Patent ID: 8208891

Claim:
A transmitting device comprising: a memory comprising computer instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor when executing the computer instructions is configured to: identify characteristics indicative of an occurrence of an emergency event; transmit information related to the occurrence of the emergency event via device-to-device communication with at least one of a plurality of devices when the transmitting device and the at least one of the plurality of devices are out of range of a communications network; generate a report message comprising the transmitted information; evaluate first device characteristics associated with the transmitting device and second device characteristics associated with the at least one of a plurality of devices via device-to-device communication with the at least one of a plurality of devices, the first and second device characteristics comprising at least one of respective device-to-device transmission capabilities, respective remaining battery power, respective subscriptions for transmitting emergency-event information, or respective message capacity transmission capabilities; and when, based upon the evaluation of the first and second device characteristics, the first device characteristics are more favorable for transmission of the report message than the second device characteristics, select the transmitting device as a designated transmitter of the report message; and an input/output component configured for device-to-device communication with the plurality of devices, wherein: when the transmitting device is out of range of the communications network, the transmitting device provides the report message via device-to-device communication with at least one relay device; and the input/output component is configured to receive, via device-to-device communication, acknowledgement of receipt of the report message.