requests for different mode and PID combinations over a vehicles communication bus, and then may append each received PID map to the already-received PID maps. The multiple PID maps appended to one another form a composite bit value, or composite PID map. The composite PID map is processed according to a hash algorithm, resulting in a pseudo-VIN. Upon subsequent boot-ups of the TCU, the TCU sends the multiple PID map requests over the vehicle's bus and generates a pseudo VIN following the same steps as it did at initial boot-up. The TCU compares the currently generated pseudo-VIN to the initial pseudo VIN; if it determines a mismatch, it sends a notification to an interested third party that indicates improper usage of the TCU.

Abstract: Upon initial boot-up, a telematics device receives a PID map in response to a PID map request. The TCU may send multiple PID map requests for different mode and PID combinations over a vehicles communication bus, and then may append each received PID map to the already-received PID maps. The multiple PID maps appended to one another form a composite bit value, or composite PID map. The composite PID map is processed according to a hash algorithm, resulting in a pseudo-VIN. Upon subsequent boot-ups of the TCU, the TCU sends the multiple PID map requests over the vehicle's bus and generates a pseudo VIN following the same steps as it did at initial boot-up. The TCU compares the currently generated pseudo-VIN to the initial pseudo VIN; if it determines a mismatch, it sends a notification to an interested third party that indicates improper usage of the TCU.

Abstract: An asset's TCU, or a mobile device coupled thereto, receives and stores geographical boundary definitions to a memory. A processor uses the boundary definition to determine an initial-location boundary based on the definition and the current location of the TCU at the time it received the boundary request message. As the TCU's GPS unit generates location information, the processor retrieves the initial-location boundary definition from the memory and compares the current location from the GPS receiver to it according to an algorithm. If the processor determines that the current location of the vehicle has crossed the boundary, the processor generates an alert message, which may be an e-mail, SMS, telephonic, interne, IM, or other electronic message indicating that an asset crossed the boundary, and sends it wirelessly using a transceiver to a central computer for further processing, or directly to another device, according to a notification destination identifier.