Abstract: In certain embodiments, an access point (AP) of a wireless, e.g., WiFi, network actively assists user equipment (UE) in the onboarding of an IoT device onto the network. The AP determines whether the UE is using AP mode or EZ mode onboarding. If EZ mode, then the AP determines whether bandsteering is needed and, if so, the AP actively tries to get the UE to switch to the 2.4 GHz band. If switching is not successful, then the AP may relay incoming IoT onboarding messages received from the UE in a non-2.4 GHz band as outgoing IoT onboarding messages in the 2.4 GHz band to attempt to associate the IoT device with the AP. Network-assisted onboarding can address problems that would otherwise result in failed onboarding such as when the user forgets to switch the UE to the 2.4 GHz band for EZ mode onboarding.

Abstract: A smart appliance having a wireless radio that receives a defrosting command from a remote wireless controller, a local controller that receives the defrosting command from the wireless radio, and a freezer section that stores a frozen item. Upon receipt of the defrosting command, the local controller is adapted to control the freezer section to thaw the frozen item, for example, using air warmed by heat from the appliance's cooling system. In some embodiments, the smart appliance moves the frozen item from the freezer section into a defrosting section that receives the warmed air. In other embodiments, the warmed air flows into the freezer section to thaw the frozen item without moving the item.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a communications device a wireless backhaul, e.g., cellular backhaul, in the event or of a cable, e.g., wired cable or optical cable, backhaul without the need for a dedicated cellular modem for this purpose are described. When a cellular backhaul is required, e.g., due to a failure of a cable based backhaul, the cellular module is operated as a cellular modem to thereby provide a cellular backhaul. By default, the integrated cellular module will operate as a femtocell, providing cellular connectivity to user equipments (UEs), e.g., smartphones, e.g., when the wired or optical backhaul normally used is operating properly. In the event of an ISP network outage, the integrated cellular module will reconfigure from operating as a femtocell to operating as a cellular modem, thereby providing cellular WAN connectivity which can serve as a cellular backhaul to devices connected to the communications device via WiFi.