Patent US5654959A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5654959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Access point for mobile wireless network node
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-07-24
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Granted: 1997-08-05
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Expires: 2015-07-24
Abstract
Abstract An internetworking node for providing internetworking services for mobile wireless nodes is disclosed. Each mobile wireless node is associated with at the most one internetworking node. Each mobile wireless node selects which internetworking node it will associate with. The internetworking node will then act for all wireless nodes associated to it in relaying messages between wireless nodes or between a wired LAN and the wireless nodes. A tracking mechanism for such a system which maintains a table of all the internetworking nodes the wireless node has recently heard and deleting all such internetworking nodes which have not been heard recently is disclosed. A switching mechanism for such a system for determining when the wireless mobile node should switch its association from one internetworking node to another is also disclosed. The switching mechanism determines whether a particular internetworking node overheard by the mobile wireless node has been heard recently, and if not will associate with such an internetworking node. Otherwise the wireless node maintains its current association, with a particular internetworking node until a failure to communicate occurs or the said tracking mechanism deletes its reference to the said internetworking node.
Inventors
- 👤 Murray C. Baker
- 👤 Roger Y. M. Cheung
- 👤 Charles E. Perkins
- 👤 Peter E. Reissner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W84/00; H04W84/18; H04W84/20; H04W40/00; H04W40/24; H04W92/00; H04W92/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S370/00; Y10S370/912; Y10S370/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
234 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: a memory for maintaining a table of interconnecting nodes meeting a first criterion wherein data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; means for accessing the table for deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled whereby the prescribed period of time is chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node and frequency of data transmission from said internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
234 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: a memory for maintaining a table of interconnecting nodes meeting a first criterion wherein data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; means for accessing the table for deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled whereby the prescribed period of time is chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node and frequency of data transmission from said internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
259 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: a memory for maintaining a table of interconnecting nodes meeting a first criterion wherein each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that such beacon from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time, the prescribed period being at least as long as the predetermined period; means for accessing the table for deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled whereby the prescribed period of time and the predetermined period are chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
259 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: a memory for maintaining a table of interconnecting nodes meeting a first criterion wherein each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that such beacon from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time, the prescribed period being at least as long as the predetermined period; means for accessing the table for deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled whereby the prescribed period of time and the predetermined period are chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node is fulfilled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node is fulfilled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
220 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: a memory for maintaining a table of interconnecting nodes meeting a first criterion wherein data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; means for accessing the table for deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled wherein said second criterion being that the first and second internetworking nodes shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data had been received successfully.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
220 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: a memory for maintaining a table of interconnecting nodes meeting a first criterion wherein data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; means for accessing the table for deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled wherein said second criterion being that the first and second internetworking nodes shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data had been received successfully.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
202 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by a wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first internetworking node shall not be in the table is fulfilled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
202 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by a wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first internetworking node shall not be in the table is fulfilled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer program product for use with a wireless node having a CPU, memory, and a wireless adapter card equiped with a wireless receiver/transmitter, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means recorded on said recording medium for establishing, on said wireless node, the controller of claim 6.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
216 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by a wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node is fulfilled.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
216 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by a wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node is fulfilled.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer program product for use with a wireless node having a CPU, memory, and a wireless adapter card equiped with a wireless receiver/transmitter, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means recorded on said recording medium for establishing, on said wireless node, the controller of claim 8.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
242 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by a wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first and second internetworking nodes shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data had been received successfully is fulfilled.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
242 words
A controller for a wireless node adapted to send data to and receive data from any of a plurality of internetworking nodes and to choose which of said internetworking nodes it will send data to and receive data from, said controller comprising: means for maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by a wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; means for associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node listed in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and switching means for disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first and second internetworking nodes shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data had been received successfully is fulfilled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer program product for use with a wireless node having a CPU, memory, and a wireless adapter card equiped with a wireless receiver/transmitter, said computer program product comprising: a recording medium; means recorded on said recording medium for establishing, on said wireless node, the controller of claim 10.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in that table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node form said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in that table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node form said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 in which said second criterion is that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of internetworking nodes meeting a first criterion that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time being chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node and frequency of data transmission from said internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range; accessing said table and deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of internetworking nodes meeting a first criterion that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time being chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node and frequency of data transmission from said internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range; accessing said table and deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of internetworking nodes meeting a first criterion being that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that such beacon from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time, the prescribed period being at least as long as the predetermined period; and the prescribed period of time and the predetermined period are chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range; accessing said table and deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of internetworking nodes meeting a first criterion being that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period, and that such beacon from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time, the prescribed period being at least as long as the predetermined period; and the prescribed period of time and the predetermined period are chosen with respect to the likelihood of relative movement and likely speed of movement between the wireless node and the internetworking node such that said internetworking node is likely to be removed from the table for failure to meet the first criterion after it and the wireless node are no longer within data-exchanging range; accessing said table and deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node form said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node is fulfilled.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node form said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the second internetworking node shall have been added to the table since the time of association of the wireless node with the first internetworking node is fulfilled.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of internetworking nodes which meet a first criterion being that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; accessing said table and deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled, wherein said second criterion being that the first and second internetworking nodes shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data has been received successfully.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of internetworking nodes which meet a first criterion being that data from each internetworking node in the table shall have been received by said wireless node within a prescribed period of time; accessing said table and deleting interconnecting nodes not meeting a predefined tracking criterion; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in the table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion is fulfilled, wherein said second criterion being that the first and second internetworking nodes shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data has been received successfully.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in that table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first internetworking node shall not be in the table is fulfilled.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in that table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first internetworking node shall not be in the table is fulfilled.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
215 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in that table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first and second internetworking node shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data had been received successfully is fulfilled.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
215 words
A method of selecting one of a plurality of internetworking nodes to and from which a wireless node is to send data comprising: maintaining a table of which internetworking nodes meet a first criterion that each internetworking node broadcast a beacon with its network address once in a predetermined period and that the beacon of at least one internetworking node other than the first internetworking node shall be received by the wireless node a predetermined number of times greater than 1 after the last time that the wireless node shall have received the beacon of the first internetworking node; associating said wireless node with a first internetworking node in that table so that, during the period of such association, it will send and receive data from said first internetworking node but not any other internetworking node; and disassociating said wireless node from said first internetworking node and associating it with a second internetworking node listed in the table when a second criterion that the first and second internetworking node shall both be in the table, and the wireless node shall have been unable on at least one occasion to send data to the first internetworking node and receive back from said first internetworking node an acknowledgement that such data had been received successfully is fulfilled.
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Cited
US5276680A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |