Patent ID: 8271050

Claim:
A method of automatic mode selection for a vehicular communications system, the method comprising: searching for a Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device; selecting a remote mode of operation responsive to detection of the Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device; and selecting a local mode of operation responsive to failure to detect the Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device; wherein selecting the local mode of operation includes activating an in-vehicle cellular communications device for cellular communications; wherein selecting the remote mode of operation includes activating in-vehicle Bluetooth™ systems to connect the Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device to the vehicle communications system to provide for cellular communications with a combination of the Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device and the vehicle communications system; and automatically selecting between activating one of the local mode of operation to provide for cellular communications and the remote mode of operation to provide for cellular communications based on the detection of the Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device and based on reception of a mobile phone network by the Bluetooth™ enabled cellular communications device.