Method and apparatus for maintaining communications connections over a distributed wireless network

摘要

A mobile wireless device connects to a network of multiple wireless transceiver stations using a protocol in which a connection is established with a particular transceiver station. If the mobile device moves out of range of the original station, the connection is passed to another station, which then impersonates the original station, without dropping the connection. Preferably, the original station provides a virtual Media Access Control (MAC) address to identify itself when the connection is established, and this virtual MAC address is passed to any successor station. Preferably, the station monitors signal strength and automatically passes the connection by polling its neighbors upon determining that signal strength is getting weak.

主权项

1. A method of servicing a mobile wireless device, comprising the steps of:
establishing a connection between a mobile wireless device and a first wireless transceiver station according to a wireless communications protocol, said connection for providing a communications service to said mobile wireless device; automatically determining that a second wireless transceiver station has a better wireless signal for communicating with said mobile wireless device than said first wireless transceiver station has for communicating with said mobile wireless device; responsive to said automatically determining step, automatically passing said connection from said first wireless transceiver station to said second wireless transceiver station, said second wireless transceiver station thereafter impersonating said first wireless transceiver station to provide said communications service to said mobile wireless device via said connection.