Wi-Fi Direct Multi-group Data Dissemination for Public Safety

The sudden loss of cellular coverage in case of unpredictable, catastrophic events, as well as the overload of the infrastructure, pose a number of critical challenges for operators, especially when public safety is at stake. Relying on additional capabilities in user devices (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) can bridge such communication gap quite effectively. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using WiFi Direct, a protocol recently standardized by the Wi- Fi Alliance, to create close communication groups where information can be efficiently disseminated. We present our solution for the creation of multiple, connected groups of Android devices. We work around some limitations in the current Android implementation of WiFi direct and show the detailed dissemination steps in a sample topology.