Abstract: A first wireless device including a receiver, a signal strength module, a path loss module, and a control module. The receiver receives a first signal from a second wireless device. The first signal includes an indication of a first power at which the second wireless device transmits the first signal. The signal strength module estimates a first signal strength of the first signal. The path loss module estimates a path loss associated with a communication path between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the first power at which the second wireless device transmits the first signal and the first signal strength of the first signal received from the second wireless device. The control module controls a second power at which the first wireless device transmits data based on the path loss associated with the communication path between the first wireless device and the second wireless device.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium or media stores machine readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to, while a device in a communication network is operating in a first power management mode, simultaneously monitor for an expiration of a first period of time during which no message traffic is observed at all on a communication channel of the communication network, and an expiration of a second period of time during which no message traffic destined for the device is received by the device via the communication channel of the communication network. The instructions also cause the one or more processors to, responsive to the expiration of the first or second period of time, whichever comes first, initiate operation of the device in a second power management mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an electronic device that includes an antenna and an interface circuit. The interface circuit communicates, via the antenna, with a companion electronic device and/or a communication hub (e.g., an access point). The companion electronic device may communicate with the communication hub over a wireless network. During operation, the electronic device receives, from the companion electronic device or an archive electronic device, network-state information including an identifier of the companion electronic device, an identifier of the communication hub, or timing-synchronization information for beacons from the communication hub. In some embodiments, the network-state information may further include a channel associated with the connection. Moreover, the electronic device may disable communication via a first communication technique (e.g., Bluetooth) and enable communication via a second communication technique (e.g., WiFi).

Abstract: A device previously configured as a registrar and that has established an independent ad-hoc network is automatically discovered by another device also previously configured as a registrar. To form an ad-hoc wireless network between these two devices, each device periodically enters a scanning mode to scan for and intercept beacons transmitted by the other device. Upon such interception, one of the devices becomes an enrollee in accordance with a predefined condition and in response to a user selected option. Subsequently, the enrollee modifies its beacons to include an attribute, such as the MAC address, associated with the other device. After intercepting the modified beacon, the remaining registrar prompts it user to decide whether to allow the enrollee to join the registrar's network. If the user responds affirmatively, a handshake is performed between the two devices and a subsequent attempt is made by the enrollee to join the registrar's network.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to reception of beacon frames. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a radio circuit. The radio circuit is configured to determine an estimated time period during which the radio circuit will receive a next beacon frame from a wireless access point associated with a wireless channel. The estimated time period is determined relative to a clock of the radio circuit. The radio circuit is further configured to begin monitoring the wireless channel for the next beacon frame during the estimated time period.

Abstract: Techniques for establishing a dynamic ad-hoc wireless network are disclosed. A node transitions between wake and sleep modes during periods defined as beacon intervals. Before a network connection is established and while it is awake, the node transmits network connection request and also listens for network activity. If a beacon or response message is not detected while the node is listening, the node enters sleep mode and thereby conserves power. The node optionally changes the duration of its detection period and/or the time at which it listens for network activity relative to the start of each beacon interval. Information elements are optionally included with transmitted beacons or response messages.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing location-aware WiFi access for a portable device include receiving, at a mobile communication device, locations and ranges for a set of one or more WiFi access points from a location provider system. The mobile communication device uses the locations and ranges to determine whether to power on a WiFi transceiver, and to determine for which WiFi access points to scan if the WiFi transceiver is powered on.

Abstract: A low-power roaming mechanism is described. This low-power roaming mechanism is used by a portable electronic device when the portable electronic device enters a stand-by mode (sleep mode). During this stand-by mode, the portable electronic device allows a wireless interface to look for surrounding wireless networks with a configurable quota. This quota is allotted for roaming based on the usage or communication pattern of the portable electronic device. Once the allotted quota is completely used, the portable electronic device is blocked from performing roaming operations to prevent the portable electronic device from draining the battery.

Abstract: A wireless device configured to delegate it communications and traffic monitoring tasks to a paired device when a wireless transceiver of the wireless device is found to be in an idle state is provided. The wireless device includes two wireless transceivers, the first wireless transceiver for communicating with a wireless access point and second low power wireless transceiver for communicating with a paired device. When the wireless device determines that the first wireless transceiver is in an idle state, it can place the first wireless transceiver into a sleep mode and delegate to the paired device via the second wireless transceiver communication and traffic monitoring tasks that would have been performed by the first wireless transceiver if it were not in a sleep mode.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for allowing a first device to learn how to connect to a first network using information that a second device obtained about a second network that is related to the first network. The second device can perform a virtual network discovery of the first network on behalf of the first device. The second device can describe how to initiate one or more connections to the first network by modifying the information the second device obtained about the second network. The second device can send the information identifying how to initiate the connections to the first network to the first device. The first device can automatically initiate connections to the first network without requiring user input.

