Abstract: A wireless station within a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio gathers participatory data based on communications involving the wireless station and non-participatory data based on communications the wireless station listens to, but does not participate in. The processor produces an operational report based on the participatory data and the non-participatory data and provides the operational report to the WLAN. The processor further alters a gain vector of the directional antenna based on instructions received from the WLAN in response to the operational report.

Abstract: A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communications within a WLAN service area. The home wireless router establishes broadband communications via a broadband connection with a VoIP service accumulator. The home wireless router services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area, including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router determines that a VoIP wireless terminal desires VoIP call servicing determines a WLAN encryption scheme supported by the VoIP wireless terminal, sets up, and services the VoIP call via the WLAN and the broadband connection. Servicing includes terminating the WLAN encryption scheme supported by the VoIP wireless terminal to protect the VoIP call as it is wirelessly serviced by the WLAN and terminating a broadband encryption scheme supported by the broadband connection to protect the VoIP call as it is serviced by the broadband connection.

Abstract: A wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communications within a WLAN service area. The wireless router establishes broadband communications via a broadband connection with a Voice over IP (VoIP) service accumulator. The wireless router receives a query from the VoIP service accumulator requesting information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls by the wireless router. In response, the VoIP service accumulator receives information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls. The wireless router and the VoIP service accumulator subsequently service VoIP calls within the WLAN based upon the information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls by the wireless router.

Abstract: A wireless station within a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio gathers participatory data based on communications involving the wireless station and non-participatory data based on communications the wireless station listens to, but does not participate in. The processor produces an operational report based on the participatory data and the non-participatory data and provides the operational report to the WLAN. The processor further alters a gain vector of the directional antenna based on instructions received from the WLAN in response to the operational report.

Abstract: A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The home wireless router services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area, the plurality of wireless terminals including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router receives a request to terminate a WLAN VoIP call to the VoIP wireless terminal. The home wireless router determines that the VoIP wireless terminal is currently servicing a cellular call via a cellular network. The home wireless router causes the cellular network to be misled into concluding that another cellular call is to be serviced by the VoIP wireless terminal, the cellular network places the cellular call on hold in the incorrect conclusion that it will service the another cellular call, and the WLAN VoIP call is terminated to the VoIP wireless terminal.

Abstract: A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is operated in conjunction with a wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) to service a premises, e.g., a campus setting. The wired LAN services the wired communication needs of the premises and serves as the wired backbone of the WLAN. A plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) of the WLAN couple to the wired backbone and are serviced by the LAN. With this shared structure, wired network components, e.g., multi-layer switches, manage the operation of WLAN components, i.e., WAPs. Such management includes ensuring that the WAPs provide sufficient bandwidth to support wireless packetized voice communications. Additional management operations include WAP access, wireless terminal registration, and channel resource allocation, among others.

Abstract: A wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communications within a WLAN service area. The wireless router establishes broadband communications via a broadband connection with a Voice over IP (VoIP) service accumulator. The wireless router receives a query from the VoIP service accumulator requesting information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls by the wireless router. In response, the VoIP service accumulator receives information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls. The wireless router and the VoIP service accumulator subsequently service VoIP calls within the WLAN based upon the information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls by the wireless router.

Abstract: A wireless terminal serviced by a Wireless Access Point (WAP) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a processor, an RF unit and a directional antenna. The RF unit receives instructions from the WAP that are derived from participatory data based on communications involving the WAP and non-participatory data based on communications the WAP listens to, but does not participate in. The processor alters a gain vector of the directional antenna based on the instructions received from the WAP.

Abstract: A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communications within a WLAN service area. The home wireless router establishes broadband communications via a broadband connection with a VoIP service accumulator. The home wireless router services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area, including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router receives a query from the VoIP service accumulator requesting information regarding the home wireless router's prior servicing of (or ability to service) VoIP calls. In response, the home wireless router responds to the VoIP service accumulator with information regarding the home wireless router's prior servicing of (or ability to service) VoIP calls.

Abstract: A Wireless Access Point (WAP) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio supports communications with a plurality of wireless terminals to gather participatory data, and listens to, but does not participate in transmissions of at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals to collect non-participatory WAP data. Based upon the participatory WAP data and non-participatory WAP data, the processor creates WAP operational reports and provides the WAP operational reports to the WLAN. The WLAN creates directions based thereon and directs the WAP to alter the gain pattern of the directional antenna.

Abstract: A Wireless Access Point (WAP) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio supports communications with a plurality of wireless terminals to gather participatory data, and listens to, but does not participate in transmissions of at least some of the plurality of wireless terminals to collect non-participatory WAP data. Based upon the participatory WAP data and non-participatory WAP data, the processor creates WAP operational reports and provides the WAP operational reports to the WLAN. The WLAN creates directions based thereon and directs the WAP to alter the gain pattern of the directional antenna.

