Apparatuses and methods for generating ad-hoc networks to extend coverage

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, connecting to network infrastructure to extend a scope of coverage associated with a service provided by the network infrastructure to a communication device, transmitting a first signal at a first frequency included within a frequency band that is detectable by the communication device, subsequent to the transmitting of the first signal, receiving a second signal from the communication device, and establishing, in accordance with the receiving of the second signal, a connection between the network infrastructure and the communication device via a processing system to facilitate the service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to detecting that a quality metric of an incoming network signal from a network infrastructure of a network is less than a threshold, indicating a loss of connection to the network infrastructure;   tuning to a predetermined frequency band to extend a geographical reach to detect signals from a plurality of communication devices, wherein the plurality of communication devices form a plurality of clusters of wireless access points to extend a coverage associated with the network;   detecting signals from each of the plurality of clusters;   analyzing a signal strength of each of the detected signals;   selecting a cluster from the plurality of clusters in accordance with the analyzing;   reconnecting to the network infrastructure via the selected cluster; and   obtaining network services from the network in accordance with the reconnecting.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined frequency band corresponds to a lowest frequency band available at the device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive to the detecting that the quality metric is less than the threshold, ignoring signals with frequencies that are outside of the predetermined frequency band.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 identifying a geographical location of the device in accordance with the reconnecting of the device to the network infrastructure.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the reconnecting of the device to the network infrastructure comprises reconnecting the device to the network infrastructure via a satellite. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device in the second mode of operation transmits a reference signal for detection by at least one of the plurality of communication devices. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the selected cluster comprises a drone. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a receiver, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 responsive to the detecting that the quality metric is less than the threshold, identifying a rate at which the receiver is powered-on.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device further comprises a battery, and wherein the operations further comprise selecting the rate in accordance with a battery level of the battery. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the rate is in accordance with a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle of the device, and wherein a first DRX cycle associated with the first mode of operation is different from a second DRX cycle associated with the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the quality metric comprises a received signal strength indication, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 switching, by a processing system including a processor, from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation in response to detecting that a quality metric of an incoming network signal from a network infrastructure of a network is less than a threshold, indicating a loss of connection to the network infrastructure;   tuning, by the processing system, to a predetermined frequency band to extend a geographical reach to detect signals from a plurality of communication devices, wherein the plurality of communication devices form a plurality of clusters of wireless access points to extend a geographical coverage associated with the network;   detecting, by the processing system, signals from each of the plurality of clusters;   analyzing, by the processing system, a signal strength of each of the detected signals;   selecting, by the processing system, a cluster from the plurality of clusters in accordance with the analyzing;   reconnecting, by the processing system, to the network infrastructure via the selected cluster; and   obtaining, by the processing system, network services from the network in accordance with the reconnecting.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined frequency band corresponds to a lowest frequency band available at the processor. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising ignoring, by the processing system responsive to the detecting that the quality metric is less than the threshold, signals with frequencies that are outside of the predetermined frequency band. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising identifying, by the processing system, a geographical location of the processor in accordance with the reconnecting. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the reconnecting comprises reconnecting to the network infrastructure via a satellite. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 switching from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein the switching is performed in response to a user input or automatically in response to detecting that a quality metric of an incoming network signal from a network infrastructure of a network is less than a threshold, indicating a loss of connection to the network infrastructure;   tuning to a predetermined frequency band to extend a geographical reach to detect signals from a plurality of communication devices, wherein the plurality of communication devices form a plurality of clusters of wireless access points to extend a coverage associated with the network;   detecting signals from each of the plurality of clusters;   analyzing a signal strength of each of the detected signals;   selecting a cluster from the plurality of clusters in accordance with the analyzing;   reconnecting to the network infrastructure via the selected cluster; and   obtaining network services from the network in accordance with the reconnecting.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined frequency band corresponds to a lowest frequency band available at the processor. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the reconnecting of the device to the network infrastructure comprises reconnecting to the network infrastructure via a satellite. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise automatically transmitting, in the second mode of operation, a reference signal for detection by at least one of the plurality of communication devices.