Method and apparatus for wireless networking

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wireless networking employs a wireless protocol module and a wireless interface module for controlling a remote terminal unit, whereby the modules integrate the remote terminal unit software and wireless networking application software.

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       8 . A method of creating a wireless network infrastructure between a plurality of remote terminals and base stations within wireless communication range of one another, comprising: 
 discovering wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of remote terminals and base stations have active communication nodes; and    creating wireless communication links with only those individual ones of the plurality of remote terminals and base stations having active communication nodes.    
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said step of discovering includes: 
 periodically polling, over exponentially increasing periods of time, the plurality of remote terminals to discover wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of remote terminals previously not having active communication nodes now have active communication nodes.    
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 creating other wireless communication links with those individual ones of the plurality of remote terminals and base stations now having active communication nodes.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 requesting permission from an individual one of the remote terminals and base stations having a discovered active node permission to transmit at least one data packet of input information;    sending at least one data packet of input information to the discovered active node; and    releasing said individual one of the remote terminals and base stations having a discovered active node to request permission from another individual one of the remote terminals having another discovered active node permission to transmit at least one data packet of input information.    
   
   
       12 . A wireless communication system for controlling the allocation of a payload bandwidth between a plurality of communication nodes, comprising: 
 a wireless protocol module for discovering wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of communications nodes are in an active state and for creating wireless communication links with only those individual ones of the plurality of communication nodes having said active state; and    said communication nodes not having an active state being periodically polled to discover wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of communication nodes not previously being in said active state have switched to said active state.    
   
   
       13 . The wireless communication system according to  claim 12 , wherein the time period between an individual one of said communications nodes being polled increases exponentially in response to a determination that the communication node is not in said active state.  
   
   
       14 . The wireless communication system according to  claim 12 , wherein the payload bandwidth is a fixed payload bandwidth.  
   
   
       15 . The wireless communication system according to  claim 12 , wherein the payload bandwidth is a variable payload bandwidth.  
   
   
       16 . The wireless communication system according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 wherein said communication nodes not having an active state are interrogated dynamically to discover wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of communication nodes not previously being in said active state have switched to said active state.    
   
   
       17 . The wireless communication system according to  claim 12 , wherein said communication nodes include at least one base station and at least one remote terminal.  
   
   
       18 . The wireless communication system according to  claim 17 , wherein said at least one base station and said at least one remote terminal are totally symmetrical relative to their operational response.  
   
   
       19 . The method of creating a wireless network infrastructure according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of remote terminals and base stations are individually and collectively called communication nodes.  
   
   
       20 . The method of creating a wireless network infrastructure according to  claim 8 , wherein said step of discovering wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of remote terminals and base stations have active communication nodes includes: 
 periodically polling said plurality of remote terminals and base stations.    
   
   
       21 . The method of creating a wireless network infrastructure according to  claim 8 , wherein said step of discovering wirelessly whether individual ones of the plurality of remote terminals and base stations have active communication nodes includes: 
 periodically interrogating said plurality of remote terminals and base stations.