Systems and methods for remotely locking and unlocking vehicle accessory locks of vehicle accessories positioned on a vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle includes main doors with locks that are remotely lockable and unlockable using main door lock actuators. Vehicle includes a vehicle controller that receives a user signal from a user, first determines a main door actuation command based on the first signal, and first transmits, based on the main door actuation command, a first actuation command signal to the main door lock actuators. The system includes accessory lock actuator(s) operably coupled to the accessory lock(s), accessory lock controller(s) operably coupled to the accessory lock actuator(s), and a gateway controller operably coupled to the vehicle controller. Gateway controller second determines an accessory lock actuation command based on the first actuation command signal, and second transmits, based on the accessory lock actuation command, a gateway signal to the accessory lock controller.

A locking system for vehicles is disclosed. After the engine is turned off, the vehicle in accordance with this invention checks whether it is in a garage with limited space. If it is, it leaves the doors unlocked. If it determines that it is not in a garage with limited space, it checks if the car key is inside the car after the driver exited the car. If it is, it sets off an alarm for the driver to retrieve the key. If the car key is not inside the car, it further checks if the key is in close proximity. When it no longer detects the key in its close proximity outside the car, it automatically locks the doors.

An in-vehicle communication device includes a transmission controller configured to perform control so that a first signal is transmitted from outside and a predetermined second signal is transmitted from outside and inside, after the transmission of the first signal, and a determination unit configured to determine whether the terminal device is present outside or inside based on a first response signal that is transmitted from the terminal device after the transmission of the second signal. When the determination unit is unable to determine whether the terminal device is present outside or inside, the transmission controller is configured to perform control so that a third signal is transmitted from inside, and the determination unit is configured to determine whether the terminal device is present outside or inside based on a second response signal that is transmitted from the terminal device after the transmission of the third signal.

An inventory system, apparatus and method. The method to be used in a cooler that includes a power module provides power to the inventory system from an electric source, battery, WIFI charge, wireless charge and/or combination thereof, a computer processor coupled to the power module, a memory module coupled to the computer processor, an image capturing module coupled to the processor, a movement module coupled to the processor; wherein the movement module triggers the image capturing device to capture images of products in a cooler due to a movement.

A method is disclosed for selectively opening a second lock of a plurality of locks from a first lock of the plurality of locks using short-range communications (SRC), the method including the first lock performing steps of: receiving a first credential from a portable smart device, determining if a plurality of locks is implicated in the first credential, and when the plurality of locks is implicated by the first credential, the first lock performs steps of: unlocking, and forwarding the first credential to the second lock for determining whether to unlock.

A method is disclosed for selectively opening a second lock of a plurality of locks from a first lock of the plurality of locks using short-range communications (SRC), the method including the first lock performing steps of: receiving a first credential from a portable smart device, determining if a plurality of locks is implicated in the first credential, and when the plurality of locks is implicated by the first credential, the first lock performs steps of: unlocking, and forwarding the first credential to the second lock for determining whether to unlock.

An in-vehicle communication device includes a transmission controller configured to perform control so that a first signal is transmitted from outside and a predetermined second signal is transmitted from outside and inside, after the transmission of the first signal, and a determination unit configured to determine whether the terminal device is present outside or inside based on a first response signal that is transmitted from the terminal device after the transmission of the second signal. When the determination unit is unable to determine whether the terminal device is present outside or inside, the transmission controller is configured to perform control so that a third signal is transmitted from inside, and the determination unit is configured to determine whether the terminal device is present outside or inside based on a second response signal that is transmitted from the terminal device after the transmission of the third signal.

A wireless communication system includes: a locking and unlocking device configured to control locking and unlocking of a target, the locking and unlocking device including a device-side communication module configured to communicate a first signal having a first frequency band; and a key unit configured to command the locking and unlocking of the target by communicating with the locking and unlocking device. The key unit includes a unit-side communication module that communicates the first signal. The key unit is installed in the target such that a distance between the unit-side communication module and the device-side communication module is within a predetermined distance at which communication between the unit-side communication module and the device-side communication module is possible and that an axis of the unit-side antenna coil of the unit-side communication module is parallel to the axis of the device-side antenna coil.

An access system for a vehicle includes a first vehicle subsystem configured to control access to an interior compartment of the vehicle, an actuator mounted on the vehicle and movable between first and second positions, and a controller coupled to the actuator and configured to: detect a first actuation sequence of the actuator, the first actuation sequence corresponding to an access code; during the first actuation sequence of the actuator, provide an audible, visual, or tactile response from the vehicle, by causing activation of a vehicle system; compare the access code to an authorization code; and generate a first control signal configured to cause the first vehicle subsystem to switch between a first state and a second state when the access code corresponds to the authorization code.

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal capable of performing communication with a vehicle, and a method for controlling the same. A mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a terminal body, an antenna provided in the body, and a socket formed such that a vehicle key module is insertable, wherein the socket is located between the antenna and a printed circuit board (PCB) provided in the terminal body, such that the inserted vehicle key module is electrically connected directly to the antenna without passing through the printed circuit board.