Control of vehicle systems

A configuration device separate from a vehicle that is configured to configure a shortcut system for controlling at least one vehicle system of the vehicle, the configuration device comprising:

• i. an interface configured to be operated by a user to select:
• a) an action to be performed by at least one of the at least one vehicle system;
• and
• b) a trigger condition for the action;
• ii. a processor configured to generate a configuration signal for configuring the shortcut system, the configuration signal specifying:
• an action to be performed by the at least one vehicle system and a trigger condition for the action based on the action and trigger condition selected by the user at the interface;
• and
• an instruction to perform the action based on the configuration device being detected in proximity to the vehicle;
• and
• iii. an output configured to output the configuration signal.

A method of controlling at least one vehicle system of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• i. a user of the vehicle using a configuration device separate from the vehicle to select an action to be performed by the at least one vehicle system and a trigger condition for the action;
• ii. generating a configuration signal specifying the selected action and the selected trigger condition;
• iii. receiving the configuration signal at an input;
• iv. storing the action and the trigger condition specified in the received configuration signal in one or more memory modules, the one or more memory modules storing two or more specified actions to be performed by the at least one vehicle system, the two or more specified actions corresponding respectively to two or more different user-selected trigger conditions;
• v. determining that at least one of the two or more user-selected trigger conditions has been met;
• vi. operating a processor to generate at least one control signal for controlling the at least one vehicle system based on at least one of the two or more stored specified actions in response to determining that at least one of the two or more user-selected trigger conditions has been met, prioritizing the generation of control signals based on vehicle occupancy and detection of at least two specified portable communications devices in proximity to the vehicle;
• and
• vii. controlling the vehicle system based on the generated control signal.