Abstract: A first wireless devices establishes an association with a second wireless device by sending a connection request packet to a previously-discovered second wireless device. The second wireless device identifies the received packet as a connection request and responds with a connection response packet, thereby establishing an association between the first and second wireless devices. The wireless devices can then, for example, send and receive data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling a transition of a roaming mobile user device (i.e., a roaming client) from one access point (AP) to a target AP, referred to herein as soft inter-AP handoff. This technique involves a second mobile user device that is already connected with the target AP, called a roaming coordinator, assisting in handoff coordination between the APs. This coordination includes assisting the roaming client in establishing a client-to-client connection to relay data traffic during the handoff, while the roaming client establishes a connection with the target AP using traditional techniques. Soft inter-AP handoff allows a faster hand-off between APs than traditional techniques, and may reduce jitter in communications with the roaming device during the transition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling a transition of a roaming mobile user device (i.e., a roaming client) from one access point (AP) to a target AP, referred to herein as soft inter-AP handoff. This technique involves a second mobile user device that is already connected with the target AP, called a roaming coordinator, assisting in handoff coordination between the APs. This coordination includes assisting the roaming client in establishing a client-to-client connection to relay data traffic during the handoff, while the roaming client establishes a connection with the target AP using traditional techniques. Soft inter-AP handoff allows a faster hand-off between APs than traditional techniques, and may reduce jitter in communications with the roaming device during the transition.

Abstract: A system for selecting a modulation scheme and an error correction coding scheme for each subchannel in an OFDM system based on the energy detected on that subchannel.

Abstract: A network node selects a “sleep” level based on its current or projected battery capacity. In an embodiment of the invention, sleep levels define the types of communication to which the node in question will be a party. The node in question communicates its selected sleep level to the rest of the network so that the other network nodes can communicate accordingly with the node.

Abstract: A method and system for scanning in a wireless device having a wireless network interface card (NIC) is presented. The system has a scanning history table for storing scanning results and a scanning engine that adjusts the scanning period based upon a history of scanning results and commands the NIC to scan for available networks after the period has expired. The engine receives scan results from the NIC, stores the scan results in the scanning history table, determines a scanning period based upon a history of scan results, sets the scanning period, and commands the NIC to scan for available networks after the scanning period has expired. The engine is programmed to set the scanning period using an exponential function and to reset the scanning period to a default period if the scan results are different from a prior scan result or if a triggering event is received.

Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption in a portable computing device having a network interface module is presented. A power management module receives inputs from other modules and determines when the network interface module is to be put in a doze state for a predetermined number of beacon intervals to conserve power consumption in the network interface module. The network interface module in a device that is associated with a network is put in the doze state after an event has occurred including when a scan has been performed, after a delayed sleep timer has expired, and after a beacon transmission has been completed and no traffic is buffered for the device. The delayed sleep time is set based on the estimated round trip time of a packet.

Abstract: Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points or other wireless communication devices. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. As one example, particular services may be requested. As another example, services that are provided by a device may be advertised.

Abstract: Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. As one example, particular services may be requested. As another example, services that are provided by a device may be advertised.

Abstract: A software based wireless infrastructure system is provided. The system has a driver that communicates with the network stack and a network interface card (NIC), a station server in communication with the station driver and an 802.1X supplicant or an 802.1X authenticator. Each NIC provides station and/or access point functionality support. The driver drops packets that have been received if the packet has not been authenticated and associated. Packets that have been fragmented or encrypted are unfragmented and decrypted. An association manager is used in conjunction with a configuration table manager to associate stations and access points via management packets. A manager receives 802.1X data packets from the packet processor and sends them up to a station server that communicates with user mode applications and an 802.1X supplicant or an 802.1X authenticator that are used to authenticate and deauthenticate stations and access points. APIs are provided to enable communication between the components.

Abstract: Described is a determination of whether interference in a wireless network has achieved a threshold level that adversely impacts communication bandwidth. If so, action is taken to mitigate the effects of the interference and thereby improve the bandwidth. The action that is taken may be in the form of at least one mitigation solution, including mitigating by packet fragmentation, mitigating by changing the wireless network's current operating frequency, mitigating by changing a power level, mitigating by transmit dodging, and/or mitigating by pre-selecting at least one transmission criterion based on an observed pattern. A framework is provided to coordinate mitigation of interference-related problems, and includes an interferer decision mechanism that receives RF interference related-data and evaluates the interference data against a threshold. Mitigation is employed when the threshold is achieved on the current operating frequency.

