Method and apparatus for distributing data to a mobile device using plural access points
A system and method for providing connectivity between mobile devices and access points of a network without redundant solicitation of communication by the mobile device at each access point is described. The method involves receiving a data packet at a first access point in a control group; transmitting the data packet from the first access point to the mobile device; determining if the mobile device acknowledges receipt of the data packet; responsive to determining that the mobile device failed to acknowledge receipt of the data packet, forwarding the data packet to a second access point; and transmitting the data packet from the second access point to the mobile device.
1. A system for wireless communications, comprising:
a mobile wireless communications device that establishes a communications link with a first wireless communications device,
wherein the mobile wireless communications device enters a standby mode,
wherein, while in the standby mode in a coverage area associated with the first wireless communications device, the mobile wireless communications device wirelessly receives information about the first wireless communications device and at least one other wireless communications device, and
wherein, responsive to the mobile wireless communications device moving from the coverage area associated with the first wireless communications device to a coverage area associated with the at least one other wireless communications device, the mobile wireless communications device uses the received information to establish communications synchronization with the at least one other wireless communications device without first establishing a communications link with the at least one other wireless communications device.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communications device and the at least one other wireless communications device are part of a coverage group.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device wirelessly receives the information over a control channel, and wherein the control channel is associated with a set of packets that are transmitted at clock times that have been predefined to signify the control channel.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein transmission times of the control channel are fixed.
5. The system according to claim 3 , wherein transmission times of the control channel are modified by the control channel.
6. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the set of packets comprises information that identifies the set of packets as control channel packets.
7. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a mobile phone.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device supports spread spectrum communications.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device is Bluetooth-enabled.
10. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).
11. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a computer.
12. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device is Bluetooth-enabled.
13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device establishes the communications link with a first wireless communications device and enters the standby mode while in the coverage area associated with the first wireless communications device.
14. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the first wireless communications device and the at least one other wireless communications device associated with the coverage group have overlapping coverage areas.
15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device stores the received information so that the stored information can be used when the mobile wireless communications device moves from the coverage area associated with the first wireless communications device to the coverage area associated with the at least one other wireless communications device.
16. The system according to claim 1 , wherein, responsive to the mobile wireless communications device moving from the coverage area associated with the first wireless communications device to a coverage area associated with the at least one other wireless communications device, the mobile wireless communications device establishes a passive communications link with the at least one other wireless communications device.
17. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the standby mode comprises a park mode.
18. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a mobile phone.
19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device supports spread spectrum communications.
20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device is Bluetooth-enabled.
21. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA).
22. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device comprises a computer.
23. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device is Bluetooth-enabled.
24. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless communications device is Bluetooth-enabled.
25. The system according to claim 1 , wherein after the mobile wireless communications device establishes the communications link with the first wireless communications device, the mobile wireless communications device requests from the first wireless communications device that the mobile wireless communications device be placed in the standby mode.
26. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device establishes the communications link with the first wireless communications device over a frequency-hopped communications channel.
27. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mobile wireless communications device establishes communications synchronization with the at least one other wireless communications device without the at least one other wireless communications device receiving identification information about the mobile wireless communications device.
28. The system according to claim 1 , while the mobile wireless communications device is in the standby mode in the coverage area associated with the at least one other wireless communications device, the mobile wireless communications device establishes communications synchronization with the at least one other wireless communications device without first establishing the communications link with the at least one other wireless communications device.