Out-of-Coverage Message Relay via Host Device Pairing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices are unable to send or receive messages when they are out of coverage area, leading to delayed communication until they re-enter the coverage zone.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a mobile device can pair with another out-of-coverage device to act as a host, allowing it to send messages on behalf of the originating device when it comes back into coverage, using short-range communication protocols like Bluetooth or ad-hoc Wi-Fi to redirect and manage messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mobile device waits for coverage area re-entry to send messages, then message delivery reliability is improved, but communication time loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where a host device receives and stores messages from a source device out of coverage, then forwards them when the source device re-enters coverage. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable delivery through the host device while eliminating time loss through asynchronous message collection and forwarding.
Solution Approach 2:
The host device performs preliminary action by collecting and storing messages from the source device before the source device re-enters coverage. This preliminary message collection ensures that when coverage is restored, messages are immediately available for transmission, resolving the time loss issue while maintaining delivery reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device uses short-range communication protocols to redirect messages, then adaptability out of coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The host device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a normal mobile device and as a message relay host. This universality allows the system to achieve adaptability out of coverage without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the host device already possesses the necessary communication and processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing the host device as an intermediary with standard mobile device capabilities, the system achieves adaptability out of coverage through protocol redirection rather than requiring complex specialized hardware. The host device's existing functionality is leveraged to bridge the coverage gap.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided that enable a mobile device when out-of-coverage and thus unable to send or receive messages to rely on other mobile devices which are also out-of-coverage as “hosts” for their outgoing messages such that when one of the hosts comes back into coverage the host mobile device (HMD) can send the outgoing messages on behalf of the originating or “source” mobile device (SMD). The system and method may comprise a pairing procedure to determine the suitability of a mobile device being an HMD according to criteria such as battery power, memory availability and whether the device is also out of coverage. When coming back into coverage, information is obtained from the data communication system to determine whether others have already sent messages that have been provided to host mobile devices.