Wireless router and software

• US 20070225019A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edge Velocity Corp.
• Original Assignee: Edge Velocity Corp.
• Inventors: Jacques, Jeffery, Larson, Michael, Knox, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,869,407 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/56 Routing software
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

A broadband wireless network includes intelligent base stations and mobile units. The network includes control means to manage connectivity of the mobile units to the intelligent base stations. Software is provided to control connection of the mobile unit to an intelligent base station having preferred signal characteristics. When a mobile unit connects to an intelligent base station, the software broadcasts corrected routing information to all intelligent base stations on the network allowing persistent wireless connectivity.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

At least two intelligent base stations, each intelligent base station having a unique ESSID and a unique MAC address;

At least one mobile device adapted to communicate with said intelligent base stations, each mobile device having a unique MAC address; and

Means for controlling the communications between said intelligent base stations and said mobile devices,

Wherein said means for controlling communications between said intelligent base stations and said mobile devices comprises;

means for transmitting routing information including aMAC address from said mobile device to said intelligent base station, and

means for transmitting routing information from any one of said at least one intelligent base station to each other said at least one intelligent base station on the network.

2. A network according to claim 1 wherein said mobile device is a server for a subnetwork.

3. A network according to claim 1 where said at least one mobile device includes a computer.

4. A network according to claim 1 where said at least one mobile device includes a cellular telephone.

5. A network according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of mobile devices.

6. A network according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of intelligent base stations.

7. A computer network according to claim 1 wherein said mobile devices further comprise:

Means for determining the signal strength of a signal from said at least one intelligent base station, and

Means for comparing the signal strength of a signal from said at least one intelligent base station.

8. A network according to claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting routing information from said mobile device to said intelligent base station includes the step of communicating the MAC of the mobile device to the intelligent base station.

9. A network according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling communications between said intelligent base stations and said mobile devices includes software for performing the following steps:

determining the signal strength of a signal from each intelligent base station in the network at a mobile device and identifying the intelligent base station having the strongest signal at the mobile device;

determining the saturation of the signal of each intelligent base station in communication with said mobile device;

determining the preferred connection between said mobile device and one of said intelligent base stations based on the signal strength of the signal from the intelligent base station and the saturation of the intelligent base station;

updating the address resolution protocol cache and broadcasting the routing information to each intelligent base station in the network;

Scanning available signals from intelligent base stations within the network to determine whether the signal strength and saturation of the signals from a different intelligent base station have changed to make the second intelligent base station the preferred connection;

Connecting to the second intelligent base station; and

Updating the address resolution protocol cache and IP broadcasting the routing information to each intelligent base station on the network.

10. A method for controlling a wireless network comprising the following steps:

determining the signal strength of a signal from each intelligent base station in the network at a mobile device and identifying the intelligent base station having the strongest signal at the mobile device;

determining the saturation of the signal of each intelligent base station in communication with said mobile device;

determining the preferred connection between said mobile device and one of said intelligent base stations based on the signal strength of the signal from the intelligent base station and the saturation of the intelligent base station;

updating the address resolution protocol cache and broadcasting the routing information to each intelligent base station in the network;

Scanning available signals from intelligent base stations within the network to determine whether the signal strength and saturation of the signals from a different intelligent base station have changed to make the second intelligent base station the preferred connection;

Connecting to the second intelligent base station; and

Updating the address resolution protocol cache and IP broadcasting the routing information to each intelligent base station on the network.