Vehicle occupant detection and alert system

An vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

• an onboard apparatus including a controller operably connected to an occupancy sensor, and a transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present;
• a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver;
• the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising:
• receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to a first alert condition indicating a temperature in the vehicle has exceeded a predetermined upper or lower limit, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile communication device is restricted;
• and
• generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code.

A multi-passenger vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

• a occupancy sensor to determine if a occupant is present in the vehicle;
• a controller operably connected to the occupancy sensor, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present in the vehicle;
• a transceiver operably connected to the controller;
• a mobile communication device operably connected to the transceiver;
• the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising:
• receiving a signal from the controller via the transceiver indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle,
• responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated and the functionality of the mobile device is restricted;
• and
• generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein the functionality restriction is removed in response to entry of the code.

A multi-passenger vehicle occupant detection and alert system comprising:

• a plurality of vehicle passenger restraint systems, each including an occupancy sensor to determine if an occupant is present in the restraint system;
• a controller operably connected to the occupancy sensors, an environment sensor and a first transceiver, the controller generating a signal indicating that an occupant is present in one or both of the vehicle restraint systems;
• a mobile communication device operably connected to the first transceiver;
• the mobile communication device including a processor which upon execution of instructions performs the steps comprising:
• receiving a signal from the controller indicating that an occupant is in the vehicle, responsive to an alert condition, initiating a first alert mode, wherein a first notification is generated by the first transceiver and displayed on the mobile device;
• and
• generating a prompt to enter a code to acknowledge the first notification, wherein entry of the code cancels the alert mode, and failure to enter the code within a predetermined time initiates a second alert mode, wherein in the second alert mode a communication is generated to a communication device other than the mobile device.