US Patent 9308891 Limitations on the use of an autonomous vehicle

A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle includes determining whether a primary user is present in an autonomous vehicle, allowing use of a plurality of functions of the autonomous vehicle in response to determining that the primary user is present in the autonomous vehicle, and receiving and storing preferences input by the primary user, wherein the preferences identify a limitation on one or more of the plurality of functions of the autonomous vehicle that should be enforced during use of the autonomous vehicle if the primary user is not present in the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes limiting use of the one or more of the plurality of functions of the autonomous vehicle as specified by the preferences in response to determining that the primary user is not present in the autonomous vehicle.