Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for conveying location information between a location provider and a trusted location application within a mobile device through trusted communications to preclude its provision to an untrusted location application.

Abstract: Embodiments for providing initiator-conditioned fine timing measurement service request are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a range management module is arranged to initiate transmission of a fine timing measurement request message for determining a timing measurement to a responding device. Timing measurement information is received in response to the transmission of the fine timing measurement request message. The timing measurement information is received according to the condition instructions provided in the fine timing measurement request message. A timing measurement is calculated based on the timing of receiving the timing measurement information.

Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of communicating location-enabling information for location estimation. For example, an apparatus may include a location-enabling information (LEI) processor to process a location-enabling message, which is transmitted between first and second location-enabling sources and receivable by a mobile device, the location-enabling message including encrypted LEI configured for enabling estimation of a location of the mobile device at a predefined accuracy based on a cryptographic key corresponding to the first location-enabling source.

Abstract: Embodiments of a communication station (STA) and method for time-of-flight (ToF) positioning in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, an initiating station may transmit a message M1 carrying a high-throughput control (HTC) field that includes a reverse direction grant (RDG) bit. The RDG indication grants permission to a responding station to send information back to the initiating station. The message M1 may be a timing measurement action frame. An ACK frame may be received from the responding station to acknowledge receipt of the message M1. The ACK frame may optionally carry an HTC field that includes a more PPDU indication to indicate whether a PPDU (e.g., contained in message M2) is to follow the ACK frame. The message M2 may be received from the responding station and may include timing measurement information from a current and/or one or more previous ToF message exchanges.

Abstract: In a navigation system and method, location-aware adjustments may be made to the accuracy and/or power of the navigation system by changing at least one setting of a navigation system receiver in response to at least one characteristic of a navigation route and/or an estimated current position of the receiver. By providing location-aware adjustments, the accuracy may be increased when a higher accuracy is desired and may be decreased when a lower accuracy is sufficient based on the receiver location. A higher accuracy setting may be used, for example, when the estimated current position of a navigation system receiver is within the vicinity of a waypoint along the navigation route and a lower accuracy setting may be used at other times to reduce power consumption. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Abstract: Embodiments of a communication station and method for time-of-flight (ToF) location determination in a wireless network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a responding communication station receives a ToF measurement request. The responding communication station transmits an acknowledgment of the ToF measurement request. The responding communication station also transmits a response to the ToF measurement request that includes an indication of a time period for an initiating communication station to poll the responding communication station for a ToF result.

Abstract: Embodiments allow a station to determine its location and report the location to a access point or other network entity. The station obtains agreement with an access point, group of access points, or other network entity to provide its location to a designated accuracy level and the access point(s) agree to provide services such as access to a location service, the access point(s) location to a designated positional accuracy, etc. The station measures its position and induces an error in its reported location. The induced error prevents an exact location of the station from being determined by the access point(s) or others, thus preserving the privacy of the station. The location reported by the station may be absolute (e.g., geographic coordinates) or relative to a landmark, location, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving an out-of-band signal and determining that a communicative connection is available based at least in part on the out-of-band signal, and connecting to the communicative connection based at least in part on determining that a communicative connection is available.

Abstract: Embodiments of station and responder and method for reducing the time and power consumption for stations to scan for wireless network coverage and establish a link to the responder to gain access thereto are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a first scan phase establishing the existence and perhaps other characteristics of responders, is followed by an responder discovery phase where a link can be established using active or passive scanning procedures. In some embodiments the two phases are somewhat combined with the first phase using a Probe Request with an Organizationally Unique Identifier as the Scan Request and an ACK message acting as a Scan Request Response and a Probe Response Request transmitted separately. Specific timings and message constructs allow utilization within existing or new 802.11 standards.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide positional data with a variable level of precision may be implemented on positional systems of electronic devices by associating a position profile to application software running on the electronic devices.

Abstract: Traffic load over a wireless medium due to wireless access point discovery is reduced. The wireless stations and wireless access points support wireless discovery using a reduced traffic load process. The reduced traffic load process includes providing aggregated short probe responses.

