Patent ID: 8744412

Claim:
A telematics unit for a vehicle, comprising: a network access device for communications via a wireless mobile communication network; an emergency detector; a telematics control unit responsive to an emergency detection by the detector, for controlling the network access device to initiate voice and/or telemetry communications with a call center of a telematics service provider from the vehicle through the wireless mobile communication network, a memory accessible by the telematics control unit storing vehicle identification information and an authorization code; a wireless transmitter controlled by the telematics control unit; a wireless receiver for wireless reception of a vehicle identification request message; and a system of one or more sensors for sensing location and velocity of the vehicle; wherein in response to receipt of the vehicle identification request message, the telematics control unit is configured to: determine whether or not the received vehicle identification request message contains the authorization code; and upon determining that the received vehicle identification request message contains the authorization code, cause the wireless transmitter to transmit a message containing the vehicle identification information, and wherein the telematics control unit is configured to send data regarding location and velocity of the vehicle as additional vehicle information.