Systems and methods for regulating vehicle access

1. A vehicle electronic control unit, comprising:

a first communication interface configured to provide communication with a remote server;

a second communication interface configured to connect to a user electronic device; and

a processor coupled to the first communication interface and the second communication interface and configured to:

receive via the first communication interface from the remote server an indication to provide access to use of the vehicle to a user associated with the user electronic device;

establish a connection to the user electronic device via the second communication interface; and

unlock a locking mechanism comprising the vehicle based at least in part on the indication and the establishment of communication with the user electronic device;

wherein the processor is configured to provide vehicle information to the remote server via communications sent to the user electronic device via the second communication interface based at least in part on an indication that communication with the remote server via the first communication interface has been lost.

2. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the first communication interface comprises a cellular interface.

3. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the second communication interface comprises a wireless interface.

4. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 3 , wherein the wireless interface comprises one or more of Global System for Mobile Communication (GDM), near field communication (NFC), cellular, and radiofrequency.

5. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises an access signal.

6. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 5 , wherein the server is configured to provide the access signal based at least in part on a user interaction with the server via the user electronic device.

7. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 5 , wherein the user interaction is provided via an app on the user electronic device.

8. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , further comprising a Global Position System (GPS) module coupled to the processor.

9. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a wheel lock.

10. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a steering column lock.

11. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to monitor a location of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to detect unauthorized movement of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to take a responsive action in response to detecting unauthorized movement of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle electronic control unit of claim 13 , wherein the responsive action includes activating one or both of a visual alarm and an audible alarm on the vehicle.

15. A method to control a vehicle, comprising:

receiving via a first communication interface from a remote server an indication to provide access to use of the vehicle to a user associated with a user electronic device;

establishing a connection to the user electronic device via a second communication interface; and

unlocking a locking mechanism comprising the vehicle based at least in part on the indication and the establishment of communication with the user electronic device; and

further comprising providing vehicle information to the remote server via communications sent to the user electronic device via the second communication interface based at least in part on an indication that communication with the remote server via the first communication interface has been lost.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the server is configured to provide the indication based at least in part on a user interaction with the server via the user electronic device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a wheel lock.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer instructions for:

receiving via a first communication interface from a remote server an indication to provide access to use of a vehicle to a user associated with a user electronic device;

establishing a connection to the user electronic device via a second communication interface; and

unlocking a locking mechanism comprising the vehicle based at least in part on the indication and the establishment of communication with the user electronic device and

further comprising computer instructions for providing vehicle information to the remote server via communications sent to the user electronic device via the second communication interface based at least in part on an indication that communication with the remote server via the first communication interface has been lost.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a steering column lock.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a location of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising detecting unauthorized movement of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising taking a responsive action in response to detecting unauthorized movement of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the responsive action includes activating one or both of a visual alarm and an audible alarm on the vehicle.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the server is configured to provide the indication based at least in part on a user interaction with the server via the user electronic device.

25. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a wheel lock.