Abstract: A technique for adding a new information rate to a legacy physical interface of a communications system includes using a rate switch packet including a distinct rate select start-of-frame delimiter that indicates a newly defined physical interface packet. The rate switch packet uses the same modulation scheme as a base rate packet (e.g., a packet using an information rate defined by a standard communications protocol) and the same preamble pattern as the base rate packet. The preamble length of the rate switch packet can be the same as or different from the preamble length of the base rate packet. An embodiment uses antenna diversity by selecting the antenna in the rate switch packet and using the selected antenna to receive an adjusted rate packet. Additional rate switch start-of-frame delimiters can be used to indicate more than one adjusted rate packet, e.g., to support multiple adjusted information rates.

Abstract: A technique for adding a new information rate to a legacy physical interface of a communications system includes using a rate switch packet including a distinct rate select start-of-frame delimiter that indicates a newly defined physical interface packet. The rate switch packet uses the same modulation scheme as a base rate packet (e.g., a packet using an information rate defined by a standard communications protocol) and the same preamble pattern as the base rate packet. The preamble length of the rate switch packet can be the same as or different from the preamble length of the base rate packet. An embodiment uses antenna diversity by selecting the antenna in the rate switch packet and using the selected antenna to receive an adjusted rate packet. Additional rate switch start-of-frame delimiters can be used to indicate more than one adjusted rate packet, e.g., to support multiple adjusted information rates.

Abstract: A system and method of intelligently scheduling actions from multiple network software stacks is disclosed. The scheduler uses information, such as requested start time, slip time, action duration and priority to schedule actions among a plurality of network stacks. In some embodiments, the scheduler attempts to maximize the radio usage by prioritizing the actions based not only on their given priority, but also based on their duration, and the ability for other actions to tolerate a delay in being performed.

Abstract: A system and method of intelligently scheduling actions from multiple network software stacks is disclosed. The scheduler uses information, such as requested start time, slip time, action duration and priority to schedule actions among a plurality of network stacks. In some embodiments, the scheduler attempts to maximize the radio usage by prioritizing the actions based not only on their given priority, but also based on their duration, and the ability for other actions to tolerate a delay in being performed.