EP0483551A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Handoff method and apparatus for mobile wireless workstations
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1991-10-07
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-10-07
Abstract
Abstract In response to a data processor (10) breaking a wireless link with a first, original, link adapter (12) a first step deletes the data processor from an active group of the first link adapter and re-directs network datagrams intended for the data processor to a spooler. In response to the data processor subsequently establishing a link with a second, new, link adapter a next step adds the data processor to the active group associated with the second link adapter and transmits stored datagrams in a First In/First Out order from the spooler to the second link adapter for transmission to the data processor. In response to the storage device transmitting all of the stored datagrams to the second link adapter the method includes the further steps of terminating the re-direction of datagrams from the first link adapter to the storage device and, receiving, from the network with the second link adapter, further datagrams addressed to the data processor.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin George Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/02; H04W36/16; H04W36/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for providing a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means each of which bidirectionally passes data to and from the network over a wireless link, the data being transmitted to or received from data processor means having means for coupling to the wireless link, comprising the steps of: in response to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means, redirecting to network storage means, with the first link adapter means, any data received from the network that is intended for the data processor means; in response to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means, transmitting stored data from the network storage means to the second link adapter means; receiving the data from the storage means; and sending the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means; in response to the network storage means transmitting all of the stored data to the second link adapter means, terminating the re-direction of data from the first link adapter means to the storage means; and receiving from the network with the second link adapter means any further data addressed to the data processing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method as set forth in Claim 1 wherein the first link adapter means and the second link adapter means are the same link adapter means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method as set forth in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the step of redirecting includes a step of maintaining, with the first link adapter means, a first record for identifying the data re-directed to the storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Method as set forth in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the step of receiving the data from the storage means includes a step of maintaining, with the second link adapter means, a second record for identifying the data received from the storage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
Method as set forth in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the step of terminating includes a step of transmitting the first record from the first link adapter means to the second link adapter means and wherein the method includes a further step of comparing the received first record to the second record to determine if all stored data has been received from the storage means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
249 words
A method for providing a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means each of which directs data from the network over a wireless link to data processor means within an associated active group, wherein the data processor means is enabled, at any given time, to be a member of an active group associated with only one link adapter means, comprising the steps of: in response to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means, deleting the data processor means from the active group of the first link adapter means; and re-directing data intended for the data processor means to a storage means; in response to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means, adding the data processor means to the active group associated with the second link adapter means; transmitting stored data in a First In/First Out order from the storage means to the second link adapter means; receiving the data from the storage means; and sending the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means; in response to the storage means transmitting all of the stored data to the second link adapter means, terminating the re-direction of data from the first link adapter means to the storage means; and receiving from the network further data addressed to the data processing means with the second link adapter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
Method as set forth in Claim 6 wherein the step of adding the data processing means to the active group includes a step of: interrogating the data processing means to determine an identity of the first link adapter means; and interrogating the identified first adapter means to determine an identity of the storage means to which the data is being redirected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
Method as set forth in Claim 7 wherein the step of interrogating the data processing means includes a step of transmitting data over a diffuse infrared radiation link and wherein the step of sending the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means includes a step of transmitting data over a line-of-sight infrared radiation link.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method as set forth in Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the step of redirecting includes a step of maintaining a first log that identifies the data re-directed to the storage means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Method as set forth in Claim 5, 6, 7 or 8 wherein the step of receiving the data from the storage means includes a step of maintaining a second log that identifies the data received from the storage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method as set forth in anyone of Claims 6 to 10 wherein the step of receiving the data addressed to the data processing means with the second link adapter means includes an initial step of informing a network bridge means that the second link adapter means is associated with a second network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Method as set forth in anyone of the preceding Claims wherein the step of sending includes a step of transmitting the data with an infrared radiation medium or with a radio frequency medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus for providing a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means each of which bidirectionally passes data to and from the network over a wireless link, the data being transmitted to or received from data processor means having means for coupling to the wireless link, comprising: data storage means bidirectionally coupled to the network; means, responsive to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means, for re-directing to the data storage means any data received from the network that is intended for the data processor means; means, responsive to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means, for initiating the transmission of stored data from the data storage means to the second link adapter means; means for receiving the data from the data storage means; and means for sending over the wireless link the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as set forth in Claim 13 and further comprising means, responsive to the data storage means transmitting all of the stored data to the second link adapter means, for terminating the re-direction of data from the first link adapter means to the data storage means; the second link adapter means further including means for receiving from the network any further data addressed to the data processing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as set forth in Claim 13 or 14 wherein each of the link adapter means and the data processing means each include means for transmitting and receiving control information over a diffuse infrared radiation link and means for transmitting and receiving the data over a line-of-sight infrared radiation link.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.