Abstract: A method can include, by operation of a configuring device: storing user network information in the configuring device; receiving wireless communications from a target device; authenticating the target device; indicating a pointing direction for the configuring device; executing a wireless positioning operation with the target device to generate positioning data. In response to the configuring device being determined to be pointing at the target device, automatically configuring the target device for the user network with the stored user network information. Corresponding methods for a configuring device, as well as devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques for guided placement of a wireless device are described herein. In an example embodiment, a wi-fi wireless device comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to a baseband processor. The RF transceiver is configured to receive an RF signal transmitted over a wireless channel and to convert the RF signal to a modulated digital signal. The baseband processor is configured to receive the modulated digital signal from the RF transceiver, extract a wireless packet from the modulated digital signal, and compute an Exponential Effective SNR Mapping (EESM) value based on the preamble of the wireless packet, where the computed EESM value indicates the quality of the wireless channel at the current location of the wireless device. The baseband processor is further configured to provide a quality indicator based on the EESM value for the current location of the wireless device.

Abstract: Techniques for guided placement of a wireless device are described herein. In an example embodiment, a wi-fi wireless device comprises a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to a baseband processor. The RF transceiver is configured to receive an RF signal transmitted over a wireless channel and to convert the RF signal to a modulated digital signal. The baseband processor is configured to receive the modulated digital signal from the RF transceiver, extract a wireless packet from the modulated digital signal, and compute an Exponential Effective SNR Mapping (EESM) value based on the preamble of the wireless packet, where the computed EESM value indicates the quality of the wireless channel at the current location of the wireless device. The baseband processor is further configured to provide a quality indicator based on the EESM value for the current location of the wireless device.

Abstract: A method includes steering client devices to access points that potentially increase capacity of communications using beamformed transmissions. In particular, this includes determining the best access points for beamforming to a particular client or a group of clients in the network for an improved throughput performance in the deployment or a subset of access points.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for offloading cryptographic functions to support a large number of clients. Specifically, a network device receives a packet corresponding to a client device via an interface, and determines whether a first hardware module that performs cryptographic operations on a per-client basis overflows. If first hardware module overflows, the network device retrieves a cryptographic key for the packet, and sends the received packet with the retrieved cryptographic key to a second hardware module that performs cryptographic operations on a per-packet basis to perform one or more cryptographic operations. If not, the network device sends the packet to the first hardware module to perform the one or more cryptographic operations.

Abstract: A method includes steering client devices to access points that potentially increase capacity of communications using beamformed transmissions. In particular, this includes determining the best access points for beamforming to a particular client or a group of clients in the network for an improved throughput performance in the deployment or a subset of access points.

Abstract: A packet loss reduction system. In particular implementations, a method includes responsive to indications of roaming intent of a wireless client relative to currently associated wireless access point, determining if a traffic stream associated with the wireless client is to be proactively buffered by one or more potential wireless access points; conditionally transmitting a command to the one or more potential wireless access points to cause the potential wireless access points to set up resources to proactively buffer packets of the traffic stream; duplicating received packets of the traffic stream destined for the wireless client; and transmitting the duplicate packets to the potential wireless access points for storage in a proactive stream buffer.

Abstract: A packet loss reduction system. In particular implementations, a method includes responsive to indications of roaming intent of a wireless client relative to currently associated wireless access point, determining if a traffic stream associated with the wireless client is to be proactively buffered by one or more potential wireless access points; conditionally transmitting a command to the one or more potential wireless access points to cause the potential, wireless access points to set up resources to proactively buffer packets of the traffic stream; duplicating received packets of the traffic stream destined for the wireless client; and transmitting the duplicate packets to the potential wireless access points for storage in a proactive stream buffer.

Abstract: A method and logic encoded in tangible media and apparatus for securing links between a mesh point and one or more identities of one or more parent mesh points of a wireless mesh network in order to secure the links. A first association is carried out to one of the identities of one of the parent mesh points. The first mesh point undergoes a mutual authentication with an authenticator and announces the possibility of multiple links and/or multiple paths. The authentication generates a first master key from which the root master key of the key hierarchy is derived so that other master keys for different identities are derivable using a hierarchy. The mesh point undergoes a 4-way handshake to derive a first transient key. Other transient keys are obtained by a fast roaming method without having to re-undergo a backend authentication, the other transient keys being for other links and/or paths and derived using the hierarchy.