Patent ID: 7251489

Claim:
A system for wirelessly exchanging communications with at least one mobile unit, the system comprising: a first base station unit coupled to a network; a second base station unit coupled to the network, wherein the first and second base station units are configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile unit under a Bluetooth protocol and to automatically handoff the mobile unit from the first base station unit to the second base station unit; wherein the first and second base station units are configured to: use a low power class capability to inquire whether Bluetooth compatible devices are within a near communications range; use a medium power class capability to inquire whether Bluetooth compatible devices are within an intermediate communications range; use a high power class capability to inquire whether Bluetooth compatible devices are within a far communications range; store at least one record that identifies any Bluetooth compatible devices are within the near, intermediate and far communications ranges; identify which devices are base station units capable of accepting the mobile unit during a handoff, wherein identification of base station units results from a wireless inquiry signal from the identifying base station and a wireless response signal back from the identified base stations; and update the at least one record to reflect changes in base station units capable of accepting the mobile unit during a handoff.