Abstract: A network (100) includes multiple gateways (135, 140) and a router (105) connected to at least one of the multiple gateways (135, 140). The router (105) is configured to receive packets that include multiple first virtual circuit identifiers associated with the multiple gateways in the network (100), assign second virtual circuit identifiers to the at least one connected gateway, and initiate transmission of a message to the at least one connected gateway informing the gateway of the first virtual circuit identifiers.

Abstract: A portable endpoint device comprises a first virtual device and a second virtual device integrated in a same single unit and configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are configured to allow communication therewith as virtually different physical devices despite being integrated in the same single unit. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first signal from another endpoint device to indicate the availability of the another endpoint device for attachment; send, to the another endpoint device a second signal utilizing first scheduling-related information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; receive, from the another endpoint device a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal; and receive, from the another endpoint device data utilizing a second one of the identifiers for identification in association with the portable endpoint device.

Abstract: A portable endpoint device comprises a first virtual device and a second virtual device integrated in a same single unit and configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are configured to allow communication therewith as virtually different physical devices despite being integrated in the same single unit. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first signal from another endpoint device to indicate the availability of the another endpoint device for attachment; send, to the another endpoint device a second signal utilizing first scheduling-related information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; receive, from the another endpoint device a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal; and receive, from the another endpoint device data utilizing a second one of the identifiers for identification in association with the portable endpoint device.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry configured for being communicatively coupled to a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device and to send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment. In operation, the device is further configured to receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium, for data transfer after attachment in connection with a group that is controlled by the another device.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium.

Abstract: A portable endpoint device comprises a first virtual device and a second virtual device integrated in a same single unit and configured such that the first virtual device and the second virtual device are configured to allow communication therewith as virtually different physical devices despite being integrated in the same single unit. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first signal from another endpoint device to indicate the availability of the another endpoint device for attachment; send, to the another endpoint device a second signal utilizing first scheduling-related information, the second signal including a first one of a plurality of identifiers for unique identification in association with the portable endpoint device; receive, from the another endpoint device a third signal that is sent in response to the second signal; and receive, from the another endpoint device data utilizing a second one of the identifiers for identification in association with the portable endpoint device.

Abstract: A network (100) includes a hub device (110) and at least one unattached peripheral device (120). The unattached peripheral device (120) transmits an attach request to the hub device (110) with a selected address, receives a new address from the hub device to identify the unattached peripheral device (120), and communicates with the hub device (110) using the new address.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry configured for being communicatively coupled to a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device and to send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment. In operation, the device is further configured to receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium, for data transfer after attachment in connection with a group that is controlled by the another device.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver in communication with the circuitry. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: periodically send a broadcast message to indicate the availability of the device for attachment to another device; receive, from the another device, a first pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing first information sent by the device; send, to the another device, a first response that is sent in response to the first pre-attachment message and includes second information; receive, from the another device, a second pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing the second information; send, to the another device, a second response that is sent in response to the second pre-attachment message; and communicate, with the another device, data utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device, for data transfer in connection with a group controlled by the device.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium.

Abstract: A peripheral device comprises a first entity and a second entity. In operation, the first/second entities are configured to respectively: receive a first/second entity-related message from at least one other device to indicate the availability of the at least one other device for attachment, send, to the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related message indicating the availability for communication with the at least one other device, receive, from the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related signal including a first/second entity-related peripheral device identifier, send a first/second entity-related response to the at least one other device, receive, from the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related device response, and send, to the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related second peripheral response including the first/second entity-related peripheral device identifier.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication network.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication network.

Abstract: A network (100) includes a hub device (110) and at least one unattached peripheral device (120). The unattached peripheral device (120) transmits an attach request to the hub device (110) with a selected address, receives a new address from the hub device to identify the unattached peripheral device (120), and communicates with the hub device (110) using the new address.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: receive a first message from another device to support at least one aspect of attachment of the device and the another device, send, to the another device, a second message after the first message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a third message that is sent after the second message and prior to attachment, send, to the another device, a fourth message after the third message and prior to attachment, receive, from the another device, a fifth message that is sent after the fourth message and prior to attachment, and send, directly to the another device, data utilizing at least one channel for data transfer utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the device on the shared wireless communication medium.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver in communication with the circuitry. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: periodically send a broadcast message to indicate the availability of the device for attachment to another device; receive, from the another device, a first pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing first information sent by the device; send, to the another device, a first response that is sent in response to the first pre-attachment message and includes second information; receive, from the another device, a second pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing the second information; send, to the another device, a second response that is sent in response to the second pre-attachment message; and communicate, with the another device, a data signal utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device, for data transfer in connection with a group controlled by the device.

Abstract: A network (100) includes a hub device (110) and at least one unattached peripheral device (120). The hub device comprises circuitry and a transceiver in communication with the circuitry. In operation, the hub device is configured to cause the transceiver to i) send a message to indicate the availability of the hub device for attachment to a first peripheral device, ii) receive, from the first peripheral device, a message indicating the availability of the first peripheral device for communication with the hub device, iii) send, to the first peripheral device, a signal including a first peripheral device identifier, iv) receive, from the first peripheral device, a response, v) send a hub response to the first peripheral device, and vi) receive, from the first peripheral device, a second peripheral response including the first peripheral device identifier.

Abstract: A peripheral device comprises a first entity and a second entity. In operation, the first/second entities are configured to respectively: receive a first/second entity-related message from at least one other device to indicate the availability of the at least one other device for attachment, send, to the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related message indicating the availability for communication with the at least one other device, receive, from the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related signal including a first/second entity-related peripheral device identifier, send a first/second entity-related response to the at least one other device, receive, from the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related device response, and send, to the at least one other device, a first/second entity-related second peripheral response including the first/second entity-related peripheral device identifier.

Abstract: A device comprises circuitry and a transceiver in communication with the circuitry. In operation, the device is configured to cause the transceiver to: periodically send a broadcast message to indicate the availability of the device for attachment to another device; receive, from the another device, a first pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing first information sent by the device; send, to the another device, a first response that is sent in response to the first pre-attachment message and includes second information; receive, from the another device, a second pre-attachment message that is sent utilizing the second information; send, to the another device, a second response that is sent in response to the second pre-attachment message; and communicate, with the another device, a data signal utilizing a second one of the addresses for identification in association with the another device, for data transfer in connection with a group controlled by the device.