초록 ▼

A wireless network system includes a server having a server controller and a server radio modem, and a number of clients each including a client controller and a client radio modem. The server controller implements a server process that includes the receipt and the transmission of data packets via t

A wireless network system includes a server having a server controller and a server radio modem, and a number of clients each including a client controller and a client radio modem. The server controller implements a server process that includes the receipt and the transmission of data packets via the radio modem. The client controllers of each of the clients implements a client process that includes the receipt and transmission of data packets via the client radio modem. The client process of each of the clients initiates, selects, and maintains a radio transmission path to the server that is either a direct path to the server, or is an indirect path or "link" to the server through at least one of the remainder of the clients. A method for providing wireless network communication includes providing a server implementing a server process including receiving data packets via a radio modem, sending data packets via the server radio modem, communicating with the network, and performing housekeeping functions, and further includes providing a number of clients, each implementing a client process sending and receiving data packets via a client radio modem, maintaining a send/receive data buffer, and selecting a radio transmission path to the server. The radio transmission path or "link" is either a direct path to the server, or an indirect path to the server through at least one of the remainder of the clients. The process preferably optimizes the link to minimize the number of "hops" to the server.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A server providing a gateway between two networks, where at least one of the two networks is a wireless network, said server comprising:a radio modem capable of communicating with a first network that operates, at least in part, by wireless communication;a network inter

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A server providing a gateway between two networks, where at least one of the two networks is a wireless network, said server comprising:a radio modem capable of communicating with a first network that operates, at least in part, by wireless communication;a network interface capable of communicating with a second network; anda digital controller coupled to said radio modem and to said network interface, said digital controller communicating with said first network via said radio modem and communicating with said second network via said network interface, said digital controller passing data packets received from said first network that are destined for said second network to said second network, and passing data packets received from said second network that are destined for said first network to said first network, said digital controller maintaining a map of data packet transmission paths of a plurality of clients of said first network, where a transmission path of a client of said first network to said server can be through one or more of other clients of said first network;wherein said digital controller changes the transmission paths of clients to optimize the transmission paths including changing the transmission path from the client to the gateway so that the path to the gateway is chosen from the group consisting essentially of the path to the gateway through the least possible number of additional clients, the path to the gateway through the most robust additional clients, the path to the gateway through the clients with the least amount of traffic, and the path to the gateway through the fastest clients.