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

A non-transitory computer storage medium which stores a client application comprising executable code that directs a mobile computing device to complete an installation process comprising:

• prior to completing installation of a vehicle control module within a vehicle:
• receiving input instructing the mobile computing device to initiate collection of identification information for a vehicle control module and a vehicle;
• receiving, via non-cellular direct wireless communication, a first indicator corresponding to an identifier of the vehicle control module;
• storing a representation of the identifier of the vehicle control module in memory;
• receiving, via non-cellular direct wireless communication, a second indicator corresponding to an identifier of the vehicle;
• storing a representation of the identifier of the vehicle in memory;
• and
• completing installation of the vehicle control module within the vehicle by transmitting, over a wireless network, to a remote computing system, association information configured to instruct the remote computing system to associate the identifier of the vehicle with the identifier of the vehicle control module, the association information comprising the representation of the identifier of the vehicle control module and the representation of the identifier of the vehicle.

A self-configuring vehicle control module, the vehicle control module comprising:

• one or more processors,
• a GPS chip set, the GPS chip set electronically connected with a first antenna, and in communication with the one or more processors;
• a wireless modem, the wireless modem in communication with the one or more processors, and connected to a second antenna, the wireless modem able to communicate over a cellular network;
• an accelerometer, the accelerometer in communication with the one or more processors;
• an electronic communications port configured to communicate with an on-board diagnostics unit;
• one or more controller area network (CAN) bus transceivers, the CAN bus transceivers in communication with the one or more processors and configured to communicate with a controller area network;
• and
• a data storage unit, the data storage unit in communication with the one or more processors, the data storage unit comprising non-transitory computer storage comprising code executable by the one or more processors, the executable code configured to:
• in response to detection of ignition on or vehicle start, receive, over the electronic communications port configured to communicate with the on board diagnostics unit, a vehicle identification number, the vehicle identification number able to uniquely determine a vehicle that the control module is installed in a corresponding vehicle type for the vehicle the control module is installed in and a set of particular control instructions for automating one or more vehicle functionalities within the vehicle type;
• determine that the set of particular control instructions for automating one or more vehicle functionalities within the vehicle type are not locally stored within a mapping table within the control module;
• transmitting a request, via the wireless modem, to a remote computer system, the request comprising the vehicle identification number, the request configured to inquire for configuration information for the vehicle control module, the configuration information comprising the set of particular control instructions for automating one or more vehicle functionalities within the vehicle type;
• receiving and storing, in the data storage unit, first configuration information associated with the vehicle from the remote computer system, the first configuration information comprising the set of particular control instructions configured to instruct the vehicle to perform the one or more vehicle functionalities within the vehicle type;
• and
• receiving and storing, in the data storage unit, second configuration information distinct from the first configuration information associated with the vehicle from the remote computer system, the configuration information indicating which controller area network (CAN) bus transceivers can be, for the vehicle type, selectively used to transmit the set of particular control instructions for automating one or more vehicle functionalities within the vehicle type.