Automatic ad-hoc network of mobile devices

摘要

A process for the automatic creation of ad-hoc networks between mobile devices in emergency and evacuation events. During an emergency or an evacuation event a command centre (20) issues a special emergency warning to mobile network operators, in response to which the operators broadcast over the mobile network (10) a trigger message to the mobile devices (11-14) that they service. Receipt of the trigger message causes the mobile devices (11-14) in a given geographical area to search for their neighbours and to form groups each having a leader, subsequent communication between the group and the mobile network (10) being conducted via the leader, communications within the group being conducted for example by using Bluetooth or WiFi. In this way, both resources in the mobile network and battery power of the mobile devices are conserved.

主权项

1. A method of forming an ad-hoc network from a group of terminals among a plurality of terminals, comprising, at a terminal:
in an initial state of being configured to perform wireless communication via a base station, receiving an emergency code from the base station; reconfiguring one or more settings of the terminal in response to the emergency code; searching for other terminals in the vicinity and exchanging capability data with terminals found in the search; comparing the terminal's capability data with capability data received from the found terminals; and if indicated by the comparison:
requesting the found terminal to become leader of a group of terminals to form the ad-hoc network; andif the request is accepted, becoming a member of the group and performing wireless communication via the leader terminal instead of via the base station; wherein the reconfiguring comprises activating a second wireless function of the terminal additional to a first wireless function used for wireless communication via the base station, said second wireless function being employed in the searching, requesting and performing.