Vehicle control apparatus

A vehicle control apparatus, comprising:

• a first communicator that has a communication range outside a vehicle, and communicates with a portable communication terminal by a predetermined first wireless communication system;
• a second communicator that has a communication range in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle, and communicates with the portable communication terminal by a second wireless communication system, which is different from the first wireless communication system;
• a first authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal with the first communicator, and authenticates a received identification information;
• a second authenticator that receives identification information from the portable communication terminal with the second communicator, and authenticates a received identification information;
• a determinator that
• determines that the portable communication terminal exists within a predetermined range outside the vehicle when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is not authenticated by the second authenticator, and
• determines that the portable communication terminal exists in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and when the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the second authenticator;
• a controller that permits or causes an electronic control device controlling an action of the vehicle to perform a predetermined action corresponding to a position of the portable communication terminal determined by the determinator;
• and
• an acquisition portion that acquires image information, which is produced by a camera-included in the portable communication terminal, through communication to be performed by the first communicator,
• wherein:
• when the determinator determines that the portable communication terminal is authenticated by the first authenticator and the portable communication terminal is not authenticated by the second authenticator,
• the determinator causes the acquisition portion to acquire the image information produced by the portable communication terminal at a time when the determinator makes determination, and
• the determinator determines based on a result of analysis performed on the image information whether the portable communication terminal exists outside the vehicle or exists in the vehicle compartment while the second authenticator does not authenticate the portable communication terminal.