Abstract: An exemplary architecture is for an Internet Location Coordinate enhanced Domain Name System (DNS). An exemplary method includes requesting information for a plurality of servers associated with a network domain name of a Domain Name System (DNS) where the information includes information based in part on packets transmitted by each of the plurality of servers to a plurality of network beacons; receiving the requested information from a name server associated with the Domain Name System (DNS); and, based in part on the received information, selecting an optimal server for the network domain name. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guaranteed distributed failure notification method is described, wherein a failure notification (FN) facility allows applications using the facility to create FN groups to which the application associates an application state. The application registers failure handlers with the FN facility on nodes in the FN group; each failure handler is associated with a specific FN group. When, on a given node, the FN facility learns of a failure in the FN group, the facility executes the associated failure handler on that node. System failures detected by the application are signaled to other FN group members using the facility. The facility detects system failures that occur in an overlay network on which the facility is implemented, and signals a failure notification to the other FN group members.

Abstract: A method of managing congestion within a request-response system is disclosed. The method includes determining a response time that is directly or indirectly indicative of how long it takes a back end system to process a request received from a front end system and return a corresponding response. The response time is compared to a threshold criterion. A determination is made, based at least in part on the comparison, that the back end system is becoming congested with requests from the front end system. The front end system is adjusted so as to at least temporarily reduce the number of requests provided to the back end system by the front end system.

Abstract: A technique for load management in a distributed system that includes multiple physical nodes is disclosed. The load management technique includes mutably assigning a number of virtual nodes to each physical node of the multiple physical nodes. A total number of virtual nodes assigned to the multiple physical nodes is maintained substantially unaltered in spite of any alterations made in the number of virtual nodes assigned to each physical node of the multiple physical nodes.

Abstract: The application discloses a resource assignment system including recovery notification procedures or methods to notify an application or node of potentially lost resources. The recovery notification procedures or calls are invoked in response to a recovery notification registration function. In response to recovery notification registration, a recovery notification or call is generated to report lost resources.

Abstract: The application discloses a generic partitioning manager for partitioning resources across one or more owner nodes. In illustrated embodiments described, the partitioning manager interfaces with the one or more owner nodes through an owner library. A lookup node or application interfaces with the partitioning manager through the lookup library to lookup address or locations of the partitioned resources. In illustrated embodiments, resources are partitioned via the partitioning manager in response to lease request messages from an owner library. In illustrated embodiments, the lease grant message includes a complete list of the leases for the owner node.

Abstract: Wireless adapters are installed on one or more general purpose computing devices and are connected via a wireless network in an enterprise environment. The adapters are densely deployed at known locations throughout the environment and are configured as air monitors. The air monitors monitor wireless signals transmitted between transceiver devices and access points and records information about these signals. One or more analysis or inference engines may be deployed to analyze the signals received from the air monitors to obtain optimum performance and connectivity information about the wireless network.

Abstract: A dual mode communication device utilizes a control channel to exploit diversity, history, and context in advance of establishing a broadband data exchange session on a broadband but shorter range wireless data channel, maximizing productive use of such a session. Appropriate diversity for the negotiated session further enhance data transfer, including path diversity, radio technology diversity (e.g., WiMax, Wi-Fi, ultra wideband, Bluetooth), antenna diversity (e.g., MIMO), modulation diversity (e.g., rate selection for 802.11, or symbol length selection to combat multi-path fading), and frequency diversity (e.g., 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz). Historical information about channel characteristics optimize the selection of channel parameters with respect to the diversity choices. In addition, context information such as location and speed can be used to categorize the historical information that is collected to further optimize channel parameters.

Abstract: Technologies, systems, and methods for ordered message delivery that avoid message races or crisscrosses between communicating nodes. For example, if Node A sends message 3 towards Node B and, shortly thereafter, Node B sends message X to Node A, Node A would like to know whether or not message X reflects Node B's state after receiving message 3. If Node B received message 3 prior to sending message X, then proper state may be maintained between the nodes. But if messages 3 and X crisscrossed, or if message 3 was never properly received by Node B, then the state between the nodes may be corrupt. Technologies, systems, and methods are provided to avoid such corruption.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing the throughput capacity available to client devices connected to a wireless local area network (WLAN) are described. Specifically, existing WLAN resources are converted into wireless access points (APs) to create a dense infrastructure of wireless APs. To leverage this dense AP infrastructure, central management techniques are employed. With client-to-AP mapping, these techniques are used to prevent the discovery of multiple APs in a WLAN by a client device and to select a single AP (using certain policies) to associate with the client device and provide it with an enhanced wireless connection to the WLAN. Additionally, techniques are employed to centrally determine, using central policies, when the AP should disassociate from the client device and when another centrally selected AP should respond to, and associate with, the client device to provide it with an enhanced wireless connection to the WLAN—without interrupting/disrupting the client device's access.

Abstract: Techniques for enhancing the throughput capacity available to client devices connected to a wireless local area network (WLAN) are described. Specifically, existing WLAN resources are converted into wireless access points (APs) to create a dense infrastructure of wireless APs. To leverage this dense AP infrastructure, central management techniques are employed. With client-to-AP mapping, these techniques are used to prevent the discovery of multiple APs in a WLAN by a client device and to select a single AP (using certain policies) to associate with the client device and provide it with an enhanced wireless connection to the WLAN. Additionally, techniques are employed to centrally determine, using certain policies, when the AP should disassociate from the client device and when another centrally selected AP should respond to, and associate with, the client device to provide it with an enhanced wireless connection to the WLAN—without interrupting/disrupting the client device's access.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device's wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device's Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged. When the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is enabled if the device answers the wake up call and the Wi-Fi interface is available. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point.

Abstract: Techniques for increasing the battery life on a mobile device by decreasing the energy consumption of the mobile device's wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) interface are described. In one embodiment, the mobile device's Wi-Fi interface is automatically disabled when the device is not engaged in a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call via the Wi-Fi interface. When a VoIP call is initiated on the device, or when the device receives a wake up call from a server via its Cellular interface, the Wi-Fi interface is automatically enabled. Using its Wi-Fi interface, the mobile device then connects to an IP-based network via a Wi-Fi access point. The server then initiates a direct call, wherein VoIP technology is used by the mobile device, between the mobile device and a VoIP calling device.

Abstract: Wireless adapters are installed on one or more general purpose computing devices and are connected via a network in an enterprise environment. The adapters are densely deployed at known locations throughout the environment and are configured as air monitors. The air monitors monitor signals transmitted by one or more transceiver devices and records information about these signals. One or more analysis or inference engines may be deployed to obtain the recorded signal information and the air monitor locations to determine a location of the one or more wireless transceivers devices deployed in the environment.

Abstract: Wireless adapters are installed on one or more general purpose computing devices and are connected via a wireless network in an enterprise environment. The adapters are densely deployed at known locations throughout the environment and are configured as air monitors. The air monitors monitor wireless signals transmitted between transceiver devices and access points and records information about these signals. One or more analysis or inference engines may be deployed to analyze the signals received from the air monitors to obtain optimum performance and connectivity information about the wireless network.

Abstract: A method of detecting rogue devices that are coupled to a wired network without generating false negative or false positive alerts is provided. When a wireless monitor detects an observed SSID and/or BSSID, various tests are run to determine whether the observed device is actually coupled to the wired network. To guard against the suspect device spoofing an authorized SSID and/or BSSID, location information is gathered so that the network administrator can pinpoint the location of the rogue device. If the device is not recognized, various other tests are run to determine whether the unrecognized device is actually connected to the wired network. These tests include an association test, a MAC address test, an ARP test, a packet replay test, a correlation test, and/or a DHCP fingerprint test. Once it is determined that the suspect device is a rogue connected to the wired network, an appropriate alert is generated.

Abstract: A framework for wireless network management applications in an enterprise environment using existing general purpose computing devices is presented. At least one of the devices is configured with a wireless adapter and is used as an AirMonitor to monitor one or more wireless networks. Other devices are configured as LandMonitors to monitor traffic on a wired network in the enterprise environment. At least one inference engine uses the LandMonitors and AirMonitors by assigning them monitoring tasks. Data from the monitoring tasks are stored in a database. Analysis of the data that is computationally intensive is generally performed by the inference engines. Wireless network management applications use the framework by installing and running application-specific components (e.g., filters) on the AirMonitors, LandMonitors, and/or inference engines.

Abstract: A system and method for using a wireless beacon broadcast to provide a media message is disclosed. A first beacon broadcast is provided from a wireless access point, the first beacon broadcast having a first beacon component with a first portion of media. A second beacon broadcast is provided from the wireless access point, the second beacon broadcast having a second beacon component with a second portion of media. The first portion of media and the second portion of media are combinable to provide a complete media message.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed whereby a wireless network node, equipped with two or more radio transceivers statically tuned to non-interfering frequency channels, can make decisions regarding which channel to use when communicating with a neighboring wireless node. A multi-radio unification protocol implemented in a wireless node coordinates the use of multiple wireless network interface cards and provides a virtual layer that hides the multiple physical network interfaces from higher layers of a node's network protocol stack. The invention is applicable to wireless networks generally, including those in which some nodes do not have multiple radios or do not recognize the multi-radio unification protocol. The invention makes possible simultaneous transmissions using available channels, thereby reducing interference and delay while increasing the overall capacity of the network.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed whereby a wireless network node, equipped with two or more radio transceivers statically tuned to non-interfering frequency channels, can make decisions regarding which channel to use when communicating with a neighboring wireless node. A multi-radio unification protocol implemented in a wireless node coordinates the use of multiple wireless network interface cards and provides a virtual layer that hides the multiple physical network interfaces from higher layers of a node's network protocol stack. The invention is applicable to wireless networks generally, including those in which some nodes do not have multiple radios or do not recognize the multi-radio unification protocol. The invention makes possible simultaneous transmissions using available channels, thereby reducing interference and delay while increasing the overall capacity of the network.