Patent ID: 7751355

Claim:
A wireless device, comprising: an interface capable of generating a beacon frame for transmission during a beacon period for the wireless device to maintain synchronization with a plurality of other wireless devices of a community in a wireless communications network, the plurality of other wireless devices being operable to receive the generated beacon frame for maintaining synchronization with the wireless device, the frame comprising: a header containing routing information for the frame; beacon parameters to indicate signaling methods in use by the plurality of other wireless devices; and at least one information element comprising at least one identifier to identify the wireless device; wherein the at least one identifier comprises a signature identifier for the frame, an interface version, and a name and unique identifier for the wireless device and wherein the information element further comprises: (a) a shared object handler and date and time identifier to indicate the last update made to a shared object for indicating content available to the plurality of other wireless devices; (b) a community identifier to identify the community; (c) a popularity score to indicate the popularity of the wireless device and its priority in the community; (d) a community clock to synchronise community activities; (e) community gathering time period to detect the existence of the community and predetermined time intervals to join the community activities; (f) device joint time community time indicator to indicate when the wireless device joined the community; and (g) device status indicator to indicate whether the wireless device is active or passive.