CLUSTER HEAD RESIGNATION TO IMPROVE ROUTING IN MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

摘要

A communications system for communication among plural stations in a network has stations (CH1, CM2, CM3, CH4, CH5, CM6, CM7) arranged in clusters (1a, 1b, 1c) of communication member stations, each communicating with each other. One of the member stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) is a head station of the cluster. The cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5) communicate with other cluster head stations (CH1, CH4, CH5). A method for configuring the network of stations includes a step of operating at least a first (CH5) and a second (CH4) station of the plural stations as cluster head stations, the first (CH5) and second (CH4) stations forming a communications link. The method also includes a step to resign the first (CH5) station from operating as a cluster head station when a predetermined resignation condition is met. The method also includes a step of maintaining the communication link between the first (CH5) and second (CH4) station as the first station (CH5) transitions from operating as a cluster head station (CH5) to operating as a cluster member station (CM5) of a cluster headed by the second cluster head station (CH4).