Mobile Device Relay Service for Public Safety Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public safety responders may lose wireless network coverage when leaving their vehicles, posing a risk during emergencies, as digital vehicular repeater systems are not always available to relay communications between handheld devices and base stations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable a mobile device to determine if another device is not receiving an acceptable signal quality, activate a relay service, announce availability, receive registration, and relay communications between devices and access nodes, using network interfaces and processors to manage relay services in public safety wireless communication systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a digital vehicular repeater system is used to increase system coverage, then wireless communication coverage is improved, but the system becomes complex and requires additional infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicular mobile device is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a standard mobile communication device and a relay station. When a responder is in the vehicle, it provides normal communication services; when the responder exits, it automatically activates relay functionality to maintain coverage, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure-based repeater systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the vehicular mobile device to autonomously determine when relay service is needed based on detecting that a handheld device is outside coverage area, and automatically activate relay functionality without requiring external infrastructure or manual intervention.
2Reliability
If a relay service is activated to maintain coverage when responders leave vehicles, then connectivity reliability is improved, but additional communication protocols and coordination mechanisms increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the vehicular mobile device continuously monitors the coverage status of handheld devices and automatically activates or deactivates relay service based on real-time conditions. The system also provides feedback to the network about relay service status and handoff requirements, enabling dynamic adaptation without complex manual configuration.
3Loss of time
If automatic relay service activation is implemented, then response time to maintain coverage is improved, but the processing requirements and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the vehicular mobile device with relay service capabilities and pre-establishing communication channels. When a handheld device exits the vehicle, the relay service is already prepared and can be activated immediately, avoiding delays associated with ad-hoc setup and reducing the processing burden during critical moments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and mobile device are provided that manage a relay service in a public safety wireless communication system. When the mobile device determines one or more of: another mobile device has exited or is exiting a public safety vehicle or another first mobile device is not receiving a signal from a wide area network of acceptable signal quality, the mobile device activates a relay service. In response to activating the relay service, the mobile device announces an availability of the relay service at the mobile device, receives a registration of the another mobile device for the relay service, and, in response to receiving the registration, relays communications between the another mobile device and an access node. In another embodiment, a method is provided for negotiating a provision of a relay service among multiple mobile devices, wherein each such mobile device currently is providing a relay service.