Abstract: A technique for implementing an untethered access point (UAP) mesh involves enabling AP-local switching at one or more UAPs of the mesh. A system constructed according to the technique may include a wireless switch; an access point (AP) wire-coupled to the wireless switch; and a UAP mesh, wirelessly coupled to the AP, including a UAP with an AP-local switching engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. Another system constructed according to the technique may include an untethered access point (UAP), including: a radio; a backhaul service set identifier (SSID) stored in a computer-readable medium; an anchor access point (AAP) selection engine embodied in a computer-readable medium. In operation, the AAP selection engine may use the radio to attempt to associate with the AAP if a beaconed backhaul SSID matches the stored backhaul SSID.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a wireless access point controller configured to receive information associated with a topology of a network including information associated with which access switch from a set of access switches each virtual local area network (VLAN) from a set of VLANs is associated. The wireless access point controller is configured to associate each VLAN from the set of VLANs with a unique tunnel identifier from a set of tunnel identifiers. The wireless access point controller is configured to provide each wireless access point from a set of wireless access points control information including the set of tunnel identifiers such that a wireless access point from the set of wireless access points can send a data packet received from a wireless device to an access switch from the set of access switches associated with a destination VLAN from the set of VLANs using the tunnel identifier associated with the destination VLAN.

Abstract: A technique for improved throughput at an access point (AP) involves when frames are received for transmission by the AP, queuing the frames for a particular station. A system constructed according to the technique may include an aggregation and queuing layer. Station queues may be processed by the aggregation and queuing layer before being given to radio hardware for transmission. In an illustrative embodiment, when frames are received by the aggregation and queuing layer, the packet will be assigned a target delivery time (TDT) and an acceptable delivery time (ADT). The TDT is the “ideal” time to transmit a frame, based on its jitter and throughput requirements. Frames are mapped on to a time axis for transmission by TDT. In an illustrative embodiment, each frame is mapped by priority, so that there are separate maps for voice, video, best effort, and background frames. There will be gaps between frames for transmission that can be used for aggregation.

Abstract: A technique for maintaining network integrity is disclosed. A system according to the technique may include a wired network, a switch, and a wireless access point. The switch can be coupled to the wired network and the wireless access point can be coupled to the switch. The system may further include a forwarding database that stores a mac address for a plurality of devices seen by the switch on the wired network. A method according to the technique may involve detecting identifying information of a device by a wireless access point. The identifying information can be compared with the mac addresses in a forwarding database. If the device is unknown, the unknown device can be classified as rogue and countermeasures can be taken against the rogue device.

Abstract: A technique for improving authentication speed when a client roams from a first authentication domain to a second authentication domain involves coupling authenticators associated with the first and second authentication domains to an authentication server. A system according to the technique may include, for example, a first authenticator using an encryption key to ensure secure network communication, a second authenticator using the same encryption key to ensure secure network communication, and a server coupled to the first authenticator and the second authenticator wherein the server distributes, to the first authenticator and the second authenticator, information to extract the encryption key from messages that a client sends to the first authenticator and the second authenticator.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the amount of power consumed by access points (APs) of a wireless network involves implementing throttleable APs (TAPs). It would be desirable for the TAPs to be in a relatively low power mode during periods of low activity, and switch to a high power mode in response to increased wireless activity. To that end, a throttling engine can be implemented to throttle TAPs up in power in response to increases in wireless activity, and throttle TAPs down in power in response to decreases in wireless activity.

Abstract: A technique for determining a received signal strength from multiple messages filters noise from the received signal to provide an accurate signal strength value. Advantageously, the more accurate output signal strength value can be used to identify movement of a station as well as estimate locations and direction of movement.

Abstract: A technique for determining a received signal strength from multiple messages filters noise from the received signal to provide an accurate signal strength value. Advantageously, the more accurate output signal strength value can be used to identify movement of a station as well as estimate locations and direction of movement.

Abstract: A technique for improving radio coverage involves using interdependently tuned directional antennas. An example according to the technique is a substrate including two antennas, a transceiver, and a connector. Another example system according to the technique is a wireless access point (AP) including a processor, memory, a communication port, and a PCB comprising a plurality of directional antennas and a radio. An example method according to the technique involves determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and interdependently tuning a first and second directional antenna to reach an expected radiation pattern.

