Patent ID: 8812065

Claim:
A system for locating a personal communication device (PCD) in a vehicle, the system comprising: a controller for being operably coupled to a first antenna positioned in a driver zone of the vehicle and a second antenna positioned in a passenger zone of the vehicle, the controller being configured to: receive a first signal from the PCD at the first antenna; measure a signal strength of the first signal received at the first antenna to generate a first signal strength value; receive the first signal from the PCD at the second antenna; measure a signal strength of the first signal received at the second antenna to generate a second signal strength value; determine whether the first signal at the first antenna and the first signal at the second antenna are received within a predetermined amount of time from one another; compare the first signal strength value to the second signal strength value responsive to the first signal at the first antenna and the first signal at the second antenna being received within the predetermined amount of time; determine that the PCD is in the driver zone in response to the first signal strength value being greater than the second signal strength value by a predetermined value; receive an occupant status signal indicative of whether a passenger is positioned in a front passenger seat; and determine that the PCD is located in the driver zone irrespective of the PCD being physically positioned in the passenger zone in the event the occupant status signal indicates that the passenger is not positioned in the front passenger seat.