Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption in a portable computing device having a network interface module is presented. A power management module receives inputs from other modules and determines when the network interface module is to be put in a doze state for a predetermined number of beacon intervals to conserve power consumption in the network interface module. The network interface module in a device that is associated with a network is put in the doze state after an event has occurred including when a scan has been performed, after a delayed sleep timer has expired, and after a beacon transmission has been completed and no traffic is buffered for the device. The delayed sleep time is set based on the estimated round trip time of a packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing simultaneous virtual connections with multiple wireless networks. A plurality of ports in a hardware driver may be each associated with a corresponding wireless network and maintain a unique MAC state relative to other ports. Each port may have a corresponding virtual NIC that communicates directly with the radio hardware via a hardware virtualization layer that multiplexes communication between the virtual NICs and the radio hardware. Simultaneous virtual connections may be made with one or more infrastructure networks or adhoc networks, and/or the computer may function as an access point for one or more of the networks.

Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption in a portable computing device having a network interface module is presented. A power management module receives inputs from other modules and determines when the network interface module is to be put in a doze state for a predetermined number of beacon intervals to conserve power consumption in the network interface module. The network interface module in a device that is associated with a network is put in the doze state after an event has occurred including when a scan has been performed, after a delayed sleep timer has expired, and after a beacon transmission has been completed and no traffic is buffered for the device. The delayed sleep time is set based on the estimated round trip time of a packet.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided to extend the range of wireless devices beyond the range limit that results from timing restrictions imposed by the IEEE 802.11 standard. The mechanism, which operates at the upper level of the 802.11 MAC, determines whether the wireless devices are far apart or not far apart. When the wireless devices are determined to be far apart, the standard retransmission protocol at the lower level of the 802.11 MAC is disabled and a custom ACK packet is utilized. Delivery of a transmitted packet is confirmed if the custom ACK packet is received within a maximum delay period that takes into account the longer propagation delay between wireless devices that are far apart.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling a transition of a roaming mobile user device (i.e., a roaming client) from one access point (AP) to a target AP, referred to herein as soft inter-AP handoff. This technique involves a second mobile user device that is already connected with the target AP, called a roaming coordinator, assisting in handoff coordination between the APs. This coordination includes assisting the roaming client in establishing a client-to-client connection to relay data traffic during the handoff, while the roaming client establishes a connection with the target AP using traditional techniques. Soft inter-AP handoff allows a faster hand-off between APs than traditional techniques, and may reduce jitter in communications with the roaming device during the transition.

Abstract: Described is a protocol by which wireless network communication devices comprising peer nodes (such as a computer system and an access point) cooperatively exchange information about RF interference detected in the network. The protocol administers the exchange of formatted control data corresponding to the detected interference among computing nodes running a service capable of processing the control data. A peer table is used to maintain locally-obtained and remotely-obtained control data. Records in the peer table are arranged with different levels of granularity with respect to interference and networking information. The interference information collected through the cooperative protocol may then be used by peer devices in the network to adapt to mitigate interference-related problems. The protocol also provides for discovery of peer node capabilities, including a negotiable transport for the control data that may be different from the main data channel transport.

Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption in a portable computing device having a network interface module is presented. A power management module receives inputs from other modules and determines when the network interface module is to be put in a doze state for a predetermined number of beacon intervals to conserve power consumption in the network interface module. The network interface module in a device that is associated with a network is put in the doze state after an event has occurred including when a scan has been performed, after a delayed sleep timer has expired, and after a beacon transmission has been completed and no traffic is buffered for the device. The delayed sleep time is set based on the estimated round trip time of a packet.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention provides for making roaming decisions based on association qualities between a wireless device and one or more wireless access points. From time to time, the wireless device updates a current association quality for a current wireless access point, for example, based on relative signal strength, observed error rates, and current wireless access point workload. Similarly, the wireless device updates association qualities for any other wireless access points the wireless device can communicate with. If the current association quality falls below a quality threshold, the wireless device roams to attempt to associate with another wireless access point. The wireless device ranks compatibly configured wireless access points based at least in part on corresponding association qualities. The wireless device can attempt to associate with higher ranked wireless access points before lower ranked wireless access points.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for transporting interference-related control data and other information between nodes in a wireless network, using a control channel that is distinct from a content channel used to transport content. The control channel may be a different channel in the same unlicensed band as the content channel, a channel in a different unlicensed band, or a channel in a licensed band, and thereby not subject to the same interference-related problems that the unlicensed content channel may experience. As a result, management information for adjusting the content channel's communication parameters may still be communicated between the nodes, whereby mitigation actions may occur. For example, the content channel may be changed to another frequency, compression may be implemented or varied, and/or the data transfer rate may be varied. The control data can also be used to change the control channel's communication parameters.

Abstract: An extensible wireless framework for connecting to a wireless network is provided. The extensible wireless framework includes a network roaming service with a registration component and a network service component. The registration component registers extensible service modules and extensible drivers for providing non-standard (i.e., extensible) capabilities to the wireless network. The extensible service module provides a service not provided by a native component of the extensible wireless framework, and the extensible driver may implement a media access control sub-layer of a wireless network protocol and provide a media access control interface. The network service component identifies available wireless networks, selects to join the wireless network when available, requests the extensible driver for the wireless network via its media access control interface to connect to the selected network, and notifies the extensible service module to provide services to the extensible driver.

