Rental/car-share vehicle access and management system and method

A network-based method for wireless remote control of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• authenticating that control hardware in the vehicle is authorized to access vehicle information and control vehicle functions, wherein the control hardware comprises (1) a processor, (2) a wireless network interface, and (3) a vehicle interface;
• interfacing the processor with a wireless network via the wireless network interface;
• interfacing the processor with a controller area network (CAN) bus of the vehicle via the vehicle interface, the vehicle interface comprising a plurality of CAN bus transceivers, wherein each CAN bus transceiver interfaces the processor with a CAN bus type of at least one vehicle type so that the plurality of CAN bus transceivers interface the processor with the CAN bus types of a plurality of different vehicle types in the aggregate;
• and
• in response to the authenticating step resulting in a determination that the control hardware is authorized to access vehicle information and control vehicle functions, the processor (1) automatically detecting an identifier for the vehicle through the vehicle interface, (2) automatically selecting a CAN bus transceiver from among the plurality of CAN bus transceivers based on the detected identifier, and (3) remotely controlling a vehicle function of the vehicle by (i) receiving data over the wireless network via the wireless network interface and (ii) communicating with the vehicle's CAN bus via the selected CAN bus transceiver based on the received data;
• and
• wherein the remotely controlled vehicle function comprises a member of the group consisting of (1) enabling/disabling a starter for the vehicle, (2) locking/unlocking a door for the vehicle, (3) flashing lights for the vehicle, (4) opening/closing a window for the vehicle, (5) opening/closing a sunroof for the vehicle, (6) sounding a horn for the vehicle, and (7) opening or unlocking a trunk for the vehicle.