Patent ID: 6580700
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: G06K,H04L,H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
A method in a data communications network including a plurality of stationary access points and a plurality of mobile units, the mobile unit being capable of transmitting at least two data rates and capable of communicating with at least two access points in a predetermined range therefrom, comprising the steps of:evaluating the mobile unit performance; and scanning for the most eligible access point at periodic predetermined intervals wherein the most eligible one of the access points is selected according to received signal quality at said one of the mobile units, and a loading factor at each of the access points, and in which an eligible group of said access points is selected from all the access points having a signal quality above a predetermined threshold; the group including a current one of the access points having a signal quality above a further predetermined threshold; and the most eligible access point being selected from all the access points having the lowest loading factor; wherein the access point of more than a given proportion of the loading factor of the current one of the stationary access points are excluded; and wherein, when a plurality of the access points has the same loading factor, the access point having the highest signal quality is selected as the most eligible access point; associating with the most eligible access point at the highest data rate.