# US 2019/0174253 A1 · Multi-RAT Node Used for Search and Rescue > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0174253 A1 - Document ID: US20190174253A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/267,970 - Filed: 2019-02-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-07 - Assignees: Parallel Wireless, Inc. - Applicants: Parallel Wireless, Inc. - Inventors: Rajesh Kumar Mishra; Steven Paul Papa; Sridhar Donepudi; Kaitki Agarwal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190174253A1 ## CPC - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04B 7/06: at the transmitting station - H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information - H04W 16/28: using beam steering - H04W 76/50: for emergency connections - H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] - H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Systems and methods are presented for using a mobile multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) device for locating an individual, for example, in a search-and-rescue application. The multi-RAT device may permit the individual's cell phone to attach to the mobile multi-RAT device, and then may use a directional antenna to locate the individual. Various embodiments of such a device are described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for facilitating search and rescue operations, comprising: producing, at a timing source at a first multi-radio access technology (RAT) base station, a timing signal; computing, at a processor at the first multi-RAT base station, a location of the mobile device based on a response received from the mobile device at a first directional antenna coupled to the first multi-RAT base station and based on a direction and a beamwidth of the first directional antenna at a time the response is received; performing, at the processor at the first multi-RAT base station, a triangulation operation to compute the location of the mobile device based on the timing signal; collecting, at a mini-evolved packet core (EPC), a user identifier of the mobile device; authenticating, at the first multi-RAT base station using the mini-EPC, the mobile device with the user identifier at the first multi-RAT base station; providing, using a second multi-RAT base station, a backhaul connection to the first multi-RAT base station via a mesh network connection with the first multi-RAT base station; and scanning, at the first multi-RAT base station, a designated area for mobile devices using the first directional antenna to identify locations of a plurality of mobile devices within the designated area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first multi-RAT base station is mobile and is positioned based on a last known position of an individual. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising performing beamforming using the first directional antenna. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first multi-RAT base station includes a television white space (TVWS) radio access module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and the second multi-RAT base station are reconfigurable to operate on multiple operator networks. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising soliciting a global positioning method (GPS) location from the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a pre-recorded message to the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, at one of the first and the second multi-RAT base stations, performing measurement of signal strength of a plurality of radio networks at a particular location using at least two radio access technologies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the timing signal from the first multi-RAT base station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing access to communications services to rescuers on a search-and-rescue communications band. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising focusing transmit power in the direction of the first directional antenna. ### Claim 12 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for facilitating search and rescue operations, the medium including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform operations, comprising: producing a timing signal with a timing source at a first multi-radio access technology (RAT) base station for connecting with and providing network access to a mobile device; computing a location of the mobile device based on a response received from the mobile device at a first directional antenna and based on a direction and a beamwidth of the first directional antenna at a time the response is received, and performing a triangulation operation to compute the location of the mobile device based on the timing signal; collecting a user identifier of the mobile device with a mini-evolved packet core (EPC) authenticating the mobile device with the user identifier at the first multi-RAT base station; providing a backhaul connection to the first multi-RAT base station by a second multi-RAT base station via a mesh network connection with the first multi-RAT base station; and scanning a designated area for mobile devices by the first multi-RAT base station using the first directional antenna to and identifying locations of a plurality of mobile devices within the designated area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the first directional antenna is configured to perform beamforming. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station further comprises a television white space (TVWS) radio access module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the first and the second multi-RAT base station are reconfigurable to operate on multiple operator networks. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station is configured to solicit a global positioning system (GPS) location from the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station is configured to send a pre-recorded message to the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein one of the first and the second multi-RAT base station performs measurement of signal strength of a plurality of radio networks at a particular location using at least two radio access technologies. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the second multi-RAT base station is configured to obtain the timing signal from the first multi-RAT base station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station is configured to provide access to communications services to rescuers on a search-and-rescue communications band.