Patent attributes
Measures for use in operating a key module (100) associated with a vehicle. A proximity of the vehicle key module to a mobile telephony device (102) associated with an authorized user of the vehicle is monitored at the vehicle key module (100). In response to the monitoring indicating that a distance between the vehicle key module and the mobile telephony device (102) has exceeded a predetermined threshold distance, the vehicle key module transmits a lack of proximity alert message to the mobile telephony device. An operational status change code associated with one or more of the vehicle and the vehicle key module (100) is received by the vehicle key module (100) from the mobile telephony device (102). On the basis of the received operational status change code, an operational status change in relation to one or more of the vehicle and the vehicle key module is initiated.