Control system and method

A method of controlling a lock mechanism associated with an aperture closure member of a vehicle;

• the method comprising:
• identifying a change in the operating state of an aperture closure member, and
• determining a location of two or more portable devices dependent on identification of the change in the operating state of the aperture closure member;
• classifying a first one of the two or more portable devices located within a target zone as a confirmed portable device;
• classifying a second one of the two or more portable devices located inside the vehicle as a qualifying portable device;
• tracking the location of the confirmed portable device and the qualifying portable device;
• and
• locking the lock mechanism dependent on a determination that the location of the confirmed portable device changes from a location inside the target zone to a location outside the target zone.

A control system comprising one or more controller for controlling a lock mechanism associated with an aperture closure member of a vehicle;

• the control system configured to:
• communicate with two or more portable devices;
• identify a change in the operating state of an aperture closure member, and
• communicate with the two or more portable devices to determine a location of the two or more portable devices dependent on identification of the change in the operating state of the aperture closure member;
• classify a first one of the two or more portable devices located within a target zone as a confirmed portable device;
• classify a second one of the two or more portable devices located inside the vehicle as a qualifying portable device;
• track the location of the confirmed portable device and the qualifying portable device;
• re-classify the qualifying portable device as another confirmed portable device dependent on a determination that the location of the qualifying portable device changes from a location inside the vehicle to a location within the target zone;
• and
• output a control signal for locking the lock mechanism dependent on a determination that the location of the confirmed portable device changes from a location inside the target zone to a location outside the target zone.