Onboard locking device and locking system

An onboard locking device which, when a vehicle door is in a closed condition, performs wireless communication with a portable device and locks the door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, the onboard locking device comprising:

• a distance identifier configured to identify a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• a determiner configured to determine whether the distance identified by the distance identifier is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• a vehicle interior/exterior determiner configured to determine whether the portable device is inside the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device when the determiner determines that the distance is less than the predetermined distance,
• wherein, when the vehicle interior/exterior determiner determines that the portable device is not inside the vehicle, the distance identifier is configured to once again identify the distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle, and
• the onboard locking device further comprises a locker configured to lock the door when the distance, identified by the distance identifier after the vehicle interior/exterior determiner determines that the portable device is not inside the vehicle, is at least the predetermined distance, or when identification of the distance by the distance identifier fails.

A method for locking a vehicle door with an onboard locking device which performs wireless communication with a portable device and locks the door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, the method comprising:

• identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• locking the door when it is determined that the identified distance is at least the predetermined distance.

A method for locking a vehicle door with an onboard locking device which performs wireless communication with a portable device and locks the door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, the method comprising:

• identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• determining whether the portable device is inside the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device when it is determined that the identified distance is less than the predetermined distance,
• wherein, when it is determined that the portable device is not inside the vehicle, again identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle and determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• locking the door when it is determined that the portable device is not inside the vehicle and that either the identified distance is at least the predetermined distance or when identifying the distance fails.

An onboard locking device which performs wireless communication with a portable device and locks a vehicle door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, comprising:

• a lock device operable to lock and unlock the door;
• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:
• identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• locking the door when it is determined that the identified distance is at least the predetermined distance.

An onboard locking device which performs wireless communication with a portable device and locks a vehicle door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, comprising:

• a lock device operable to lock and unlock the door;
• a transmitter;
• a receiver;
• a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:
• identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• determining whether the portable device is inside the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device when it is determined that the identified distance is less than the predetermined distance,
• wherein, when it is determined that the portable device is not inside the vehicle, again identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle and determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• locking the door when it is determined that the portable device is not inside the vehicle and that either the identified distance is at least the predetermined distance or when identifying the distance fails.

A tangible computer-readable storage medium encoded with an executable computer program for enabling an onboard locking device to perform wireless communication with a portable device and lock a vehicle door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, and that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• locking the door when it is determined that the identified distance is at least the predetermined distance.

A tangible computer-readable storage medium encoded with an executable computer program for enabling an onboard locking device to perform wireless communication with a portable device and lock a vehicle door in accordance with a result of the wireless communication, and that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

• identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device;
• determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• determining whether the portable device is inside the vehicle using wireless communication with the portable device when it is determined that the identified distance is less than the predetermined distance,
• wherein, when it is determined that the portable device is not inside the vehicle, again identifying a distance of the portable device relative to the vehicle and determining whether the distance identified is at least a predetermined distance;
• and
• locking the door when it is determined that the portable device is not inside the vehicle and that either the identified distance is at least the predetermined distance or when identifying the distance fails.