Systems and methods for implementing network gateway in catastrophe context or the like
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
- allow each of a plurality of devices of a network to communicate within a first geographic area with other devices proximate the device, each device also being capable of communicating from within the first geographic area to a second geographic area, external to the first geographic area, using an available communications service having access to the external second geographic area, wherein an entry of a device into the network includes the entering device;
measuring a signal strength of a number of other devices of the network; and
transmitting an available message via a transceiver associated with the entering device subsequent to the entry of the entering device;
allow access to the second geographic area via a primary gateway device when communications are not disrupted;
allow at least one of the devices to become a secondary gateway device when a signal from the primary gateway communication has been lost, wherein the secondary gateway device communicates from within the first geographic area to the second geographic area;
allow each of at least some of the devices to become a non-gateway device that communicates from within the first geographic area with the secondary gateway device; and
allow each non-gateway device to send data from the first geographic area to the second geographic area via the secondary gateway device using the communications service; and
wherein each device includes network policing functionality for performing handshaking and registration between devices, such network policing functionality allowing the device to communicate with another device only if such another device can be authenticated to the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system has a plurality of communications devices within a geographic area. Each device is capable of communicating from within the geographic area with any other device proximate the device, and is also capable of communicating from within the geographic area with a communications service having access to an area external to the geographic area if such communications service is operational and available to the device. At least one of the devices is a gateway device that communicates from within the geographic area with the communications service, and at least some of the devices are non-gateway devices that communicate from within the geographic area with the gateway device. Each non-gateway device communicates from within the geographic area with the area external thereto by way of the gateway device and the communications service communicated with by the gateway device.
13 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
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allow each of a plurality of devices of a network to communicate within a first geographic area with other devices proximate the device, each device also being capable of communicating from within the first geographic area to a second geographic area, external to the first geographic area, using an available communications service having access to the external second geographic area, wherein an entry of a device into the network includes the entering device; measuring a signal strength of a number of other devices of the network; and transmitting an available message via a transceiver associated with the entering device subsequent to the entry of the entering device; allow access to the second geographic area via a primary gateway device when communications are not disrupted; allow at least one of the devices to become a secondary gateway device when a signal from the primary gateway communication has been lost, wherein the secondary gateway device communicates from within the first geographic area to the second geographic area; allow each of at least some of the devices to become a non-gateway device that communicates from within the first geographic area with the secondary gateway device; and allow each non-gateway device to send data from the first geographic area to the second geographic area via the secondary gateway device using the communications service; and
wherein each device includes network policing functionality for performing handshaking and registration between devices, such network policing functionality allowing the device to communicate with another device only if such another device can be authenticated to the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
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allow each of a plurality of devices of a network to communicate within a first geographic area with other devices proximate the device, each device also being capable of communicating from within the first geographic area to a second geographic area, external to the first geographic area, using an available communications service having access to the external second geographic area, wherein an entry of a device into the network includes the entering device; measuring a signal strength of a number of other devices of the network; and transmitting an available message via a transceiver associated with the entering device subsequent to the entry of the entering device; allow access to the second geographic area via a primary gateway device when communications are not disrupted; allow at least one of the devices to become a secondary gateway device when a signal from the primary gateway communication has been lost, wherein the secondary gateway device communicates from within the first geographic area to the second geographic area; allow each of at least some of the devices to become a non-gateway device that communicates from within the first geographic area with the secondary gateway device; and allow each non-gateway device to send data from the first geographic area to the second geographic area via the secondary gateway device using the communications service; and
wherein each provided device includes network policing functionality for performing handshaking and registration between devices, such network policing functionality allowing the device to communicate with another device only if such another device can be authenticated as being within the network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to:
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allow each of a plurality of devices of a network to communicate within a first geographic area, with other devices proximate the device, each device also being capable of communicating from within the first geographic area to a second geographic area, external to the first geographic area, using an available communications service having access to the external second geographic area, wherein an entry of a device into the network includes the entering device; measuring a signal strength of a number of other devices of the network; and transmitting an available message via a transceiver associated with the entering device subsequent to the entry of the entering device; associate a central server with one of the devices; allow access to the second geographic area via a primary gateway device when communications are not disrupted; allow at least one of the devices to become a secondary gateway device when a signal from the primary gateway communication has been lost, wherein the secondary gateway device communicates from within the first geographic area to the second geographic area; and allow each non-gateway device to send from the first geographic area to the second geographic area via the secondary gateway device using the communications service, the sent data from each device being delivered to the central server and stored thereat, and then being delivered from the central server to the second geographic area by way of the secondary gateway device and the communications service; and
wherein each device includes network policing functionality for performing handshaking and registration between devices, such network policing functionality allowing the device to communicate with another device only if such another device can be authenticated to the device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification