Cellular Service Improvement and Extension by User Equipment

A method for enabling a wireless device to serve as a base station to at least one other wireless device in a communications network, the wireless device being configured to perform predetermined base station functions, wherein the method comprises:

• determining a condition triggering a need to provide the predetermined base station functions to the at least one other wireless device;
• notifying a network node in the communications network that the wireless device is available to provide the predetermined base station functions;
• receiving approval from the network node to provide the predetermined base station functions;
• and
• providing the predetermined base station functions to the at least one other wireless device.

A wireless device configured to serve as a base station to at least one other wireless device in a communications network, the wireless device being configured to perform predetermined base station functions, the wireless device comprising:

• a communications interface;
• processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor and the processing circuitry being in communication with the communications interface, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:
• determine a condition triggering a need to provide the predetermined base station functions to the at least one other wireless device;
• via the communications interface, notify a network node in the communications network that the wireless device is available to provide the predetermined base station functions, and receive approval from the network node to provide the predetermined base station functions;
• provide the predetermined base station functions to the at least one other wireless device in the communication network.

A method for enabling a wireless device of a plurality of wireless devices in a communications network to provide predetermined base station functions to at least one other wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices, the wireless device being configured to perform the predetermined base station functions, the method comprising:

• receiving, from at least one candidate wireless device, a notification that the at least one candidate wireless device is available to provide the predetermined base station functions;
• evaluating the at least one candidate wireless device;
• and
• based at least upon on the evaluating of the at least one candidate wireless device, approving at least one of the at least one candidate wireless device to provide the predetermined base station functions to the at least one other wireless device in the communications network.

A network node for enabling a wireless device of a plurality of wireless devices to provide predetermined base station functions to at least one other wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices in a communications network, the wireless device being configured to perform the predetermined base station functions, the network node comprising:

• a communications interface configured to communicate with one or more wireless devices:
• processing circuitry including a memory and a processor, the memory in communication with the processor, and the processing circuitry in communication with the communications interface, the memory having instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:
• receive from at least one candidate wireless device, via the communications interface, a notification that the at least one candidate wireless device is available to provide the predetermined base station functions;
• and
• evaluate the at least one candidate wireless device;
• and
• based at least upon the evaluating of the at least one candidate wireless device, approve at least one of the at least one candidate wireless device to provide the predetermined base station functions to the at least one other wireless device in the communications network.