Handoff method and apparatus for mobile wireless workstation
First Claim
1. A method for providing an appearance of a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means each of which bidirectionally passes data to and from the network over a wireless link, the data being transmitted to or received from data processor means having means for coupling to the wireless link, comprising the steps of:
- in response to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means of the plurality of wireless link adapter means,re-directing to network storage means, with the first link adapter means, any data received from the network that is intended for the data processor means;
in response to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means of the plurality of wireless link adapter means,transmitting stored data from the network storage means to the second link adapter means;
receiving with the second link adapter means the data from the storage means; and
sending the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means;
in response to the network storage means transmitting all of the stored data to the second link adapter means,terminating the re-direction of data from the first link adapter means to the storage means; and
receiving from the network, with the second link adapter means, any further data addressed to the data processing means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In response to a data processor (10) breaking a wireless link with a first, original, link adapter (12) a first step deletes the data processor from an active group of the first link adapter and re-directs network datagrams intended for the data processor to a spooler. In response to the data processor subsequently establishing a link with a second, new, link adapter a next step adds the data processor to the active group associated with the second link adapter and transmits stored datagrams in a First In/First Out order from the spooler to the second link adapter for transmission to the data processor. In response to the storage device transmitting all of the stored datagrams to the second link adapter the method includes the further steps of terminating the re-direction of datagrams from the first link adapter to the storage device and, receiving, from the network with the second link adapter, further datagrams addressed to the data processor.
379 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing an appearance of a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means each of which bidirectionally passes data to and from the network over a wireless link, the data being transmitted to or received from data processor means having means for coupling to the wireless link, comprising the steps of:
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in response to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means of the plurality of wireless link adapter means, re-directing to network storage means, with the first link adapter means, any data received from the network that is intended for the data processor means; in response to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means of the plurality of wireless link adapter means, transmitting stored data from the network storage means to the second link adapter means; receiving with the second link adapter means the data from the storage means; and sending the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means; in response to the network storage means transmitting all of the stored data to the second link adapter means, terminating the re-direction of data from the first link adapter means to the storage means; and receiving from the network, with the second link adapter means, any further data addressed to the data processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing an appearance of a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means, individual ones of the plurality of link adapter means directing data from the wired network over a wireless link to one or more data processor means belonging to an associated active group of data processor means, where a data processor means is enabled, at any given time, to be a member of only one active group that is associated with one of said plurality of link adapter means, comprising the steps of:
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in response to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means, the data processor means being a member of the active group of the first link adapter means, deleting the data processor means from the active group of the first link adapter means; and re-directing data, that is intended for the data processor means, from the first link adapter means over the wired network to a storage means selected from one or more storage means that are coupled to the wired network; in response to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means, adding the data processor means to the active group associated with the second link adapter means; transmitting stored data in a First In/First Out order from the storage means to the second link adapter means; receiving the data from the storage means; and sending the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means; in response to the storage means transmitting all of the stored data to the second link adapter means, terminating the re-direction of data from the first link adapter means to the storage means; and receiving, from the network, further data addressed to the data processing means, the further data being received with the second link adapter means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20)
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17. Apparatus for providing an appearance of a continual connection of a data processor means to a wired network of the type having a plurality of wireless link adapter means each of which bidirectionally passes data to and from the network over a wireless link, the data being transmitted to or received from data processor means having means for coupling to the wireless link, comprising:
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data storage means bidirectionally coupled to the network; means, responsive to the data processor means breaking the wireless link with a first link adapter means of the plurality of link adapter means, for re-directing to the data storage means any data received from the network that is intended for the data processor means; means, responsive to the data processor means establishing a link with a second link adapter means of the plurality of link adapter means, for initiating the transmission of stored data from the data storage means to the second link adapter means; means for receiving the data from the data storage means; and means for sending, over the wireless link, the received data from the second link adapter means to the data processing means. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification