Patent ID: 8971231
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a communication route between a source node and a destination node, the communication route comprising multiple virtual routers, the method comprising: the source node broadcasting a route request message for the destination node; relay nodes positioned between the source node and the destination node receiving the route request message and relaying the route request message to the destination node; the destination node receiving the route request message relayed by the relay nodes and broadcasting a route reply message for the source node; the relay nodes receiving the route reply message and relaying the route reply message to the source node; and each mobile node within a transmission range of a nearby relay node that overhears the route reply message relayed by the nearby relay node joining the nearby relay node to form a virtual router that extends across the transmission range of the nearby relay node, the virtual router comprising a logical router that is associated with a particular geographic region wherein each of the mobile nodes of the virtual router within that geographical region that receives data packets communicated between the source node and the destination node available to forward the data packets on behalf of the virtual router, wherein whether or not a mobile node of a virtual router forwards the data packets on behalf of the virtual router depends at least in part upon the mobile node's distance from the destination node.