Abstract: Methods and apparatuses providing a visual metric of the efficiency of a network of devices communicating through a wireless access point (AP). These apparatuses and methods may also determine and display pseudo-dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) information for a network of wireless stations, including displaying a pseudo-dynamic constellation diagrams using EVM information. These methods and apparatuses may transmit a plurality of sounding packets from each of one or more radio devices different modulation types (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM and 1024 QAM), and receiving at least some of the sounding packets at a second radio device (e.g., an access point) and determining EVM information from the received sounding packets, and displaying (or providing for display) a constellation diagram including pseudo-dynamic EVM information that is a constrained approximation of actual EVM information.

Abstract: Tools and methods for optimizing the selection and placement of wireless radio devices in a wireless network within a geographic region using a remote database that includes a geographic mapping of existing wireless devices within the network and/or adjacent networks, device characteristics for the wireless devices within the network and/or adjacent networks, and radio frequency spectral information across times for a plurality of regions (e.g., corresponding to locations of existing wireless devices). A tool may include a local user interface, a remote database, and a processor that communicates with the user interface and remote database.

Abstract: Tools and methods for optimizing the selection and placement of wireless radio devices in a wireless network within a geographic region using a remote database that includes a geographic mapping of existing wireless devices within the network and/or adjacent networks, device characteristics for the wireless devices within the network and/or adjacent networks, and radio frequency spectral information across times for a plurality of regions (e.g., corresponding to locations of existing wireless devices). A tool may include a local user interface, a remote database, and a processor that communicates with the user interface and remote database.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network is described. It uses a plurality of Wi-Fi nodes organized in a tree shape. The nodes include one or more root access point (RAP) nodes having a wired connection to an external network and one or more mesh access point (MAP) nodes. A MAP node is in a data communication with the external network through an associated RAP node either directly or by another MAP node in a data communication with the external network through its associated RAP node. A MAP node automatically connects to the associated parent node by selecting a single associated parent node from one or more potential parent nodes that are within a direct wireless communication range of the MAP node and establishing a parent-child relationship with the associated parent node.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network is described. The mesh network uses a plurality of data communications nodes that are organized in a tree-like structure. The network also includes an access server which communicates with the nodes. The mesh network nodes are one or more root access point nodes having a wired connection to an external network; and one or more mesh access point nodes. Both types of nodes communicate with an external network. Each non-root node automatically connects to an associated parent node selected from one or more nodes within a direct wireless communication range of the node. The node selects a parent node based on one or more parent selection criteria from the access server and establishes a connection to the selected parent node. The node then calculates its routing path to the external network. The nodes include unique identifiers and two or more radios.

Abstract: Multi-directional antenna apparatuses, which may include phased array antennas and/or arrays of multiple antennas, and methods for operating these directional antennas. In particular, described herein are apparatuses configured to operate as an access point (AP) for communicating with one or more station devices by assigning a particular directional beam to each access point, and communicating with each station device using the assigned directional beam at least part of the time. Methods and apparatuses configured to optimize the assignment of one or more directional beam and for communicating between different station devices using assigned directional beams are described. Also described are methods of connecting a radio device to an antenna by connecting a USB connector on the radio device to a USB connector on an antenna and identifying the antenna based on a voltage of the ground pin on the antenna's USB connector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses providing a visual metric of the efficiency of a network of devices communicating through a wireless access point (AP). These apparatuses and methods may also determine and display pseudo-dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) information for a network of wireless stations, including displaying a pseudo-dynamic constellation diagrams using EVM information. These methods and apparatuses may transmit a plurality of sounding packets from each of one or more radio devices different modulation types (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM and 1024 QAM), and receiving at least some of the sounding packets at a second radio device (e.g., an access point) and determining EVM information from the received sounding packets, and displaying (or providing for display) a constellation diagram including pseudo-dynamic EVM information that is a constrained approximation of actual EVM information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses providing a visual metric of the efficiency of a network of devices communicating through a wireless access point (AP). These apparatuses and methods may also determine and display pseudo-dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) information for a network of wireless stations, including displaying a pseudo-dynamic constellation diagrams using EVM information. These methods and apparatuses may transmit a plurality of sounding packets from each of one or more radio devices different modulation types (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM and 1024QAM), and receiving at least some of the sounding packets at a second radio device (e.g., an access point) and determining EVM information from the received sounding packets, and displaying (or providing for display) a constellation diagram including pseudo-dynamic EVM information that is a constrained approximation of actual EVM information.

Abstract: Multi-directional antenna apparatuses, which may include phased array antennas and/or arrays of multiple antennas, and methods for operating these directional antennas. In particular, described herein are apparatuses configured to operate as an access point (AP) for communicating with one or more station devices by assigning a particular directional beam to each access point, and communicating with each station device using the assigned directional beam at least part of the time. Methods and apparatuses configured to optimize the assignment of one or more directional beam and for communicating between different station devices using assigned directional beams are described. Also described are methods of connecting a radio device to an antenna by connecting a USB connector on the radio device to a USB connector on an antenna and identifying the antenna based on a voltage of the ground pin on the antenna's USB connector.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network is described. The mesh network uses a plurality of data communications nodes that are organized in a tree-like structure. The network also includes an access server which communicates with the nodes. The mesh network nodes are one or more root access point nodes having a wired connection to an external network; and one or more mesh access point nodes. Both types of nodes communicate with an external network. Each non-root node automatically connects to an associated parent node selected from one or more nodes within a direct wireless communication range of the node. The node selects a parent node based on one or more parent selection criteria from the access server and establishes a connection to the selected parent node. The node then calculates its routing path to the external network. The nodes include unique identifiers and two or more radios.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more wireless stations programmed to await for an authorizing signal to initiate wireless communications with a network controller or access point. The network controller maintains identification information in different queues, and polls stations from those queues. The wireless station identification information may be moved between the different queues in response to wireless station activity. Between polling, each mobile station aggregates data for the next opportunity to transmit. Multi-polling may be employed such that more than a single station is polled at a time. Polling is accomplished by polling one of the more stations from each queue having the effect that stations in one queue are polled more often than those in another queue. If a lesser active station becomes active, it may be moved into the shorter queue and consequently will be polled more often.

