Back to results
US 8,620,211 B2Granted
Wireless viral mesh network and process for using the same
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorGilbert G. Weigand
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sending subscriber system may participate in a wireless network by generating a message to transmit in a wireless network, identifying a local wireless subscriber system with which communications may be established, and determining whether to use the wireless local subscriber system as a relay.
Claims21
A method of redirecting communications in a wireless network, the method comprising:
- relaying, by a first wireless device in the wireless network, wireless communications from a second wireless device in the wireless network to a base station in the wireless network;
- detecting, at the first wireless device, an occurrence of a condition in response to which the first wireless device is configured to redirect wireless communications in the wireless network;
- and
- in response to detecting the occurrence of the condition, redirecting the second wireless device to utilize a third wireless device in the wireless network as a relay for wireless communications from the second wireless device.
1 more element
A first wireless device that is configured to participate in a wireless network, the first wireless device comprising:
- a communication device for communicating on the wireless network;
- at least one processing element;
- and
- a storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing element, cause the at least one processing element to:
- relay, via the communication device, wireless communications between a second wireless device in the wireless network and a base station in the wireless network;
- detect an occurrence of a condition in response to which the local wireless device is configured to redirect wireless communications in the wireless network;
- and
- in response to detecting the occurrence of the condition, redirect the second wireless device to utilize a third wireless device in the wireless network as a relay for wireless communications between the second wireless device and said base station or another base station in the wireless network.
5 more elements
A method of communicating in a wireless network, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a first wireless device in the wireless network, a request from a second wireless device in the wireless network to use the first wireless device as an intermediary for transmitting wireless communications in the wireless network;
- in response to receiving the request from the second wireless device, determining, at the first wireless device, whether the wireless network can support the request from the second wireless device to use the first wireless device as the intermediary;
- and
- based on a determination that the wireless network can support the request from the second wireless device to use the first wireless device as the intermediary, sending a message from the first wireless device to at least one participating wireless device in the wireless network announcing that the wireless network can support the use of the first wireless device as the intermediary.
1 more element
A method of configuring a wireless network, the method comprising:
- determining whether a first wireless device in the wireless network is able to exchange wireless communications directly with a base station in the wireless network;
- based on a determination that the first wireless device is unable to exchange wireless communications directly with the base station, locating a second wireless device in the wireless network that is available to operate as a relay for wireless communications in the wireless network to and from the first wireless device;
- and
- configuring the first wireless device to utilize the second wireless device as the relay for wireless communications in the wireless network to and from the first wireless device.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.