← Back to Patent Explorer
US5621798A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for cooperative messaging

Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1995-04-18
•
Granted: 1997-04-15
•
Expires: 2015-04-18
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A wireless network is disclosed that comprises base transmitter/receiver stations coupled to a trunk communications network and several mobile computing devices that are capable of transmitting and receiving messages. Messages to be transmitted will be encrypted and digitally signed to insure privacy and authentication of the messages. Each mobile computing device that participates in the wireless network is capable of voluntarily allocating some amount of memory for cooperative messaging storage. Each mobile computing device is responsible for receiving messages addressed to other devices, storing the received messages in the allocated memory and then periodically retransmitting the received messages. Each message includes a unique serial number and time/date stamp. The message serial numbers are used to prevent duplicate messages being stored in the allocated memory. Furthermore, the time/date stamps on the messages stored in the allocated memory are periodically examined such that outdated messages are automatically killed after some specified time interval.

Inventors

  • 👤 David W. Aucsmith

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 14:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L49/00; H04L49/90; H04L49/9063; H04L49/9068; H04L49/9073; H04L51/00; H04L51/58; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/3297; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/80; H04L63/00; H04L63/08; H04L69/00; H04L69/28; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/12; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
A wireless network apparatus, said wireless network apparatus comprising the elements of: a wired communication network; at least one transmitter/receiver base station, said transmitter/receiver base station coupled to said wired communication network; at least one mobile communication device, said mobile communication device comprising the elements of a transmitter/receiver component, said transmitter/receiver component for transmitting outbound messages and for receiving broadcast messages from said transmitter/receiver base station and other mobile communication devices; a memory unit, said memory unit for storing messages; and a cooperative messaging logic for controlling said transmitter/receiver component, said cooperative messaging logic for periodically retransmitting an outbound message using said transmitter/receiver component until a corresponding confirmation message is received.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
A wireless network apparatus, said wireless network apparatus comprising the elements of: a wired communication network; at least one transmitter/receiver base station, said transmitter/receiver base station coupled to said wired communication network; at least one mobile communication device, said mobile communication device comprising the elements of a transmitter/receiver component, said transmitter/receiver component for transmitting outbound messages and for receiving broadcast messages from said transmitter/receiver base station and other mobile communication devices; a memory unit, said memory unit for storing messages; and a cooperative messaging logic for controlling said transmitter/receiver component, said cooperative messaging logic for periodically retransmitting an outbound message using said transmitter/receiver component until a corresponding confirmation message is received.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device further comprises a central processing unit, said central processing unit sharing said memory unit with said cooperative messaging logic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mobile communication device further comprises memory allocation means, said memory allocation means for allocating memory between said cooperative messaging logic and said central processing unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mobile communication device further comprises a clock unit, said clock unit for placing a time stamp on outbound messages.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 63 words
A method of distributing messages, said method comprising the steps of: generating an outgoing message in a mobile communication device; assigning a unique identifier to said outgoing message; placing said outgoing message and unique identifier in an outgoing message queue; and periodically transmitting said outgoing message with a wireless transmitter until said mobile communication device receives a confirmation message having said unique identifier.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 63 words
A method of distributing messages, said method comprising the steps of: generating an outgoing message in a mobile communication device; assigning a unique identifier to said outgoing message; placing said outgoing message and unique identifier in an outgoing message queue; and periodically transmitting said outgoing message with a wireless transmitter until said mobile communication device receives a confirmation message having said unique identifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of distributing messages as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the step of: encrypting said outgoing message in said mobile communication device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 55 words
The method of distributing messages as claimed in claim 5 further comprising the steps of: assigning a time stamp to said outgoing message; and deleting said outgoing message from outgoing message queues in a plurality of other mobile communication devices if said time stamp indicates said outgoing message is older than a message age limit.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 86 words
A method of distributing messages, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a message addressed to a device other than said mobile communication device, said message having a time stamp; placing said message addressed to a device other than said mobile communication device in an outgoing message queue; and transmitting said message addressed to a device other than said mobile communication device from said outgoing message queue onto a wireless medium until said time stamp indicates that said message is older than a message age limit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 86 words
A method of distributing messages, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a message addressed to a device other than said mobile communication device, said message having a time stamp; placing said message addressed to a device other than said mobile communication device in an outgoing message queue; and transmitting said message addressed to a device other than said mobile communication device from said outgoing message queue onto a wireless medium until said time stamp indicates that said message is older than a message age limit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of distributing messages as claimed in claim 8 further comprising the step of: removing said outgoing message from said outgoing message queue when said mobile communication device receives said confirmation message having said unique identifier.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5499297A Cited
US5515439A Cited
US5539824A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-04-14 2000-10-14 2001-04-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-04-14 2004-10-14 2005-04-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-04-14 2008-10-14 2009-04-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag