Methods, systems and apparatus for providing notification at an automotive head unit that a wireless communication device is outside a vehicle

A computer-implemented method for providing notification that a pre-paired consumer electronics device (CED) is located outside a vehicle and for providing a location of the CED with respect to the vehicle, the computer-implemented method comprising:

• determining, at a processor that executes computer-executable instructions of a device locator module in response to a trigger event, whether the pre-paired CED is connected to a wireless communication interface of an automotive head unit (AHU) via a wireless connection;
• and
• when it is determined that the pre-paired CED is not connected to the wireless communication interface:
• providing a notification to the AHU indicating that the pre-paired CED is not connected.

A vehicle, comprising:

• an onboard computer system that is configured to communicate with a pre-paired consumer electronics device (CED), the onboard computer system, comprising:
• an automotive head unit (AHU) comprising:
• a wireless communication interface configured to establish a wireless connection with the pre-paired CED when in communication range of the pre-paired CED;
• a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions to:
• determine whether the pre-paired CED is connected to the wireless communication interface;
• and
• when it is determined that the pre-paired CED is not connected to the wireless communication interface:
• provide a notification to the AHU indicating that the pre-paired CED is not connected, and
• process positional data from a location message provided from the pre-paired CED to generate location data and provide the location data to the AHU.