Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to perform QoS. An interface between an upper layer and a lower layer in a multi-hop mesh network receives and transmits packets from and to a local node and a remote node. A classifier classifies the received packets into a plurality of packet types having different priority levels. A queue manager manages a plurality of buffers organized according to the packet types. The plurality of buffers stores the classified packets based on the packet types. A scheduler schedules distributing the packets from the plurality of buffers based on the priority levels according to a scheduling policy.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to collect network and device information. A request for local information is responded to. The request is sent by a remote node in an ad hoc home mesh network. A first node listed in a local route table is queried for node information of the first node. Querying is expanded to a second node in the ad hoc home mesh network using the node information. The second node is a neighbor of the first node.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to perform packet scheduling for QoS. A plurality of buffers is visited in a variable round robin manner. The buffers store packets having packet types associated with priority levels and having buffer types according to the packet types. The packets are generated for transmission from an application according to a network protocol in a multi-hop mesh network having a local node and a remote node. The buffers are dequeued according to the buffer types and using an amount dynamically weighted by the priority levels associated with the buffer types.

Abstract: An embodiment is a technique to use a single radio for multi-channel wireless communication. A local device having a local channel table operates on a common channel in a multi-channel wireless network having a plurality of network devices to perform management, control, and discovery functions using a single radio. A data session channel is negotiated with a remote device having a remote channel table upon an initiation of a communication session using the local and remote channel tables on the common channel. Data packets are exchanged with the remote device using the data session channel in a data transmission mode.

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 embodiment is a technique to virtualize a single physical radio for multiple wireless interfaces. A physical wireless network interface is configured into a first virtual access point (VAP) and a second VAP on a device using a single radio transceiver in a home mesh network. The first and second VAPs operate on first and second channels corresponding to first and second modes, respectively, in a time division multiple access (TDMA) mode.

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: A network bridging adaptor and method for enabling nodes to access a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The network bridging adaptor is adapted to operate in an ad hoc network having access restricted to only wireless nodes that are provided from a common entity. According to one embodiment of the invention, the network bridging adaptor comprises a housing; one or more ports positioned along a side of the housing to receive data from an electronic device; a first radio logic unit contained within the housing and adapted to transmit and receive messages in order to detect a presence of the ad hoc network; and a second radio logic unit contained within the housing and adapted to operate as an access point by establishing communications with nodes that are provided by an entity different than the common entity. 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 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 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 multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include authentication of a node within a wireless home networking environment after discovering a wireless home mesh network. The authentication comprises (1) transmitting a first message, the first message including (i) an encrypted pass-phrase being a pass-phrase encrypted with a public key of the node of the wireless home mesh network, (ii) a checksum of the encrypted pass-phrase, (iii) a public key of the wireless node, and (iv) a checksum of the public key of the wireless node, and (2) receiving a second message, the second message including a code to indicate whether the wireless node has been successfully authenticated along with the challenge text verification process to ensure the message was not tampered or sent by another node. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer (P2P) application which can be applied to TVs. The P2P application promotes a social networking aspect by allowing devices connecting to either the home mesh network and/or Internet to share contents and create common-interest channels. The P2P application does not require support from network infrastructure (e.g., no central servers), and consequently is extremely cost-effective and easy to deploy. The distributed nature of this system allows users to join or leave the network at will. It takes advantage of the local home mesh network connectivity, or existing Internet connections. A participant that tunes into a broadcast on an Internet channel is not only downloading a video stream, but also uploading it to other participants watching the program. Data mining systems capture user preferences and create personalized Internet channels on the TV using the P2P network.

Abstract: A WiFi chipset is integrated into a TV chassis as are wireless audio-video signal antennas that feed the chipset. The TV processor causes signals from home network components received through the antennas and chipset to be displayed on the TV.

Abstract: A method for determining attributes of entities within a physical space. More specifically, the location of the entities in the physical space are determined using this invention. A reader automatically moves throughout the space and takes measurements of the attributes of corresponding entities when it detects the presence of these entities in the physical space. The attributes of the entities could be the location, temperature and so forth. The reader could be an RF detection device for reading signals from the tags attached to the entities.

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: 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: A method for determining attributes of entities within a physical space. More specifically, the location of the entities in the physical space are determined using this invention. A reader automatically moves throughout the space and takes measurements of the attributes of corresponding entities when it detects the presence of these entities in the physical space. The attributes of the entities could be the location, temperature and so forth. The reader could be an RF detection device for reading signals from the tags attached to the entities.