Patent ID: 8918232

Claim:
A method of establishing short range wireless communication (SRWC) between a handheld communications device (HCD) and a vehicle telematics unit, comprising the steps of: receiving a special identifier (ID) at the HCD from a vehicle call center or a vehicle service center associated with the vehicle telematics unit (VTU), wherein the call center is configured to provide one or more backend functions to the VTU; using the special ID, wirelessly linking the VTU and the HCD to one another according to at least one SRWC protocol; then, determining at the VTU the occurrence of a cellular disconnection event; then, automatically conducting communication between the telematics unit and the HCD according to the at least one SRWC protocol as a result of the disconnection event; receiving from the HCD at the VTU via the established SRWC a command to perform at least one vehicle function; and when, following the automatic establishing SRWC step the VTU determines that the cellular disconnection event has ceased, then automatically: ceasing conducting communication via the at least one SRWC protocol; and receiving any additional commands to perform vehicle functions via cellular communication.