Smart key battery power management and sensing

A vehicle control system to manage keyless entry functionality and communication of a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising:

• a wireless control module (WCM) configured to be disposed within the vehicle and detect one or more vehicle access devices (VADs) associated with the vehicle and configured to provide one or more keyless entry functions;
• a digital key control module (DKCM) in signal communication with the WCM, the DKCM configured to be disposed within the vehicle and detect one or more portable smart devices having a digital key configured to enable the portable smart device to function as a key for the vehicle,
• wherein the WCM is configured to authenticate and range the one or more VADs,
• wherein the DKCM is configured to authenticate and range the one or more portable smart devices,
• wherein the DKCM is configured to send a cyclic message to the WCM containing a list of the one or more portable smart devices detected by the DKCM,
• wherein the WCM is configured to generate and populate a Proximity Matrix that indexes the VADs detected by the WCM and the portable smart devices detected by the DKCM, and
• wherein the WCM is configured to manage the keyless entry functions of the vehicle based on the Proximity Matrix.

A vehicle control system to manage keyless entry functionality and communication of a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising:

• a wireless control module (WCM) configured to be disposed within the vehicle and control one or more keyless entry functions;
• a vehicle access device (VAD) to provide keyless entry functionality to a user, the VAD including a battery powering a wireless communication device for communicating with the WCM, wherein the VAD includes a battery saving function configured to selectively deactivate the WCD to preserve battery power when no motion of the VAD is detected for a predetermined period of time;
• a digital key control module (DKCM) in signal communication with the WCM, the DKCM configured to be disposed within the vehicle and detect one or more portable smart devices having a digital key configured to enable the portable smart device to function as a key for the vehicle;
• and
• a controller associated with the WCM, the controller having one or more processors programmed to:
• detect a presence of the VAD within a predetermined range of the vehicle;
• and
• selectively send a signal to the VAD to disable the battery saving function when the VAD is within the predetermined range of the vehicle,
• wherein the WCM is configured to authenticate and range one or more VADs,
• wherein the DKCM is configured to authenticate and range the one or more portable smart devices,
• wherein the DKCM is configured to send a cyclic message to the WCM containing a list of the one or more portable smart devices detected by the DKCM,
• wherein the WCM is configured to generate and populate a Proximity Matrix that indexes the VADs detected by the WCM and the portable smart devices detected by the DKCM, and
• wherein the WCM is configured to manage the keyless entry functions of the vehicle based on the Proximity Matrix.