Patent ID: 7146433

Claim:
A method for providing wireless data communication between an access point connected to a communication network and a remote mobile unit, out of range of direct wireless communication with said access point, wherein said method comprises: a) transmitting a remote access request by radio from said remote mobile unit; b) generating path information describing said remote access request and a first plurality of paths from said remote mobile unit, wherein said first plurality of paths include a plurality of intermediate mobile units, in response to said remote access request; c) transmitting said path information by radio; d) receiving path information describing said remote access request and a second plurality of paths, within said first plurality of paths, in said access point, wherein a portion of said path information is transmitted by radio to said access point along each path in said second plurality of paths; e) transmitting a remote access response along each path in said second plurality of paths from said access point to said remote mobile unit; f) receiving said remote access response in said remote mobile unit, transmitted along each path within a third plurality of paths, within said second plurality of paths; and g) selecting a selected path within said second plurality of paths in said remote mobile unit h) sending data along said selected path between said remote mobile unit and said access point, wherein each said intermediate mobile unit in said selected path receives wirelessly transmitted data along said selected path in a first direction, and wherein each said intermediate mobile unit in said selected path transmits said data to continue in said first direction along said selected path.