Abstract: A wireless communication system includes one or more application servers communicating with remote terminals over connections established via cellular or satellite networks. The application servers are capable of switching between different cellular networks. A satellite gateway communicates with the remote terminals via satellite connections when cellular service is unavailable. The satellite gateway emulates a cellular network so that the application server sees the satellite gateway as another cellular network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes one or more application servers communicating with remote terminals over connections established via cellular or satellite networks. The application servers are capable of switching between different cellular networks. A satellite gateway communicates with the remote terminals via satellite connections when cellular service is unavailable. The satellite gateway emulates a cellular network so that the application server sees the satellite gateway as another cellular network.

Abstract: Message handling in a local area network including switches and clients is provided. At least one of the switches is a peer switch that is capable of monitoring a status of another switch, and at least one switch connects the clients redundantly. A station announcement message is sent by the peer switch for at least one client of the other switch. In each station message announcement, there is inserted a source address of the other switch. The other switches handle the station message announcement as though the station message announcement came from the client.

Abstract: A network includes a plurality of network clusters. Each network cluster includes a plurality of nodes. At least one of the plurality of nodes includes a portal node. A portal node is a node with at least one link that crosses a boundary of the network cluster. Each portal node is configured to communicate detection packets for detecting the existence of other portal nodes within the network cluster. Each portal node is configured to communicate with nodes within the network cluster associated with the respective portal node to indicate that the respective portal node is a predetermined number of hops away from a virtual root bridge associated with the network cluster.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring demographic information are disclosed. Demographic information is acquired from monitoring internet traffic. The demographic information is stored in a management server and analyzed to generate a demographic profile. Various business decisions, such as advertising, can be based on the demographic profile.

Abstract: Message handling in a local area network including switches and clients is provided. At least one of the switches is a peer switch that is capable of monitoring a status of another switch, and at least one switch connects the clients redundantly. A station announcement message is sent by the peer switch for at least one client of the other switch. In each station message announcement, there is inserted a source address of the other switch. The other switches handle the station message announcement as though the station message announcement came from the client.

Abstract: A network includes a plurality of network clusters. Each network cluster includes a plurality of nodes. At least one of the plurality of nodes includes a portal node. A portal node is a node with at least one link that crosses a boundary of the network cluster. Each portal node is configured to communicate detection packets for detecting the existence of other portal nodes within the network cluster. Each portal node is configured to communicate with nodes within the network cluster associated with the respective portal node to indicate that the respective portal node is a predetermined number of hops away from a virtual root bridge associated with the network cluster.

Abstract: Methods and systems for acquiring demographic information are disclosed. Demographic information is acquired from monitoring internet traffic. The demographic information is stored in a management server and analyzed to generate a demographic profile. Various business decisions, such as advertising, can be based on the demographic profile.