US6691173B2 — Distributed management of an extended network con…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 160 words

An internetworked communication system comprising: a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and an internetworking node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node including: means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network from said first plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes; and means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 160 words

An internetworked communication system comprising: a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and an internetworking node included within said first plurality of wireless nodes and within said second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node including: means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network from said first plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes; and means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 71 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said internetworking node further includes: means for receiving a second set of network information relating to said second wireless network, said second set of network information identifying said second plurality of wireless nodes and services offered thereby; and means for transmitting, to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes, said second set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 2 wherein said interconnection node includes means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to a first of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes is operative as a first master node, said first master node broadcasting information describing services offered by each of said first plurality of wireless nodes and services offered by said second wireless network.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 50 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 4 wherein each of said first plurality of wireless nodes includes means for transmitting, to said first master node, an advertisement specifying its address and services offered thereby, said first master node storing information from each said advertisement within a first network resources table.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 54 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 5 wherein a withdrawing node of said first plurality of wireless nodes includes means for transmitting, to said first master node, a revocation of its advertisement, said revocation causing said first master node to delete the advertisement associated with said withdrawing node from said first network resources table.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes is operative as a second master node, said second master node broadcasting information describing services offered by each of said second plurality of wireless nodes and services offered by said first wireless network.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 7 wherein each of said second plurality of wireless nodes includes means for transmitting, to said second master node, an advertisement specifying its address and services offered thereby, said first master node storing information from each said advertisement within a second network resources table.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 1 wherein said internetworking node includes means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to a first of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 9 wherein said internetworking node includes means for forwarding message information received from said first of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 186 words

An internetworking node included within a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes and within a second wireless network having a second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node comprising: means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node; means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes; and means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 186 words

An internetworking node included within a first wireless network having a first plurality of wireless nodes and within a second wireless network having a second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node comprising: means for receiving a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; means for transmitting, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node; means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes; and means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 119 words

The internetworking node of claim 11 further including: means for receiving a second set of network information relating to said second wireless network, said second set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services offered thereby; means for transmitting, to said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes, said second set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node; means for forwarding message information received from said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes; and means for forwarding message information received from said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes to said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 46 words

The internetworking node of claim 11 further including means for transmitting, to a master node of said first wireless network, an advertisement specifying a network address and services associated with said internetworking node, said master node storing information from said advertisement within a network resources table.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The internetworking node of claim 13 further including means for transmitting, to said master node, a revocation of said advertisement causing said master node to delete said advertisement from said network resources table.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 155 words

A method for establishing a first wireless network capable of internetworking with a second wireless network, said method comprising the steps of: broadcasting, from a first device, a first network management message specifying an identity and an operating mode of said first node; receiving, at a second device, said network management message; transmitting, from said second device, a response message specifying an identity of said second device and characteristics of said second wireless network; receiving, at said first device, said response message; and broadcasting, from said first device, a second network management message containing information relating to said characteristics of said second wireless network wherein said first device is included within a wireless network having a plurality of wireless nodes, each of said plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 155 words

A method for establishing a first wireless network capable of internetworking with a second wireless network, said method comprising the steps of: broadcasting, from a first device, a first network management message specifying an identity and an operating mode of said first node; receiving, at a second device, said network management message; transmitting, from said second device, a response message specifying an identity of said second device and characteristics of said second wireless network; receiving, at said first device, said response message; and broadcasting, from said first device, a second network management message containing information relating to said characteristics of said second wireless network wherein said first device is included within a wireless network having a plurality of wireless nodes, each of said plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 15 further including the step of forwarding, via said second device, message information originating within said first wireless network to said second wireless network.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 15 further including the step of determining, based upon capabilities of said second device described in said response message, whether subsequent network management messages should be broadcast by said first device or by said second device.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 127 words

An internetworked communication system comprising: a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; an interconnection network operatively coupled to at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and to at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes issuing a first of said advertisements within said first wireless network, said first of said advertisements including information relating to characteristics of said second wireless network.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 127 words

An internetworked communication system comprising: a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; an interconnection network operatively coupled to at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and to at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes issuing a first of said advertisements within said first wireless network, said first of said advertisements including information relating to characteristics of said second wireless network.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 36 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 18 wherein said one of said second plurality of wireless nodes is disposed to issue an advertisement within said second wireless network relating to characteristics of said first wireless network.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 18 wherein said interconnection network includes a gateway unit in over-the-air communication with said one of said first plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 162 words

An internetworked communication system comprising: a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and an internetworking node in wireless communication with at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and in wireless communication with at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node including: a receiver configured to receive a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network from said first plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communication path, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes; and a transmitter operatively connected to said receiver.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 162 words

An internetworked communication system comprising: a first wireless network including a first plurality of wireless nodes, each of said first plurality of wireless nodes transmitting an advertisement identifying its address and an address for each of a set of said first plurality of wireless nodes from which ones of said advertisements are received; a second wireless network including a second plurality of wireless nodes; and an internetworking node in wireless communication with at least one of said first plurality of wireless nodes and in wireless communication with at least one of said second plurality of wireless nodes, said internetworking node including: a receiver configured to receive a first set of network information relating to said first wireless network from said first plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communication path, said first set of network information identifying said first plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said second plurality of wireless nodes; and a transmitter operatively connected to said receiver.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 21 wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit, to one of said second plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communications path, said first set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 51 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 21 wherein said receiver is further configured to receive a second set of network information relating to said second wireless network, said second set of network information identifying said second plurality of wireless nodes and services potentially available to said first plurality of wireless nodes.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 41 words

The internetworked communication system of claim 23 wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit, to one of said first plurality of wireless nodes over a wireless communication path, said second set of network information and an identity of said internetworking node.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-02-09	2007-08-11	2008-02-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-02-09	2011-08-11	2012-02-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-02-09	2015-08-11	2016-02-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Distributed management of an extended network containing short-range wireless links

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