Abstract: A host controller for a distributed wireless local area network (WLAN) includes: a communications interface connected to each of a set of wireless access points (APs); a memory storing (i) identifiers of each of the wireless access points, and (ii) a master identifier of the host controller; and a processor configured to: receive a notification, from a first one of the APs, that the first AP has completed an association with a client device; in response to receiving the notification: deploy association data, including an identifier of the client device, to each of the APs; initiate a handshake mechanism with the client device, via a selected one of the APs, to generate an encryption key; and provide the encryption key to each or the APs to enable data exchange between the client device and each of the APs.

Abstract: A wireless communications module includes: a primary board including (i) a first surface bearing a radio controller, and defining a set of control contacts for connection to respective ports of the radio controller, and (ii) a second surface opposite the first surface; an antenna array integrated with the primary board, the antenna array including a plurality of unit cells each having: an inverted-L antenna having a planar element adjacent to the second surface of the primary board, and an orthogonal element extending from the planar element to a feed layer within the primary board; and a passive patch element between the planar element and the feed layer.

Abstract: A method in a wireless access point (AP) having an antenna controllable to transmit and receive using a set of AP sectors, includes: transmitting a plurality of beacon instances using each of the AP sectors, each beacon instance associated rotation schedule data defining a plurality of listening time slots corresponding to respective AP sectors; activating a rotating listening mode using the AP sectors in sequence according to the rotation schedule data; in response to detecting a sector sweep initiation message from a client device using an active one of the AP sectors, communicating with the client device to select an AP sector to use in establishing a link with the client device.

Abstract: A method in a first wireless station of establishing a connection with a second wireless station includes: generating a frame including a capabilities element having: a core capabilities field containing a predefined sequence of core subfields having respective predefined lengths; the core subfields containing respective first core values defining core capabilities of the first wireless station; and at least one extended capability field containing: an extended capability identifier subfield containing an identifier of one of a plurality of predefined extended capabilities; an extended capability length subfield containing an extended capability length value; and an extended capability payload subfield having a length equal to the extended capability length value; the payload subfield containing a first extended value defining an extended capability of the first wireless station; and responsive to generating the frame, transmitting the frame.

Abstract: A method in a wireless access point (AP) for controlling medium access includes: transmitting a beacon frame defining (i) a beacon header interval (BHI), and (ii) a data transmission interval (DTI) divided into a predetermined number of scheduled periods, each scheduled period containing a set of uplink allocation request sub-periods; sending, to a client device, an uplink allocation request assignment indicating an assigned uplink allocation request sub-period from the set, that corresponds to the client device; during a current one of the scheduled periods, receiving an uplink allocation request from the client device during the assigned uplink allocation request sub-period; determining an uplink allocation sub-period for the client device based on the uplink allocation request; and during a next one of the scheduled periods, sending an indication of the uplink allocation sub-period to the client device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing unsolicited block acknowledgements is provided. During a process, at a first wireless device, to associate with a basic service set that includes a second wireless communication device, the first wireless device transmits, via a controller and using a radio: an indication that the first wireless communication device supports block acknowledgements; and at least one common block acknowledgement parameter defining unsolicited block acknowledgement. Thereafter, the first wireless communication device exchanges data with the second wireless communication device according to the at least one common block acknowledgement parameter defining the unsolicited block acknowledgement.

Abstract: A system is provided comprising: a host computing device including: a wireless transceiver; and a processor configured to generate multimedia data for transmission via the wireless transceiver; and a movably-mounted client device including: a first set of wireless transceivers; a controller connected to the output assembly and each of the wireless transceivers; the controller configured to: assess respective performance attributes for each of the first set of transceivers; and based on the performance attributes, select a transceiver from the first set to receive the multimedia data from the host computing device; and an output assembly for presenting the multimedia data.

Abstract: A method in a transmitter station for establishing a wireless link with a receiver station includes: sending beamforming training data to the receiver station; responsive to sending the beamforming training data, receiving from the receiver station: beamforming feedback data; and a beamforming feedback mode indicator selected from (i) a multi-subcarrier feedback mode, and (ii) a single carrier feedback mode; when the beamforming feedback mode indicator corresponds to the single carrier feedback mode, obtaining beamforming parameters based on the beamforming feedback data.

Abstract: A host computing device for a multimedia system includes: a processor configured to generate multimedia data for transmission to a client device; a compression/decompression device connected to the processor, the compression/decompression device configured to receive the multimedia data and generated compressed multimedia data; a communications assembly connected to the processor and including (i) a wireless transceiver and (ii) a controller configured to receive the multimedia data from the processor and the compressed multimedia data from the compression/decompression device; the controller further configured to select one of the multimedia data and the compressed multimedia data for transmission to the client device via the wireless transceiver.

Abstract: A method for spatial re-use in a first wireless communications assembly of a first service set, comprising: establishing data transfer communications within the first service set; detecting wireless interference generated by a second wireless communications assembly of a second service set distinct from the first service set; responsive to the detecting, sending a notice of interference indicator to the second wireless communications assembly; receiving a response to the notice of interference indicator from the second wireless communications assembly; based on the response, selecting an interference-reducing corrective action to perform within the first service set; and initiating the selected corrective action within the first service set.

