Patent ID: 8427276

Claim:
A method of initiating a plurality of vehicle functions comprising the steps of: detecting when a mobile unit is within a first zone outside the vehicle by transmitting a first interrogation signal from the vehicle to the mobile unit within the first zone, transmitting a first identification signal from the mobile unit to the vehicle in response to the first interrogation signal, and matching the first identification signal to a first predetermined identifier; detecting when the mobile unit is within a second zone outside the vehicle by transmitting a second interrogation signal from the vehicle to the mobile unit within the second zone only after the step of detecting when a mobile unit is within the first zone outside the vehicle, transmitting a second identification signal from the mobile unit to the vehicle in response to the second interrogation signal, and matching the second identification signal to a second predetermined identifier, wherein the first zone encompasses the second zone; causing a first vehicle function of illuminating a light within a vehicle interior when the mobile unit is detected within the first zone; automatically terminating the first vehicle function when the mobile unit is not detected within the second zone within a predetermined time after the mobile unit is detected within the first zone; and maintaining the first vehicle function when the mobile unit is detected within the second zone; causing a second vehicle function when the mobile unit is detected within the second zone, the second vehicle function comprising at least one of causing a vehicle closure to enter an unlock-standby state, opening a vehicle closure, energizing an opener switch, and actuating a vehicle ingress/egress device.