Patent ID: 8208473

Claim:
A method of operating a communication network comprising a plurality of stations each able to transmit and receive data so that the network can transmit a message from an originating station to a destination station via at least one opportunistically selected intermediate station, the method comprising: i. transmitting probe signals from each station, other stations which receive the probe signals from a probing station responding directly, or indirectly via other stations, to indicate to the probing station their availability as destination or intermediate stations; ii. from a station with data to send, transmitting a probe signal comprising a Request to Send message to other available stations, the Request to Send message indicating a need to send data to a particular destination station or stations and including identification information relating to data received previously for onward transmission by the station with data to send; iii. from said station with data to send, transmitting data opportunistically to reach an available station or stations for onward transmission to said destination station or stations; and iv. from a station receiving said data for onward transmission, transmitting a further probe signal comprising a Request to Send message including identification information relating to said data, thereby to provide an implied acknowledgement of the received data to the station with data to send and also to other available stations.