When a natural disaster strikes and too many people take to their mobile phones at once, cellular networks easily overload.
But a University of British Columbia graduate student has developed a solution to ensure that calls don’t get dropped and texts make it to their destination.
In a study published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, Mai Hassan, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, found a way to opportunistically use television and radio channels to transmit cellular signals when systems are pushed beyond capacity.
“I proposed a more effective way to use any channel in the neighborhood, even if those channels are being used by radio or television stations,” said Hassan. “The challenge was finding a way to make sure the cellular signals didn’t interfere with the people using those channels in the first place.”
Hassan’s solution involved changing the shape of the wireless signal so she could transmit on channels that use radio or television frequencies. She then had to change the direction of transmission away from the original channel. Instead of using traditional antennas, which transmit signals in all directions, she used smart antennas in mobile phones. Smart antennas transmit signals in a single direction and can steer the beam to any direction. By manipulating the direction of the cellular signals, Hassan was able to transmit calls and texts to a receiver while avoiding any interference with the original radio and televisions signals.
Professors Jahangir Hossain, in the School of Engineering at UBC’s Okanagan campus, and Vijay Bhargava, in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UBC’s Vancouver campus, supervised this research.
BACKGROUND
A problem into an opportunity
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Cellular networks
- U Mobile and Time dotCom team up for 5G backhaul
Malaysian telco U Mobile said it has established a strategic backhaul partnership with Time dotCom as it continues its preparations to help build the country’s planned second 5G network.
- Charter to pay $15 million to resolve US probe into network outage rules
Charter Communications will pay a $15 million civil penalty to resolve an investigation into compliance with network and 911 outage notification rules, the Federal Communications Commission said on ...
- Old Cars Are Losing Features As Mobile Networks Rapidly Update
Modern cars are laden down with all sorts of connected features. Remote start via cell phone, data connections for built-in apps, cars are increasingly reliant on mobile networks for full ...
- Why isn't your wireless printer working? These are the most common problems
Another quick test would be to connect your printer directly to your laptop via a USB cable. If it prints fine, you most likely have a configuration problem with your printer's Wi-Fi connection.
- Fibre-optic network vandalism reported in France
Unknown persons have damaged fibre-optic networks in parts of France overnight, but Paris, where the summer Olympics is currently being held, was not affected, French media reported on Monday. Six of ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Cellular networks
[google_news title=”” keyword=”cellular networks” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Microplastics in water
- This 5-Minute Trick Significantly Reduces Microplastics in Drinking Water
However, a team from Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University in China claims to have found a straightforward technique that could remove up to 90% of the nano- and microplastics present in ...
- Portsmouth students study microplastics, look for solutions in ‘Camp Answer’
Armed with magnifying glasses and small jars, about a dozen Portsmouth middle schoolers dug into the sand Wednesday at the Oceanfront. Squatting, they used the jars to collect samples and dump them ...
- To address the growing issue of microplastics in the Great Lakes, we need to curb our consumption
You would be hard-pressed to find a corner of the world free from microplastics, plastic particles measuring less than five millimeters. They contaminate our drinking water, accumulate in the food we ...
- Waters along Bar Harbor, Acadia, home to billions of microplastics
Along the shores of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and the Schoodic Peninsula are the vast, briny waters of Frenchman Bay. With 98 square miles of water and 39 islands, the bay is vital to ...
- Bottled water is full of microplastics. Is it still 'natural'?
Bottled water is full of microplastics. Is it still ‘natural’? Silhouette of person drinking bottled water backlit by sun. Is bottled water really “natural” if it’s contaminated with ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Microplastics in water
[google_news title=”” keyword=”microplastics in water” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
