Patent ID: 8594616

Claim:
A key fob configured to communicate wirelessly with a vehicle and a communication network, the key fob comprising: a first transmitter configured to communicate data directly to the vehicle to allow access of the vehicle; a first transceiver configured to access a telecommunications network; a second transceiver configured to receive data indicating that an emergency event has been detected at the vehicle; and a circuit configured to: determine whether a connection to the telecommunication network via the first transceiver can be verified; determine whether a connection to the vehicle via the second transceiver can be verified; send one or more messages to the vehicle requesting to provide an output to the vehicle indicating the absence of connection to the telecommunications network, when it is determined that the connection to the telecommunications network cannot be verified; provide an output indicating an absence of connection to the vehicle, when it is determined the connection to the vehicle cannot be verified; automatically dial a 911 operator when data received by the second transceiver indicates that an emergency event has been detected at the vehicle, when it is determined that the connection to the telecommunications network is verified and the connection to the vehicle is verified.