Abstract: To reduce the power consumption of a wireless communication hardware device, power conservation scheduling algorithms can be implemented. Reoccurring events, including DTIM intervals and listen intervals can be scheduled as awake times. Similarly expected response intervals can be scheduled as awake times based on information, such as round trip time, that can be passed together with data to be transmitted. The wireless communication hardware device can be placed into a doze state unless it is transmitting data, or unless it is expecting a transmission during one of the scheduled awake times.

Abstract: An architecture and methods for extending the depth of a WLAN to a four-level hierarchal access point structure including wireless access points. The wireless access points in the WLAN can be networked by scanning for a network, collecting one or more packets that identify the network from one or more access points, each packet including an address identifying an ancestry of the access points to an ancestral wired access point; and applying an access point selection algorithm to configure a parent access point. The architecture includes a scanning object configured to issue a scan request to a network interface and collect access point data; a selection object configured to filter and sort the collected access point data; an authentication state machine configured to perform authentication and validate; and an association state machine configured to compose a packet including hierarchical data indicative of access point ancestry to a conventional access point.

Abstract: To reduce the power consumption of a wireless communication hardware device, power conservation scheduling algorithms can be implemented. Reoccurring events, including DTIM intervals and listen intervals can be scheduled as awake times. Similarly expected response intervals can be scheduled as awake times based on information, such as round trip time, that can be passed together with data to be transmitted. The wireless communication hardware device can be placed into a doze state unless it is transmitting data, or unless it is expecting a transmission during one of the scheduled awake times.

Abstract: A method is provided to facilitate compliance with wireless communication regulations for a regulatory domain when creating or joining an ad hoc network. The method can include interacting with a driver of a wireless communication device to facilitate compliance. Another method is provided to offer an option to enable or disable prompting to verify a regulatory domain to use to create or join an ad hoc network. Another method is provided for facilitating compliance with wireless communication regulations for a plurality of regulatory domains. The method includes using a common channel as a communication channel for a wireless communication device when joining or creating an ad hoc network, wherein the common channel is common to the plurality of regulatory domains.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided to extend the range of wireless devices beyond the range limit that results from timing restrictions imposed by the IEEE 802.11 standard. The mechanism, which operates at the upper level of the 802.11 MAC, determines whether the wireless devices are far apart or not far apart. When the wireless devices are determined to be far apart, the standard retransmission protocol at the lower level of the 802.11 MAC is disabled and a custom ACK packet is utilized. Delivery of a transmitted packet is confirmed if the custom ACK packet is received within a maximum delay period that takes into account the longer propagation delay between wireless devices that are far apart.

Abstract: A wireless station is connected to a wireless network through an access point and can establish a direct client-to-client connection to a second wireless station. The wireless station can communicate directly with the second wireless station without involving the access point. The wireless station communicates with the wired network and with other wireless stations through the access point. The second wireless station may have an infrastructure connection to the access point or may be independent.

Abstract: An ad hoc network identifier may be received, for example, at an ad hoc network convergence module. One or more ad hoc network parameters may be generated as a function of the ad hoc network identifier. Each of a group of computers attempting to form an ad hoc network identified by the ad hoc network identifier may generate the one or more ad hoc network parameters. Two or more of the group of computers may perform an ad hoc network formation protocol parameterized with the generated one or more ad hoc network parameters. An instruction to join the network may be received, for example, at a networking service. If it is detected that the network is an ad hoc network, an ad hoc network address acquisition mode featuring accelerated ad hoc network address acquisition may be activated. Efficient formation of the ad hoc network may thus be facilitated.

Abstract: An architecture and methods for extending the depth of a WLAN to a four-level hierarchal access point structure including wireless access points. The wireless access points in the WLAN can be networked by scanning for a network, collecting one or more packets that identify the network from one or more access points, each packet including an address identifying an ancestry of the access points to an ancestral wired access point; and applying an access point selection algorithm to configure a parent access point. The architecture includes a scanning object configured to issue a scan request to a network interface and collect access point data; a selection object configured to filter and sort the collected access point data; an authentication state machine configured to perform authentication and validate; and an association state machine configured to compose a packet including hierarchical data indicative of access point ancestry to a conventional access point.

Abstract: A wireless device that desires to be connected to a wireless network broadcasts itself and its capabilities to a network using an information element. The information element is provided with frames, such as management frames, in a channel that is not protected or encrypted. The information element is forwarded to one or more potential registrar devices. One of the registrar devices then provides configuration information to the enrollee, for example as a registrar information element. The configuration information may be passed out of band or in band, and may be passed using cryptography, which may involve public key cryptography, encryption with a PIN, or some other type of secure exchange.