Automated presence detector for motor vehicles

A system for recognizing the mutual proximity of two components, the system comprising:

• a first component comprising a receiver operable to receive data representative of position coordinates;
• a second component comprising a transmitter operable to transmit data representative of position coordinates associated with the second component;
• and
• a processor, wherein when the physical positions of the first and second components are in close proximity, the processor being configured to restrict user access to functionality of at least one of said first and second components.

A method for recognizing the physical proximity of a first component to a second component, wherein, based on such recognition, user access to functionality of the first component may be restricted, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining that the physical proximity of a first component to a second component is within a predetermined range;
• determining an authorized level of user access to the functionality of the first component;
• limiting user access to the functionality of the first component according to the authorized level;
• monitoring the continued proximity of the components;
• maintaining limited level of user access to the functionality of the first component;
• and
• wherein monitored proximity is no longer within the predetermined range, restoring default user access settings to the first component.