Patent ID: 8874653
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: B60R,G06Q,G07C,H04B,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: detecting, by extension circuitry, a guest personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of one or more wireless transceivers, wherein: based on detection of the guest personal mobile communication device, monitoring, by the extension circuitry, for presence of an owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the owner personal mobile communication device having been registered to the extension circuitry as a device that is able to use the vehicle and authorize guests to use the vehicle; based on the monitoring for presence of the owner personal mobile communication device, detecting, by the extension circuitry, the owner personal mobile communication device in position to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers; based on detection of the owner personal mobile communication device, authorizing, by the extension circuitry, use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device and receiving, from the guest personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, guest vehicle settings stored by the guest personal mobile communication device, the guest vehicle settings defining preferences of the guest user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device; after authorization of use of the vehicle by the guest personal mobile communication device, detecting, by the extension circuitry, a passenger personal mobile communication device that is positioned to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, the passenger personal mobile communication device being a communication device of a passenger user who is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle; based on detection of the passenger personal mobile communication device, receiving, from the passenger personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers, passenger vehicle settings stored by the passenger personal mobile communication device, the passenger vehicle settings defining preferences of the passenger user for settings associated with use of the vehicle and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the passenger personal mobile communication device; accessing, from electronic storage, vehicle rules that define permissible settings for the vehicle, the accessed vehicle rules having been defined based on communication with the owner personal mobile communication device through at least one of the one or more wireless transceivers; evaluating, by the extension circuitry, the received guest vehicle settings and the received passenger vehicle settings with respect to the accessed vehicle rules; based on the evaluation, determining, by the extension circuitry, current vehicle settings for settings associated with use of the vehicle by the guest user and the passenger user and settings associated with communications exchanged with in-pavement vehicle detection systems by the guest personal mobile communication device and the passenger personal mobile communication device, the current vehicle settings meeting a subset of the preferences of the guest user and a subset of the preferences of the passenger user; monitoring, by the extension circuitry, for an ability to connect with the first in-pavement vehicle detection system through at least one of the one or more road contact transceivers, the first in-pavement vehicle detection system being able to simultaneously connect with multiple vehicles through road contact transceivers; based on the monitoring for the ability to communicate with the first in-pavement vehicle detection system, detecting, by the extension circuitry, the ability to communicate with the first in-pavement vehicle detection system; based on detection of the ability to communicate with the first in-pavement vehicle detection system, adding, by the extension circuitry and in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to a first ad hoc social group that includes the multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the first in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers; determining, by the extension circuitry, that the first in-pavement vehicle detection system has the first type; based on the current vehicle settings and the determination that the first in-pavement vehicle detection system has the first type, enabling, by the extension circuitry, the passenger personal mobile communication device to interact with the first ad hoc social group without revealing identifying information associated with the passenger personal mobile communication device; automatically, without user intervention, disconnecting, by the extension circuitry, from the first ad hoc social group based on the vehicle moving to a position in which the one or more road contact transceivers are outside of the predetermined distance from the first in-pavement vehicle detection system; detecting, by the extension circuitry, the ability to communicate with a second in-pavement vehicle detection system of a second type, the second in-pavement vehicle detection system being different than the first in-pavement vehicle detection system and the second type being different than the first type; based on detection of the ability to communicate with the second in-pavement vehicle detection system, adding, by the extension circuitry and in accordance with the current vehicle settings, the vehicle to a second ad hoc social group that includes multiple vehicles simultaneously connected to the second in-pavement vehicle detection system through road contact transceivers; determining, by the extension circuitry, that the second in-pavement vehicle detection system has the second type; and enabling, by the extension circuitry, the guest personal mobile communication device to interact with the second ad hoc social group based on the determination that the second in-pavement vehicle detection system has the second type.