Abstract: A media communications system using a multicasting or broadcasting technique, where each individual sink is allowed to request retransmissions according to a budget. The media communications system maintains the media quality of sinks that have a good communications channel in situations where one or more of the sinks is experiencing a bad communications channel, and where otherwise the communications channel would be saturated with retransmission requests and retransmissions which would affect other and possibly all media sinks.

Abstract: A media communications system using a multicasting or broadcasting technique, where each individual sink is allowed to request retransmissions according to a budget. The media communications system maintains the media quality of sinks that have a good communications channel in situations where one or more of the sinks is experiencing a bad communications channel, and where otherwise the communications channel would be saturated with retransmission requests and retransmissions which would affect other and possibly all media sinks.

Abstract: A method and mechanism for quickly and easily connecting wireless consumer electronic devices with each other without affecting other wireless devices in the vicinity, by bringing devices into close proximity while in a whisper mode of communication. In whisper mode, the reception and/or transmission capability is significantly reduced, limiting the distance over which the devices communicate, allowing for secure exchange of communications parameters The parameters exchanged in whisper mode may be used to enable unique, paired communication between the two devices, or between one of them and any other device already connected to a common network, when operating in their normal mode of operation, separated by any distance within the normal operational range of the devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for automatically detecting when an operating channel needs to be changed in a wireless communication system. An alternate channel is selected by obtaining information about a plurality of available channels; assigning a score to each available channel; and selecting an alternate channel from the available channels based on the assigned score. The state of the selected alternate channel and the current channel are compared. A change to the selected alternate channel is initiated when one or more predefined criteria are satisfied.

Abstract: A power management method, in which duration of deliver opportunities for a wireless station (STA) of a WLAN system is managed using a designated sub-field of the frame control field in a MAC header. Either the STA or the access point (AP) can terminate the deliver opportunity, e.g., based on the amount traffic. In one embodiment, the STA is adapted (i) to use the power management sub-field to communicate its power state to the AP and (ii) to run a maximum-wait timer, which starts when the AP is informed that the STA is in the awake state. The STA transitions to the doze state either when it has received a data frame from the AP or when the maximum-wait timer runs out. In another embodiment, the AP and STA manage deliver opportunities by entering a new mode of operation referred to as interactive traffic power management (ITPM) mode.