Switching communication modes in a network
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in base station mode, and the stations not supplying the control signal then functioning in mobile station mode, the method comprising the steps of:
- performing a request operation in which a first communication station functioning in mobile station mode transmits to a second communication station functioning in base station mode a message representing a request to retrieve the function of base station; and
if the second communication station accepts the request, switching the functioning of the first communication station from mobile station mode to base station mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The communication method of the invention applies to communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in “base station” mode and the stations not supplying a control signal then functioning in “mobile station” mode.
The method of the invention includes, for at least one communication between two communication stations functioning in mobile station mode, in connection with a first base station:
- an operation of determining a second station, during which a communication station functioning in mobile station mode able to function in base station mode is determined,
- a switching request operation during which a message representing a request to switch into base station mode is sent to the second station determined during the determination operation.
53 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in base station mode, and the stations not supplying the control signal then functioning in mobile station mode, the method comprising the steps of:
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performing a request operation in which a first communication station functioning in mobile station mode transmits to a second communication station functioning in base station mode a message representing a request to retrieve the function of base station; and
if the second communication station accepts the request, switching the functioning of the first communication station from mobile station mode to base station mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14)
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6. A method of communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in base station mode, and the stations not supplying the control signal then functioning in mobile station mode, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining whether the capabilities of a first communication station functioning in base station mode are sufficient to support a communication between two communication stations functioning in mobile station mode; and
if the capabilities of the first communication station are not sufficient, performing a request operation in which the first communication station transmits to a second communication station functioning in mobile station mode a message representing a request to switch its function to base station mode and to temporarily handle the communication between the two communication stations.
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7. A device for communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in base station mode and the stations not supplying the control signal then functioning in mobile station mode, the device comprising:
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means for performing a request operation in which a first communication station functioning in mobile station mode transmits to a second communication station functioning in base station mode a message representing a request to retrieve the function of base station; and
means for switching the functioning of the first communication station from mobile station mode to base station mode if the second communication station accepts the request. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for communicating between communication stations adapted to communicate with each other when at least one of said communication stations supplies a control signal, said station then functioning in base station mode, and the stations not supplying the control signal then functioning in mobile station mode, the device comprising:
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means for determining whether the capabilities of a first communication station functioning in base station mode are sufficient to support a communication between two communication stations functioning in mobile station mode; and
means for performing a request operation in which the first communication station transmits to a second communication station functioning in mobile station mode a message representing a request to switch its function to base station mode and to temporarily handle the communication between the two communication stations if the capabilities of the first communication station are not sufficient.
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Specification