John B Bongiorno, 74Succasunna, NJ

2007023, Oct 4, 2007

Dec 16, 2005

10/587879

Tarek Ibrahim - Hoboken NJ, US
John Brancato - Tappan NY, US
John Bongiorno - Litchfield CT, US

H04Q 7/38

455436000

A pico cell wireless LAN and pre-emptive roaming algorithm is provided to allow mobile devices in the WLAN to hand-off to another different access point quickly and efficiently. Once associated with an access point (AP), the mobile device receives information about neighboring APs that may be available for hand-off during roaming (or insufficient signal strength). Signal strength of the associated AP is continuously monitored and if signal strength from the associated AP falls below a threshold, the mobile device measures signal strength of the neighboring APs in the list, ranks them, and selects an AP for hand-off. AP load and other information may be used to rank the neighboring APs. The mobile device hands-off to (or associates with) one of the neighboring APs, if appropriate. Hand-offs are attempted in order or rank. Cell sizes in the pico cell WLAN are relatively small, on the order of 1000 square feet or less.