System and method for locating a wireless communication device with respect to a vehicle

1. A method for determining a location of a vehicle access device relative to a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first communication node of the vehicle, an advertisement from the vehicle access device;

transmitting, from the first communication node, a connection request to the vehicle access device associated with the received advertisement;

establishing, at the first communication node, a connection with the vehicle access device;

determining, at the first communication node, a general location of the vehicle access device;

when the general location of the vehicle access device is less than a threshold distance:

transmitting, from the first communication node, a notification to the vehicle access device, the notification indicative of a notice to scan for high duty cycle advertisement;

transmitting, from the first communication node, a high duty cycle advertisement command to a second communication node of the vehicle in communication with the first communication node;

in response to receiving the high duty cycle advertisement command at the second communication node, transmitting a high duty cycle advertisement for a duration of time; and

receiving, at the first communication node, a signal from the vehicle access device, the signal indicative of a location of the vehicle access device relative to the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold distance is a distance from the vehicle of about five meters or less.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the duration of time for transmitting, from the second communication node, the high duty cycle advertisement is about 1.28 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, from the first and second communication nodes, signal strength indication values to the vehicle access device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication node, the second communication node, and the vehicle access device support Bluetooth Low Energy personal area network technology.

6. A system for determining a location of a vehicle access device relative to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first communication node configured to:

receive an advertisement from the vehicle access device;

transmit a connection request to the vehicle access device associated with the received advertisement;

establish a connection with the vehicle access device;

determine a general location of the vehicle access device;

when the general location of the vehicle access device is less than a threshold distance:

transmit for a period of time a notification to the vehicle access device, the notification indicative of a notice to scan for high duty cycle advertisement; and

transmit a high duty cycle advertisement command; and

a second communication node in communication with the first communication node, the second communication node configured to:

receive the high duty cycle advertisement command from the first communication node; and

transmit a high duty cycle advertisement for a duration of time;

wherein in response to transmitting the high duty cycle advertisement for the duration of time, the first communication node receives a signal from the vehicle access device, the signal indicative of a location of the vehicle access device relative to the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the threshold distance is a distance from the system of about five meters or less.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the duration of time for transmitting, from the second communication node, the high duty cycle advertisement is about 1.28 seconds.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second communication nodes each transmit signal strength indication values to the vehicle access device.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the first communication node, the second communication node, and the vehicle access device support Bluetooth Low Energy personal area network technology.

11. A method for determining a location of a vehicle access device relative to a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting, from data processing hardware associated with the vehicle access device, an advertisement to the vehicle;

receiving, at the data processing hardware, a notification from the vehicle, the notification indicative of a notice to scan for high duty cycle advertisement;

in response to the notification, scanning, at the data processing hardware, for high duty cycle advertisements;

receiving, at the data processing hardware, signal strength indication values associated with the high duty cycle advertisements;

determining, at the data processing hardware, a location of the vehicle access device with respect to the vehicle based on the received signal strength values; and

transmitting, from the data processing hardware to the vehicle, the location of the vehicle access device relative to the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving, at the data processing hardware, a connection request to connect the data processing hardware to the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal strength indication values are received from at least one node of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the high duty cycle advertisement is received for intervals having a duration of about 1.28 seconds.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle access device includes one of a smartphone, a smart watch, and a tablet computing device.

16. A vehicle access device comprising:

data processing hardware;

a screen in communication with the data processing hardware; and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:

transmit an advertisement to the vehicle;

receive a notification from a vehicle, the notification indicative of a notice to scan for high duty cycle advertisement;

in response to the notification, scan for high duty cycle advertisements;

receive signal strength indication values associated with the high duty cycle advertisements;

determine a location of the vehicle access device with respect to the vehicle based on the received signal strength values; and

transmit the location of the vehicle access device relative to the vehicle.

17. The vehicle access device of claim 16 , where the operations further include receiving a connection request to connect the data processing hardware to the vehicle.

18. The vehicle access of claim 16 , wherein the signal strength indication values are received from at least one node of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle access of claim 16 , wherein the high duty cycle advertisement is received for intervals having a duration of about 1.28 seconds.

20. The vehicle access of claim 16 , wherein the vehicle access device includes one of a smartphone, a smart watch, and a tablet computing device.