Abstract: A system and method for automated visual tracking of assets (302), such as personnel or vehicles, using location measurements and ad-hoc routing algorithms employed in a wireless multihopping communication network (100). The system and method comprise a plurality of imaging devices (300) that are deployed about an area and provide image information to at least one workstation (304) that displays the images based on the image information. In particular, as an asset (302) moves, the workstation (304) switches from displaying an image of the asset (302) captured by an imaging device (300) away from which the asset (302) is moving to displaying an image of the asset (302) captured by an imaging device (300) toward which the asset (302) is moving.

Abstract: A method and system for propagating mutual authentication data in both a first wireless communication network and a second wireless communication network is useful for unifying wireless communication networks. The method includes mutually authenticating a first node operating in the first network and a second node operating in the second network (step 205). A unification message is then transmitted from the first node to a third node operating in the second network, where the unification message indicates that the first node is authenticated with the second network (step 210). In response to the unification message, authentication messages from the third node and the second node are then relayed through the first node, for mutually authenticating the third node and the second node (step 215).

Abstract: Distributed DNS in a wireless communication network comprising broadcasting by a first node a request message to a second node is disclosed. The request message comprises a hostname of the second node. The first node forwards the request message to the second node through intermediate nodes in the wireless communication network and the second node transmits a response message to the first node. The response message comprises a MAC address of the second node.

Abstract: A first time division multiplex (TDM) time slot is provided which is defined as a bi-directional channel for use in a TDM network including a source node and a destination node. The source node can transmit data to the destination node in a first portion of a first TDM time slot. In one implementation, a second portion of the same first TDM time slot can be reserved for the destination node to transmit information to the source node. The destination node can determine whether the data from the source node has arrived properly, and then transmit an indication message to the source node in the second portion of the same first TDM time slot to indicate whether the data from the source node has arrived properly at the destination node.

Abstract: An IP mobility solution for mobile network(s) (110) defining mobile routers (112) detachably connected to one or more mobile nodes (116). When attached to the router, the nodes create a binding between their home address and a home address of their attached router. The router creates a binding between its mobile subnet prefix (or home address) and a care of address. The bindings are sent to various correspondent nodes (126) having sent packets to the nodes. The bindings are updated, as appropriate, responsive to movement of the mobile network to other networks, including other mobile networks, and/or responsive to the nodes detaching from the mobile network and roaming independently to other networks, including other mobile networks. The correspondent nodes store the bindings and updates, if any, in a binding cache (208) and consult the binding cache to determine how packets should be directed on next attempt(s) to reach the node.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing the quality of a link, in particular, a bi-directional link, between nodes in a wireless communication network, such as a wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, with minimum network overhead. The system and method determine the quality of link between two nodes by taking into consideration the view from both the nodes, and factors such as signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio or any statistic collected at the physical layer that is deemed representative of the quality of a link. The link quality can also be adjusted using a weighting factor.

Abstract: A system and method to avoid and control the bottleneck points in multi-hop wireless ad-hoc networks is described. This is achieved by using the overheard RTS/(N)CTS information to compute a weighted combination of the node's and neighbors weighted queue size. Rate limiting factor can be distributed by using ACK messages in case RTS/CTS is not enabled while node weight values can be distributed in DATA messages. Furthermore, rate limiting is based on two metrics that eliminate the problems of drop-tail schemes. Priority levels may be used for selective rejection to provide availability for emergency and system packets.

Abstract: A system and method enables an ad-hoc communication network to maintain connectivity between intelligent access points and nodes. The method includes: broadcasting an access point advertisement from a sender node to wireless routers; deciding by the wireless routers whether to use the sender node as a next hop towards the intelligent access point based on routing criterion associated with the wireless routers and contents of the access point advertisement; transmitting a unicast route request from the wireless routers to the intelligent access point; transmitting a unicast route reply from the sender node to the wireless router in response to receiving the unicast route request; storing a route entry associated with the intelligent access point in the wireless router; and periodically broadcasting a hello message from the wireless router to the nodes identifying the route from the wireless router to the intelligent access point using the stored route entry.

Abstract: A method for communicating beacon transmissions from a wireless access point (WAP) to a client transceiver in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system (500) includes obtaining a reference timing for the wireless access point (WAP) (502). The sector configuration and the sector timing in the WAP is then determined (503). A virtual target beacon transmission time (TBTT) for the sector of interest serviced by the WAP is then calculated (506), as is a channel number of the sector of interest. Finally, the method provides for listening (507) for a sector beacon signal from the sector of interest at the virtual TBTT and the calculated channel number.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for evaluating the performance of a potential route before it is actually established. In a wireless network, when a trigger is received by a source node that suggests the existence of a better route, the source node sends a scouting packet along the suggested route. The scouting packet collects statistics related to the suggested route, without establishing the route while the scouting packet traverses the route. The metric for the suggested route, which is derived from the statistics collected by the scouting packet, is compared to the metric for the current route. If the metric for the suggested route is preferable to that of the current route, the suggested route is established as a new route.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a minimum time of flight between communication devices is useful for correcting ranging errors induced by multi-path signals. The method includes transmitting a range request message, including a first periodically repeating synchronization sequence, from the first communication device via a first RF channel to the second communication device (step 91). A range response message, including a second periodically repeating synchronization sequence and a minimum path turn around time, is then received at the first communication device via a second RF channel from the second communication device (step 92). A change in the second RF channel is induced after receipt of each synchronization sequence. A minimum path round trip time is then determined from multiple time of arrival determinations (step 93). Finally, the minimum time of flight is calculated from the minimum path round trip time and the minimum path turn around time (step 94).

Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques and technologies for efficiently transporting management information between mesh nodes across multiple hops or “mesh links” in a multi-hop mesh network. These techniques and technologies are general purpose and provide an extensible mechanism for transporting management traffic across a mesh network. These techniques and technologies can be applied in a number of applications relating, for example, to security, routing, radio measurements, mesh node management, etc.

Abstract: A system and method of security authentication and key management scheme in a multi-hop wireless network is provided herein with a hop-by-hop security model. The scheme adapts the 802.11r key hierarchy into the meshed AP network. In this approach, a top key holder (R0KH) derives and holds the top Pairwise Master Key (PMK—0) for each supplicant wireless device after the authentication process. All authenticator AP take the level one key holder (R1KH) role and receive the next level Pairwise Master Key (PMK—1) from R0KH. The link level data protection key is derived from PMK—1 via the 802.11i 4-way handshaking.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the time of arrival of a direct radio signal. The system including a receiver (210) for receiving a plurality of signals, wherein each of the plurality of received signals has an associated time of arrival. The system further including a processor (215) adapted to compute a impulse response function of a received signal; decompose an impulse response function comprising the time of arrival for each of the plurality of received signals; and identify a smallest time of arrival from the decomposed impulse response function.

Abstract: A method and system for managing bandwidth by a server in an IP network is disclosed. The method and system creates data structures of network topology information. The method and system receives requests from a first client to communicate with a second client and identifies a set of links to be traversed in the communication by utilizing the network topology information to build an end to end path for the communication. Further, the method and system determine whether each link of the identified set of links has sufficient bandwidth for the end to end path and if there is enough bandwidth, then allocating the bandwidth to allow the first client to communicate with the second client.

Abstract: A wireless router assisted security handoff method (300) includes an efficient layer 2security handoff for an infrastructure-based mobile multi-hop wireless network. The handoff is assisted with a wireless router (311) which is the first hop from the mobile station (301) to the new access point (307). The security context from the old access point (303) is first delivered to the mobile station (301) in a secure manner. The first handoff message (309) from mobile station (301) to the new access point (307) has three roles namely, re-association request, security context delivery and new session key generation handshaking. The first hop wireless router (311) vouches the freshness of the message contents and tunnels the message securely to the new access point (307). The second message (315) from the new access point (307) to the mobile station (301) completes the handoff process.

Abstract: A system and method for management of communication links between nodes in a wireless communication network (100). The system and method perform the operations of estimating an expected rate of change in the characteristics pertaining to communication over a communication link in the network (100), and assigning a value associated with the link based on the expected rate of change. The system and method also adjust the rate of change of the value associated with the link based on the condition of the link.

Abstract: A system and method for providing geographic location information to of at least one fixed reference device in a wireless network, the method comprising: determining a geographic location of the at least one fixed reference device within an image, such as a Geographic Information System (GIS) image, where the GIS image comprises a plurality of pixels each having an absolute geographic location value associated with it, and where the geographic location of the at least one fixed reference device is defined with respect to the absolute position values associated with at least one pixel that is proximal to an image of the at least one fixed reference device within the GIS image; and providing the determined geographic location information to the at least one fixed reference device.

Abstract: A power management system has a primary power source (100) and a secondary power source (106) generated from the primary power source (100) with a power output selector (204) coupled to each for selecting power for a regulated power output (212). First, during initialization and at any other time during operation, when the primary power source (102) exceeds the secondary power source (106), the primary power source (102) is used as a power supply for the regulated power output (212). Second, at any time after initialization that the primary power source (102) exceeds the regulated power output (212), the primary power source (102) is used as the power supply for the regulated power output (212). Third, at any time after initialization that the secondary power source (106) exceeds the primary power source (106) and the primary power source (102) is less than the regulated power output (212), the secondary power source (106) is used as the power supply for the regulated power output (212).

Abstract: Techniques are provided for determining mobility of a first node in an ad hoc network. A particular node generates a fixed neighbor node table comprising second nodes in the area of the particular node which are not mobile. The particular node can monitor changes between the first node and the second nodes, and then determine if the first node is mobile based on the changes.