Abstract: A portable access point includes a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and a routing module. The first transceiver is configured to access an Internet via a mobile phone. The first transceiver is separate from the mobile phone. The first transceiver receives signals transmitted from the mobile phone to the portable access point. The signals contain content received from the Internet. The routing module is configured to route the content from the first transceiver to the second transceiver. The second transceiver is configured to (i) respectively establish wireless links between the portable access point and network devices, (ii) select a first network device of the network devices, and (ii) forward the content from the portable access point to the first network device on the wireless link respectively established between the portable access point and the first network device.

Abstract: A physical layer device configured to interface with a plurality of pairs of wires. The physical layer device includes a cable test module configured to transmit a pulse over the plurality of pairs of wires, measure a reflection of the pulse as received from the plurality of pairs of wires, and determine whether a short circuit exists in one of the plurality of pairs of wires based on the measure of the reflection of the pulse. An autonegotiation module is configured to perform autonegotiation to establish a link at a particular speed over the plurality of pairs of wires. The particular speed at which the link is established over the plurality of pairs of wires is based, at least in part, on whether a short circuit exists in one of the plurality of pairs of wires as determined by the cable test module.

Abstract: An apparatus including a wireless local area network transceiver, a wireless wide area network transceiver, and a portable power source. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate with a client station using a wireless local area network protocol. The wireless wide area network transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate with a base station. The portable power source has a state of charge and is configured to provide power to the wireless local area network transceiver and the wireless wide area network transceiver. The wireless wide area network transceiver is configured to suspend wireless communication with the base station in response to no packets of data having been received at the wireless wide area network transceiver from the base station for more than a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time is adjusted based on the state of charge of the portable power source.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a vehicle and a media player/recorder physically connected with the vehicle, the media player/recorder comprising a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing encoded media data; a storage device to store the encoded media data; a processor comprising a storage controller to retrieve the encoded media data from the storage device, and a digital signal processor to decode the encoded media data retrieved by the storage controller; and an output circuit to output the decoded media data from the processor.

Abstract: A portable access point including a power source having a state of charge, a wireless local area network transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless client device, and a wireless wide area network transceiver configured to i) access the Internet, and ii) provide the wireless client device access to the Internet, a control module configured to activate a sleep mode of the wireless wide area network transceiver in response to packets of data being not being received at the wireless wide area network transceiver for a predetermined period, wherein the predetermined period is based on the state of charge of the power source. The wireless wide area network transceiver is configured to, in response to activation of the sleep mode, halt wireless transmissions of packets of data to the Internet.

Abstract: A network device including a physical layer (PHY) device and an autonegotiation module. The PHY device is configured to interface with N cable pairs, where N is greater than 1. The PHY device includes a cable test module configured to diagnose a short circuit in one of the N cable pairs. The autonegotiation module is configured to i) selectively perform autonegotiation to establish a link with a link partner at one of a first link speed and a second link speed that is lower than the first link speed, and ii) select between the first link speed and the second link speed in response to the cable test module diagnosing the short circuit.

Abstract: A wireless local area network module including an input configured to receive a control signal, wherein the control signal indicates whether a vehicle is in a parked position. The wireless local area network module further includes a wireless local area network transceiver associated with the vehicle. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to i) receive data packets via a first wireless communication channel, and ii) in response to the control signal indicating that the vehicle is in a parked position, repeat the data packets over the first wireless communication channel.

Abstract: A media player/recorder, and a method and computer program product for same comprises a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing encoded media data; a storage device to store the encoded media data; a processor comprising a storage controller to retrieve the encoded media data from the storage device, and a digital signal processor to decode the encoded media data retrieved by the storage controller; and an output circuit to output the decoded media data from the processor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle and a media player/recorder physically connected with the vehicle. The media player/recorder includes a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing media data, a storage device to store the media data, a storage controller to retrieve the media data from the storage device, and an output circuit to output the media data. The storage device stores a list of identifiers of desired media selections. The wireless receiver receives a signal representing an identifier of an offered media selection. The storage device stores the offered media selection when the identifier of the offered media selection corresponds to the identifier of one of the desired media selections.

Abstract: A portable access point comprises a wireless LAN transceiver that selectively establishes a plurality of Ethernet wireless links with a plurality of wireless client devices, respectively. A wireless WAN transceiver establishes an Ethernet data connection with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), receives and forwards Ethernet data packets from at least one of said wireless client devices to said ISP and receives and forwards Ethernet data packets from said ISP to said one of said wireless client devices. A routing device routes Ethernet data packets between said wireless LAN transceiver and said wireless WAN transceiver. A control module controls operation of said wireless LAN transceiver and said wireless WAN transceiver. A first storage device stores operating system and application instructions for said control module.

