Abstract: An apparatus for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network includes a network interface, a controller, and memory. The interface receives a series of multicast data packets. The controller identifies one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network requesting data corresponding to the series of multicast data packets and determines that the effective unicast rate for one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using an 802.x protocol. The memory stores instructions that may be executable by a processor. Upon execution of the instructions by a processor, the received series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast packets, the execution and conversion occurring in response to instructions received from the controller. A system for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network implements such an apparatus in the context of an access point.

Abstract: Pattern shaping elements shape a radiation pattern generated by one or more antennas. A MIMO antenna system generates an omnidirectional radiation pattern. One or more pattern shaping elements may include metal objects which act as directors or reflectors to shape the radiation pattern. The shaping may be controlled by selectively coupling the pattern shaping elements to a ground plane, thus making them appear transparent to the radiation pattern. The pattern shaping elements may be amorphous, have varying shape, and may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Different configurations of selected pattern shaping elements may provide different shapes for a radiation pattern.

Abstract: In order to increase the likelihood of possession of an electronic device (such as an access point), a modified identifier associated with the electronic device may be provided to another electronic device. In particular, the modified identifier may be generated by adding one or more additional characters to an identifier. For example, the identifier may include a serial number of the electronic device, and the one or more additional characters may include alphanumeric information and/or random numbers. These one or more additional characters may be: added to a beginning of the identifier, added to an end of the identifier, interspersed with characters in the identifier, and/or in a reserved field in the identifier. Moreover, the one or more additional characters may be predefined. Alternatively, the one or more additional characters may be dynamically generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing secured network access are provided. A user device located within range of a hotspot initiates a request sent via an open communication network associated with the hotspot. The request concerns secured network access at the hotspot by the user device. A unique pre-shared key is generated for the user device based on information in the received request and transmitted over the open communication network for display on a webpage accessible to the user device. The unique pre-shared key is stored in association with information regarding the user device. The user device may then use the unique pre-shared key in subsequent requests for secured network access.

Abstract: High gain, multi-pattern multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna systems are disclosed. These systems provide for multiple-polarization and omnidirectional coverage using multiple radios, which may be tuned to the same frequency. The MIMO antenna systems may include multiple high-gain beams arranged (or capable of being arranged) to provide for omnidirectional coverage. These systems provide for increased data throughput and reduced interference without sacrificing the benefits related to size and manageability of an associated access point.

Abstract: A monopole antenna coupled to a metallic ground plane includes apertures used to steer a radio frequency (RF) beam of the monopole. The apertures may have a length, width, and distance from the monopole based on the wavelength of the RF signal used to drive the monopole antenna. The aperture may be coupled to one or more selective devices, such as PIN diodes, which may short portions of a metallic ground plane near the aperture. The shorted portions of the metallic ground plane provide for steering of the monopole radiation pattern. A circuit board metallic ground plane may include multiple apertures to direct different RF signal frequencies from a single monopole antenna. Multiple monopole antennas may be implemented over a metallic ground plane within a wireless device, each monopole antenna with corresponding apertures.

Abstract: During a communication technique, an access point provides a message that includes one or more public land mobile network identifiers of one or more cellular-telephone networks that are supported by the access point. Then, an electronic device, which received the message, provides a candidate list specifying one or more access points that support communication with a cellular telephone network to a radio node that is associated with this cellular-telephone network. By communicating with a wireless-local-area-network (WLAN) controller, the radio node validates the one or more access points, and selects a target access point based on performance feedback from the WLAN controller. Next, the radio node instructs the electronic device to associate with the target access point. Moreover, the radio node and the target access point establish a secure-communication pathway, which allows the radio node to communicate data to the electronic device via the access point using an LTE Wi-Fi aggregation protocol.

Abstract: Systems and methods here may be used for authorizing network access including using a flow controller server in communication with a first gateway associated with a first network, a second gateway associated with a second gateway, and a repository, the flow controller server configured to, receive a first client device request to access the first network via the first gateway, receive a second client device request to access the second network via the second gateways, retrieve a validation response from the repository, wherein the validation response includes correlated client device identifier with client device credentials for the first network and second network.

