Method of initially characterizing an occupant of a vehicle seat based on weight and seat belt tension

A method of characterizing an occupant of a vehicle seat for allowing or suppressing deployment of an inflatable restraint, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting an event indicative of vehicle entry at a beginning of a period of vehicle operation, and in response to such detection, initially characterizing the occupant of the vehicle seat based on a measure of weight applied to the vehicle seat and a measure of tension applied to a seat belt for the vehicle seat;
• subsequently characterizing the occupant of the vehicle seat during said period of vehicle operation based on the measure of weight applied to the vehicle seat;
• and
• allowing or suppressing deployment of the inflatable restraint based on (1) the initial characterization if the measure of weight applied to the vehicle seat during said period of vehicle operation is consistent with the initial characterization, and (2) the subsequent characterization if the measure of weight applied to the vehicle seat during said period of vehicle operation is inconsistent with the initial characterization.