Patent ID: 7466981

Claim:
A method for handing off a node from a first access point to a second access point, comprising: facilitating communication between a node and a network using a first access point; accessing a handoff rule of one or more handoff rules; determining one or more handoff factors associated with the first access point and a second access point, a handoff factor relevant in deciding whether to handoff from the first access point to the second access point; applying the handoff rule to the one or more handoff factors by: determining a difference between a first Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value and a second RSSI value, the first RSSI value associated with the first access point, the second RSSI value associated with the second access point; and initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the one or more handoff factors satisfy the applied handoff rule by: initiating handoff of the node to the second access point if the difference satisfies an RSSI differential threshold, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a first RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a first range of values, the RSSI differential threshold comprising a second RSSI differential threshold if the first RSSI value is within a second range of values, the first range of values less than the second range of values, the first RSSI differential threshold less than the second RSSI differential threshold.