1. A method executing on a processor of a device operating in a communications network, the method comprising:
collecting roaming data for a the communications network, the roaming data comprising a number of times a mobile unit roams between a plurality of access points in the communications network;
creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of the plurality of access points for roaming;
collecting location data based on a location of the mobile unit relative to at least one access point in the plurality of access points; and
incorporating the location data into the scan list to generate a refined scan list having a modified prioritization of the plurality of access points for roaming; and
transmitting the refined scan list to the mobile unit;
wherein the roaming data is a handoff history, the handoff history recording occurrences of associations, further
the handoff history is based on one of the mobile unit, a plurality of mobile units of the network, and a specified group of mobile units of the network.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the roaming data includes a priori data.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating step includes the subset of generating the scan list using an a priori algorithm as a function the roaming data.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
collecting supplemental data; and
recreating the scan list based on at least one of the roaming data and the supplemental data.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the supplemental data is one of network topology data, location data, signal strength, overall coverage area data, sectored coverage area data, and network traffic data.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the handoff history is recorded according to one of an overall duration, a time of year duration, and a time of day duration.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the handoff history is based on one of the plurality of access points.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
storing the roaming data at one of a database, a server, and a network management arrangement.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
authenticating the mobile unit using authentication data with a first access point of the plurality of access points.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the authentication data is transmitted by the first access point to other access points of the plurality of access points.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmission of the authentication data is based on the roaming data.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
updating the roaming data upon the mobile unit roaming.
13. A system having a plurality of devices operating in a communications network, the system comprising:
a collection module collecting roaming data for a network, the roaming data comprising a number of times a mobile unit roams between a plurality of access points in the network and location data of a mobile unit based on a location of the mobile unit relative to at least one access point in the plurality of access points of the network;
a creation module creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of the plurality of access points for roaming and incorporating the location data into the scan list, to generate a refined scan list having a modified prioritization of the plurality of access points for roaming; and
a transmitter transmitting the refined scan list to the mobile unitl;
wherein the roaming data is a handoff history, the handoff history recording occurrences of associations, further
the handoff history is based on one of the mobile unit, a plurality of mobile units of the network, and a specified group of mobile units of the network.
14. The system of claim 13, a wherein the roaming data includes a priori data and wherein the creation module generates the scan list using an a priori algorithm as a function the roaming data
15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
the collection module collecting supplemental roaming data; and
the creation module recreating the scan list based on at least one of the roaming data and the supplemental roaming data.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the supplemental data is one of network topology data, location data, signal strength, overall coverage area data, sectored coverage area data, and network traffic data.
17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
a memory storing the roaming data.
18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
an authentication module authenticating the mobile unit using authentication data with a first access point of the plurality of access points.
19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:
an access point transmitter transmitting the authentication data other access points of the plurality of access points.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein transmission of the authentication data is based on the roaming data.
21. The system of claim 13, further comprising:
an updating module updating the roaming data upon the mobile unit roaming.
22. A system having a plurality of devices operating in a communications network, the system comprising:
a collection means for collecting roaming data for a network, the roaming data comprising a number of times a mobile unit roams between a plurality of access points in the communications network;
a creation means for creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of a the plurality of access points for roaming;
a collection means for collecting location data based on a location of a the mobile unit relative to at least one access point in the plurality of access points; and
a means for incorporating the location data into the scan list to generate a refined scan list having a modified prioritization of the plurality of access points for roaming; and
a transmittal means transmitting the refined scan list to the mobile unit;
wherein the roaming data is a handoff history, the handoff history recording occurrences of associations, further
the handoff history is based on one of the mobile unit, a plurality of mobile units of the network, and a specified group of mobile units of the network.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An inflatable packer comprising: a slat for use in the inflatable packer, the slat comprising:
a body member having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the body member comprises at least one of an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an elastoplastic, or a polymer; and
a plurality of reinforcement members disposed throughout the body member of the slat, the reinforcement members formed in a braided structure in the body member of the slat, wherein the reinforcement members comprise at least one of a fiber, a nanofiber, or a nanotube, and wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement members are exposed at an outer surface of the slat for anchoring the slat and the packer during use thereof.
2. The inflatable packer of claim 1, wherein the body member further comprises at least one notch formed therein and at least one protrusion extending therefrom for interaction with notches formed in and protrusions extending from body members of adjoining slats in the inflatable packer.