Abstract: A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is operated in conjunction with a wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) to service a premises, e.g., a campus setting. The wired LAN services the wired communication needs of the premises and serves as the wired backbone of the WLAN. A plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) of the WLAN couple to the wired backbone and are serviced by the LAN. With this shared structure, wired network components, e.g., multi-layer switches, manage the operation of WLAN components, i.e., WAPs. Such management includes ensuring that the WAPs provide sufficient bandwidth to support wireless packetized voice communications. Additional management operations include WAP access, wireless terminal registration, and channel resource allocation, among others.

Abstract: A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router receives a request from the VoIP wireless terminal to establish a VoIP conference call with at least two other VoIP wireless terminals. The home wireless router interacts with the VoIP service accumulator to determine at least one other home wireless router required to service the VoIP conference call, queries the at least one other home wireless router to determine its ability to service the VoIP conference call for at least one serviced VoIP wireless terminal, and receives a response from the at least one other home wireless router. The home wireless router, the at least one other home wireless router, and the VoIP service accumulator then set up and service the VoIP conference call.

Abstract: Wireless local area network (WLAN) management. A novel approach is provided to associate various wireless stations (STAs) to the WLAN via appropriately selected Access Point (APs). In one implementation, a first AP services only those STAs that have functionality of a first user class (e.g., 802.11b functionality in one instance). In addition, a second AP services only those STAs that have functionality of a second user class (e.g., 802.11g functionality). The WLAN management ensures that STAs having similar characteristics (or similar functionality) are grouped together and associated with an AP that corresponds to those characteristics. For example, 802.11b STAs associate with the WLAN via an 802.11b AP. Analogously, 802.11g STAs associate with the WLAN via an 802.11g AP. When an 802.11g STA is unable to associate with the WLAN via an 802.11g AP, the STA may shift down its functionality set to 802.11b to successfully associate with the WLAN.

Abstract: A Wireless Access Point (WAP) of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) infrastructure includes a processor, a radio and a directional antenna. The radio supports communications with a first plurality of wireless terminals and listens to, but does not participate in transmissions of at least some of a second plurality of wireless terminals to collect non-participatory WAP data. Based upon the non-participatory WAP data, the processor creates WAP operational reports and provides the WAPs operational reports to the WLAN. The WLAN creates directions based thereon and directs the WAP to alter the gain pattern of the directional antenna.

Abstract: A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is operated in conjunction with a wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) to service a premises, e.g., a campus setting. The wired LAN services the wired communication needs of the premises and serves as the wired backbone of the WLAN. A plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) of the WLAN couple to the wired backbone and are serviced by the LAN. With this shared structure, wired network components, e.g., multi-layer switches, manage the operation of WLAN components, i.e., WAPs. Such management includes ensuring that the WAPs provide sufficient bandwidth to support wireless packetized voice communications. Additional management operations include WAP access, wireless terminal registration, and channel resource allocation, among others.

Abstract: A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communications within a WLAN service area. The home wireless router further establishes broadband communications via a broadband connection with a VoIP service accumulator. The home wireless router services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area, including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router determines that a VoIP wireless terminal desires VoIP call servicing. The home wireless router sends a bandwidth reservation request to the VoIP service accumulator to reserve capacity on the broadband connection for servicing of the VoIP call. The home wireless router then receives a bandwidth reservation response from the VoIP service accumulator to confirm reservation of capacity on the broadband connection for servicing of the VoIP call.

Abstract: A wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) and a plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) coupled to a wired network infrastructure of the wired LAN service wireless packetized communications for a plurality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) clients. A multi-layer switch of the wired LAN identifies a WLAN client serviced by a WAP from the packetized communications, and upon receiving an overloading indication from the WAP, determines that the WLAN client serviced by the WAP exceeds a usage threshold. Based upon the determination, the multi-layer switch reduces the wireless bandwidth provided to the wireless terminal by the WAP.

Abstract: A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) processing component includes a network interface and a processor. The network interface interfaces the WLAN processing component to a plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) of the WLAN, at least some of the plurality of WAPs having directional antennas. The WLAN processing component directs the plurality of WAPs to perform a plurality of beaconing operations, each of the beaconing operations corresponding to a respective WAP of the plurality of WAPs such that during the beaconing operation the respective WAP transmits a substantially constant power beacon. During the beaconing operations, the WLAN processing component directs non-beaconing WAPs having directional antennas to listen for the transmitted beacon, direct an approximate maximum gain vector of the directional antenna toward the transmitted beacon, determine a relative angular position of the approximate maximum gain vector, and measure a received strength of the transmitted beacon.

Abstract: A wired Local Area Network (wired LAN) and a plurality of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) coupled to a wired network infrastructure of the wired LAN service wireless packetized communications for a plurality of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) clients. A multi-layer switch of the wired LAN identifies a WLAN client serviced by a WAP from the packetized communications, and upon receiving an overloading indication from the WAP, determines that the WLAN client serviced by the WAP exceeds a usage threshold. Based upon the determination, the multi-layer switch reduces the wireless bandwidth provided to the wireless terminal by the WAP.