Emergency mobile routing protocol
AssigneeTelxon Corporation
InventorsBrian D. Logsdon, Nainesh P. Shah
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An emergency routing protocol within a wireless communication network. A mobile device can establish a communication link to the system backbone even when, for whatever reason, it can no longer communicate directly with a base station. The emergency routing protocol enables a distressed mobile device to communicate with the system backbone through another mobile device serving as an intermediary. The intermediary mobile device forwards information destined to/received from the distressed mobile device to its intended destination.
Claims25
An emergency routing method in a wireless communication system including a system backbone, a plurality of mobile devices, and one or more base stations coupled to the system backbone, the plurality of mobile devices being configured to move about the system and to communicate wirelessly with the system backbone by way of the one or more base stations, the emergency routing method comprising the steps of:
- (a) a first mobile device among the plurality of mobile devices attempting to communicate with the system backbone by communicating wirelessly and directly with any of the one or more base stations;
- (b) determining by the first mobile device whether the first mobile device is able to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations;
- and
- (c) in the event the first mobile device is unable to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations, the first mobile device establishing a wireless communication link with any of the one or more base stations using a second mobile device from among the plurality of mobile devices as an intermediary for communications between the first mobile device and the any of the one or more base stations.
A wireless communication system, comprising:
- a system backbone;
- a plurality of mobile devices;
- and
- one or more base stations coupled to the system backbone, the plurality of mobile devices being configured to move about the system and to communicate wirelessly with the system backbone by way of the one or more base stations,
- wherein a first mobile device among the plurality of mobile devices comprises circuitry for attempting to communicate with the system backbone by communicating wirelessly and directly with any of the one or more base stations,
- and in the event the first mobile device determines that it is unable to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations the circuitry of the first mobile device establishes a wireless communication link with any of the one or more base stations using a second mobile device from among the plurality of mobile devices which include circuitry to operate as an intermediary for communications between the first mobile device and the any of the one or more base stations.
A mobile device for use in a in a wireless communication system including a system backbone, a plurality of other mobile devices, and one or more base stations coupled to the system backbone, the plurality of other mobile devices being configured to move about the system and to communicate wirelessly with the system backbone by way of the one or more base stations, the mobile device comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
- a processor programmed to attempt to communicate with the system backbone by communicating wirelessly and directly via the RF transceiver with any of the one or more base stations, to determine whether the mobile device is able to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations, in the event the mobile device is unable to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations, for establishing a wireless communication link via the RF transceiver with any of the one or more base stations using a second mobile device from among the plurality of other mobile devices as an intermediary for communications between the mobile device and the any of the one or more base stations.
An emergency routing method in a wireless communication system including a system backbone, a plurality of mobile devices, and one or more base stations coupled to the system backbone, the plurality of mobile devices being configured to move about the system and to communicate wirelessly with the system backbone by way of the one or more base stations, the emergency routing method comprising the steps of:
- (a) a first mobile device among the plurality of mobile devices attempting to communicate with the system backbone by communicating wirelessly and directly with any of the one or more base stations;
- (b) determining by the first mobile device whether the first mobile device is able to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations;
- and
- (c) in the event the first mobile device is unable to communicate directly with any of the one or more base stations, the first mobile device multicasting a distress notice which is receivable by any of the plurality of mobile devices in communication range of the first mobile device indicating the first mobile is in need of another of the plurality of mobile devices to serve as an intermediary;
- (d) receiving a response notice from each of the plurality of mobile devices willing to serve as an intermediary in response to distress notice;
- and
- (e) selecting in accordance with predetermined criteria a second mobile device to serve as an intermediary based on the response notices received by the first mobile terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.