Managing and monitoring emergency services sector resources

A system, comprising:

• (a) a gateway corresponding to a location identification;
• and
• (b) a wireless communications device;
• (c) wherein the gateway is configured to
• (i) broadcast a beacon signal, including the location identification, upon expiration of a beacon timer of the gateway, and
• (ii) upon broadcasting the beacon signal, reset the beacon timer of the gateway based on a pre-selected maximum value;
• (d) wherein the wireless communications device is configured to,
• (i) in response to receipt of the beacon signal, attempt to register with the gateway,
• (ii) when registered with the gateway, utilize a beacon timer of the wireless communications device to control broadcasting of beacon signals,
• (iii) in response to receipt of another beacon signal which includes the location identification, reset the beacon timer of the wireless communications device based upon a randomly selected value,
• (iv) upon expiration of the beacon timer of the wireless communications device, broadcast a device beacon signal, which device beacon signal includes the location identification, and
• (v) upon broadcasting the device beacon signal, reset the beacon timer of the wireless communications device based on the pre-selected maximum value;
• (e) wherein the wireless communications device is further configured to, when registered with the gateway,
• (i) forward messages received from other wireless communications devices registered with the gateway to the gateway, and append an identification of the wireless communication device to the message;
• (ii) communicate a check-in message to the gateway, upon expiration of a check-in timer of the wireless communications device,
• (iii) upon communicating the check-in message, reset the check-in timer of the wireless communications device;
• (f) wherein the gateway is further configured to, in response to receipt of a message originated by one of the other wireless communications devices that was forwarded by the wireless communications device, communicate an acknowledgment message to the wireless communications device;
• and
• (g) wherein the wireless communications device is still further configured to, in response to receiving the acknowledgment message,
• (i) reset the check-in timer of the wireless communications device, and
• (ii) forward the acknowledgment message to the originating one of the other wireless communications devices.

A method for detecting the presence of ESS resources, comprising:

• (a) attaching an RSN to an asset;
• (b) attaching a gateway controller to a mobile vehicle;
• (c) dispatching, to an incident, the mobile vehicle;
• (d) dispatching, to an incident, the asset;
• (e) forming, at the incident, a wireless network between the RSN and the gateway controller.