Abstract: A wireless communications assembly and method for encoding and modulating data for transmission is provided. The method includes receiving primary data to be transmitted to a receiving station; selecting a data rate at which to transmit the primary data; selecting a mode associated with the data rate, the mode defining a modulation scheme and a target code rate; generating encoded data, including modifying an error correcting block format having a predefined code rate to generate the encoded data at the target code rate; and extracting at least a portion of the encoded data for modulation of a carrier signal and transmission to a receiving station.

Abstract: A method in a transmitter station includes: generating payload data for transmission to a receiver station via a plurality of antennae of the transmitter station; selecting a number of transmit streams for transmission of the payload data; selecting respective modulation schemes for each of the transmit streams; according to the modulation schemes and to an active one of (i) a single-encoder mode and (ii) a per-stream encoder mode, generating the number of coded, modulated transmit streams; wherein each coded, modulated transmit stream contains a portion of the payload data; and providing the coded, modulated transmit streams to respective ones of the antennae for transmission to the receiver station.

Abstract: A method in a first wireless station of establishing a connection with a second wireless station includes: generating a frame including a capabilities element having: a core capabilities field containing a predefined sequence of core subfields having respective predefined lengths; the core subfields containing respective first core values defining core capabilities of the first wireless station; and at least one extended capability field containing: an extended capability identifier subfield containing an identifier of one of a plurality of predefined extended capabilities; an extended capability length subfield containing an extended capability length value; and an extended capability payload subfield having a length equal to the extended capability length value; the payload subfield containing a first extended value defining an extended capability of the first wireless station; and responsive to generating the frame, transmitting the frame.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes: a support member having opposing first and second sides; an input electrical contact and an output electrical contact; a first array of transmission patch elements supported on the first side and connected to the input electrical contact, the first array configured to receive an input signal via the input electrical contact and generate outbound radiation according to the input signal; a second array of reception patch elements supported on the first side and connected to the output electrical contact, the second array configured to receive inbound radiation and generate an output signal at the output electrical contact according to the outbound radiation; the first array and the second array having a common phase center.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for beamforming training using frames is provided. A first wireless device transmits, to a second wireless communication device, values representing one or more of transmit capabilities and receive capabilities of the first wireless communication device when exchanging beamforming data with the second wireless communication device. The values may be negotiated between the first and second wireless communication devices. The first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device perform beamforming training based on the values.

Abstract: A wireless communication assembly includes: a primary support member defining a primary mounting surface with first and second electrical contacts; an antenna, adjacent to primary mounting surface perimeter, and a baseband controller, on the primary support member; primary signal paths between the baseband controller and the first contacts; primary feed lines between the second contacts and the antenna; a secondary support member carrying a radio controller and defining a secondary mounting surface with third electrical contacts and ports adjacent to a perimeter of the secondary mounting surface; secondary signal paths between the third contacts and the radio controller; secondary feed lines between the radio controller and the ports; the secondary mounting surface configured to engage with the primary mounting surface to connect the first contacts with the third contacts, and the second contacts with the ports.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communications assembly of a first station having a plurality of antennas and configured to perform a beamforming procedure with a second station, the method comprising: controlling the plurality of antennas to simultaneously transmit, using a first sector of each of the plurality of antennas, a respective first beam including first frame data containing a first beam set identifier element identifying each of the plurality of antennas and each of the first sectors; subsequently controlling the plurality of antennas to simultaneously transmit, using a second sector of each of the plurality of antennas, a respective second beam including second frame data containing a second beam set identifier element identifying each of the plurality of antennas and each of the second sectors; and receiving, from the second station, first feedback data including one of the first beam set identifier element and the second beam set identifier element.

Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a support member having opposing first and second surfaces, and a set of electrical contacts; an antenna carried on the first surface of the support member and electrically connected to the set of electrical contacts; a conductive inner ring element carried on the first surface and surrounding the antenna; and a dielectric outer ring element mounted on the first surface and surrounding the conductive inner ring.

Abstract: A phased array antenna system is provided, comprising a support member having a mounting surface; a plurality of electronic components supported on the mounting surface; an antenna supported on the support member adjacent to a perimeter of the mounting surface, for transmitting and receiving ultra-high frequency radio waves of wavelength ?; and an enclosure. The enclosure includes a top portion and a bottom portion for enclosing the support member and a radome for enclosing the antenna. The center of curvature of the radome is positioned less than 1? from an end of the antenna. The thickness of the radome is approximately ?/5 and the radius of the radome is less than 1?.

Abstract: A wireless communications assembly includes: a primary board including: (i) an upper surface bearing a radio controller, and defining a set of control contacts for connection to respective ports of the radio controller; (ii) a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the lower surface defining a plurality of antenna contacts; (iii) a plurality of conduits extending through the primary board from the antenna contacts to the control contacts; and (iv) an antenna ground plane; a superstrate board including: (i) an inner surface facing the lower surface of the primary board; (ii) an outer surface opposite the inner surface; (iii) a phased array of antenna elements disposed on the inner surface; and a surface-mount package between the lower surface and the inner surface for connecting a subset of the antenna contacts directly to the antenna elements and to provide a substrate between the antenna elements and the antenna ground layer.