Patent ID: 8031684

Claim:
A method of operating an ad hoc network, the network comprising a plurality of devices that each include communication means for communicating with other ones of the plurality of devices when the other ones of the plurality of devices are in range, the method comprising: storing on each device one or more nodal policies which specify rules for determining how a device should behave in response to various prevailing circumstances; controlling each device to operate in accordance with one or more of the stored nodal policies; storing on each device a fitness parameter; each device adjusting the value of the fitness parameter stored thereon in dependence upon the level of activity of the respective device consistent with the stored policies of the respective device; each device monitoring the value of the fitness parameter stored thereon and the activity of the communication means thereof; and each device transmitting, to other ones of the devices which are in range, one or more of the nodal policies stored thereon in the event that the fitness parameter thereof exceeds a threshold value and the communication means thereof is not required for other purposes.