US Patent 9961611 Dynamic gateway selection in a wireless communications system

A method and apparatus for selecting a gateway to extend the communication range of a wireless communication device in a radio communication system are provided. A first communication device monitors transmissions from a second wireless communication device. The first device requests that the second device act as a gateway, receives an acknowledgement, and then can initiate a connection via the second device to the radio communication system. The connection uses a first receiver and a transmitter of the first device. The first device uses a second receiver to monitor the second device, and other wireless communication devices of the system, thereby dynamically maintaining a list of at least a primary gateway and a secondary gateway that are available for relaying a connection from the first device.