Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of a wireless home networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. The method may include the automatic establishment of a unique Internet protocol (IP) address within a multi-hop wireless home mesh network with the ability to do automatic collision detection and correction. Once established as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the wireless home mesh network, a new node (the home electronics device) may wirelessly communicate with one or more existing nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wireless home mesh network with a network topology visualizer is described. In one embodiment, the method may include collecting node topology information by a node of a wireless home mesh network, where the node topology information includes a list of neighbor nodes for the node. Thereafter, a communication socket is opened, and a node topology packet, including a lust of neighbor nodes, is transmitted in order to produce a global network topology map. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wireless home mesh network with a network topology visualizer is described. In one embodiment, the method may include displaying the network topology of a wireless home mesh network. The mobile nodes and stationary nodes of the wireless home mesh network may wirelessly communicate to share topology information regarding the wireless home mesh network. The topology information may include local connectivity information of a node, such as the direct neighbors of the node and the neighbors' neighbor information. In one embodiment, the local connectivity information is combined with the received node information to form an interactive global topology map of the wireless home mesh network to display for a user. In another embodiment, the combined topology information may be stored for offline processing. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to perform queue management. A packet is received from an upper layer or a classifier in a multi-hop mesh network. The packet has a packet type classified by the classifier. The received packet is enqueued into one of a plurality of buffers organized according to the packet type.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A scalable medium access control (“MAC”) module is provided that avoids conflict resource reservation so that network performance does not degrade as the number of hops or nodes in a wireless network increases. The MAC also provides different access schemes for traffic with different quality of service (“QoS”) requirements such that QoS is guaranteed and network resources are efficiently utilized. Furthermore, the resource allocation scheme determines the routing path as resources is allocated for data traffic, thereby achieving more robust layer-2 routing at the MAC layer. Finally, the scalable MAC is compliant with both WiMedia MAC and IEEE 802.15.3 MAC.

Abstract: Automated wireless three-dimensional (3D) video conferencing is provided using a tunerless television device. A 3D video conference is automatically established with a wireless device capable of 3D video conferencing using a wireless communication interface of the tunerless television device. A first and a second two-dimensional (2D) video stream are received, using a camera interface module, from a first and a second video camera associated with the tunerless television device. A merged 3D video stream is created from the first 2D video stream and the second 2D video stream using a 3D video offload processing module operatively coupled to the camera interface module. The merged 3D video stream is sent to the wireless device using the wireless communication interface. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying information of specific interest to a user includes: rendering content on a television for a user and displaying first information on the television about the content, in response to a request from the user. In response to an additional request from the user, second information is displayed on the television about the first information, wherein the second information is acquired from a real time server conducted search. Purchase information is displayed on the television for products associated with the second information. In response to the user selecting the purchase information, a purchase transaction is initiated on the television. In some embodiments, a server records the purchase transactions and delivers targeted advertising to the television.

Abstract: Content selected by a user of a web access television (TV) device is monitored via a profile controller associated with the web access TV device. Social network aspects of a web access TV user profile are automatically configured based upon the monitored content selected by the user. Social networking opportunities for the user are managed via the web access TV user profile. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: Techniques for reporting bandwidth in televisions include displaying bandwidth information for receiving one or more instances of the content and receiving a selection of a given instance of the content in response to the displayed bandwidth information. In addition, the techniques include receiving bandwidth usage history for one or more networks and displaying the bandwidth usage history.

Abstract: A scalable medium access control (“MAC”) module is provided that avoids conflict resource reservation so that network performance does not degrade as the number of hops or nodes in a wireless network increases. The MAC also provides different access schemes for traffic with different quality of service (“QoS”) requirements such that QoS is guaranteed and network resources are efficiently utilized. Furthermore, the resource allocation scheme determines the routing path as resources is allocated for data traffice, thereby achieving more robust layer-2 routing at the MAC layer. Finally, the scalable MAC is compliant with both WiMedia MAC and IEEE 802.15.3 MAC.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention involves a method for selecting an infrastructure mode wireless channel for a tier-2 wireless node of a plurality of wireless nodes forming a wireless mesh network. The method comprises a first operation of receiving information from at least one neighboring node. Then, the first wireless node determines if a collision has occurred with the at least one neighboring node, where the collision is an overlapping of wireless channels selected by the first node and the at least one neighboring node. If a collision has occurred, the first wireless node compares its network degree, iterative count, and MAC address (progressively in that order) with that of its neighboring node to determine which of the first wireless node or the at least one neighboring node is responsible for re-selecting a different wireless channel from a set of non-overlapping wireless channels that are available to the wireless mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A TV seamlessly connects to and controls home automation equipment such as lighting, audio/video control, climate control, etc. The TV provides users with a friendly UI to control the equipment, and furthermore the TV adapts to observed user behavior to automatically establish and change settings based thereon. In addition, based on the content watched (or mode selection) on the TV, the settings of surrounding lighting, temperature and other controlled appliance would be changed by the TV.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing seamless roaming of a wireless node of a plurality of nodes forming a wireless network comprises detecting, recovering and transmitting operations. The detecting operation involves detecting receipt of a Disassociation message from the wireless node by a first node of the plurality of nodes. The wireless node is roaming and seeking to establish a new communication with a second node of the plurality of nodes. The recovering operation involves addressing information from the Disassociation message by the first node, where the addressing information identifies the second node of the plurality of nodes. The transmitting operation involves transmitting a Route Update message to at least the second node of the plurality of nodes. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention involves a method for selecting and maintaining wireless communications for wireless mesh networks between tier-2 and tier-3 nodes. The method comprises a first operation of receiving channel information from a first wireless node operating as an access point. The channel information includes each channel number used by one or more wireless nodes that are detected by the first wireless node to be operating within a signal coverage area of the first wireless node. Then, an active scan is conducted on a frequency spectrum for wireless signals based on the channel information. Such scanning is accomplished by initially scanning frequencies of each channel number used by the one or more wireless nodes. After the scanning, a determination is made whether to (i) maintain wireless communications with the first wireless node or (ii) establish new wireless communications with a new wireless node (AP). Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate distributed multichannel wireless communication and provide the highest level quality of service (“QoS”) guarantee and support extremely high bandwidth applications such as voice over internet protocol (“VOIP”) streaming audio and video content (including high definition), and multicast applications and also supports convergent networks, ad hoc networks, and the like. A modular MAC architecture provides a group of nodes with the ability to simultaneously communicate with each other using multiple separate communication channels during the same timeslots. The additional throughput gained by employing multiple communication channels is amplified by dynamically mapping the communication channels and timeslots in a network so that multiple channels can be reused simultaneously throughout the network during the same timeslot in a fashion that does not create collisions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to perform network-based traffic recognition and packet classification. A port identifier in a transport layer header of a packet having a packet type associated with a priority level is extracted. The packet is transmitted from or to an application according to a network protocol in a multi-hop mesh network having a local node and a remote node. The packet is classified into the packet type using one of a pre-defined port list, a dynamic port table, and an application header of the application.