Abstract: In order to improve the quality of a telephone call communicated over a wireless local area network (WLAN), an electronic device (such as a cellular telephone) may obtain one or more performance metrics based on communication with another electronic device (such as an access point) via a connection in the WLAN. For example, the electronic device may receive the one or more performance metrics from the other electronic device and/or may determine the one or more performance metrics based on the performance of the communication. Then, the electronic device may compare the one or more performance metrics with an interference criterion. If the interference criterion is met, the electronic device may perform a remedial action, such as selectively discontinuing use of the WLAN to communicate the telephone call for a time interval. Otherwise, the electronic device may continue using the WLAN to communicate the telephone call.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for automatically detecting and connecting to a Wi-Fi network. In these methods, a wireless device listens for beacons that are sent using a low-power wireless protocol. Once the wireless device detects a first beacon at a first location, the wireless device extracts a first beacon region identifier from the beacon and correlates the first beacon region identifier with a first Wi-Fi network that is located at the first location. Next, the wireless device retrieves a first set of credentials for connecting to the first Wi-Fi network. Once the first set of credentials is retrieved, the wireless device uses the first set of credentials to connect to the first Wi-Fi network.

Abstract: An ad-hoc network approach for addressing ad-hoc network address assignment, name resolution, and service discovery in ad-hoc networks. The size of the ad-hoc network may be limited to a selected number of ad-hoc network stations. A first portion of the ad-hoc network address assigned to stations joining the ad-hoc network may be fixed and a second portion of the ad-hoc network address may be selected dynamically, as each new station joins the ad-hoc network. A station may generate an information element that may be included in ad-hoc network messages. An exemplary information element may include a last byte of the ad-hoc network address associated with the transmitting station, a 4-byte timestamp field which indicates a number of milliseconds since the station claimed the network address, a user-friendly name to identify the station, a universally unique identifier (UUID) for each service offered by the transmitting station, and a network-address-in-use bitmap.

Abstract: A wireless device may automatically connect to a preferred wireless network, such as a preferred Wi-Fi network. The wireless device may order a plurality of wireless networks according to initial criteria, such as the time the wireless device last connected to each wireless network. Preference rules may then be applied to reorder the wireless networks. Each preference rule may be applied only if an associated score meets a threshold. A scan may be performed to determine which of the wireless networks are available for connection. The wireless device may automatically connect to the highest-ordered available wireless network. The scores associated with the preference rules may be modified in response to events that indicate a user preference for one or more of the wireless networks, such as manually switching from one network to another.

Abstract: Wi-Fi link health monitoring by a wireless device. Signal strength (e.g., RSSI) of a Wi-Fi link may be monitored. If the signal strength is low, further link quality metrics may be monitored. If it is determined that health of the Wi-Fi link is poor based on monitoring signal strength and other link quality metrics, roaming to a different Wi-Fi network may be performed, the Wi-Fi link may be disconnected, and/or an application processor of the wireless device may be woken.

Abstract: A method, station and computer readable storage medium used to perform opportunistic roaming procedures. A station joined to a basic service set (BSS) of an access point (AP) performs a method including determining a roam profile for the station, the roam profile indicating at least one of available operating bands or available APs for the station, determining a first value associated with a network parameter of the joined AP, determining at least one roam candidate AP having a second value associated with the network parameter corresponding to the roam candidate AP, wherein the first and second values are a received signal strength indicator, determining whether a predetermined criteria value is satisfied based upon the first and second values, wherein the predetermined criteria value is a minimum difference between the first value and second value and roaming to the roam candidate AP when the predetermined criteria value is satisfied.

Abstract: A system, method and station used to establish a guest connection to a WiFi network. A first station establishes a first connection to a second station using a first communication mechanism, receives a data block from the second station, the data block including network information based upon a Basic Service Set (BSS) identification (BSSID) corresponding to a access point of a WiFi network to which the second station has connected, authentication information for connecting to the WiFi network and a time field indicating an amount of time the first station is allowed to access the WiFi network using the data block, establishes a second connection to the WiFi network using a second communication mechanism based upon the network information and authentication information of the data block and disconnects the second connection when the amount of time expires.

Abstract: A method, station and computer readable storage medium used to perform a roaming procedure. The method performed by the station including determining whether a roam is to be performed, the station being associated with a first access point (AP), receiving network related information for at least one second AP, determining a score value for each of the at least one second AP based upon the network related information, the score value being either a quantitative score calculated as a function of a respective received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value and a respective load value or a qualitative score calculated as a function of a preference value and the RSSI value, selecting one of the at least one second AP based upon the score values and roaming from the first AP to the selected one of the at least one second AP.

Abstract: A station and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for determining a first physical layer rate to perform data transmissions between the station and an access point of a WiFi network, the first physical layer rate being based on a primary rate and a plurality of fallback rates associated with the access point, the primary rate having a higher transmission speed than the plurality of fallback rates, determining a trigger based upon at least one current condition of the station and at least one corresponding prior condition existing at a time when the first physical layer rate is determined, selecting one of the plurality of fallback rates when the trigger is determined, performing data transmissions between the station and the access point using the one of the plurality of fallback rates and determining a second physical layer rate based on the one of the plurality of fallback rates.

Abstract: A method and wireless station used to perform WiFi scans. The wireless station determines a first cell identity of a first cell to which the wireless station is currently connected, determines a second cell identity of a second cell that is available, determines whether either of the first or second cell identities are related to a WiFi network based on relationships between cell identities and WiFi networks stored in the wireless station, performs a first type of scan for available WiFi networks when either of the first cell identity or the second cell identity is related to the WiFi network and performs a second type of scan for available WiFi networks when neither of the first cell identity or the second cell identity is related to the WiFi network, the first type of scan is performed more frequently or over more channels compared to the second type of scan.