Easy location sharing with long range radio spectrum

A system for redundant communications in a vehicle, the system comprising:

• an output device configured to output data;
• a primary network access device configured to transmit and receive first data using a first protocol;
• a long-range radio transceiver configured to transmit and receive second data over at least one radio channel;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the primary network access device and the long-range radio transceiver and configured to:
• determine an out-of-range condition in response to the primary network access device being unable to at least one of transmit or receive the first data;
• generate a transmission message to be sent via the long-range radio transceiver in response to determining the out-of-range condition;
• control the long-range radio transceiver to transmit the transmission message via the at least one radio channel in response to determining the out-of-range condition;
• and
• control the output device to output data indicating the out-of-range condition.

A method for redundant communications in a vehicle, the method comprising:

• transmitting and receiving first data via a primary network access device using a first protocol;
• determining, by an electronic control unit (ECU), an out-of-range condition in response to the primary network access device being unable to at least one of transmit or receive the first data;
• generating, by the ECU, a transmission message to be sent via a long-range radio transceiver over at least one radio channel in response to determining the out-of-range condition;
• and
• controlling, by the ECU, the long-range radio transceiver to transmit the transmission message via the at least one radio channel in response to determining the out-of-range condition.