Abstract: A method and system for routing a data packet, intended for a destination node, from a source node to a first intermediate node in a network is useful for improving the efficiency of the network. The method includes determining a priority level for a user of the source node and a priority level for a user of the destination node (step 505). A priority level is also determined for each of the following: a device associated with the source node, a device associated with the destination node, and a device associated with the first intermediate node (step 510). A routing path is then selected that routes the data packet from the source node to the first intermediate node based on a comparison of the priority level for the device associated with the first intermediate node, the priority levels for the users of the source and destination nodes, and the priority levels for the devices associated with the source and destination nodes (step 515).

Abstract: A method as provided enables mutual authentication of nodes in a wireless communication network. The method includes processing at a first node a beacon message received from a second node, wherein the beacon message comprises a first nonce value (step 405). An association request message comprising a certificate of the first node, a first signed block of authentication data, and a second nonce value is then transmitted from the first node to the second node (step 410). The second node can then verify a signature of the certificate of the first node and verify a signature of the first signed block of authentication data. An association reply message received from the second node is then processed at the first node (step 415), whereby the first node verifies a signature of a certificate of the second node and verifies a signature of a second signed block of authentication data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for relay station neighbor discovery by providing predictable timing for relay station preambles and route advertisements, minimizing signaling overhead by keeping these times fixed, scheduling a subset of relay stations for transmission of relay station preamble during any given transmission zone, and allowing the scanning relay stations to scan for a fraction of a frame to determine its neighbors without any repercussions to its activity in the rest of the frame.

Abstract: A communication device 100 includes a first audio output 105; a second audio output 110; an audio transducer 115 for dual mode use; a shuttered acoustic path 120 coupled between the audio transducer 115 and the first audio output 105; and an attenuated acoustic path 125 coupled between the audio transducer 115 and the second audio output 110.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dynamically identifying locations of a plurality of mobile nodes in a time division multiple access (TDMA) based ad hoc communication network, wherein one or more mobile nodes are being moved in and out of a predefined region. The method comprises allocating a hello slot in a dedicated channel of the TDMA based ad hoc communication network to each of the mobile nodes and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through hello slot allocation map, receiving location information from each of the mobile nodes during their hello slot and determining mobile nodes that are inside the predefined region based on the received location information, allocating a data slot to each determined mobile nodes inside the predefined region and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through data slot allocation map, and receiving updated location information from each determined mobile nodes during their data slot.

Abstract: A mobile station (107, 200) for use in a cellular communication system (100) includes a processor (214) operable to determine whether the mobile station should undergo cell re-selection by handover from a first base station (101) to a second base station (102), wherein the determination includes comparing a value of a property (RSSI) of a signal received from the second base station with a value of the same property of a signal received from the first base station and calculating whether the difference between the two values is greater than a pre-determined reference difference (SRH), characterised in that the processor is operable to apply in the difference calculation a reference difference (SRH(0), SRH(1) . . . ) which varies as a function of time during an idle mode of operation of the mobile station. Also disclosed is a system and method incorporating the mobile station.

Abstract: In a network comprising a source, a destination, and intermediate nodes along a route between the source and the destination, techniques are provided for allocating one or more time slots to transmit a particular data stream along the route based on the QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. In one implementation, a Scout Request message (SRM) is sent from the source to the destination to allocate time slots along the route to transmit a particular data stream to the destination. The SRM can include QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. Each intermediate node along the route can allocate one or more time slots to transmit the particular data stream based on the QoS requirements needed to transmit the particular data stream along the route.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating inter-frequency handoff of a mobile node (102) in a wireless communication network (100). The system and method permit a mobile node (102), equipped with a single receiver, to perform handoffs seamlessly from one infrastructure node (106-1) to another infrastructure node (106-2) without having to scan through multiple frequencies and without having to interrupt the active communication session.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting packets in a network (100). A node (102, 106, 107) in the network (100) accesses uses one of a plurality of medium access techniques for transmitting packets on the network (100). The node (102, 106, 107) separates packets to be transmitted into classes based on at least one characteristic of the packets and selects one of the medium access techniques for each class of packets based on whether the medium access technique provides improved transmission efficiency for the at least one characteristic of the packets in the class. The node (102, 106, 107) transmits the packets in each respective class using the respective selected medium access technique.

