System and method for locating a portable device in different zones relative to a vehicle and with device zone indicators

A vehicle system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle and configured to transmit wireless signals;
• at least one indicator carried by the vehicle;
• and
• a controller carried by the vehicle and configured to
• wirelessly communicate with a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of wireless transmitters,
• determine a predicted zone the portable device is located in adjacent to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals and training data determined based upon a machine learning algorithm, the predicted zone being one of a plurality of different zones adjacent the vehicle having respective vehicle functions associated therewith,
• cause the at least one indicator to provide an indication that the portable device has entered the predicted zone, and
• enable the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.

A method comprising:

• transmitting wireless signals from a plurality of wireless transmitters carried by a vehicle;
• and
• at a controller carried by the vehicle,
• wirelessly communicating with a portable device moveable relative to the vehicle and configured to receive the wireless signals from the plurality of wireless transmitters,
• determining a predicted zone the portable device is located in adjacent to the vehicle based upon the received wireless signals and training data determined based upon a machine learning algorithm, the predicted zone being one of a plurality of different zones adjacent the vehicle having respective vehicle functions associated therewith,
• causing at least one indicator carried by the vehicle to provide an indication that the portable device has entered the predicted zone, and
• enabling the respective vehicle function associated with the predicted zone.