Patent ID: 7660287

Claim:
A method for “address resolution mapping” in a wireless multihop data communication network, the method comprising: a first network node broadcasting an address resolution protocol (ARP) request to a second node, said ARP request being an ARP message in which an operation code field of said ARP message indicates that said ARP message is said ARP request; said second node receiving said ARP request and determining a destination of said ARP request; said second node transmitting said ARP request when said ARP request is determined to be destined to a third node; and said second node receiving an ARP reply from said third node, said ARP reply being an ARP message in which an operation code field of said ARP message indicates that said ARP message is said ARP reply; said second node modifying said operation code field part of said ARP reply to indicate that said modified ARP reply is an ARP forward; and said second node forwarding said ARP forward to said first network node.