Synchronous SOS messaging in a cellular network

摘要

Embodiments provide methods and systems for transmitting an emergency (SOS) message from a user (UE) to a cellular network in a highly robust and energy efficient manner. Specifically, embodiments enable the SOS message to be sent in a synchronous manner despite the asynchronous nature of the network, which significantly enhances the probability of successful reception of the SOS message by at least one base station (eNodeB) of the network. Embodiments further provide highly robust SOS message transmission and reception schemes configured to enhance the successful detection and decoding of the SOS message by at least one base station of the cellular network. In addition, embodiments enable the synchronous transmission of the SOS message to the network without requiring network attachment by the UE. This makes embodiments highly suited for emergency situations in which network coverage is affected and can enable significant and precious power savings at the UE.

主权项

1. A method for transmitting an emergency signal from a user equipment (UE) to a cellular network, comprising:
determining, by the UE, at least one of a time estimate and a frequency estimate from a non-cellular synchronization signal; and transmitting the emergency signal from the UE to the cellular network using at least one of the time estimate and the frequency estimate, wherein transmitting the emergency signal from the UE to the cellular network using the time estimate comprises:
determining a transmission time of the emergency signal based on the time estimate and a designated time period; andtransmitting the emergency signal at the transmission time, wherein the transmission time is determined to align reception of the emergency signal by the cellular network with the designated time period, wherein the designated time period corresponds to a quiet time period over associated frequency resources scheduled by the cellular network, and wherein transmission from user equipments (UEs) served by the cellular network is halted during the quiet time period.