Appeal No. 1997-2066
Application 08/537,408
This is a decision on appeal under 35 U.S.C. § 134 from
the final rejection of claims 1-21.
We reverse.
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for
maintaining connectivity of nodes in a wireless local area
network (LAN). In conventional cellular telephone systems,
the "handoff" process of nodes between basic service areas
(BSAs), otherwise referred to as "cells," is controlled solely
by the base stations, otherwise referred to as access points
(APs). Due to the asymmetric nature of the radio links, the
node itself can best determine the quality of the signal
received at the node. In Appellant's invention, the node
determines an AP to select for reassociation after handoff.
The method of conducting the handoff is evident from claim 1,
reproduced below.
1. In a wireless local area network (LAN)
comprising a plurality of cells, each cell including at
least one access point for communicating information
between cells and at least one node for communicating via
the LAN through said access points, a method for
maintaining connectivity of a node in the wireless LAN
comprising the steps of:
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