Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system is described that comprises a network device adapted to receive a media stream that includes a plurality of network packets. The network device of the system processes the media stream, targeted for a client device that is communicatively coupled to the network device, by perform a number of operations. A first operation comprises partitioning the plurality of network packets into a plurality of subsets, each subset in the plurality of subsets corresponding to a media frame in a plurality of frames. Next, a priority level is determined for each particular media frame in the plurality of media frames, where the priority level for each particular media frame is assigned to each of the one or more network packets in the particular frame. Thereafter, network packets are transmitted or dropped based at least on the priority level associated with each network packet in the plurality of network packets.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, wireless spectrum and battery power conservation is achieved through an adaptable multicast group communication scheme. This involves a method for controlling the multicast transmission rate based on a first operation of receiving information from a multicast receiving device that is a member of a multicast group. Based on this information and potentially other information from other member devices, the modulation and coding rate for the multicast group is altered.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a network device and method for advertising channel load. The disclosed network device aggregates a number of clients that are associated with the network device on a specific wireless communication channel, and advertises the aggregated number to a client on the specific wireless communication channel. Further, the network device can receive aggregated load information on the specific wireless communication channel from another management network device, and further aggregates the load information across multiple wireless networks operating on the same wireless communication channel and coupled to different management network devices.

Abstract: A wireless mesh communication network includes a plurality of wireless routers which can be managed in a hierarchical manner with respect to one another and all of the routers are capable of detecting and avoiding interference on channels over which they communicate with one another. Depending upon whether a channel is active or inactive, a wireless router can either passively detect interference and then switch channels to avoid it or actively detect interference and then switch channels to avoid it.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for altering stored firmware within a network device comprises receiving, by a first network device, information to download firmware. This information is provided from the first network device to at least a second network device, which is communicatively coupled to the first network device. The information enables the second network device to access a second version of firmware different than a first version of firmware installed on the second network device.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for home VLAN identification for roaming mobile clients. Specifically, the disclosed method and system detects that the mobile client has roamed away from a first network to a second network, maintains a mapping between a virtual local area network (VLAN) corresponding to the mobile client and a tunnel corresponding to a foreign agent in the second network, and forwards packets to or from the mobile client on the VLAN based on the mapping between the VLAN and the tunnel via which the packets are received. Therefore, the disclosed method and system allows for identification of home VLANs for roaming mobile clients without merging VLAN policy configurations at the home agent and the foreign agent.

Abstract: Extending dual-mode phones using SMS messages. When operating in cellular mode, SMS messages originated by a mobility controller in the enterprise command features such as indicators on the dual-mode phone. SMS messages are received by an agent in the dual-mode phone. A mobility controller connected to the enterprise SIP PBX and voicemail system receives messages for example indicating voicemail status and sends specially formatted SMS messages to the cellular phone to operate indicators. Similarly, the dual-mode phone issues SMS messages to the enterprise mobility controller to request the enterprise PBX perform features such as call conferencing, call pickup, and call pull.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating various network access control frameworks under the control of a single policy decision point (PDP). The apparatus supports pluggable protocol terminators to interface to any number of access protocols or backend support services. The apparatus contains Trust and Identity Mediators to mediate between the protocol terminators and a canonical policy subsystem, translating attributes between framework representations, and a canonical representation using extensible data-driven dictionaries.

Abstract: Extending wired networks by aggregating multiple wireless links. Multiple wireless links are used to bridge wired networks, such as wired Ethernet networks. Each wireless link applies a hash function to the destination MAC address of presented traffic and uses the result of the hash function to determine if the traffic is passed by that wireless link or is dropped. For broadcast and multicast frames, the hash function is calculated on the source MAC address. Dynamic source MAC rewriting may be performed to prevent port flapping or out-of-order arrival of frames. Establishing one link as a master and communicating among links allows for load balancing and link failure detection.

