Patent ID: 8976684
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, between a requesting station and potential resource providing stations, the method comprising: monitoring, at each station, the activity and/or resources of other stations on the network to establish the availability of resources at the other stations; transmitting, from a requesting station requiring a specified resource, slow “neighbour gathering” probe signals at regular intervals (determined by a Slow Probe Timer) to find other stations varying the probe power until a certain predetermined number of stations indicate they are able to detect the probes if a station never acquires the required number of neighbors it will remain at the lowest data rate and maximum transmit power resource request probe signals identifying the specified resource; further transmitting fast probe signals (or gradient gathering probe signals) to develop information on how to reach that station if a station has a message (or other data) to transmit to a station that is not one of its neighbors until the destination station hears the fast probes of its neighbors; determining, at each station receiving the resource request probe signals, the availability at said station of the specified resource or a portion thereof and hence whether said station is a potential resource providing station; transmitting, from a potential resource providing station having the specified resource or a portion thereof, response data directly, or indirectly via one or more intermediate stations, to the requesting station indicating the availability of the specified resource or portion thereof to the requesting station; and receiving, at the requesting station, access to the specified resource or portion thereof from at least one resource providing station selected from one or more potential resource providing stations.