Abstract: An antenna system which is capable of having omnidirectional transmitting and receiving capabilities is disclosed. The antenna system includes a plurality of directional antennas coupled to a transceiver, wherein the antennas are configured to have their main lobes extend in different directions. In a specific embodiment, there are six directional antennas configured to have their main lobes extend substantially along the positive and negative x-axes, the positive and negative y-axes, and the positive and negative z-axes of a three-dimensional Cartesian system. The six directional antennas may also be configured to transmit and receive signals to and from overlapping free space regions to give it omnidirectional coverage. Also disclosed are a network device which employs such antenna system, a wireless network system which employs a plurality of network devices each having such antenna system, and a method and software module to transmit and receive data using such antenna system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling transmissions on a network from a source to a destination. A transmission is received from the destination. A signal characteristic of the transmission is determined. A statistical measure is updated using the signal characteristic. The statistical measure is compared to a threshold value. A data transmission from the source to the destination is deferred for a first time period if the comparison of the statistical measure fails. The data is transmitted from the source to the destination after the deferral, if any.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to adaptively generate a parameter value for data transmission. Queue entries in a queue are updated. The queue is indexed by a parameter according to a transmission status of a current packet in a data stream. The current packet is transmitted using a current value of the parameter. A plurality of performance scores are calculated based on the queue entries. A best value of the parameter that corresponds to a best score in the plurality of performance scores is selected.

Abstract: A memory maintains a first history of link strengths between a first and a second wireless node and a second history of link strengths between a third and a fourth wireless node. A link strength monitor observes link strengths between the nodes. A spatiotemporal correlator is coupled to the memory and the link strength monitor, and performs a spatiotemporal correlation between the first history and the second history, if a change in the link strength between the first and second wireless nodes is observed. A link strength predictor is coupled to the spatiotemporal correlator and the link strength monitor, and uses a result of the spatiotemporal correlation to predict future changes of the link strength between the first and second wireless nodes from observations of the link strength between the third and fourth wireless nodes, if the result of the spatiotemporal correlation is positive and significant.

Abstract: A memory maintains a first history of link strengths between a first and a second wireless node and a second history of link strengths between a third and a fourth wireless node. A link strength monitor observes link strengths between the nodes. A spatiotemporal correlator is coupled to the memory and the link strength monitor, and performs a spatiotemporal correlation between the first history and the second history, if a change in the link strength between the first and second wireless nodes is observed. A link strength predictor is coupled to the spatiotemporal correlator and the link strength monitor, and uses a result of the spatiotemporal correlation to predict future changes of the link strength between the first and second wireless nodes from observations of the link strength between the third and fourth wireless nodes, if the result of the spatiotemporal correlation is positive and significant.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to adaptively generate a parameter value for data transmission. Queue entries in a queue are updated. The queue is indexed by a parameter according to a transmission status of a current packet in a data stream. The current packet is transmitted using a current value of the parameter. A plurality of performance scores are calculated based on the queue entries. A best value of the parameter that corresponds to a best score in the plurality of performance scores is selected.

Abstract: An antenna system which is capable of having omnidirectional transmitting and receiving capabilities is disclosed. The antenna system includes a plurality of directional antennas coupled to a transceiver, wherein the antennas are configured to have their main lobes extend in different directions. In a specific embodiment, there are six directional antennas configured to have their main lobes extend substantially along the positive and negative x-axes, the positive and negative y-axes, and the positive and negative z-axes of a three-dimensional Cartesian system. The six directional antennas may also be configured to transmit and receive signals to and from overlapping free space regions to give it omnidirectional coverage. Also disclosed are a network device which employs such antenna system, a wireless network system which employs a plurality of network devices each having such antenna system, and a method and software module to transmit and receive data using such antenna system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling transmissions on a network from a source to a destination. A transmission is received from the destination. A signal characteristic of the transmission is determined. A statistical measure is updated using the signal characteristic. The statistical measure is compared to a threshold value. A data transmission from the source to the destination is deferred for a first time period if the comparison of the statistical measure fails. The data is transmitted from the source to the destination after the deferral, if any.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to dynamically route data packets. A network table is built at a first node. The network table includes transmission paths for a data packet transmitted from the first node to a second node in a network. The data packet has a transmission requirement. An optimal path is selected from the transmission paths according to the transmission requirement. The data packet is routed from the first node to the second node using the optimal path.