Abstract: A packet aggregation system. In particular implementations, a method includes accessing one or more transmit queues, each corresponding to a wireless client associated with a given wireless mesh access point of a plurality of mesh access points. The method further includes selecting a mesh access point of the plurality of mesh access points and selecting a transmit queue corresponding to a wireless client associated with the selected mesh access point. The method further includes aggregating packets that are destined for the selected wireless client, up to a size limit, taking into account the path to the selected mesh point as well as quality of service constraints, and composing and transmitting the aggregated packet to the selected mesh access point.

Abstract: Described herein are a computer-implemented method of determining a power plan/frequency plan combination assigning transmit frequency channels and transmit powers for a plurality of managed access points (APs) of a wireless network. Also described herein is a carrier medium carrying computer readable code configured to cause one or more processors of a processing system to implement the computer implemented method of determining a power plan/frequency plan combination.

Abstract: A technique for multiple receiver aggregation that allows for multiple immediate responses of acknowledgements or block acknowledgements. The technique uses a spoofed network allocation vector (NAV) implemented within an aggregate's PLCP header to protect the aggregate and all of the immediate responses from multiple receivers. The immediate responses are scheduled, the information indicating the scheduled offset time and granted transmission duration for response of each receiver being included in the physical sublayer data unit (PSDU) headers within the aggregate.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, an aggregate frame, such as a A-MSDU aggregate is generated from interleaved frames addressed to various receiver addresses. The incoming frames are regrouped by receiver address. The aggregate frame is generated from the regrouped frames.

Abstract: A load balancer is provided for balancing distribution of wireless clients among wireless access points. The load balancer includes a tracking implementation for tracking at least one telemetry parameter of each wireless client's wireless link with each respective wireless access point. A goal implementation is included for comparing one or more telemetry parameter against at least one predetermined goal to obtain a fitness measure. A control implementation is also provided for varying the operation of at least one of the respective wireless access points and wireless clients in response to the fitness measure, so as to balance the distribution of load among the respective wireless access points.

Abstract: A method for evaluating number of additional admissible calls for use in call admission control includes tracking a percentage of channel busy time and transmission time of downlink and uplink voice packets, receiving a call admission request, and calculating the number of admissible calls. The number of admissible calls is calculated based on a channel bandwidth requirement determined from the percentage of channel busy time and a voice packet queuing requirement determined from the transmission time of downlink and uplink voice packets. The call admission request is approved if the number of admissible calls is greater than one and rejected if the number of admissible calls is less than one.

Abstract: A technique for multiple receiver aggregation that allows for multiple immediate responses of acknowledgements or block acknowledgements. The technique uses a spoofed network allocation vector (NAV) implemented within an aggregate's PLCP header to protect the aggregate and all of the immediate responses from multiple receivers. The immediate responses are scheduled, the information indicating the scheduled offset time and granted transmission duration for response of each receiver being included in the physical sublayer data unit (PSDU) headers within the aggregate.

Abstract: A wireless local area network is disclosed which includes a plurality of wireless access points each having a predetermined coverage area, and a plurality of wireless clients for establishing a wireless link with at least one wireless access point. Some or all of the wireless clients are within the respective coverage areas of at least a portion of wireless access points. A load balancer is provided for balancing distribution of wireless clients among wireless access points. The load balancer includes a tracking implementation for tracking at least one telemetry parameter of each wireless client's wireless link with each respective wireless access point. A goal implementation is included for comparing one or more telemetry parameter against at least one predetermined goal to obtain a fitness measure.

Abstract: An aggregation scheduler that determines which frames are to be aggregated in an aggregate at a specific time, and allocates a time and duration for each responder of the aggregate. The AP maintains information for each of its clients, including whether the client is in an awake or doze state and the time stamp arrival (TSA) for each frame received from the client by the AP. When an AP obtains channel access, it only aggregates frames for those clients that are awake. From the TSA and the voice packet arrival interval for the client, the AP can compute how many voice frames are waiting at the client since the AP received the last frame from the client. Knowing the number of voice frames waiting at the voice client and the transmission rate, enables the AP to accurately ascertain the response time and duration for the voice client.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a call admission request; in a first state, applying a first call access control (CAC) algorithm to the call admission request; in a second state, applying a second CAC algorithm to the call admission request; and transition between the first state and the second state based on at least one attribute of a radio frequency (RP) environment.

