Abstract: A method of configuring a small cell base station in a cellular network via a cellular network manager includes, responsive to installation of the small cell base station, receiving measurement data from the small cell base station; determining one or more optimized values of one or more parameters for the small cell base station based on the measurement data and one or more constraints associated with at least a portion of the cellular network, wherein the one or more constraints are based on an impact of the small cell base station on one or more macrocells in the cellular network; and transmitting the one or more optimized values of one or more parameters to the small cell base station for configuration thereof.

Abstract: A method of configuring small cell base stations in a cellular network is disclosed. A constraint on a performance-related metric associated with at least a portion of the cellular network is received. In some embodiments, the constraint on the performance-related metric comprises a constraint on a performance-related metric associated with one or more macrocells. Measurement data from one or more small cell base stations is received via a control interface. One or more optimized values of one or more parameters associated with one or more small cell base stations are searched. The searching is based at least in part on the received measurement data and subject to the constraint on the performance-related metric associated with the at least a portion of the cellular network. The one or more optimized values of the one or more parameters to the associated small cell base stations are transmitted.

Abstract: A decryption key and a network name are received by a cloud-based social bandwidth manager from an Internet-connected device that acts as a wireless access point for a wireless network, wherein a beacon broadcasted by the Internet-connected device includes the network name and an encrypted passphrase, and wherein the encrypted passphrase can be decrypted using the decryption key. An indication that a wireless enabled device is an authorized device to associate with the wireless network and share an Internet connection of the Internet-connected device is received from the Internet-connected device The network name and the decryption key are transmitted to the authorized wireless enabled device, wherein the authorized wireless enabled device is configurable to detect the beacon and decrypt the encrypted passphrase included in the beacon using the decryption key and associate with the wireless network using the decrypted passphrase to share the Internet connection of the Internet-connected device.

Abstract: A method of activating and configuring an access point (AP) located at a location of a customer of an entity is disclosed. A first communication from the AP is received by a cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager, wherein the first communication includes a first unique identifier for the AP. A second communication from an administrator of the entity is received by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager, wherein the second communication includes a second unique identifier for the AP and an identifier for the customer of the entity. The AP is associated with the customer by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager. Configuration information for the customer is retrieved by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager. The configuration information is sent to the AP by the cloud-based Wi-Fi service manager, wherein the configuration information is used by the AP for configuration.

Abstract: A method of handing off between a cellular network and a Wi-Fi network is disclosed. A cellular base station of the cellular network is caused to collect information related to the cellular network. A Wi-Fi access point of the Wi-Fi network is caused to collect information related to the Wi-Fi network, wherein the cellular base station and the Wi-Fi access point are co-located. The information related to the cellular network and the information related to the Wi-Fi network are used collectively for determining whether to handoff traffic of a user equipment from a cellular air interface of the cellular network to a Wi-Fi air interface of the Wi-Fi network, or vice versa.

Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting Wi-Fi parameters of a plurality of access points (APs) is disclosed. Reports from the plurality of APs are received through an interface. A conflict graph is created by a processor. Creating the conflict graph includes creating a plurality of vertices of the conflict graph, each vertex corresponding to one of the plurality of APs. Creating the conflict graph further includes determining that there is a conflict between at least some of the pairs of APs based at least in part on the received reports. Creating the conflict graph includes connecting an edge between each of the at least some of the pairs of APs. The conflict graph is stored in a memory.

Abstract: A method of managing Wi-Fi access points (APs) includes selecting between a global optimization and a local optimization of AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors. The method includes causing a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising: searching for adjustments to a first set of AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs. The method includes causing a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising: searching for adjustments to a second set of AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region including a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs.

Abstract: A method of detecting a hidden node is disclosed. Reports from a plurality of access points (APs) are received. The method includes determining that transmissions from a second AP are not detected by a first AP based on the received report from the first AP. The method includes determining that transmissions from a client associated with the first AP are detected by the second AP based on the received report from the second AP. The method further includes detecting that the second AP is a hidden node, wherein transmissions from the hidden node interfere with transmissions between the client and the first AP, and wherein the detection is based at least in part on the determination that transmissions from the second AP are not detected by the first AP and the determination that transmissions from the client associated with the first AP are detected by the second AP.

Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting Wi-Fi parameters of a plurality of access points (APs) is disclosed. Reports from the plurality of APs are received through an interface. A conflict graph is created by a processor. Creating the conflict graph includes creating a plurality of vertices of the conflict graph, each vertex corresponding to one of the plurality of APs. Creating the conflict graph further includes determining that there is a conflict between at least some of the pairs of APs based at least in part on the received reports. Creating the conflict graph includes connecting an edge between each of the at least some of the pairs of APs. The conflict graph is stored in a memory.

Abstract: A method of managing Wi-Fi access points (APs) includes selecting between a global optimization and a local optimization of AP parameters based at least in part on one or more factors. The method includes causing a global optimization to be performed in the event that a global optimization is selected, the global optimization comprising: searching for adjustments to a first set of AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a global region, the global region including a first set of APs. The method includes causing a local optimization to be performed in the event that a local optimization is selected, the local optimization comprising: searching for adjustments to a second set of AP parameters that optimize an overall performance associated with a localized region, the localized region including a second set of APs, wherein the second set of APs comprises a subset of the first set of APs.

Abstract: A method of configuring small cell base stations in a cellular network is disclosed. A constraint on a performance-related metric associated with at least a portion of the cellular network is received. In some embodiments, the constraint on the performance-related metric comprises a constraint on a performance-related metric associated with one or more macrocells. Measurement data from one or more small cell base stations is received via a control interface. One or more optimized values of one or more parameters associated with one or more small cell base stations are searched. The searching is based at least in part on the received measurement data and subject to the constraint on the performance-related metric associated with the at least a portion of the cellular network. The one or more optimized values of the one or more parameters to the associated small cell base stations are transmitted.