Abstract: A technique for locating a device uses connectivity to find a distance between an access point (AP) and a device. The AP transmits a frame to a device and receives an acknowledgement frame from the device. The amount of time for a signal to pass between the AP and the device is estimated and multiplied by the speed of light to find the distance between the AP and the device.

Abstract: A technique for wireless network monitoring involves scanning channels using clients instead of access points. An example of a method according to the technique may include, for example, receiving from a wireless access point a command to perform a channel scanning function, listening on a channel associated with the channel scanning function, and sending RF data found on the channel to the wireless access point. Another example of a method according to the technique may include, for example, scanning a first channel, switching from the first channel to a second channel, sending data on the second channel to an access point, switching from the second channel to the first channel, and resuming scanning on the first channel. A system according to the technique may include one or more scanning clients, proxy clients, multi-channel clients, or other clients that are capable of scanning channels in lieu of an access point.

Abstract: A convergence engine may provide a high level message for a high level engine representative of multiple messages received by a network interface or other physical layer transmission device. The high level engine may access one or more high level messages via functions describing the state of a non-network-portal station.

Abstract: A technique for reliable multicast involves identifying a client as an acknowledger of a wireless multicast packet, and having the acknowledger acknowledge receipt of the multicast packet. An example of a method according to the technique may include receiving a multicast packet, selecting a client associated with a destination of the multicast packet, identifying the client in the multicast packet, forwarding the multicast packet to wireless, and retrying forwarding the multicast packet with the client identified in the multicast packet if no acknowledgement is received from the client. An example of a system according to the technique may include a means for identifying a client, a means for putting the client mac in the header of a multicast packet, a means for sending the multicast packet with the client mac to a wireless multicast destination, and a means for receiving acknowledgement from the client associated with the client mac.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the amount of power consumed by access points (APs) of a wireless network involves implementing power-saving APs (PSAPs). It would be desirable for the PSAPs to be in sleep mode during periods of low activity, and at full power during periods of high activity. To that end, a PSAP agitation (PSAPA) engine can be implemented to agitate PSAPs in response to increases in wireless activity, and put PSAPs to sleep in response to decreases in wireless activity.

Abstract: A technique for improving quality of service involves dynamically provisioning quality of service parameters. An example according to this technique is a system including a server and an access point. The server provisions quality of service parameters restricting the station's transmission of data through the access point to one or more access classes of varying priority.

Abstract: A technique for saving power in a tag that is operationally connected to an asset involves using telemetry data to enter an appropriate power state. An asset tracking system according to the technique can make use of context to better track assets to which power-saving tags are operationally connected. Secure tag configuration techniques and asset-agnostic tags are described. Location-agnostic tags are also described.

Abstract: A technique for locating a device uses connectivity to find a distance between an access point (AP) and a device. The AP transmits a frame to a device and receives an acknowledgement frame from the device. The amount of time for a signal to pass between the AP and the device is estimated and multiplied by the speed of light to find the distance between the AP and the device.

Abstract: A technique for controlling the amount of power consumed by access points (APs) of a wireless network involves implementing throttleable APs (TAPs). It would be desirable for the TAPs to be in a relatively low power mode during periods of low activity, and switch to a high power mode in response to increased wireless activity. To that end, a throttling engine can be implemented to throttle TAPs up in power in response to increases in wireless activity, and throttle TAPs down in power in response to decreases in wireless activity.

Abstract: A technique for identity based networking is disclosed. A system according to the technique can include a WAN, a first VLAN, a second VLAN, and a network database. The first VLAN and second VLAN can be coupled to the WAN. The network database can include VLAN information. In operation, a client that is authorized on the second VLAN can attempt to connect to the first VLAN. A switch in the WAN can perform a lookup in the network database and determine that the client is authorized on the second VLAN. Based on this information, the client can be connected to the second VLAN using VLAN tunneling.

Abstract: System, method, architecture, network device, and computer programs and computer program products for inter-process communications. Message structure, procedure for generating the message structure, applications of the message structure and messaging method for obtaining status, statistics, and other information and for performing an information or parameter set operation across one or more process boundaries, and to other device and system architectures and methods for utilizing the messages and messaging methodology.