Cellphones Acting As a Mesh Network

An interesting patent has been filed by Agilent Technologies which would enable a cellphone to act in a manner not dissimilar to a wireless Mesh Network. The patent in essence allows a handset to communicate with a base station which is out of range, by hopping via another cellphone (or phones) which then transfer the calls between the station and the handset. The patent application notes that it is designed to be a method for increasing coverage areas to allow for temporary networks in case of emergencies.

One of the images supporting the application show how a handset that is outside the cellular network can "hop" a signal to a handset that is within range.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a repeater cell phone to relay data between a requesting cell phone and a base station includes (1) upon receiving a request from the requesting cell phone to communicate with the base station, appending its identifier in a list of repeater cell phones in the request, (2) transmitting the request to the base station or another repeater cell phone, (3) upon receiving the response from the base station to the request, relaying the response to the requesting cell phone, and (5) relaying data between the requesting cell phone and the base station through repeater cell phones in the list.

The patent number is US2006046645"

Posted to the site on 20th March 2006