Patent ID: 7209466

Claim:
A method of maintaining connectivity and synchronization of data from a first application resident in a first mobile computer to a second application resident in a second computer, the data being transmitted over a wireless data communications network that includes a plurality of stationary access points, at least one communications controller in communication with the access points, and a plurality of remote mobile computers operative for wirelessly communicating with the access points when located within a predetermined range therefrom and being normally associated, and in communication, with at least one of the access points, each mobile computer having a unique user address, comprising: a) establishing communication and association over the wireless data communications network between the first mobile computer and a first of the access points and with the at least one communications controller associated with the first access point through a gateway; b) registering the user address of the first mobile computer with the gateway; c) utilizing the gateway for processing messages destined for the first mobile computer and transferring the messages through the gateway to the first access point and the first mobile computer; d) establishing a first socket in the first mobile computer in response to each connection request by the first application for processing the data originated by the first application, and establishing a second socket in the second computer, to enable a connection between the first mobile computer and the second computer over a first link; e) subsequently determining, in the first mobile computer, that communications of the data over the first link in a session has been impeded, and that association with a second of the access points and communication over a second link should be attempted in order to continue the communications; f) storing and queuing the messages; and g) establishing the second link while the messages are stored and queued in order to continue the session between the first mobile computer and the second computer.