Abstract: Navigation systems and methods are provided that determine navigation data in one of a first or second accuracy mode based at least partly on proximity to waypoints along a route designated as either a first accuracy location or a second accuracy location.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a wireless network access point beacon. The approach involves determining to one or more of (1) cause, at least in part, a beacon pointer associated with a beacon of a wireless network access point to be transmitted and (2) cause, at least in part, a beacon schedule associated with the beacon of the wireless network access point to be adjusted based, at least in part, on a derivation of one or more other beacon schedules associated with one or more other beacons of one or more other wireless network access points. The determination to cause the adjustment of the beacon schedule is based, at least in part, on a received indication of a potential conflict between the beacon and the one or more other beacons.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a probe response related to wireless medium access control. The approach involves causing, at least in part, an active scan process that includes transmitting one or more probe request messages to indicate one or more scheduling windows within which receiving one or more probe response messages is permitted in reply to the one or more probe request messages.

Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of managing paging availability of a mobile station in a wireless communications network. The paging availability mechanism of the present invention is able to achieve a substantial amount of power saving by modifying mobile station access to paging intervals. The mechanism dynamically controls access to the wireless network after unavailability periods when mobile stations enter into idle mode. Paging listening intervals for one or more mobile stations are scheduled and synchronized in accordance with the values of one or more parameters or metrics such as link quality. In one embodiment, this is achieved by the mobile station modifying the paging listening intervals access pattern received from the base station. Depending on the one or more parameters or metrics, one or more paging intervals may be skipped thus reducing the power consumption of the mobile station.

Abstract: A novel and useful autonomous connectivity mechanism for use in user equipment (UE) connectivity in one or more cellular communications systems. The handover process is optimized by improving the selection of target base stations and optimizing the discontinuity period from the time of disconnection from a serving base station and connection to a target base station. The mechanism facilitates multiple cell connectivity in a network unaware manner while preserving single endpoint connectivity. The UE does not need to negotiate for or receive pre-allocated opportunities from the network for making neighboring base stations measurements. Measurement opportunities are created by the UE autonomously in accordance with UE activity patterns. Measurement opportunities are used to measure and maintain a candidate target base station list over the same or a plurality of access technologies.

Abstract: A novel and useful autonomous association mechanism for use in user equipment (UE) network connections in one or more cellular communications systems. The handover process is optimized by improving the selection of target base stations and optimizing the discontinuity period from the time of disconnection from a serving base station and connection to a target base station and by establishing anonymous bidirectional communications with base stations. The mechanism facilitates multiple cell association in a network unaware manner while preserving single endpoint connectivity. The UE does not need to negotiate for or receive pre-allocated opportunities from the network for making associations with neighboring base stations. Association opportunities are created by the UE autonomously in accordance with UE activity patterns. Association opportunities are used to exchange preliminary information needed for handover between the UE and candidate base stations over the same or a plurality of access technologies.

Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of multicast and broadcast service (MBS) macro-diversity based information processing for use in MBS enabled wireless communication systems. MBS allocations and transmissions from base stations are not coordinated and independent of each other. The characteristics of the MBS signal, such as waveform, modulation, timing and frequency domain, used for transmissions in one or more MBS zones by a base station are uncoordinated and unsynchronized with respect to transmissions in other base stations or MBS zones. They all, however, contain the same information content and relate to the same CID (MCID and/or SA). The MS, using multiple detection techniques, uses time and frequency diversity reception techniques to combine MBS transmissions received from multiple base stations.

Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of coordinating the allocation of transmission and reception availability and/or unavailability periods for use in a communications device incorporating collocated multiple radios. The mechanism provide both centralized and distributed coordination to enable the coordination (e.g., to achieve coexistence) of multiple radio access communication devices (RACDs) collocated in a single device such as a mobile station. A distributed activity coordinator modifies the activity pattern of multiple RACDs. The activity pattern comprises a set of radio access specific modes of operation, (e.g., IEEE 802.16 Normal, Sleep, Scan or Idle modes, 3GPP GSM/EDGE operation mode (PTM, IDLE, Connected, DTM modes), etc.) and a compatible set of wake-up events, such as reception and transmission availability periods.

Abstract: A novel and useful buffer flushing mechanism for use in a communications link. Using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) protocol mechanisms, network elements in a radio access network initiate a HARQ buffer flushing operation. Network elements on both ends of a communication link can autonomously initiate coordinated or uncoordinated flushing of their respective HARQ process buffers based on internal algorithms and/or criteria previously negotiated between the two elements. The flushing operation may be performed on all or a part of the buffer (transmit and/or receive) or on certain complete or partial accumulated information. The criteria may comprise any suitable data including, for example, timeout data, thresholds based on one or more link quality parameters, data measurements exceeding a threshold, etc. which can be used to trigger a buffer flushing event.