Abstract: Power consumption in a receiving device is avoided by receiving packets from a transmitting device in a first band of frequencies (such as around 60 GHz) and providing acknowledgments in a second band of frequencies that is different than the first band of frequencies (such as around 5 GHz). These out-of-band acknowledgments may allow the receiving device to avoid transmissions in the first band of frequencies and the associated power consumption. Moreover, the transmissions by the transmitting device in the first band of frequencies and the second band of frequencies may be synchronized so that packets are transmitted in the first band of frequencies when transmission in the second band of frequencies is enabled. In these ways, this communication technique may improve the performance of the transmitting device and the receiving device.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing transmission parameter control at a transmitting station is described. The exemplary system and method comprises querying a transmission parameter control module for a transmission schedule. The transmission schedule comprises at least one schedule entry defining a set of transmission parameter controls as they pertain to a destination address. At least one packet of data is then transmitted to the destination address according to the transmission parameters controls of at least one schedule entry from the transmission schedule. A system and method for selecting an antenna configuration corresponding to a next transmission of packet data is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mountable antenna element is constructed as an object from a single piece of material and can be configured to transmit and receive RF signals, achieve optimized impedance values, and operate in a concurrent dual-band system. The mountable antenna element may have one or more legs, an RF signal feed, and one or impedance matching elements. The legs and RF signal feed can be coupled to a circuit board. The impedance matching elements can be utilized to create a capacitance with a portion of the circuit board and thereby optimize impedance of the antenna element at a desired operating frequency. The mountable antenna includes features that enable it for use in concurrent dual band operation with the wireless device. Because the mountable antenna element can be installed without needing additional circuitry for matching impedance and can be constructed from a single piece of material, the antenna element provides for more efficient manufacturing.

Abstract: A wireless device having a mountable antenna element and an antenna array that operate simultaneously and efficiently on a circuit board within a wireless device. The mountable antenna element may be coupled to a ground layer of the circuit board. The antenna array may include dipole antennas incorporated within the circuit board and positioned within a close proximity to the ground layer. One or more stubs may be implemented on the circuit board near the dipole antenna array. Each antenna stub may create an impedance in the dipole elements which enable the antenna elements to operate efficiently while positioned in close proximity to the circuit board ground layer.

Abstract: A mesh network with a network-wide pre-shared key (PSK) that can be updated is described. The PSK can be used to establish secure communication between arbitrary electronic devices in the mesh network. In order to prevent electronic devices from being inadvertently ‘stranded,’ i.e., unable to securely communicate with other electronic devices in the mesh network when the PSK is updated, pairs of electronic devices in the mesh network establish personal PSKs (PPSKs). In particular, after securely associating with each other, a given pair of electronic devices may have used the current PSK to authenticate and encrypt their communication. Then, the given pair of electronic devices may define a PPSK, e.g., by exchanging one or more random numbers. If a subsequent attempt at establishing secure or encrypted communication between the given pair of electronic devices fails, these electronic devices may use the PPSK as a backup to establish the encrypted communication.

Abstract: A circuit board for wireless communications includes communication circuitry for modulating and/or demodulating a radio frequency (RF) signal and an antenna apparatus for transmitting and receiving the RF signal, the antenna apparatus having selectable antenna elements located near one or more peripheries of the circuit board. A first antenna element produces a first directional radiation pattern; a second antenna element produces a second directional radiation pattern offset from the first radiation pattern. The antenna elements may include one or more reflectors configured to provide gain and broaden the frequency response of the antenna element. A switching network couples one or more of the selectable elements to the communication circuitry and provides impedance matching regardless of which or how many of the antenna elements are selected.

Abstract: Mechanisms for wireless local area network coverage enhancement using dynamic antennas are provided. The dynamic antennas may be used, for example, in an antenna apparatus of an access point. The access point maps a plurality of virtual access points (VAPs), each VAP corresponding to at least one of a plurality of directional antenna patterns of the antenna apparatus. The processor transmits broadcast communication on each of the VAPs a further distance from the access point as compared to transmitting on an omnidirectional antenna pattern of the antenna apparatus.

Abstract: Initiating a virtual presence at a physical access point in response to a request for a service from a wireless access device is provided. A particular wireless service may be provided to a subscriber on an on-demand basis according to location and/or type of service requested. The service may be terminated when demand for the service comes to an end whereby a common wireless service infrastructure may be shared amongst service providers thus eliminating the need for radio channel coordination and otherwise enhancing service quality for those service providers.

Abstract: In order to maintain performance during wireless communication, a transmitting electronic device may selectively perform a remedial action based on a received power in a channel during time intervals between received packets (e.g., due to interference) and/or a metric associated with the measured received power. In particular, when the received power is less than a threshold value (e.g., when the interference is insufficient to stop transmission by the transmitting electronic device), the transmitting electronic device performs the remedial action based on the measured received power and/or the metric. For example, the remedial action may include: selecting a modulation technique; selecting the receiving electronic device; selecting an antenna pattern for the one or more antennas; reducing a transmit power; selecting a data rate; determining a cumulative distribution function; and/or estimating a channel capacity.

Abstract: A metallic shaping plate located in the interior housing of a wireless device is disclosed. The metallic shaping plate may influence a radiation pattern being generated by a horizontal antenna array. The result may be an increase in the gain of the array.

Abstract: A channel aware scheduler (CAS) is disclosed that takes advantage of changing wireless channel conditions in order to maximize aggregated system throughput. The CAS is aware of the different channel conditions for one or more stations and adjusts its scheduling of packet transmissions in light of the same. A related CAS algorithm may take advantage of that knowledge in order to increase aggregated system throughput while concurrently addressing other potential fairness constraints.