Abstract: A wireless gateway controls access through a communication portal to a shared communication link. By way of non-limiting example, the wireless gateway receives input (such as a passcode) from a user operating a communication device in a subscriber domain. The user provides the input to communicate through the communication portal or wireless gateway over the shared communication link. The wireless gateway maps the received input to corresponding access profile information stored in a repository of the wireless gateway hardware. The wireless gateway then provides the communication device access to a remote network over the shared communication link through the communication portal in a manner as specified by the corresponding access profile information.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing active mobility of Wi-Fi enabled devices within a given wireless local area network (WLAN). In general, techniques include dynamically commanding Wi-Fi enabled devices to disconnect from a corresponding access point in response to meeting predetermined conditions. A forced disconnect can be based on various criteria such as low-power or lost packet thresholds triggering the forced disconnect. Such techniques cause a Wi-Fi enabled device to disconnect from one access point and connect to another access point before a connection quality deteriorates to a point that causes noticeable interruptions in connectivity or a generally poor experience, thereby enabling a smooth transition among access points.

Abstract: A graphical user interface displays a proposed site plan of one or more new base stations with respect to existing network infrastructure in a geographical region. While in the field, an installation specialist can perform an in-person survey of the geographical region to determine whether a proposed location is suitable for installation of a wireless base station. The installation specialist may identify an obstacle that would inhibit a newly proposed wireless base station from providing desired coverage if installed at the proposed location. Via input to the graphical user interface, the installation specialist proposes an alternative location in which to install the new base station. A processor performs a validity check and provides feedback indicating whether installation of the new base station at the alternative location is acceptable. The graphical user interface also can support collection of site survey data to monitor progress of the installation.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing active mobility of Wi-Fi enabled devices within a given wireless local area network (WLAN). In general, techniques include dynamically commanding Wi-Fi enabled devices to disconnect from a corresponding access point in response to meeting predetermined conditions. A forced disconnect can be based on various criteria such as low-power or lost packet thresholds triggering the forced disconnect. Such techniques cause a Wi-Fi enabled device to disconnect from one access point and connect to another access point before a connection quality deteriorates to a point that causes noticeable interruptions in connectivity or a generally poor experience, thereby enabling a smooth transition among access points.

Abstract: A graphical user interface displays a proposed site plan of one or more new base stations with respect to existing network infrastructure in a geographical region. While in the field, an installation specialist can perform an in-person survey of the geographical region to determine whether a proposed location is suitable for installation of a wireless base station. The installation specialist may identify an obstacle that would inhibit a newly proposed wireless base station from providing desired coverage if installed at the proposed location. Via input to the graphical user interface, the installation specialist proposes an alternative location in which to install the new base station. A processor performs a validity check and provides feedback indicating whether installation of the new base station at the alternative location is acceptable. The graphical user interface also can support collection of site survey data to monitor progress of the installation.

Abstract: One or more short-range base stations in a network environment provide a substantially smaller coverage area than a long-range base station. The coverage area provided by each of the short-range base stations fully resides within or at least partially overlaps with the coverage provided by the long-range base station. Handoffs from the long-range base station to a respective short range base station, and vise versa, can be conditional on any number of one or more factors such as a speed of a mobile device through the network environment, a type of application and/or type of data transmitted over a respective communication link between the mobile device and the long-range base station, presence of one or more radio frequency layers in the network environment, mapping of a location of the mobile device to a speed limit value derived from a geographical map, etc.

Abstract: A graphical user interface displays a proposed site plan of one or more new base stations with respect to existing network infrastructure in a geographical region. While in the field, an installation specialist can perform an in-person survey of the geographical region to determine whether a proposed location is suitable for installation of a wireless base station. The installation specialist may identify an obstacle that would inhibit a newly proposed wireless base station from providing desired coverage if installed at the proposed location. Via input to the graphical user interface, the installation specialist proposes an alternative location in which to install the new base station. A processor performs a validity check and provides feedback indicating whether installation of the new base station at the alternative location is acceptable. The graphical user interface also can support collection of site survey data to monitor progress of the installation.

Abstract: A mobile computer device obtains location information indicating a geographical location in which the mobile computer device resides. The mobile computer device produces a list based on the location information. The list specifies one or more WiFi networks present in a vicinity of the geographical location. The computer device then establishes a wireless connection between the computer device and a WiFi network as specified in the list. Thus, a geographical location of the computer device can be used as a basis to initiate connectivity to a respective network.

Abstract: A WiFi network manager stores a unique identifier value such as a network address associated with a communication device as being a valid credential for the communication device to subsequently access a WiFi network including one or more access points. The WiFi network manager monitors use of the unique identifier value to access the WiFi network. In response to detecting misuse of the unique identifier value by two or more communication devices using the unique identifier value to use the WiFi network, the WiFi network manager at least temporarily prevents access to the WiFi network.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing active mobility of Wi-Fi enabled devices within a given wireless local area network (WLAN). In general, techniques include dynamically commanding Wi-Fi enabled devices to disconnect from a corresponding access point in response to meeting predetermined conditions. A forced disconnect can be based on various criteria such as low-power or lost packet thresholds triggering the forced disconnect. Such techniques cause a Wi-Fi enabled device to disconnect from one access point and connect to another access point before a connection quality deteriorates to a point that causes noticeable interruptions in connectivity or a generally poor experience, thereby enabling a smooth transition among access points.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing scanning from a multi-band communications device. A multi-band communications device scans for identifiers from one or more base stations. The multi-band communications device determines whether the received base station identifiers are associated with an access point (AP) on a list of APs. The multi-band communications device connects to the AP when the received base station identifiers are associated with the AP. The terms “base station” and “access point” encompass transmit and receive sites that provide communications using various technologies that may include Wi-Fi and cellular.

Abstract: A federated virtual network enables the creation of a logical network from multiple physical communications networks that each provide one or more communications services. The communications networks register their service capabilities with a network resources register. Users may then request from their networks a particular type, capability, and/or capacity of a network service using their communication devices. If the service requests are authorized, the network resources register maps the requestor's communication device to one or more network services offered by another network. Verifying the authorization may be performed by consulting an independent entity, which thus acts as a gatekeeper for the services. In this way, communications networks can expand their services and coverage by dynamically tapping into other networks' assets, on the fly and on an ad hoc basis (e.g., in case of emergencies, traffic peaks, or whenever additional services are needed).

Abstract: A redacted version of a signaling protocol, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), is used to optimize call session communications between a communications terminal and a proxy server. During a session registration process, the proxy server captures and stores session context data by leveraging the content of the registration messages. With the session context data stored at the proxy server, the messages between the proxy server and the communications terminal may omit some or all of the session context data. For outgoing messages, a proxy server receives a redacted signaling message from the communications terminal, reconstructs a standard signaling message from the redacted signaling message, and forwards the reconstructed message to a recipient. For incoming messages, the proxy server receives a standard signaling message, redacts the standard message to remove some or all of the session context data, and forwards the redacted message to the communications terminal.