Abstract: In a wireless local area network including an access controller (AC) and an access points (AP), the AC transmits a functionality inquiry to the AP. Upon receiving the inquiry, the AP transmits a query response including the functional capabilities of the AP. The AC then generates a map of the functional capabilities present in the network based on the inquiry response. Conflicting or redundant functional capabilities are identified and are disabled, enabled, or reconfigured by instructions from the AC. The AC may selectively enable and/or disable functional capabilities at nodes in the network to provide a more balanced load on the network, and to provide for load sharing by allocating functionalities between and among network nodes having common functional capabilities to satisfy a variety of situations encountered in the network.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for mobility handling across different wireless technologies by efficiently performing alternate network discovery and enabling a mobile station to select the most desirable candidate radio access technology, depending on parameters such as location and network policy settings.

Abstract: A wireless communication system including a mesh network having a plurality of mesh points (MPs), a plurality of wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs), extra-mesh local area network (LAN) resources, and an external network is disclosed. When one of the MPs receives a packet, a determination is made as to whether the received packet is destined to another MP belonging to the same mesh network, (or to a WTRU served by another MP), and, if so, a determination is made as to whether there are at least two mesh portals in the mesh network that provide access to the external network via the extra-mesh LAN resources. The packet is routed according to an intra-mesh routing algorithm if there are less than two mesh portals in the mesh network. Otherwise, a determination is made as to whether an extra-mesh routing algorithm or an intra-mesh routing algorithm should be used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for triggering procedures to handover an ongoing communication session between a mobile station (MS) and a correspondent node (CoN) from via a first network of a first type to via a second network of a different type. Communication session continuity is maintained by transferring communication session context information when a handover is imminent from a network component in a first network path to a network component in a second network path, and by forwarding downlink and uplink signals via the network components in both the first and second network paths until the ongoing communication session can be established via the second network path. The context information includes the session communication parameters, such that the second network path can allocate resources and establish routing between the MS and the CoN.

Abstract: A wireless communication system including at least one IEEE 802 multi-stack wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a plurality of technologically diversified access networks, such as IEEE 802.X networks and Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) networks, that are concurrently deployed. Both the multi-stack WTRU and the technologically-diversified networks include a media independent handover (MIH) function. The WTRU is configured to read MIH information transmitted from one of the IEEE 802.X networks, trigger 3GPP authentication and authorization procedures based on the MIH information, obtain a local Internet protocol (IP) address, establish a tunnel to a packet data gateway (PDG) in a 3GPP core network, construct a care of address (CoA) and register the CoA with a home agent of the WTRU, whereby data destined for the WTRU is routed via the home agent through a new tunnel established between the home agent and a foreign agent based on the CoA.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing radio resources in one or more wireless communication networks. At least one radio resource manager (RRM) is provided within a network node, or as an independent entity. The RRM monitors performance on wireless communication links of the network(s) and interacts with nodes associated with those links to change the configuration on a particular wireless communication link if its performance (i.e., quality) falls below an established threshold. Information regarding current resource usage of the network is sent to the RRM by the nodes. Each of the nodes may send a quality report to the RRM including wireless communication link quality measurements and performance statistics. Alternatively, the RRM may perform the wireless communication link quality measurements. The RRM facilitates the broadcasting of information regarding current resource usage of one network to other networks to avoid collisions and interference.

Abstract: A startup process of an access point (AP) includes a discovery phase and an announcement phase. During the discovery phase, the AP detects neighboring APs from its own extended service set (ESS), neighboring APs from different ESSs, and external sources of interference. During the announcement phase, the AP transmits its beacon signals at maximum power in order to accelerate recognition by neighboring APs running the discovery phase. An automatic initialization channel selection process of an AP scans channels the AP will use to communicate. Information of each scanned channel is recorded and a best performance channel is determined for use by the AP.