Abstract: A network device including a wireless network transceiver, a wireless telephone transceiver, and a control module. The wireless network transceiver and the wireless telephone transceiver are associated with a vehicle and transmit and receive data packets over first and second wireless communication channels, respectively. The control module selects the wireless network transceiver or the wireless telephone transceiver for transmitting and receiving user data based on one of bandwidth quality data, signal strength data, and hop count data associated with the first wireless communication channel. The control module selects an operating mode of one of the wireless network transceiver and the wireless telephone transceiver based on a usage signal. The usage signal is generated based on at least one of a park/neutral switch associated with a drivetrain of the vehicle, a vehicle speed signal generated by a speedometer of the vehicle, and an ignition switch of the vehicle.

Abstract: A network interface includes a physical layer (PHY) device that provides an interface to a cable. The PHY device includes an autonegotiation module that selectively performs autonegotiation to establish a link with a link partner based on link parameters and a cable test module that performs a cable test before the autonegotiation begins, that determines a cable performance parameter during the cable test, and that compares the cable performance parameter to a predetermined threshold. The autonegotiation module selects at least one of the link parameters based on the comparison.

Abstract: A physical layer device includes a cable test module that transmits a test pulse on a cable, measures a reflection amplitude, calculates a cable length, and determines a cable status based on the measured amplitude and the calculated cable length. A frequency synthesizer selectively outputs a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies on one end of the cable. An insertion loss calculator receives the signals from an opposite end of the cable and estimates insertion loss based on the received signals.

Abstract: A portable access point comprises a wireless LAN transceiver that selectively establishes a plurality of Ethernet wireless links with a plurality of wireless client devices, respectively. A wireless WAN transceiver establishes an Ethernet data connection with an Internet Service Provider (ISP), receives and forwards Ethernet data packets from at least one of said wireless client devices to said ISP and receives and forwards Ethernet data packets from said ISP to said one of said wireless client devices. A routing device routes Ethernet data packets between said wireless LAN transceiver and said wireless WAN transceiver. A control module controls operation of said wireless LAN transceiver and said wireless WAN transceiver. A first storage device stores operating system and application instructions for said control module.

Abstract: A physical layer device includes a cable tester that determines a cable status of a cable and that includes a test module. The test module transmits a test pulse on the cable, measures a reflection amplitude, calculates a cable length, and determines the cable status based on the measured amplitude and the calculated cable length. An insertion loss estimator communicates with the cable tester, and estimates insertion loss of the cable based at least in part on a feedback equalizer gain.

Abstract: A media player/recorder, and a method and computer program product for same comprises a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing encoded media data; a storage device to store the encoded media data; a processor comprising a storage controller to retrieve the encoded media data from the storage device, and a digital signal processor to decode the encoded media data retrieved by the storage controller; and an output circuit to output the decoded media data from the processor.

Abstract: An alarm monitor includes memory that stores an actuator schedule. An input circuit receives a sensor signal that indicates an alarm condition, the sensor signal originating from a sensor that is remote from the alarm monitor. A processor generates digital data based on the sensor signal and generates a first control signal to control an actuator based on the actuator schedule. An interface wirelessly transmits a report signal to a remote master unit based on the digital data and transmits the first control signal to the actuator.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a vehicle and a media player/recorder physically connected with the vehicle, the media player/recorder comprising a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing encoded media data; a storage device to store the encoded media data; a processor comprising a storage controller to retrieve the encoded media data from the storage device, and a digital signal processor to decode the encoded media data retrieved by the storage controller; and an output circuit to output the decoded media data from the processor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicle and a media player/recorder physically connected with the vehicle. The media player/recorder includes a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing media data, a storage device to store the media data, a storage controller to retrieve the media data from the storage device, and an output circuit to output the media data. The storage device stores a list of identifiers of desired media selections. The wireless receiver receives a signal representing an identifier of an offered media selection. The storage device stores the offered media selection when the identifier of the offered media selection corresponds to the identifier of one of the desired media selections.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a vehicle and a media player/recorder physically connected with the vehicle, the media player/recorder comprising a wireless receiver to receive a signal representing encoded media data; a storage device to store the encoded media data; a processor comprising a storage controller to retrieve the encoded media data from the storage device, and a digital signal processor to decode the encoded media data retrieved by the storage controller; and an output circuit to output the decoded media data from the processor.