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: Aggregated service and feature sharing is provided in a home network, in which users can freely enjoy not only the shared content, but also the unique features provided by each device anywhere in the network. The service sharing feature allows one device to control and use shared hardware or software functionalities provided by other devices in the network.

Abstract: A networked TV gathers information pertaining to the quality of a wireless link over which the TV receives streamed multimedia content, and presents an indication of the quality to a user, selectively blocks content from display if the quality falls below a threshold, and/or reports poor link quality to a network server for diagnostic action by technical personnel.

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: 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 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: 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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: 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 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: 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 embodiment may include a method or system for capturing still images from a video stream. The embodiment may operate in a playback mode and a capture mode. Operating in playback mode may include decoding and playing the input video stream at a first resolution. Operating in capture mode may include showing a still video frame from the input video stream while decoding and playing the input video stream at a second resolution. The embodiment may include a display, a control device, a video decoder, and a signal receiver. The embodiment may also include a buffer for storing decoded images for capture and display during video playback.

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.