Abstract: A method and system for bandwidth allocation for communicating information over one or more wireless channels by wireless stations, is provided. The channel time is divided into one or more superframes. Available channel bandwidth is allocated by reserving one or more channel time blocks (CTBs) in a superframe for communication, resulting in one or more residue CTBs among the reserved CTBs in the superframe, and allocating at least a portion of one or more residue CTBs in the superframe for bidirectional communication between two stations.

Abstract: A power saving process for wireless communications is provided, wherein a receiving station examines the header of each incoming frame and stops decoding data symbols of the frame, upon determining that the incoming frame is not intended for that receiving station. In one implementation, the receiving station stops receiving and decoding data symbols of the frame by entering a power saving mode. This conserves power at the receiving station.

Abstract: A method synchronizes a transmit clock of a transmitter with a receive clock of a receiver in a wireless communications network. Times t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the transmit clock corresponding times t1?, t2?, t3?, and t4? of the receive clock. A synchronization message is generated in a media access control layer of the transmitter at the time t1. The time t1 is inserted in the synchronization message when the synchronization message is passed from the media access layer to a physical layer at the time t2. Then, the synchronization message including the time t1 is broadcast. The synchronization message is received from the physical layer in the receiver, at which time the time t3? is obtained. The received message is passed to a media access control layer of the receiver, and the receive clock is adjusted by adding the time t1??t3? to the current time of the receive clock.

Abstract: A method and system for fast connection setup for wireless communication is provided. The connection setup involves establishing a connection by reserving a wireless data channel for data communication; upon completion of said data communication, maintaining the data channel reserved while indicating the data channel is unoccupied; and while the data channel remains reserved and unoccupied, establishing another connection for data communication by maintaining the data channel reserved and indicating that the data channel is occupied.

Abstract: A method and system for wireless communication involves communicating via a control channel the channel occupation information with a discovered wireless station, based on the occupation information, selecting a wireless data channel for a new transmission with the discovered station and reserving bandwidth for the new transmission on the data channel simultaneous with one or more ongoing transmissions on the data channel.

Abstract: A method and system for ad-hoc wireless communication using out-of-band control channels is provided. An out-of-band control channel is scanned to discover a wireless station. Channel occupation information is communicated with the discovered station. A communication channel is selected based on the occupation information, and may be used for ad-hoc mode information communication with the discovered station.

Abstract: Wireless communication between a first transmitter and a first receiver for a new transmission is established on the same wireless data channel used for ongoing transmission between a second transmitter and a second receiver. This is achieved by determining if the second receiver can receive signals from the first transmitter, and determining if the first receiver can receive signals from the second transmitter. If the second receiver cannot receive signals from the first transmitter, and the first receiver cannot receive signals from the second transmitter, then a new transmission is performed from the first transmitter to the first receiver by spatial reuse of the wireless data channel at least partially concurrently with said ongoing transmission on said data channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for device discovery in wireless communication. One implementation involves scanning one or more wireless channels to discover a partner wireless station for a new transmission, by detecting peak energy and beacons on each scanned channel. If a beacon is not detected, then selecting the clearest channel among the scanned channels, and transmitting beacons on the clearest channel. Upon detecting a beacon from a partner station, establishing association with the partner station and selecting a wireless data channel for communication with the partner station. Another implementation involves discovering a partner wireless station to establish a data channel for communication with a discovering station that is associated with a coordinator station, and transmitting a bandwidth reservation request to the coordinator to reserve channel time for control message exchange between the discovering station and the partner station.

Abstract: A method and a system for wireless communication is provided which involves maintaining a data communication module in a power saving mode, detecting channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods, and upon successful data channel reservation, transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to an active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel. Preferably, the data communication module is transitioned back to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communication of audiovisual data are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver configured to change the size of audiovisual data in response to a change in the condition of a wireless channel. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the audiovisual data over the wireless channel. The wireless receiver is configured to receive the audiovisual data over the wireless channel. The wireless transmitter includes an application layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical (PHY) layer. The wireless receiver includes an application layer, MAC layer, and PHY layer. The application or MAC layer of the wireless transmitter is configured to change the size of the audiovisual data in response to a change in the condition of the wireless channel. The application or MAC layer of the wireless receiver is configured to restore the size of the audiovisual data.