Abstract: Multi-directional antenna apparatuses, which may include phased array antennas and/or arrays of multiple antennas, and methods for operating these directional antennas. In particular, described herein are apparatuses configured to operate as an access point (AP) for communicating with one or more station devices by assigning a particular directional beam to each access point, and communicating with each station device using the assigned directional beam at least part of the time. Methods and apparatuses configured to optimize the assignment of one or more directional beam and for communicating between different station devices using assigned directional beams are described. Also described are methods of connecting a radio device to an antenna by connecting a USB connector on the radio device to a USB connector on an antenna and identifying the antenna based on a voltage of the ground pin on the antenna's USB connector.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless system. During operation, the system can determine a set of contiguous virtual sequence numbers and a virtual traffic category indicator for a set of packets belonging to different traffic categories associated with a network protocol stack. Each packet includes an original sequence number and an original traffic category indicator. The system then generates an aggregate frame comprising modified packets of the set of the packets. The system modifies a respective packet by modifying a payload of the packet to include the original sequence number and the original traffic category indicator of the packet and modifying a header of the packet to include a virtual sequence number of the set of contiguous virtual sequence numbers and the virtual traffic category indicator. The system determines that a wireless medium for a wireless transceiver is available for transmitting the aggregate frame.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more wireless stations programmed to await for an authorizing signal to initiate wireless communications with a network controller or access point. The network controller maintains identification information in different queues, and polls stations from those queues. The wireless station identification information may be moved between the different queues in response to wireless station activity. Between polling, each mobile station aggregates data for the next opportunity to transmit. Multi-polling may be employed such that more than a single station is polled at a time. Polling is accomplished by polling one of the more stations from each queue having the effect that stations in one queue are polled more often than those in another queue. If a lesser active station becomes active, it may be moved into the shorter queue and consequently will be polled more often.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses providing a visual metric of the efficiency of a network of devices communicating through a wireless access point (AP). These apparatuses and methods may also determine and display pseudo-dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) information for a network of wireless stations, including displaying a pseudo-dynamic constellation diagrams using EVM information. These methods and apparatuses may transmit a plurality of sounding packets from each of one or more radio devices different modulation types (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM and 1024QAM), and receiving at least some of the sounding packets at a second radio device (e.g., an access point) and determining EVM information from the received sounding packets, and displaying (or providing for display) a constellation diagram including pseudo-dynamic EVM information that is a constrained approximation of actual EVM information.

Abstract: A communication system comprising one or more wireless stations programmed to await for an authorizing signal to initiate wireless communications with a network controller or access point. The network controller maintains identification information in different queues, and polls stations from those queues. The wireless station identification information may be moved between the different queues in response to wireless station activity. Between polling, each mobile station aggregates data for the next opportunity to transmit. Multi-polling may be employed such that more than a single station is polled at a time. Polling is accomplished by polling one of the more stations from each queue having the effect that stations in one queue are polled more often than those in another queue. If a lesser active station becomes active, it may be moved into the shorter queue and consequently will be polled more often.

Abstract: Generation and use of geographic databases of frequency spectral information within an operating frequency band. Described herein are methods of making databases of geospectral information and using these databases to optimize performance of wireless networks. For example, a network of wireless radio devices that monitor the frequency spectrum of the operating frequency band may provide this geographically marked information to a central database to create a database of geospectral frequency information. This geospectral frequency information may be used to characterize, optimize or modify a network of wireless radio device, or to modify an individual wireless radio device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses providing a visual metric of the efficiency of a network of devices communicating through a wireless access point (AP). These apparatuses and methods may also determine and display pseudo-dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) information for a network of wireless stations, including displaying a pseudo-dynamic constellation diagrams using EVM information. These methods and apparatuses may transmit a plurality of sounding packets from each of one or more radio devices different modulation types (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM and 1024QAM), and receiving at least some of the sounding packets at a second radio device (e.g., an access point) and determining EVM information from the received sounding packets, and displaying (or providing for display) a constellation diagram including pseudo-dynamic EVM information that is a constrained approximation of actual EVM information.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for configuring an access point in a wireless network. During operation, the access point discovers one or more existing access points associated with the wireless network. The access point then obtains a set of configuration information from one existing access point, and synchronizes a local timestamp counter to a selected existing access point, thereby allowing the access point to be configured without using a centralized management station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses providing a visual metric of the efficiency of a network of devices communicating through a wireless access point (AP). These apparatuses and methods may also determine and display pseudo-dynamic error vector magnitude (EVM) information for a network of wireless stations, including displaying a pseudo-dynamic constellation diagrams using EVM information. These methods and apparatuses may transmit a plurality of sounding packets from each of one or more radio devices different modulation types (e.g., BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM and 1024QAM), and receiving at least some of the sounding packets at a second radio device (e.g., an access point) and determining EVM information from the received sounding packets, and displaying (or providing for display) a constellation diagram including pseudo-dynamic EVM information that is a constrained approximation of actual EVM information.