Abstract: A Radio Resource Management (RRM) module is provided to capture network topology information associated with a wireless communication network. This information is transmitted to a Smart Antenna (SA) module collocated within a network node. The SA module determines the appropriate direction, width and power of beams transmitted in the network. The SA module adjusts the direction, width, and/or power of the beams accordingly. A multi-purpose network node for communicating in a wireless communication network operates in a base station mode. If the node detects a change in the network, it determines whether the change should trigger a change in operating modes. If such a change is desired, the node switches between base station and wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) modes. The node continues to operate in a WTRU mode until another mode triggering event occurs. In an alternate embodiment, the multi-purpose node operates in base station and WTRU modes simultaneously.

Abstract: An air interface information unit including a measurement setup unit for implementing measurement setup procedures and configuration; a measurement reception and storing unit for storing actual, predicted and default air interface values and corresponding timestamps; a measurement processing unit for filtering, verifying, processing and combining air interface values; and a measurement output unit for providing air interface values to RRM functions upon request and triggering RRM functions when an air interface value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: This invention relates to wireless local area networks (WLANs), and the interoperability of networks of different types or conforming to different standards, and to methods and apparatus to allow a multimode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), which is able to operate in more than one type of network, to handover from one network type to another without adversely affecting service, utilizing a mechanism and information flows implemented in a new protocol stack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for confirming the delivery of a data packet in a mesh network by sending an acknowledgement (ACK) to an ingress mesh point (IMP). A mesh network comprises a plurality of mesh points that are wirelessly linked together. A data packet sent by a station (STA) is received by an IMP. A MAC frame is generated for transmission of the data packet and the frame is forwarded to an egress mesh point (EMP) in order to provide a service by the mesh network. The MAC frame includes a field comprising an IMP address and an EMP address. When the EMP, (or optionally an intermediate mesh point), receives a data packet successfully, the EMP or the intermediate mesh point sends an ACK to the IMP or preceding mesh point.

Abstract: A method for creating sub-networks in a wireless mesh network begins by determining whether a trigger condition for creating a sub-network exists. Nodes in the mesh network are selected to create the sub-network if the trigger condition exists. The sub-network is then created with the selected nodes. A node for use in a wireless mesh network includes a state device for maintaining a state of the node, the state of the node relating to activity occurring at the node; an attachment list communicating with the state device; a trigger device communicating with the state device; and an attachment device communicating with the attachment list and the trigger device.

Abstract: A device for identifying an emergency call in a wireless local area network includes an indicator to identify a call as an emergency call. The indicator can be a bit flag or an information element. The information element can include location information regarding the location of the station that placed the emergency call. This information can be used to located the caller. The location information can be transmitted from the station to an access point separately from an emergency call.

Abstract: A method for communicating a list of handover candidates in a wireless local area network from a station to a serving access point (AP) begins by determining a list of handover candidate APs at the station. The candidate list is sorted at the station and is sent to the serving AP. The sending step can include sending the candidate list to the serving AP upon the expiration of a predetermined period of time or upon receipt at the station of an event trigger. The method can also include the step of requesting a candidate list from the station by the serving AP.

Abstract: A startup process of an access point (AP) includes a discovery phase and an announcement phase. During the discovery phase, the AP detects neighboring APs from its own extended service set (ESS), neighboring APs from different ESSs, and external sources of interference. During the announcement phase, the AP transmits its beacon signals at maximum power in order to accelerate recognition by neighboring APs running the discovery phase. An automatic initialization channel selection process of an AP scans channels the AP will use to communicate. Information of each scanned channel is recorded and a best performance channel is determined for use by the AP.

Abstract: A method and a wireless communication device that implements a control node for a mesh network. Preferably, the device and method are implemented in an Access Point for an 802.11 LAN.

Abstract: A radio resource control unit which monitors air interface resources, includes an air interface measurement unit for obtaining air interface measurements; a storage unit which stores air interface measurements and a corresponding timestamp; and a processing unit, for processing the air interface measurements. At least a portion of the interface measurements may be predicted values.