Abstract: A technique for determining when to change a data rate by determining the cause of packet loss. The technique distinguishes between collision mediated packet loss and poor signal mediated packet loss. Rate shifting to a lower rate is performed after determining poor signals are causing packet loss. After switching to a lower rate, the packet loss rate can be compared to the pre-switch packet loss rate. If the packet loss rate has not improved by shifting to a lower data rate, then the data rate can be shifted to a higher rate. The technique can use a combination of channel response, signal strength, packet loss rate and throughput to determine when to switch data rates. A communication unit can maintain separate histories for each unit it is communicating with and employ a different data rate for each unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring utilization of an access medium relative to one or more access classes, receiving a QoS request. The QoS request identifies an access class. The method further includes computing a first allocation of an access medium for the QoS request and approving the QoS request if the computed first allocation is less than an amount of the access medium available to the access class identified in the QoS request.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and carrier medium carrying instructions to assign frequency channels and transmit powers for a plurality of access points of a wireless network. The method includes, until there are no more access points to which to assign a transmit power and frequency channel, selecting a next current access point, determining for a set of at least one transmit power for a set of at least one frequency channel a measure of the quality of the sub-network formed by the current access point and all already-assigned access points an evaluation metric indicative of the quality of the sub-network, and assigning to the current access point the transmit power and frequency channel that minimizes the measure of the quality of the sub-network.

Abstract: A method of rate shifting specially suited for the voice traffic, which differentiates poor channel conditions from a heavily loaded channel of a WLAN and adapts to the network traffic condition and channel condition promptly with low rate of false shifting. Determining when to rate shift is based on a combination of the received signal strength indication and the retry rate.

Abstract: Described herein are a computer-implemented method of determining a power plan/frequency plan combination assigning transmit frequency channels and transmit powers for a plurality of managed access points (APs) of a wireless network. Also described herein is a carrier medium carrying computer readable code configured to cause one or more processors of a processing system to implement the computer implemented method of determining a power plan/frequency plan combination.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and carrier medium carrying instructions to assign frequency channels and transmit powers for a plurality of access points of a wireless network. The method includes, until there are no more access points to which to assign a transmit power and frequency channel, selecting a next current access point, determining for a set of at least one transmit power for a set of at least one frequency channel a measure of the quality of the sub-network formed by the current access point and all already-assigned access points an evaluation metric indicative of the quality of the sub-network, and assigning to the current access point the transmit power and frequency channel that minimizes the measure of the quality of the sub-network.

Abstract: A method for evaluating number of additional admissible calls for use in call admission control includes tracking a percentage of channel busy time and transmission time of downlink and uplink voice packets, receiving a call admission request, and calculating the number of admissible calls. The number of admissible calls is calculated based on a channel bandwidth requirement determined from the percentage of channel busy time and a voice packet queuing requirement determined from the transmission time of downlink and uplink voice packets. The call admission request is approved if the number of admissible calls is greater than one and rejected if the number of admissible calls is less than one.

Abstract: An aggregation scheduler that determines which frames are to be aggregated in an aggregate at a specific time, and allocates a time and duration for each responder of the aggregate. The AP maintains information for each of its clients, including whether the client is in an awake or doze state and the time stamp arrival (TSA) for each frame received from the client by the AP. When an AP obtains channel access, it only aggregates frames for those clients that are awake. From the TSA and the voice packet arrival interval for the client, the AP can compute how many voice frames are waiting at the client since the AP received the last frame from the client. Knowing the number of voice frames waiting at the voice client and the transmission rate, enables the AP to accurately ascertain the response time and duration for the voice client.

Abstract: A technique for determining when to change a data rate by determining the cause of packet loss. The technique distinguishes between collision mediated packet loss and poor signal mediated packet loss. Rate shifting to a lower rate is performed after determining poor signals are causing packet loss. After switching to a lower rate, the packet loss rate can be compared to the pre-switch packet loss rate. If the packet loss rate has not improved by shifting to a lower data rate, then the data rate can be shifted to a higher rate. The technique can use a combination of channel response, signal strength, packet loss rate and throughput to determine when to switch data rates. A communication unit can maintain separate histories for each unit it is communicating with and employ a different data rate for each unit.

Abstract: A method for sending a multi-rate multi-receiver message containing a multi-receiver multi-response aggregate. The multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate is transmitted until a multi-receiver multi-response aggregate embedded within the multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate is encountered. Transmission of the multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate is suspended for a predetermined time period. After the expiration of the predetermined time period, transmission of the multi-rate multi-receiver aggregate resumes.