Abstract: A remote control apparatus for a vehicle according to the invention includes a portable-device determination unit, and a distance determination unit. The portable-device determination unit determines whether a first portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, is present in the vehicle. The distance determination unit determines whether a distance between the user of the vehicle and the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. When the portable-device determination unit determines that the first portable device is present in the vehicle, and the distance determination unit determines that the distance between the user and the vehicle is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the remote control apparatus permits a second portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, to remotely control the vehicle function.

Abstract: When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle (10) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center (20). The center (20) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer (30) at an automobile dealer. The center (20) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center (20) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center (20).

Abstract: In an in-vehicle device which is carried on an automotive vehicle, an operation unit causes the vehicle to execute a predetermined operation in response to a remote control request from a user. A detection unit detects existence of a moving object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle or in areas surrounding the vehicle. An operation inhibition unit inhibits execution of the predetermined operation by the operation unit when existence of the moving object is detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A vehicle remote operation device of optimized fail-safe function is disclosed that directs a vehicle to execute operations in response to a remote operation request made by a user of the vehicle. The vehicle remote operation device has a fail-safe control unit that changes a fail-safe criterion in execution of the remote operation according to a distance between the user and the vehicle. Preferably, the fail-safe criterion is moderated when the distance between the user and the vehicle is short. Alternatively, instead of measuring the distance between the user and the vehicle, a Smart Entry System is used to detect a key carried by the user to determine whether the user is near the vehicle.

Abstract: A control center transmits failure information transmission request information to a vehicle. The vehicle receives the failure information transmission request information transmitted from the control center. A navigation ECU and a gateway ECU obtain failure information from each ECU in cooperation with each other. At this time, the gateway ECU determines whether a data volume of the failure information is larger than a predetermined information volume. When it is determined that the data volume of the failure information is larger than the predetermined information volume, the gateway ECU divides the failure information into plural pieces, and outputs each piece of information. Also, the ECU does not output the failure information, which is output to a network built in the vehicle, to the navigation ECU, while a failure information obtaining device is connected. Meanwhile, the control center does not receive the failure information while the failure information obtaining device is connected.