The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 18, 1997
Filed:
Dec. 20, 1995
Richard W Mincher, San Jose, CA (US);
Kerry E Lynn, Redwood City, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A system for sending and responding to information requests in a wireless communications network includes a display device, a central processing unit, memory means including random access memory and read-only memory, an input device, and a transmitter/receiver. The random access memory further comprises routines for processing, sending and receiving messages over the wireless network. The present invention also comprises a method for requesting information and a method for responding to requests for information. The preferred method for handling information requests comprises the steps of: monitoring the communications channel for availability; sending an information request over the channel; receiving the information request at each node within the network; preparing responses to the information request at each node; and sending the response to the information request over the channel if it is available. The method for responding to a request for information advantageously uses the minimum number of request to solicit the minimum number of replies to the information request.