Patent ID: 8014752

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: providing a controller and a short-range wireless communicator mounted on a vehicle, the short-range wireless communicator having a peer-to-peer communications capability; responsive to a requirement to transmit an emergency notification message, pinging by the short-range wireless communicator a long-range communication device contemporaneously within range of the peer-to-peer communications capability, the long-range communication device having a long-range communication and being physically detached from the vehicle; subsequent to the pinging, receiving a response message indicating that user authorization is required; responsive to receipt of the response message, sending by the short-range wireless communicator to the long-range communication device a request for authorization message; subsequent to a user of the long-range communication device responding in an affirmative manner to the authorization request, receiving an authorization message to co-opt the long-range communication device; and responsive to the authorization, sending an emergency notification message from the short-range wireless communicator through the co-opted long-range communication device to a specified recipient party.