Patent ID: 8718627
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: H04B,H04M,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: a primary mobile station engaging in a communication session via a radio access network (RAN), wherein said primary mobile station uses a forward link channel to receive communications from said RAN and uses a reverse link channel to transmit communications to said RAN, said primary mobile station including a long-range transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in accordance with a long-range wireless communication protocol and a short-range transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in accordance with a short-range wireless communication protocol, said primary mobile station using said longrange transceiver to communicate with said RAN over said forward and reverse link channels; in response to a degradation in quality of said communication session, said primary mobile station using said short-range transceiver to establish at least one wireless communication link with at least one secondary mobile station; and said primary mobile station continuing said communication session using said at least one secondary mobile station, wherein said primary mobile station continuing said communication session using said at least one secondary mobile station comprises said primary mobile station using said long-range transceiver to transmit reverse link communications to said RAN over said reverse link channel and said primary mobile station using said short-range transceiver to transmit said reverse link communications to said at least one secondary mobile station over said at least one wireless communication link, wherein said at least one secondary mobile station is configured to transmit said reverse link communications to said RAN.