Multi-RAT node used for search and rescue

1. A method for facilitating search and rescue operations, comprising:

producing, at a timing source at a first multi-radio access technology (RAT) base station, a timing signal;

computing, at a processor at the first multi-RAT base station, a location of the mobile device based on a response received from the mobile device at a first directional antenna coupled to the first multi-RAT base station and based on a direction and a beamwidth of the first directional antenna at a time the response is received;

performing, at the processor at the first multi-RAT base station, a triangulation operation to compute the location of the mobile device based on the timing signal;

collecting, at a mini-evolved packet core (EPC), a user identifier of the mobile device;

authenticating, at the first multi-RAT base station using the mini-EPC, the mobile device with the user identifier at the first multi-RAT base station;

providing, using a second multi-RAT base station, a backhaul connection to the first multi-RAT base station via a mesh network connection with the first multi-RAT base station;

scanning, at the first multi-RAT base station, a designated area for mobile devices using the first directional antenna to identify locations of a plurality of mobile devices within the designated area; and

obtaining the timing signal from the first multi-RAT base station, and using the obtained timing signal to synchronize base stations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first multi-RAT base station is mobile and is positioned based on a last known position of an individual.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing beamforming using the first directional antenna.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first multi-RAT base station includes a television white space (TVWS) radio access module.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second multi-RAT base station are reconfigurable to operate on multiple operator networks.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising soliciting a global positioning method (GPS) location from the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a pre-recorded message to the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, at one of the first and the second multi-RAT base stations, performing measurement of signal strength of a plurality of radio networks at a particular location using at least two radio access technologies.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing access to communications services to rescuers on a search-and-rescue communications band.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising focusing transmit power in the direction of the first directional antenna.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for facilitating search and rescue operations, the medium including instructions executable by one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:

producing a timing signal with a timing source at a first multi-radio access technology (RAT) base station for connecting with and providing network access to a mobile device;

computing a location of the mobile device based on a response received from the mobile device at a first directional antenna and based on a direction and a beamwidth of the first directional antenna at a time the response is received, and performing a triangulation operation to compute the location of the mobile device based on the timing signal;

collecting a user identifier of the mobile device with a mini-evolved packet core (EPC) authenticating the mobile device with the user identifier at the first multi-RAT base station;

providing a backhaul connection to the first multi-RAT base station by a second multi-RAT base station via a mesh network connection with the first multi-RAT base station;

scanning a designated area for mobile devices by the first multi-RAT base station using the first directional antenna to and identifying locations of a plurality of mobile devices within the designated area; and

obtaining the timing signal from the first multi-RAT base station, and using the obtained timing signal to synchronize base stations.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein the first directional antenna is configured to perform beamforming.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station further comprises a television white space (TVWS) radio access module.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein the first and the second multi-RAT base station are reconfigurable to operate on multiple operator networks.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station is configured to solicit a global positioning system (GPS) location from the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station is configured to send a pre-recorded message to the mobile device once the response is received from the mobile device.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein one of the first and the second multi-RAT base station performs measurement of signal strength of a plurality of radio networks at a particular location using at least two radio access technologies.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions wherein the first multi-RAT base station is configured to provide access to communications services to rescuers on a search-and-rescue communications band.