Patent ID: 8064421

Claim:
A wireless device for use in a wireless ad hoc network, comprising: a wireless network interface that connects said wireless device to said wireless ad hoc network; a neighbor node discovery module that generates a neighbor node set of said wireless device; and a display module that displays network connectivity information of said wireless device; wherein said neighbor node discovery module comprises: a transmitter configured to generate and forward a plurality of HELLO messages to said wireless network interface according to a specified messaging rate, wherein said plurality of HELLO messages are characterized by one or more of variable HELLO message packet sizes and variable transmission data rates; a receiver configured to receive at least one REPLY message from said wireless network interface in response to each of said plurality of HELLO messages; a memory configured to store cumulative HELLO/REPLY message data generated based on said plurality of HELLO messages and REPLY messages received in response thereto; and a statistical analyzer module configured to analyze said cumulative HELLO/REPLY message data stored in said memory to generate said neighbor node set of said wireless device.