Location system for a wireless path

Abstract

The present invention is a system of at least a mobile wireless device and multiple communications paths from it to a target device, where the communications paths are through wireless intervening transmitters whose physical locations are used to determine a preferred path. A preferred system is one operating with a most direct physical path between the mobile device and the target device among the available communications paths.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A system for a preferred wireless path between a mobile device and a target device using multiple wireless intervening transmitters comprising: 
 (a) preference means using unique device addresses so that the mobile device preferentially indirectly communicates with the target device through two or more intervening transmitters;    (b) data storage means for storing location data of the physical locations of intervening transmitters and the target device in one or more of the target device, one or more of the intervening transmitters, and the target device sufficient so that if the mobile device is out of range of the target device and in range of an intervening transmitter a preferred wireless path based on the locations is determined; and    (c) path means for causing the preferential communication to take place along the preferred wireless path.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein location data for the location of the target device is input by a user into the target device.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the preferred wireless path is the physically most direct path between the mobile device and the target device among those available through intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein location data of one or more of the intervening transmitters and the target device is stored as a locations table in one or more of the target device, one or more of the intervening transmitters and the mobile device.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the locations table comprises the locations of all the intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the locations table is stored only in one or more intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the locations table is stored in all intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein path means comprise means for determining at least part of the preferred path as a most direct physical path between the mobile device and the target device among alternate paths available among the mobile device, intervening transmitters and the target device.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the locations of intervening transmitters are gathered at least in part in a locations table as a result of transmission from one or more intervening transmitter to other intervening transmitters  
     
     
         10 . A system determining a preferred path between a mobile device and a target device using multiple intervening transmitters making available several alternate transmission paths comprising: 
 (a) preference means causing the mobile device to preferentially communicate with the target device through two or more intervening transmitters;    (b) location data of the physical locations of intervening transmitters and the target device in one or more of the target device stored at one or more of the intervening transmitters, and the target device so that if the mobile device is out of range of the target device and in range of an intervening transmitter a preferred path determined; and    (c) path means for causing the preferential communication to take place along the preferred wireless path.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the preferred path is the physically most direct path between the mobile device and the target device among those available through intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein location data of one or more of the intervening transmitters and the target device is stored as a locations table in one or more of the target device, one or more of the intervening transmitters and the mobile device.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the locations table comprises the locations of all the intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the locations table is stored only in one or more intervening transmitters.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the locations table is stored in all intervening transmitters.