Patent ID: 7551895
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of communicating in a mobile ad-hoc network having a plurality of nodes, each node configured to transmit to and receive information, directionally and omnidirectionally from other nodes in the network, the method comprising: determining whether a first directional transmission path between a transmitting node and a destination node is known to be free from obstruction; the transmitting node transmitting a message to the destination node using the first directional transmission path; retransmitting the message to the destination node using the first directional transmission path when a message receipt acknowledgement in an omnidirectional network transmission has not been received within a predetermined time; blocking additional transmissions via the first directional transmission path when the message receipt acknowledgement in the omnidirectional network transmission has not been received after more than a pre-set number of retransmissions; and transmitting the message to a proxy node using a second directional transmission path between the transmitting node and the proxy node based on the message receipt acknowledgement in the omnidirectional network transmission not being received, the message comprising instructions for the proxy node to directionally transmit the message to the destination node.