Abstract: A device and method for determining a master device in a neighborhood aware network (NAN). The method includes identifying a number of peer devices located within communication range of a first device and that are capable of communicating via the NAN. A master rank value associated with a corresponding peer device is retrieved from each received response. A first master rank value is calculated for the first device, at least partially based on the number of responding peer devices. The first master rank value is compared with the received master rank values of the responding peer devices. In response to the first master rank value being greater than each of the received master rank values, the first device assumes a role of a master device within a NAN cluster that includes the first device and the responding peer devices.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for automatically receiving authorization data required to log into a service portal from a second device to a first device, via a validated connection. The method includes the first device submitting a first request to a provider to acquire authorization data required for an authenticated login to an associated online service of the provider. In response to the first device submitting the first request to the provider, the first device automatically receives the authorization data via a validated connection with the second device. In response to receiving the authorization data via the validated connection, the first device transmits a second request, including the authorization data, to the provider to gain access to the online service.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first media access control (MAC) device comprising a first radio transceiver and having a first MAC address and a second MAC device comprising a second radio transceiver and having a second MAC address. The second MAC device is operatively coupled to the first MAC device. The first MAC device is operative to receive first MAC layer data for the first MAC device and receive second MAC layer data for the second MAC device, and transmit the first MAC layer data and the second MAC layer data to an access point (AP) using the first radio transceiver of the first MAC device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first media access control (MAC) device with a first radio transceiver and having a first MAC address, and a second MAC device with a second radio transceiver and having a second MAC address. The first MAC device is operative to communicate with a first wireless access point using an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The second MAC device is operatively coupled to the first MAC device, and is operative to communicate with a second wireless access point using the same IP address.

Abstract: Disclosed are peer-to-peer group re-formation techniques. The techniques enable automatic reformation of a peer-to-peer group when the Group Owner (“GO”) device is lost. To do so, the techniques enable selection of a one of the peer devices in the peer-to-peer group as a next GO device responsive to detecting the loss of the original GO device. Then, the peer device selected as the next GO device automatically activates as the GO device, while the other peer devices scan for and connect to the next GO device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing secure communications in an ad-hoc network having three or more users including a first user, a second user and a third user. Each user is associated with at least one communication device, and has a set of keys associated with the user for managing secure communications between the at least one communication device of the user and the at least one communication device of another one of the three or more users. Each set of keys includes a private key and a public key, where the public key is shared with the communication device of the other ones of the three or more users with which the user has been authenticated, and the private key is used to decrypt communications encrypted using the corresponding public key from the same set of keys.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing secure communications in an ad-hoc network having three or more users including a first user, a second user and a third user. Each user is associated with at least one communication device, and has a set of keys associated with the user for managing secure communications between the at least one communication device of the user and the at least one communication device of another one of the three or more users. Each set of keys includes a private key and a public key, where the public key is shared with the communication device of the other ones of the three or more users with which the user has been authenticated, and the private key is used to decrypt communications encrypted using the corresponding public key from the same set of keys.

Abstract: Disclosed are peer-to-peer group re-formation techniques. The techniques enable automatic reformation of a peer-to-peer group when the Group Owner (“GO”) device is lost. To do so, the techniques enable selection of a one of the peer devices in the peer-to-peer group as a next GO device responsive to detecting the loss of the original GO device. Then, the peer device selected as the next GO device automatically activates as the GO device, while the other peer devices scan for and connect to the next GO device.