Method and apparatus for maintaining connectivity of nodes in a wireless local area network

Claim 2

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether said second access point will accept the request for a handoff.

Claim 3

The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the step of repeating said selecting, communicating, relaying and determining steps if said second access point determines not to accept said request for a handoff.

Claim 4

The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of performing a handoff comprises the steps of: (a) transmitting second access point operating parameters from said second access point to said first access point; (b) relaying said second access point operating parameters to said node from said first access point; and (c) adjusting node parameters in response to said second access point parameters so as to establish communication between said node and said second access point.

Claim 5

The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein one of said second access point operating parameters comprises a spreading code utilized by said second access point.

Claim 6

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of, after said handoff has been performed, forwarding a message that is destined for said node from said first access point to said second access point upon receipt of said message at said first access point, wherein the second access point communicates the message to the node.

Claim 7

The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of, after said handoff has been performed, informing other access points that said node has been handed off to said second access point, such that communications to said node are achieved through said second access point.

Claim 8

The method as set forth in claim 1, before said selection step, further comprising the step of the node determining whether to establish connectivity with another access point.

Claim 9

The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the steps of: communicating a handoff initiation message from said first access point to said node requesting that said node establish connectivity with another access point; and said node determining whether to establish connectivity with another access point in response to the request of the first access point.

Claim 10

The method as set forth in claim 1, before said selection step, further comprising the step of the first access point determining whether the node should establish connectivity with another access point.

Claim 11

In a wireless local area network (LAN) comprising a plurality of cells, each cell including at least one access point for communicating information between cells and at least one node for communicating via the LAN through said access points, a method for maintaining connectivity of a node in the wireless LAN comprising the steps of: said node determining whether to establish connectivity with another access point; and if said node determines to establish connectivity with another access point: said node selecting a second access point as a candidate for accepting a handoff of said node from a first access point; communicating an instruction from said node to said first access point instructing said first access point to relay a request to said second access point that said second access point accept a handoff of said node from said first access point to said second access point; relaying said request from said first access point to said second access point; determining whether said second access point will accept said handoff; if said second access point determines to accept said handoff: transmitting second access point operating parameters from said second access point to said first access point, wherein one of said operating parameters comprises a spreading code utilized by said second access point; relaying said second access point operating parameters to said node from said first access point; adjusting node parameters in response to said second access point operating parameters so as to establish communication between said node and said second access point, thereby accomplishing a handoff; and if said second access point determines not to accept said handoff, repeating said selecting, communicating, relaying and determining steps.

Claim 12

In a wireless local area network (LAN) comprising a plurality of cells, an apparatus for maintaining connectivity in the LAN comprising: a plurality of access points for communicating information between cells; link means connected to first and second access points for permitting communications between said first and second access points; and at least one node for communicating over the LAN through said access points; each node comprising: selection means for selecting a second access point as a candidate for handoff of said node from a first access point; instruction means for forming and communicating an instruction to said first access point instructing said first access point to relay a request to said second access point requesting that said second access point accept a handoff of said node from said first access point; and handoff means for handing off said node to said second access point, such that the node communicates with the second access point.

Claim 13

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second access point comprises access point determining means for determining whether said second access point will accept said handoff.

Claim 14

The apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein, if said access point determining means determines to reject said handoff, said selection means selects an alternate access point and said instruction means communicates an instruction to the first access point instructing the first access point to relay a request to the alternate access point requesting that the alternate access point accept a handoff of the node.

Claim 15

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said second access point comprises means for relaying second access point operating parameters to said node through said link means and said first access point; and said handoff means comprises means for adjusting node parameters in response to said second access point operating parameters so as to establish communications between said node and said second access point.

Claim 16

The apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein one of said second access point operating parameters comprises a spreading code utilized by said second access point.

Claim 17

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said first access point further comprising forwarding means for forwarding a message that is destined for said node from said first access point to said second access point upon receipt of said message at said first access point.

Claim 18

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, said first access point further comprising means for informing other access points that said node has been handed off to said second access point, such that communications to said node are achieved directly through said second access point.

Claim 19

The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said node further comprises initiation determining means for determining whether said node will establish connectivity with another access point.

Claim 20

The apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said first access point further comprises a handoff request means for communicating a handoff initiation message from said first access point to said node requesting that said node establish connectivity with another access point, and said initiation determining means further comprises means for determining whether said node will establish connectivity with another access point in response to the request of the first access point.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said first access point further comprises means for determining whether the node should establish connectivity with another access point.