Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service

• US 8,693,948 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sorowar, Golam
• Application Number:
  US13/959,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20130316641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/518, 455/519, 455/67.11, 455/425, 455/501, 455/448, 455/452.1, 455/522, 455/453, 455/512, 455/437, 455/103, 455/524, 455/345, 455/517, 370/252, 370/338, 370/279, 370/293, 370/331, 370/328, 370/335, 370/332, 370/310, 370/315
• US Class Current: 455/13.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service. According to embodiments, a method for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service is provided. According to the method a first mobile cellular device is selected. An instruction is transmitted to the first mobile cellular device instructing the first mobile cellular device. The instruction causes the first mobile cellular device to relay communications between the second mobile cellular device and the cellular service provider. The first mobile cellular device thereby provides the repeating function for the second mobile cellular device.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service of a cellular device, the method comprising:

identifying an insufficient signal between the cellular device and a base station communicatively coupled to the cellular device, wherein identifying the insufficient signal between the cellular device and the base station is based on quality degradation of a connection between the cellular device and the base station;

determining a plurality of repeater candidates, the plurality of repeater candidates comprising a plurality of other cellular devices configured to resolve the insufficient signal by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station, wherein determining the plurality of repeater candidates comprises

determining a first set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the first set of repeater candidates comprising a first set of cellular devices that request to be repeaters,

determining a second set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the second set of repeater candidates comprising a second set of cellular devices that indicate availability to serve as repeaters in response to a poll, and

determining a third set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the third set of repeater candidates comprising a third set of cellular devices that are within a predetermined distance from the cellular device, have sufficient signal strength to the base station, and have capacity to serve as repeaters;

ranking the plurality of repeater candidates, wherein ranking the plurality of repeater candidates comprises ranking the plurality of repeater candidates based on a distance of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the cellular device, a signal strength of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the base station, and available capacity of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to serve as repeaters, each of the plurality of repeater candidates associated with one of a plurality of ranks;

selecting a highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates; and

configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a repeater between the cellular device and the base station.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the repeater resolves the insufficient signal;

responsive to determining that the repeater does not resolve the insufficient signal, selecting a next highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates; and

configuring the next highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a second repeater, in place of the repeater, between the cellular device and the base station.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the insufficient signal no longer exists between the cellular device and the base station; and

responsive to determining that the insufficient signal no longer exists between the cellular device and the base station, configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to terminate serving as the repeater between the cellular device and the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as the repeater between the cellular device and the base station comprises transmitting an instruction to the highest ranked repeater candidate, the instruction causing the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as the repeater by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the quality degradation comprises degradation based on bandwidth, signal power, signal-to-noise ratio, jitter, latency and delay, data loss, and interference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the highest ranked repeater candidate comprises a first repeater candidate and a second repeater candidate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of repeater candidates further comprises determining a fourth set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the fourth set of repeater candidates comprising a fourth set of cellular devices selected based on a user preference.

8. A system for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service of a cellular device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

identifying an insufficient signal between the cellular device and a base station communicatively coupled to the cellular device, wherein identifying the insufficient signal between the cellular device and the base station is based on quality degradation of a connection between the cellular device and the base station,

determining a plurality of repeater candidates, the plurality of repeater candidates comprising a plurality of other cellular devices configured to resolve the insufficient signal by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station, wherein determining the plurality of repeater candidates comprises

determining a first set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the first set of repeater candidates comprising a first set of cellular devices that request to be repeaters,

determining a second set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the second set of repeater candidates comprising a second set of cellular devices that indicate availability to serve as repeaters in response to a poll, and

determining a third set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the third set of repeater candidates comprising a third set of cellular devices that are within a predetermined distance from the cellular device, have sufficient signal strength to the base station, and have capacity to serve as repeaters,

ranking the plurality of repeater candidates, wherein ranking the plurality of repeater candidates comprises ranking the plurality of repeater candidates based on a distance of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the cellular device, a signal strength of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the base station, and available capacity of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to serve as repeaters, each of the plurality of repeater candidates associated with one of a plurality of ranks,

selecting a highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates, and

configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a repeater between the cellular device and the base station.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining whether the repeater resolves the insufficient signal;

responsive to determining that the repeater does not resolve the insufficient signal, selecting a next highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates; and

configuring the next highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a second repeater, in place of the repeater, between the cellular device and the base station.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:

determining whether the insufficient signal no longer exists between the cellular device and the base station; and

responsive to determining that the insufficient signal no longer exists between the cellular device and the base station, configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to terminate serving as the repeater between the cellular device and the base station.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as the repeater between the cellular device and the base station comprises transmitting an instruction to the highest ranked repeater candidate, the instruction causing the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as the repeater by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the quality degradation comprises degradation based on bandwidth, signal power, signal-to-noise ratio, jitter, latency and delay, data loss, and interference.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the highest ranked repeater candidate comprises a first repeater candidate and a second repeater candidate.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein determining the plurality of repeater candidates further comprises determining a fourth set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the fourth set of repeater candidates comprising a fourth set of cellular devices selected based on a user preference.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying an insufficient signal between the cellular device and a base station communicatively coupled to the cellular device, wherein identifying the insufficient signal between the cellular device and the base station is based on quality degradation of a connection between the cellular device and the base station;

determining a plurality of repeater candidates, the plurality of repeater candidates comprising a plurality of other cellular devices configured to resolve the insufficient signal by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station, wherein determining the plurality of repeater candidates comprises;

determining a first set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the first set of repeater candidates comprising a first set of cellular devices that request to be repeaters,

determining a second set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the second set of repeater candidates comprising a second set of cellular devices that indicate availability to serve as repeaters in response to a poll, and

determining a third set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the third set of repeater candidates comprising a third set of cellular devices that are within a predetermined distance from the cellular device, have sufficient signal strength to the base station, and have capacity to serve as repeaters;

ranking the plurality of repeater candidates, wherein ranking the plurality of repeater candidates comprises ranking the plurality of repeater candidates based on a distance of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the cellular device, a signal strength of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the base station, and available capacity of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to serve as repeaters, each of the plurality of repeater candidates associated with one of a plurality of ranks;

selecting a highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates; and

configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a repeater between the cellular device and the base station.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the repeater resolves the insufficient signal;

responsive to determining that the repeater does not resolve the insufficient signal, selecting a next highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates; and

configuring the next highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a second repeater, in place of the repeater, between the cellular device and the base station.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the insufficient signal no longer exists between the cellular device and the base station; and

responsive to determining that the insufficient signal no longer exists between the cellular device and the base station, configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to terminate serving as the repeater between the cellular device and the base station.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as the repeater between the cellular device and the base station comprises transmitting an instruction to the highest ranked repeater candidate, the instruction causing the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as the repeater by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the quality degradation comprises degradation based on bandwidth, signal power, signal-to-noise ratio, jitter, latency and delay, data loss, and interference.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the highest ranked repeater candidate comprises a first repeater candidate and a second repeater candidate.