SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF FACILITATING PORTABLE DEVICE COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20150282245A1
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: SCHEIM, KOBI JACOB, LAVI, NADAV
• Granted Patent: US 9,386,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for facilitating communication with a base station. The system includes a plurality of relay nodes configured to communicate wirelessly via primary communications links with the base station and transmit operational data to the base station and/or at least another of the relay nodes. At least one controller is configured to determine which of the plurality of relay nodes to place in an active state based at least partially on the operational data.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating communications with a base station, comprising:

establishing primary communications links between the base station and a plurality of relay nodes;

transmitting operational data from at least one of the plurality of relay nodes to at least one of the base station and at least another of the plurality of relay nodes;

determining which of the plurality of relay nodes to place in an active state based at least partially on the operational data; and

activating at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising establishing a secondary communication link between one of the relay nodes in the active state and a portable device.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising relaying data between the primary communications link associated with the one of the relay nodes in the active state and the secondary communications link.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting operation data comprises transmitting operational data from each of the plurality of relay nodes.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting operational data comprises sending a location of at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting operational data comprises sending a battery level of at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting operational data comprises sending a parked time for a vehicle associated with at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein transmitting operational data comprises sending radio frequency (“

RF”

) metrics of at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

9. A system for facilitating communications with a base station, comprising:

a plurality of relay nodes configured to communicate wirelessly via primary communications links with the base station and transmit operational data to at least one of the base station and at least one other of said plurality of relay nodes; and

at least one controller configured to determine which of said plurality of relay nodes to place in an active state based at least partially on the operational data.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a portable device configured to communicate wirelessly via a secondary communications link with at least one of said plurality of relay nodes in the active state.

11. The system as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of said relay nodes in the active state is configured to relay data between the primary communications link and the secondary communications link.

12. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the operational data comprises a location of at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

13. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the operational data comprises a battery level of at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

14. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the operational data comprises a parked time for a vehicle associated with at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

15. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the operational data comprises RF metrics of at least one of the plurality of relay nodes.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a battery;

a relay node electrically connected to said battery for receiving electricity from said battery, said relay node including;

at least one antenna;

at least one radio electrically connected to said at least one antenna; and

a controller in communication with said at least one radio and configured to communicate via a primary communications link with a base station and transmit operational data related to said relay node to the base station.

17. The vehicle as set forth in claim 16, wherein said controller is further configured to receive an assignment of an active state, communicate via a secondary communications link with a portable device, and relay data between the primary communications link and the secondary communications link.

18. The vehicle as set forth in claim 16, wherein the operational data comprises a location of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle as set forth in claim 16, wherein the operational data comprises a battery level said battery.

20. The vehicle as set forth in claim 16, wherein the operational data comprises a parked time for the vehicle.