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Mobility enabling access point architecture for wireless attachment to source routing networks

  • US 5,490,139 A
  • Filed: 09/28/1994
  • Issued: 02/06/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a source routing communications network having a plurality of access points for providing wireless communications with a plurality of mobile units, a method of routing packets to and from said mobile units through said network, said method comprising:

  • a. initiating a communications session by each of said mobile units;

    b. determining a home access point, of said access points, for each of said mobile units, with each said home access point being an access point of said each mobile unit when said each mobile unit initiated a communications session on said network;

    storing access point information in a number of said access points, said access point information indicating a current access point of each of said mobile units;

    d. updating current access point information stored in a number of access points whenever any one of said mobile units changes its current access point, with said updated information indicating a current access point of each of a number of said mobile units;

    e. forwarding first packets from each of said mobile units to its current access point for a communications session when said each mobile unit has said first packets to transmit;

    f. upon reception of said first packets forwarded in step (e) by a current access point, of said access points, of said each mobile unit, forwarding said first packets from latter said current access point toward a destination indicated in said first packets via a route indicated in storage of said latter current access point and corresponding to said destination, where said destination can be any one of said mobile units whose current access point is updated in step b), and where, if said one mobile unit is said destination, said first packets can be routed directly to said one mobile unit without having to be routed through a home access point of one said mobile unit; and

    g. forwarding second packets destined to said each mobile unit from said home access point of said each mobile unit to a current access point, of said access points, of said each mobile unit where latter said current access point is indicated in said updated information stored in said home access point.

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