Abstract: Band steering for multi-band wireless clients. In a wireless digital network having at least one central controller and a plurality of access nodes connected to the central controller, and wherein some of the access nodes support a preferred wireless band and at least one non-preferred wireless band, the central controller identifies wireless client devices capable of multi-band operation, and encourages them to connect to the preferred wireless band. Client devices may be identified as multi-band capable by tracking probe requests. The central controller keeps a list of multi-band capable clients, for example in a database. This information is provided to other central controllers, and to access nodes attached to the central controller. Multi-band capable clients are encouraged to connect on the preferred wireless band for example by having the access nodes not respond to probe requests on the non-preferred wireless bands.

Abstract: A system or method that receives a current request from a client, and responds to the current request based on signal strength associated with a previous request. If the current request is received on a non-preferred communication band, and a previous request was received on a preferred communication band within a pre-determined time, the system determines whether the signal strength associated with the previous request is weaker than a pre-determined threshold signal strength level for the preferred communication band. If so, the system responds to the current request. Otherwise, the system ignores the current request. If no recent request on the preferred communication band is received, and the signal strength associated with the current request is weaker than a pre-determined threshold signal strength level for the non-preferred communication band, the system responds to the current request on the non-preferred communication band. Otherwise, the system ignores the current request.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a heat dissipation unit, such as a heat sink, that encases wireless logic in order to completely surround such logic. When adapted as a wireless network device, a casing further encases the heat dissipation unit. The casing includes a plurality of slots that are aligned with heat-radiating elements positioned around the periphery of the heat dissipation unit to allow for cooling by convection.

Abstract: Provisioning remote access points for use in a telecommunication network. A remote access point contains identity information established during manufacturing; this identity information may be in the nature of a digital certificate. The identity information is stored in the remote access point, and may be stored in a Trusted Platform Module if present. When the remote access node is powered up in unprovisioned state, outside the manufacturing environment, it attempts to establish an internet connection via a first wired interface, and queries a user for information representing the TCP/IP address of its controller via a second wired interface. Once an internet connection is present, and a TCP/IP address has been provided, the remote access point attempts to connect to the controller at that address. Once a connection is established, controller and access point exchange and verify each other's identities.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises transmitting a Layer 2 (L2) frame from a first wireless device. Upon receipt of a frame in response to the L2 frame, the first wireless device uses information conveyed in the frame to modify its functionality.

Abstract: Radio Frequency (RF) coverage models are visualized by displaying three dimensional unity scaled models of antenna performance in a Geographic Information System (GIS), Traditional logarithmic scaled antenna models are converted to linear models and stored as three dimensional representations which are placed and scaled using a GIS to visualize RF coverage.

Abstract: An association request from a wireless station is received at an access point. A determination is made whether a reservation threshold for a pre-determined number of wireless stations for the access point has been met. If the reservation threshold has not been met, the wireless station is associated with the access point. If the reservation threshold has been met, and the wireless station is not already on a call through another access point, the association of the wireless station with the access point is rejected.

Abstract: Interference classification with minimal or incomplete information. Receivers in access points and in other network devices on a wireless digital network may be switched to a spectrum monitor mode in which they provide amplitude-versus-frequency information for a chosen part of the spectrum. This may be performed by performing a FFT or similar transform on the signals from the receiver. Receivers are calibrated with known interference sources in controlled environments to determine peaks, pulse frequency, bandwidth, and other identifying parameters of the interference source in best and worst case conditions. These calibrated values are used for matching interference signatures. Calibration is also performed using partial signatures collected over a short period in the order of microseconds. These partial signals may be used to detect interferers while scanning. Another aspect of the invention is to record the variation of noise floor in the presence of interference sources.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises an exchange of messages between an access point and a wireless network switch. One message, a PROXY IGMP JOIN message, is transmitted to the access point for propagation to a multicast router. This is performed so that multicast data associated with the multicast group identified by the PROXY IGMP JOIN message is routed to the access point without any unnecessary involvement by the wireless network switch.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises advertising services. The services are provided by different basic service sets, each basic service set having the same service set identifier (SSID). Thereafter, one of the basic service sets is selected.