3. The inflatable packer slat of claim 1, wherein the width of the body member varies along at least a portion of the length of the body member.
4. The inflatable packer of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the body member varies along at least a portion of its length and forms one of a triangular cross section or a curved cross section.
5. The inflatable packer slat of claim 1, wherein the body member has a frictional gradient along its width.
6. The inflatable packer of claim 1, wherein the stiffness of the body member varies across its width and across its length.
7. The inflatable packer of claim 1, wherein the material of the slat comprises anisotropic properties to control its expansion behavior or process.
8. The inflatable packer slat of claim 1, wherein the fibers reinforcement members comprise non-metallic fibers.
9. An inflatable packer comprising: a slat for use in the inflatable packer, the slat comprising:
a body member having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the body member comprises at least one of an elastomer, a thermoplastic elastomer, an elastoplastic, or a polymer; and
a plurality of reinforcement members disposed in the body member of the slat, the reinforcement members formed in a woven structure in the body member, wherein the reinforcement members comprises at least one of a fiber, a nanofiber, or a nanotube, and wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement members are exposed at an outer surface of the slat for anchoring the slat and the packer during use thereof.
10. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the body member further comprises at least one notch formed therein and at least one protrusion extending therefrom for interaction with notches formed in and protrusions extending from body members of adjoining slats in the inflatable packer.
11. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the width of the body member varies along at least a portion of the length of the body member.
12. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the thickness of the body member varies along at least a portion of its length and forms one of a triangular cross section or a curved cross section.
13. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the body member has a frictional gradient along its width.
14. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the stiffness of the body member varies across its width and across its length.
15. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the material of the slat comprises anisotropic properties to control its expansion behavior or process.
16. The inflatable packer of claim 9, wherein the fibers reinforcement members comprise non-metallic fibers.
17. An inflatable packer comprising:
a bladder;
a cover, the bladder and the cover comprising at least one of an elastomer material, a thermoplastic elastomer material, an elastoplastic material, or a polymer material;
a plurality of interacting slats disposed between and along the length of the bladder and the cover, each of the slats comprising an elastomer modified by reinforcement members disposed throughout a body of each of the slats, wherein the reinforcement members are disposed in an axial direction across the slats to carry a mechanical loading on the slats, and wherein the reinforcement members comprise at least one of a fiber, a nanofiber, a nanotube, or a nanoparticle and wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement members are exposed at an outer surface of the slat for anchoring the slat and the packer during use thereof.
18. The inflatable packer of claim 17, wherein the slats comprise a first sheet and a second sheet, the first sheet having reinforcement members disposed in said axial direction across the slats, and the second sheet having reinforcement members placed in a traverse direction substantially perpendicular to said axial direction.
19. The inflatable packer of claim 17, wherein the slats comprise a first sheet and a second sheet, the first sheet having reinforcement members disposed in said axial direction across the slats, and the second sheet comprising reinforcement members disposed in a fibrous mat pattern.
20. The inflatable packer of claim 17, wherein the slats comprise a length, a width and a thickness.
21. The inflatable packer of claim 17, wherein the reinforcement members comprise non-metallic fibers.
22. An inflatable packer comprising:
a bladder comprising at least one of an elastomer material, a thermoplastic elastomer material, an elastoplastic material, or a polymer material;
a plurality of interacting slats disposed along the length of the bladder, each of the plurality of slats having slat reinforcement members disposed throughout a body of each of the slats, wherein the reinforcement members comprise at least one of a fiber, a nanofiber, a nanotube, or a nanoparticle and wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement members are exposed at an outer surface of the slat for anchoring the slat and the packer during use thereof; and
a cover comprising at least one of an elastomer material, a thermoplastic elastomer material, an elastoplastic material, or a polymer material and covering the plurality of slats, the cover defining at least one opening such that at least a portion of the exposed reinforcement members in the plurality of slats are exposed to facilitate anchoring of the inflatable packer against a surrounding wellbore wall during expansion of the inflatable packer.
23. The inflatable packer of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of slats also comprises an elastomeric material.
24. The inflatable packer of claim 22, wherein the slats comprise a length, a width and a thickness.
25. The inflatable packer of claim 22, wherein the reinforcement members comprise non-metallic fibers.