Abstract: A process for secure, safe, and easy provisioning of a wireless device with credentials to connect to a wireless network. A connecting wireless device and an established wireless device both utilize low power transmission at close proximity to exchange wireless connection setting information and/or a password. The connecting wireless device is moved into proximity with the established wireless device and a low power setting is discovered at which the wireless devices may communicate with a sufficiently low error rate. The connecting wireless device is then passed the secret information by the established network device.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods for power management of network interface devices are disclosed. Such methods may include dividing a time period into a plurality of time slots, determining an amount of data received by the network interface device during a first of the time slots, and determining whether the amount of data received exceeds a predefined threshold. If the amount of data received exceeds the predefined threshold, then the network interface device is caused to be awake during a subsequent time slot. The network interface device is caused to go to sleep during the subsequent time slot unless the amount of data received exceeds the predefined threshold. A number of the time slots may be defined as wakeup time slots during which the network interface device is awake. The number of time slots during the time period in which one or more packets were received by the network interface device may be compared to the number of wakeup time slots during the time period.

Abstract: A wireless diagnostics framework that is non-intrusive and stays out of the way of a user is presented. In the case of a failure, prescriptive guidance is provided and/or the framework possibly automatically fixes the problem. The framework includes a wireless diagnostics module that interacts with the operating system's diagnostics framework, helper classes, and wireless components to collect and log wireless diagnostic events and notifications, and issues queries and requests for active diagnostics. The helper classes perform diagnosis and troubleshooting fore their expertise areas based on the information provided by the wireless diagnostics module.

Abstract: An evaluation of supported rates of available wireless networks is performed and these supported rates are matched against supported rates of wireless connection hardware (e.g., a wireless network interface card) of a computer trying to connect to one of the wireless networks. If the wireless connection hardware of the computer supports the rates supported by a desired wireless network, the computer is able to connect to the wireless network. If the supported rates for the wireless network and the wireless network hardware of the computer do not match, the computer is not able to connect to the wireless network and the situation is handled accordingly, such as by presenting the computer an appropriate message or not permitting the computer to connect to the wireless network.

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: A network node selects a “sleep” level based on its current or projected battery capacity. In an embodiment of the invention, sleep levels define the types of communication to which the node in question will be a party. The node in question communicates its selected sleep level to the rest of the network so that the other network nodes can communicate accordingly with the node.

Abstract: Described is an architecture comprising a flexible and extensible framework embodied in a robust coexistence service that couples sensed RF spectrum (interference) data to modules that process the data into dynamic feedback information used to mitigate network communication problems caused by the interference. Via a driver, spectrum sensor hardware is connected to the framework running on a computing device, where the condition and quality of various wireless networking channels are assessed by external modules plugged into the framework. Modules comprise include a classifier component that examines the sensed-data and classifies it, and an application program that processes the classified data, possibly for mitigation. Mitigation-related information is fed to a feedback mechanism to adjust network parameters to avoid the sensed interference.

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: 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: 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: 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: To reduce the power consumption of a wireless communication hardware device, power conservation scheduling algorithms can be implemented. Reoccurring events, including DTIM intervals and listen intervals can be scheduled as awake times. Similarly expected response intervals can be scheduled as awake times based on information, such as round trip time, that can be passed together with data to be transmitted. The wireless communication hardware device can be placed into a doze state unless it is transmitting data, or unless it is expecting a transmission during one of the scheduled awake times.

Abstract: An architecture and methods for extending the depth of a WLAN to a four-level hierarchal access point structure including wireless access points. The wireless access points in the WLAN can be networked by scanning for a network, collecting one or more packets that identify the network from one or more access points, each packet including an address identifying an ancestry of the access points to an ancestral wired access point; and applying an access point selection algorithm to configure a parent access point. The architecture includes a scanning object configured to issue a scan request to a network interface and collect access point data; a selection object configured to filter and sort the collected access point data; an authentication state machine configured to perform authentication and validate; and an association state machine configured to compose a packet including hierarchical data indicative of access point ancestry to a conventional access point.

Abstract: An architecture and methods for extending the depth of a WLAN to a four-level hierarchal access point structure including wireless access points. The wireless access points in the WLAN can be networked by scanning for a network, collecting one or more packets that identify the network from one or more access points, each packet including an address identifying an ancestry of the access points to an ancestral wired access point; and applying an access point selection algorithm to configure a parent access point. The architecture includes a scanning object configured to issue a scan request to a network interface and collect access point data; a selection object configured to filter and sort the collected access point data; an authentication state machine configured to perform authentication and validate; and an association state machine configured to compose a packet including hierarchical data indicative of access point ancestry to a conventional access point.

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 system and method for carrying out network and interface selections across multiple media is disclosed. The disclosed system facilitates automated network interface configuration decision-making that spans a set of networks supporting communications via differing media. A set of media specific modules associated with differing communications media acquire network interface status/capabilities information. A rules engine thereafter applies a designated network selection rule(s) to the acquired network interface status/capabilities information, and any other appropriate parameters attributable to either an interface or network, to select one or more networks and interfaces with which to establish/maintain a connection.

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: 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.