Patent ID: 7065364

Claim:
A method of transmitting wireless messages in a communications system having a plurality of transceiver units for receiving and onwardly transmitting wireless messages, wherein the system has a first mode, in which messages are transmitted from a first transmitter means to a target receiver means by sequential transmission via at least one said transceiver unit, and a second mode, the method comprising the steps of; when the system is in said second mode; transmitting from a first transmitter means a said wireless message contain information identifying a target receiver means; transmitting from said target receiver means an acknowledgement signal in response to receipt of said message by said target receiver means; and causing at least one said transceiver unit to transmit said message if said transceiver unit or each said transceiver unit does not detect within a respective predetermined period said acknowledgement signal or transmission of said message by a predetermined other transceiver unit, wherein each said transceiver unit transmits said message after a respective delay depending upon the position of the said transceiver unit relative to the first transmitter means and target receiver means in order to communication in the first mode of the system.