Abstract: A wireless device communications mode selector dynamically establishes an optimal communication mode between wireless devices and/or access point, such that stations communicate directly with each other or indirectly through an existing AP depending upon which mode would yield higher throughput under present network conditions and configuration. In an embodiment of the invention, a measurement based mechanism is used to decide which communication mode is more efficient. If it is decided that direct communication is optimal, the two stations can either form an adhoc network or an STA can be dynamically configured to become a wireless repeater access point (soft AP).

Abstract: In some embodiments, a wireless management service provides the capability to manage connectivity between a device and one or more wireless networks on a differentiated basis. For example, network profiles may be managed in a way that is influenced by the identity of the user, such that profiles which are customized for a specific user may be established. Connectivity may also be managed in a way that is influenced by a session type ongoing on a device, such that when certain events occur (e.g., a request by one user to connect to or disconnect from a wireless network is processed), wireless connectivity employed by other users sharing the device is appropriately managed.

Abstract: A network enabled computer receives connection profile information in a generic form and creates one or more native mode profiles to establish connections. By accepting profile information in a generic form, profile information can be readily provided from one or more ways, including from a policy server, through a user interface or from a third party application. The profile information can be provided with an order of precedence so that profile information from different sources may be combined appropriately. Additionally, the profile information may be provided in an extensible format to allow profile information to be distributed to multiple computers, even if some have different hardware or software configurations and are not programmed to recognize extensions of the profile information.

Abstract: It is determined whether a mobile user device is within transmission range of one or hidden networks. A list of known networks may be accessed, the list including broadcast and hidden networks. For the hidden networks, the network connection component may instruct a network interface to actively probe for the hidden networks. If the response is received for a communication corresponding to a particular network, then it may be considered that the mobile user interface is within transmission range of the hidden network. If auto-connection logic is activated, a preference order may be applied to select which of the detected broadcasts and/or hidden networks to connect. A user interface displays broadcast and hidden networks determined to be within transmission range of the mobile user device. The user device also displays hidden networks for which it has not yet been attempted to determine whether the hidden networks are in range.

Abstract: A supplicant on a first computing system authenticating the first computing system to an authenticator on a second computing system in a manner that is independent of the underlying data link and physical layer protocols. The first computing system establishes a data link layer connection with the second computing system using specific data link and physical layer protocols. The supplicant on the first computing system and the authenticator on the second computing system then receive an indication that the data link layer connection has been established. The supplicant determines that authentication is to occur with the authenticator, and vice versa. The supplicant (and the authenticator) then instructs that authentication is to occur in a manner that is independent of the underlying data link and physical layer protocols used to establish the connection.

Abstract: The principles of the present invention provide for providing contention free quality of service to wireless stations. A station indicates to an access point that higher priority data (e.g., time constrained data) is to be sent to the access point. The access point receives the indication and selects a slot time for the station based on the number of other stations that have also indicated higher priority data. A slot time is selected such that the station can check for access to a common wireless link before any stations with lower priority data (e.g., data without time constraints). The access point sends the selected slot time to the station and the station receives the slot time. When the station receives an indication that an application has higher priority data to send, the station checks the common wireless link for availability at the selected slot time.

Abstract: A wireless mesh network enables multiple devices near each other to transmit simultaneously, thus allowing increased network bandwidth. Prior to transmitting, a device may determine various parameters of the wireless medium on which it desires to transmit. For example, the device may determine whether the intended recipient device is close enough, and verify that any other transmitting and receiving devices are far enough away. If these or any other suitable criteria are met, the device can transmit simultaneously with other devices in the vicinity.

Abstract: A method and system for managing power consumption in a portable computing device having a network interface module is presented. A power management module receives inputs from other modules and determines when the network interface module is to be put in a doze state for a predetermined number of beacon intervals to conserve power consumption in the network interface module. The network interface module in a device that is associated with a network is put in the doze state after an event has occurred including when a scan has been performed, after a delayed sleep timer has expired, and after a beacon transmission has been completed and no traffic is buffered for the device. The delayed sleep time is set based on the estimated round trip time of a packet.

Abstract: A wireless device in an ad hoc network detects other wireless devices within radio range and establishes synchronization with the detected wireless devices. The wireless device operates in a power save mode and wakes up, or turns on, periodically or on demand to implement discoverability. A received probe request packet or beacon packet contains information which allows the receiving wireless device to discover the transmitting wireless device. The wireless device may operate in a discoverable mode or in an active discovery mode.

Abstract: A portable media player device is capable of operating in a wireless network. The wireless portable media player device can bootstrap and synchronize with an ad hoc network with low power consumption. Neighbor portable media player devices in an ad hoc network can be discovered by the wireless portable media player device. The portable media player device can establish and terminate connections to neighbor portable media player devices. The portable media player device can transfer data in a high speed data transfer mode or a power save data transfer mode, while concurrently permitting discovery by other devices. The portable media player device operates in a power save mode during an inactive portion of a periodic discovery interval.