Implied acknowledgement data transport protocol for a multi-station network

摘要

The invention relates to a method of operating a communication network comprising multiplestations, each able to transmit and receive data, so that the network can transmita message from an originating station to a destination station via at least oneopportunistically selected intermediate station. Stations wishing to transmitdata transmit probe signals which are responded to by other stations, therebyto identify available stations. When a station has data to send, it transmits probesignals comprising Request to Send messages, identifying the data to be sent.When a station receives such data for onward transmission, it transmits its ownprobe signals comprising a Request to Send message and including identification informationrelating to the data. The Request to send messages are received by other stationsin the vicinity, so that they serve as an implied acknowledgement of the receiptof the data by the forwarding station without the need for sending explicit confirmationmessages. The invention extends to a network for implementing the method.