Abstract: A method of communication scheduling in a multihop network is provided. The multihop network comprises a base station and at least one relay station. The method includes allocating a downlink relay to a relay station; assigning a first one or more connection identifiers to be locally scheduled at the relay station for communication on a first portion of the downlink relay; and assigning a second one or more connection identifiers to be centrally scheduled by the base station for communication on a second portion of the downlink relay.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing proxying error information in wireless networks is provided. The includes associating a proxy node with a non-routable node; sending a data packet from an initiator node to the proxy node for delivery to the non-routable node; determining by the proxy node that the non-routable device has disassociated from the proxy node; sending a proxy error message from the proxy node to the initiator node to inform the initiator node that the non-routable node is no longer proxied by the proxy node; and starting a route discovery process for the non-routable device by the initiator node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allocation of channel resources for relay stations operating in a multihop wireless communication system is provided for herein. The method and apparatus includes a signaling protocol between a base station scheduler and a relay station scheduler so as to achieve efficient utilization of the sector channel resources, while minimizing signaling overhead due to base station-relay station scheduler interaction.

Abstract: A method and system for updating a multicast state of a multicast group at a first mesh access point as provided improves network efficiency. According to one aspect, the method includes processing a multicast member join request for the multicast group received from a first wireless node. A proxy update message for the first wireless node received from a third mesh access point is then processed. The first wireless node connects to a second mesh access point after joining the multicast group via the first mesh access point, and the third mesh access point is a root node of a mesh tree of which the second mesh access point is a node. An Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) query message for the multicast group is then generated. A multicast update (MUPD) packet is then transmitted to an upstream node, whereby a multicast state is updated at the upstream node.

Abstract: A hybrid TDMA-CSMA MAC protocol is provided for allocating time slots within a frame having a structure in which transmission time is divided into a first number of actual TDMA time slots and a second number of “virtual” CSMA time slots. Each of the nodes in a multi-hop network can transmit a Highest Slot Number (HSN) field. Each time one of the Hello messages is received from a neighbor node, a given node can calculate variables based on the HSN field. The given node can use these variables to calculate a ratio of the first number to the second number. This ratio can be dynamically adjusted depending upon the traffic conditions observed by nodes within the multi-hop ad hoc network at any particular time to thereby change the relative percentages of the frame which are allocated for a TDMA portion and a CSMA portion of the frame.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for selecting a root node in an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of nodes including a first node. According to one implementation of these techniques, a first node can receive a message from at least one of the other nodes. Each message includes a number of primary factors associated with a particular node regarding capabilities of the particular node. The primary factors associated with each node can then be evaluated, and an attempt can be made to select the root node based on the primary factors associated with each node. If the first node is unable to select the root node based on the primary factors associated with each node, then the root node can be selected based on secondary factors associated with each node.

Abstract: A sealing system for sealing a component (102) within an electronic device (100) is provided. The system includes one or more apertures (206) within an internal housing (202). Further the system includes an adhesive (602), adhered on a first surface to a ledge (502) and bottom perimeter surface 402 of the component. Furthermore, the system includes an external housing (204). The external housing presses the perimeter of the component onto the ledge.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the mobility of a node (102) in a wireless communication network (102). The system and method determine the distance between the node (102) and at least one stationary neighboring node (102, 106, 107) at at least two or more time points, using at least two moving average filters, to arrive at two distance values. The system and method then determine the relative velocity based on the at least two distance values, and thus determine whether the node (102) is mobile.

Abstract: A method (200) of operation in a communication system (100) when a mobile node (107) is served in a network (103, 105) which is not its home network (101). The mobile node: (a) when attached to a first service node (117) identifies (203) a second service node (123) as a candidate service node to which it can become attached by an attachment handover procedure; (b) obtains (205) a new Care Of Address for use in association with attachment of the mobile node to the second service node; (c) notifies (207) the second service node of its identity and of its new Care Of Address; and (d) notifies (213) a Home Agent for the mobile node of the identity of the second service node and/or of the new Care Of Address.

Abstract: A wireless receiver (100) for receiving and demodulating a frequency modulated RF (radio frequency) signal by a direct conversion procedure, including channels (110, 112) for producing in-phase and quadrature components of a received RF signal, and a processor (123, 133) for periodically estimating an error in at least one of the in-phase and quadrature phase components and for producing a signal for adjustment of at least one of the in-phase and quadrature components to compensate for the detected error, wherein the processor is operable to apply alternatively each of a plurality of different procedures to estimate the error, the procedures including a first procedure which is applied when a signal quality value of the received RF signal is above a threshold value and a second procedure which is applied when a signal quality value of the RF received signal is not above the threshold value.

Abstract: A method for providing secure communications among a plurality of ad hoc devices includes authenticating one or more first devices within a first network; authenticating one or more second devices within a second network; transmitting a group key to the authenticated first devices and to the authenticated second devices; establishing an ad hoc network by at least one of the authenticated first devices and at least one of the authenticated second devices using the group key; and communicating within the ad hoc network among the at least one of the authenticated first devices and the at least one of the authenticated second devices.