Abstract: Various methods and arrangements are provided for transmitting adaptive multimedia content over networks that provide differential services. By way of example, one method includes compressing video objects, generating at least one corresponding elementary stream containing the compressed video objects, classifying information within each elementary stream based on importance, and assembling the classified information into packets associated with different classes of network packets. In classifying the information within each elementary stream based on importance, different priority levels can be assigned to shape, motion, and texture information. Methods and arrangements are also provided for use with multimedia content information that includes audio information, image information, textual information, and the like.

Abstract: A method selects multiple paths between a server and a client in an overlay network where nodes are connected by links. The nodes include the server and the client. Each path includes a set of selected links. First, in each node, Quality of service metrics are measured of each link directly connecting the node to an immediate neighboring node. The metrics are transmitted to the server. In the server, a link correlation matrix based on the metrics and a path correlation matrix based on the link correlation matrix are determined. Then, the multiple paths are selected based only on the metrics, the link correlation matrix, and the path correlation matrix.

Abstract: A system and method for power saving in a wireless network for transmitting uncompressed audio/video (A/V) data disclosed. The method includes an adaptive sleep period scheme in which the current sleep period is computed based at least partly on one or more previous sleep periods. The method also includes entering an inactive state by a coordinator as well as non-coordinator stations in the wireless network in which no beacons are transmitted.

Abstract: A method of efficient scheduling for portable devices communicating with a coordinator over a network is disclosed. The method includes: listening for beacons broadcasted by a coordinator; assigning, by the coordinator, a single contiguous time block (CTB) for portable devices during a superframe defined by consecutive beacons; scheduling a single wake period of one of the portable devices, which overlaps inclusively with consecutive beacons and the single CTB; and minimizing duration of the single wake period of the portable device. The single CTB may be arranged next to one of the consecutive beacons. The method may further comprise assigning, by the coordinator, a single random access time block (RATB) for the one of the portable devices so as to overlap with the single wake period. The RATB may be arranged next to one of consecutive beacons. The CTB may be arranged next to the RATB. The CTB may be arranged next to one of the consecutive beacons.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for achieving power saving for a portable device in a wireless network for transmitting audio/video (A/V) data is disclosed. An optimal transmit power level is selected by transmitting multiple probe messages by a portable device at increasing transmit power levels until a response to one of the probe messages is received within a preset allowed response time. A relay node is selected by a portable device for receiving compressed A/V data, uncompressing the compressed A/V data, and transmitting the uncompressed A/V data to an intended receiver.

Abstract: A system and method using a medium access control (MAC) header for a wireless communication system including an application layer, a MAC layer, and a physical (PHY) layer is disclosed. The MAC header accommodates time-delay insensitive data transfer between devices located in the network. The MAC header finds particular benefits in short range networks that transfer high definition (HD) video between components. One embodiment of the invention comprises a method of transferring data in a wireless communication network for uncompressed video including fragmenting the data into a plurality of data packets; appending a PHY header to at least one of the data packets to form a MAC frame; setting a field in the PHY header to indicate that the packets do not contain audio video (A/V) data; and transmitting the MAC frame to another device in the wireless communication network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing extended domain management when a primary device is unavailable. In the absence of a primary domain manager device, an extended device domain is created to allow a consumer electronics device to be temporarily authenticated to a device domain.

Abstract: A system and method of providing domain management for content protection and security is disclosed. A secure device domain is generated to allow sharing of content among a plurality of consumer electronic devices. A domain management scheme for authenticating and managing consumer electronics devices in the secure device domain is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless communication is disclosed. In one aspect, the method comprises generating a physical (PHY) frame comprising a PRY layer header and a PHY payload data packet, wherein the PHY layer header comprises an aggregation indication bit for indicating whether the PHY payload data packet comprises two or more sub-packets received from the application layer. The method further comprises transmitting the PHY frame.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently communicating messages over a low-rate channel between multiple devices in a system for wireless communication of uncompressed video is disclosed. The method includes various control bits in a beacon control field of a beacon frame to improve the efficiency of the beacon processing, thereby reducing beacon processing time and size of the beacon frame itself. The transmitting device can use one or more of the various control bits to indicate whether there are changes in various MAC payload information fields. The receiving station can use one or more of the control bits to eliminate the need to parse one or more MAC payload information fields whose values have not changed from the previous beacon frame.