Appeal No. 2006-2754
Application No. 10/108,109
to representative claim 8, the Ramanathan patent teaches a method
for self organizing nodes in a wireless network. Particularly,
as depicted in figures 1 and 2, Ramanathan discloses operating
instructions for assessing a plurality of network nodes, wherein
each node is assessed to determine whether it qualifies to
operate as a cluster member or a cluster gateway (cluster head).
First, a station at each node executes an affiliation
procedure during which it operates as a cluster member and
attempts to affiliate with an existing cluster gateway. The
station periodically executes an affiliation check procedure to
ensure that its pre-existing affiliation with the gateway station
is still valid or it is within a communication range to affiliate
with another gateway station. In the event that the affiliation
procedure fails (i.e. no gateway station within range of the
member station), the member station enters the procedure as a
cluster gateway.
Second, Ramanathan discloses that when a particular station
qualifies to operate as a cluster gateway, the gateway station
measures its signal strength to determine its proximity to other
gateway stations. If the measured signal strength exceeds a
predetermined proximity threshold, the gateway station decides on
whether or not to resign. Further, Ramanathan discloses that the
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