Patent ID: 7266386

Claim:
A method for performing packet re-flooding in a wireless ad hoc network including a plurality of nodes, comprising: establishing a power level reference so that each of the plurality of nodes, other than a source node, receiving a broadcast packet from the source node is assigned a predetermined number of power levels corresponding to a receiving power of a signal carrying the received packet; each of the plurality of nodes, except the source node, obtaining the receiving power of the signal carrying the received packet, respectively; establishing one of the power levels as a respective power level of each of the plurality of nodes based on the power level reference, in accordance with the receiving power as obtained; calculating a back-off delay time in accordance with the power level established for each of the plurality of nodes, except the source node; and when the back-off delay time of a respective one of the plurality of nodes, except the source node, expires, and the received packet is not identical to a packet previously received by the respective one of the plurality of nodes, the respective one of the plurality of nodes re-floods the received packet.