Abstract: High bandwidth network access is extended to vehicles and passengers on vehicles. The network is extended to a vehicle by way of one or more intermediate nodes, which may be other vehicles or signal relays. In order to acquire the vehicles to which to extend the network, route data is provided to the intermediate nodes and to the vehicles. Computers on-board the vehicles and intermediate nodes determine which pairs of vehicles and intermediate nodes should establish links to form a network based on the route data and link scoring. The vehicles and intermediate nodes then control directional antennas to point at each other based on the route data and the scoring to establish the links.

Abstract: A cellular signaling system and method uses modified RCC signals or spread spectrum signals in an existing cellular telephone system for signaling a situation, such as an emergency or other cellular telephone communication, or for tracking, e.g. shipments or packages. The signaling system includes one or more modified signal transmitting devices, such as beacons, that transmit modified RCC signals that comply with the frequency spectrum requirements of standard RCC signals used in cellular telephone systems, but cannot be recognized by the existing cellular telephone system, or transmit a spread spectrum signal spread across a number of existing cellular channels. The signaling system further includes a modified signal receiver located at one or more cell sites in the existing cellular telephone system. When the existing cellular receiving device at a cell site does not recognize or understand the modified RCC signal, the modified signal receiver will decode the modified RCC signal.