Distributed control methods for management of migrating data stations in a wireless communications network

A wireless communications system having a plurality of header stations each serving a communication coverage area, the system further including at least one mobile communication unit, the mobile communication unit comprising:

• means for receiving, when located at a position that is served by two or more of the header stations, a transmission from each of the header stations that serve the position occupied by the mobile communication unit, the received transmissions being received over the wireless communications network and each transmission including information for uniquely identifying the transmitting header station, each transmission further including other information for indicating a number of mobile communication units for which the transmitting header station is currently managing wireless communications;
• means for selecting, in accordance with the received transmissions from the two or more header stations, one of the header stations as a header station to manage future wireless communications for the mobile communication unit;
• and
• means for transmitting a message over the wireless communications network from the mobile communication unit to the selected header station, the transmitted message requesting that the mobile communication unit be assigned to the selected header station, said transmitting means operating in response to a determination by the mobile communication unit that the selected header station is not a header station that is presently managing wireless communications for the mobile communication unit, the transmitted message including information for identifying a header station, if any, that is currently managing wireless communications for the mobile communication unit.

A method for managing ownership of one or more mobile communication units in a wireless communications network, the wireless communications network having a plurality of header stations in bidirectional wireless communication with one or more of the mobile communication units, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, with a mobile communication unit located at a position that is served by two or more of the header stations, a transmission from each of the header stations that serve the position occupied by the mobile communication unit, the received transmissions being received over the wireless communications network, each transmission uniquely identifying the transmitting header station;
• selecting, with the mobile communication unit and in accordance with the received transmissions from the two or more header stations, one of the header stations as a header station to manage future wireless communications for the mobile communication unit;
• and
• if the selected header station is not a header station that is presently managing wireless communications for the mobile communication unit, transmitting a message over the wireless communications network from the mobile communication unit to the selected header station requesting that the selected header station manage future wireless communications for the mobile communication unit;
• wherein the selected header station, in response to a message directed to the mobile communication unit from a second header station, records an identification of the second header station;
• and wherein
• the selected header station, in response to a message from a third header station that indicates that the mobile communication unit has selected the third header station to manage wireless communications for the mobile communication unit, transmits a message to a a third header station, the message including the identification of the second header station.

A wireless data communications system, comprising:

• a plurality of header stations, each of said header stations including means for transmitting information to a wireless network and means for receiving information for the wireless network, each of said header stations having a wireless communication cell associated therewith, each of said header stations further including means for bidirectionally coupling the header station to a wired network for transmitting information to the wired network and for receiving information from the wired network, wherein at least some of the information that is transmitted to the wired network is information that is first received from the wireless network, and wherein at least some of the information that is transmitted to the wireless network is information that is first received from the wired network;
• and
• at least one mobile data station, said mobile data station including,
• means for receiving, when located at a position where two or more wireless communications cells overlap, a transmission from each of the header stations associated with the overlapping wireless communications cells, each of the transmissions including information for uniquely identifying the transmitting header station, each transmission further including other information for indicating a number of mobile data stations for which the transmitting header station is currently managing wireless data communications;
• means for selecting, in accordance with the received transmissions from the two or more header stations, one of the header stations as a header station to manage future wireless communications for the mobile data station;
• and
• means for transmitting a message over the wireless communications network from the mobile data station, the transmitted message including information for uniquely identifying the mobile data station, information for specifying an identification of a header station, if any, that is currently managing wireless communications for the mobile data station, and information for specifying the identification of the selected header station, said transmitting means operating in response to a determination by the mobile communication unit that the selected header station is not a header station that is presently managing wireless communications for the mobile communication unit.