Abstract: A vehicle may include a conductive housing surrounding an antenna and defining an aperture having a size at least equal to a wavelength of signals radiated by the antenna. A controller may be configured to orient the conductive housing to direct the aperture at a direction of travel to guide electromagnetic radiation from the antenna. The controller may orient the conductive housing in response to receiving a cooperative adaptive cruise control signal from an established platoon of vehicles.

Abstract: A system for parking a vehicle is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a vehicle including a motor, sensors, a steering system, a processor, and a memory; an autopark program operatively connected to the vehicle's steering system; a navigation program operatively connected to the vehicle and configured to determine the vehicle's speed and lane with the sensors, to evaluate the data, and in response to the evaluation, to automatically execute the autopark program.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly instruct fuel dispensation initiation over a direct wireless connection between a vehicle and a refueling truck, responsive to a wireless request made by the refueling truck, the request including a valid token and a refueling truck MAC ID with which the wireless connection is established.

Abstract: Wireless sensors are included within zones of a physical space. A memory stores feature description data. A processor, in communication with the memory and the wireless sensors, is programmed to send, to a mobile device connected to one of the wireless sensors, a subset of the feature description data applicable to one of the zones in which the mobile device is located. The processor also is programmed to receive a request to update a feature of the one of the zones based on the feature description data, and apply the setting update when the mobile device has permission. The zones of a physical space may be seating zones of a vehicle, and the wireless sensors may be included within doors to the seating zones of the vehicle. The mobile device may determine a seating zone of the vehicle in which the mobile device is located using the wireless sensors.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to transfer a newly generated encryption key for a newly paired device to the device and utilize the encryption key to create and encrypt a new virtual storage space corresponding to the device and accessible using the encryption key on a memory connected to the processor.

Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processor programed to output at a user interface a calibratable permission table based on input from a recognized system administrator. The calibratable permission table has one or more control parameters for controlling access to one or more infotainment settings via at least one occupant mobile device. The processor is further programed to, in response to the at least one occupant mobile device communicating with the processor, restrict the occupant mobile device based on the calibratable permission table.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to add time to a parking meter in response to wireles sly receiving a request to add additional time from a vehicle computer, including charging a payment method, included with the request, for the added time, the request being received in response to a notification sent by the processor to the vehicle computer a predetermined amount of time before time on the parking meter expires.

Abstract: A vehicle safe authentication system may include a vehicle safe, a vehicle camera, and a control unit programmed to receive an indication of unauthorized access at the vehicle safe and further programmed to activate the vehicle camera in response to the indication, wherein activation of the camera may include capturing at least one image.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to approve an application vehicular-system-access request based on a temporary key and device ID transmitted with the access request matching a stored temporary key and device ID pair previously stored by the processor. This can assist in ensuring that only validated devices and/or applications are requesting access to a vehicle system.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to wirelessly broadcast a message obtained from a first originating vehicle BUS or controller, following a determination that the message was on a pre-approved list for broadcast and having encrypted the message utilizing a temporary random key generated for a message session. The system may include vehicle controllers, a gateway module, and vehicle BUSSES connecting the system controllers to the gateway module. The gateway module may include a memory storing a list of pre-approved message types and corresponding source types, and a processor configured to receive a message from one of the vehicle controllers over one of the vehicle BUSSES to determine if a message type and source type of the received message matches an element of the list.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to request delivery of a queued digital message from passing vehicles in wireless communication with the processor, after determining that the vehicle is broadcasting suitable delivery characteristics that make eventual delivery of the message to an intended recipient likely to be facilitated by the vehicle acting as an intermediary carrier of the message.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to transfer a newly generated encryption key for a newly paired device to the device and utilize the encryption key to create and encrypt a new virtual storage space corresponding to the device and accessible using the encryption key on a memory connected to the processor.

Abstract: An illustrative exemplary system includes a processor configured to send a vehicle health report to a ride-sharing matching system, in response to a request from the matching system, the report confirming that a vehicle meets minimum standards specified in the request after determining that the standards are met by the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for parking a vehicle is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a vehicle including a motor, sensors, a steering system, a processor, and a memory; an autopark program operatively connected to the vehicle's steering system; a navigation program operatively connected to the vehicle and configured to determine the vehicle's speed and lane with the sensors, to evaluate the data, and in response to the evaluation, to automatically execute the autopark program.

Abstract: A vehicle computing system includes a vehicle human-machine interface (HMI) and a vehicle processor coupled to the HMI and programmed to store trip information for multiple trips including consumed fuel cost for vehicle operation in response to a trip purpose input from the HMI. The trip purpose may be a business or personal purpose, for example. A fuel queuing model based on at least two fuel prices and corresponding fuel quantities may be used to determine the consumed fuel cost associated with fuel consumed from the vehicle fuel tank. Trip information, such as date, distance traveled, origin, destination, and consumed fuel cost may be output to a display, a wirelessly connected smartphone, and/or a remote server in response to a request from the HMI.

Abstract: An infotainment system in a vehicle includes at least one processor configured to, in response to occurrence of a trigger condition defined by an invitation from a source remote from the vehicle and identifying media content and to acceptance of the invitation, select a medium carrying the media content to play the media content. The trigger condition may be a current location of the vehicle matching a specified location, a weather condition at a current location of the vehicle matching a specified weather condition, a current speed of the vehicle exceeding a specified speed, a current date matching a specified date, or a current time of day matching a specified time of day. Alternatively, the trigger condition may be a signal indicating presence of a passenger or presence of a connection with a mobile device.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to receive image data gathered by a vehicle camera, relating to a fixed environmental feature. The processor is also configured to determine a vehicle position relative to the fixed environmental feature and determine a vehicle lane-level location on a digital map, based on the vehicle position relative to the fixed environmental feature.

Abstract: A mobile device may authorize with a paired telematics control unit of a vehicle to ensure the vehicle is in a remote service mode; send a command request to the telematics control unit requesting an operation to be automatically performed by a vehicle electronic control unit in place of manual input by an assistant; and receive diagnostic data from the vehicle electronic control unit via the telematics control unit. The telematics control unit may query electronic control units of the vehicle to identify whether the vehicle is in a mode in which commands from a remote service application of a mobile device can be processed; indicate the mode to the application; and receive the command request requesting a service operation to be automatically performed by one of the electronic control units.