Patent ID: 8538373

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of network communication modules, each network communication module from the plurality of network communication modules configured to send signals to and receive signals from a remote device via a distinct communication mode from a plurality of communication modes; and a communication control module configured to automatically determine, based on a preconfigured network priority list and an availability of at least one communication mode from the plurality of communication modes, via which network communication module from the plurality of network communication modules to send a first status signal to the remote device when the communication control module is in a default operating mode, the communication control module configured to periodically send a plurality of second status signals intended to be sent to the remote device via each communication mode from the plurality of communication modes when the communication control module is in an emergency operating mode and the communication mode is available; and an input actuator, the communication control module configured to switch from the default operating mode to the emergency operating mode in response to receiving an input signal indicating that the input actuator has been actuated.