Extending an allowable transmission distance between a wireless device and an access point by communication with intermediate wireless devices
First Claim
1. A method for providing wireless data communication between an access point connected to a communication network and a remote mobile unit, out of range of direct wireless communication with said access point, wherein said method comprises:
- a) transmitting a remote access request by radio from said remote mobile unit;
b) generating path information describing said remote access request and a first plurality of paths from said remote mobile unit, wherein said first plurality of paths include a plurality of intermediate mobile units, in response to said remote access request;
c) transmitting said path information by radio;
d) receiving path information describing said remote access request and a second plurality of paths, within said first plurality of paths, in said access point, wherein a portion of said path information is transmitted by radio to said access point along each path in said second plurality of paths;
e) transmitting a remote access response along each path in said second plurality of paths from said access point to said remote mobile unit;
f) receiving said remote access response in said remote mobile unit, transmitted along each path within a third plurality of paths, within said second plurality of paths; and
g) selecting a selected path within said second plurality of paths in said remote mobile unith) sending data along said selected path between said remote mobile unit and said access point, wherein each said intermediate mobile unit in said selected path receives wirelessly transmitted data along said selected path in a first direction, and wherein each said intermediate mobile unit in said selected path transmits said data to continue in said first direction along said selected path.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote mobile unit (MU) including a radio device is provided with an ability to communicate through a LAN by remote association with an access point (AP) that is out of range for communication with the radio device of the remote MU. The remote MU transmits a quest frames that is received and retransmitted by one or more intermediate MUs until a connection is made with the AP. Each of the intermediate MUs adds an identifying address to the request, forming a path that is used in both directions to transmit a response from the AP to the remote MU and to transmit data between the AP and the MU.
51 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for providing wireless data communication between an access point connected to a communication network and a remote mobile unit, out of range of direct wireless communication with said access point, wherein said method comprises:
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a) transmitting a remote access request by radio from said remote mobile unit; b) generating path information describing said remote access request and a first plurality of paths from said remote mobile unit, wherein said first plurality of paths include a plurality of intermediate mobile units, in response to said remote access request; c) transmitting said path information by radio; d) receiving path information describing said remote access request and a second plurality of paths, within said first plurality of paths, in said access point, wherein a portion of said path information is transmitted by radio to said access point along each path in said second plurality of paths; e) transmitting a remote access response along each path in said second plurality of paths from said access point to said remote mobile unit; f) receiving said remote access response in said remote mobile unit, transmitted along each path within a third plurality of paths, within said second plurality of paths; and g) selecting a selected path within said second plurality of paths in said remote mobile unit h) sending data along said selected path between said remote mobile unit and said access point, wherein each said intermediate mobile unit in said selected path receives wirelessly transmitted data along said selected path in a first direction, and wherein each said intermediate mobile unit in said selected path transmits said data to continue in said first direction along said selected path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for providing a wireless connection to a communication network in a remote location, wherein said system comprises:
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a remote mobile unit at said remote location, wherein said remote mobile unit includes a radio transmitter and receiver and a microprocessor programmed to transmit a remote access request by radio in response to determining that an access point connected to said communication network is out of range for direct radio communication with said remote mobile unit, to receive a remote access response transmitted along each path within a plurality of paths, to select a selected path from said plurality of paths, and to transmit and receive data along said selected path to said access point; a plurality of intermediate mobile units, wherein each mobile unit in said plurality of mobile units includes a radio transmitter and receiver and a microprocessor programmed to receive said remote access request, to add address information identifying said mobile unit to said remote access request, forming path information describing a path between said remote mobile unit and said intermediate mobile unit, to transmit said path information by radio, and to receive and retransmit data including address information identifying said intermediate mobile unit when said data transmitted along a path between said remote mobile unit and an access point; and an access point connected to said communication network, wherein said access point includes a radio transmitter and receiver and a microprocessor programmed to receive said path information transmitted along each path within a plurality of paths, to transmit a remote access response along each path within said plurality of paths, and to direct communications between said communication network and said remote mobile unit over said selected path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification