Intelligent Video, Data Streaming and Access to Distributed Resources in a Wireless Network
First Claim
1. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, between a requesting station and potential resource providing stations, the method comprising:
- monitoring, at each station, the activity and/or resources of other stations on the network to establish the availability of resources at the other stations;
transmitting, from a requesting station requiring a specified resource, resource request probe signals identifying the specified resource;
determining, at each station receiving the resource request probe signals, the availability at said station of the specified resource or a portion thereof and hence whether said station is a potential resource providing station;
transmitting, from a potential resource providing station having the specified resource or a portion thereof, response data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, to the requesting station indicating the availability of the specified resource or portion thereof to the requesting station; and
receiving, at the requesting station, access to the specified resource or portion thereof from at least one resource providing station selected from one or more potential resource providing stations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method of operating a network which comprises a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, between a requesting station and potential resource providing stations. The method comprises monitoring, at each station, the activity and/or resources of other stations on the network to establish the availability of resources at the other stations, and transmitting, from a requesting station requiring a specified resource, resource request probe signals identifying the specified resource. The resource may be data, connectivity, memory/storage, or another resource. At each station receiving the resource request probe signals, the availability of the specified resource or a portion thereof is determined, and hence whether said station is a potential resource providing station. If such a potential resource providing station has the specified resource or a portion thereof, response data is transmitted directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, to the requesting station indicating the availability of the specified resource or portion thereof to the requesting station. The requesting station is then given access to the specified resource or portion thereof from at least one resource providing station selected from one or more potential resource providing stations. The invention extends to a network for implementing the method.
53 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, between a requesting station and potential resource providing stations, the method comprising:
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monitoring, at each station, the activity and/or resources of other stations on the network to establish the availability of resources at the other stations; transmitting, from a requesting station requiring a specified resource, resource request probe signals identifying the specified resource; determining, at each station receiving the resource request probe signals, the availability at said station of the specified resource or a portion thereof and hence whether said station is a potential resource providing station; transmitting, from a potential resource providing station having the specified resource or a portion thereof, response data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, to the requesting station indicating the availability of the specified resource or portion thereof to the requesting station; and receiving, at the requesting station, access to the specified resource or portion thereof from at least one resource providing station selected from one or more potential resource providing stations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A communication network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, between a requesting station and potential resource providing stations, each station being arranged to:
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monitor the activity of other stations on the network to establish the availability of intermediate stations for onward transmission of data between the requesting station and the potential resource providing stations; transmit, when acting as a requesting station requiring a specified resource, resource request probe signals identifying the specified resource; determine, when acting as a station receiving the resource request probe signals, the availability at said station of the specified resource or a portion thereof and hence whether said station is a potential resource providing station; transmit, when determined to be a potential resource providing station having the specified resource or a portion thereof, response data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, to the requesting station indicating the availability of the specified resource or portion thereof to the requesting station; and receive, when acting as the requesting station, access to the specified resource or portion thereof from at least one resource providing station selected from one or more potential resource providing stations.
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Specification