Patent ID: 8503927

Claim:
A method for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service of a cellular device, the method comprising: identifying an insufficient signal between the cellular device and a base station communicatively coupled to the cellular device; determining a plurality of repeater candidates, the plurality of repeater candidates comprising a plurality of other cellular devices configured to resolve the insufficient signal by relaying communications between the cellular device and the base station, wherein determining the plurality of repeater candidates comprises determining a first set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the first set of repeater candidates comprising a first set of cellular devices that request to be repeaters, determining a second set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the second set of repeater candidates comprising a second set of cellular devices that indicate availability to server as repeaters in response to a poll, and determining a third set of repeater candidates in the plurality of repeater candidates, the third set of repeater candidates comprising a third set of cellular devices that are within a predetermined distance from the cellular device, have sufficient signal strength to the base station, and have capacity to serve as repeaters; ranking the plurality of repeater candidates, wherein ranking the plurality of repeater candidates comprises ranking the plurality of repeater candidates based on a distance of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the cellular device, a signal strength of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to the base station, and available capacity of each of the plurality of repeater candidates to serve as repeaters, each of the plurality of repeater candidates associated with one of a plurality of ranks; selecting a highest ranked repeater candidate from the plurality of repeater candidates; and configuring the highest ranked repeater candidate to serve as a repeater between the cellular device and the base station.