Abstract: Methods and apparatus for location-based control of parameters such as radio frequency (RF) transmission characteristics of a wireless device. In one embodiment, a determination of a maximum allowable level for a given characteristic associated with the location of the wireless device is made, and the transmission characteristic of the wireless device is adjusted based at least in part on this maximum allowable level. The location may correspond to a regulatory domain with specific requirements for wireless transmitters. A database is referenced to retrieve these requirements. The maximum allowable levels are derived from the requirements. Thus, exemplary wireless devices are capable of universal regulatory compliance.

Abstract: A method and system are described for determining parameters of an access point (AP). In the described embodiments, during a first time period, a portable electronic device (PED) scans for APs on a wireless local area network (WLAN) channel. Then, when an AP is detected on the WLAN channel, the PED determines if the AP includes a general advertisement service (GAS) protocol to make available information related to services provided by the AP. If the AP includes the GAS protocol, then the PED transmits a GAS request frame to the AP. If a response to the GAS request frame is not received from the AP within the first time period, then the PED extends the dwell time to wait for the response for a second time period, wherein a duration of the second time period is determined based on a total allowable time to scan for APs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for prioritizing network selection for overlapping networks. Overlapping networks include multiple networks with, for instance, different bandwidth limitations. For example, a Wi-Fi Access Point (AP) can broadcast two (2) overlapping networks in the same location: (i) a public network, and (ii) a private network. In one exemplary embodiment, a Wi-Fi client device performs fast scans to quickly locate one or more preferred networks (e.g., the last connected to public network). If the located preferred network is also identified as an overlapping network (e.g., based on location information, etc.), then the client device performs a comprehensive scan to identify all available networks, and applies a prioritization scheme to determine the highest priority network available (e.g., a private network).

Abstract: In response to determining that a Bluetooth inquiry phase or a Bluetooth paging phase is beginning, a power save (PS) mode signal is sent from a first device to a second device via a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication link, wherein the PS mode signal indicates that the first device is in a WLAN PS mode. A PS poll signal is sent from the first device to the second device via the WLAN communication link in a gap between Bluetooth inquiry phase message transmissions during the Bluetooth inquiry phase or between Bluetooth paging phase message transmissions during the Bluetooth paging phase.

Abstract: An electronic device connects to a network associated with a service provider via a router at a home location. During a time interval, the electronic device provides information specifying a network address of the router to an authentication computer when the electronic device is connected to a network. The authentication computer uses the received information to determine a connection pattern of the electronic device. Moreover, the authentication computer identifies that the electronic device is at the home location based on the connection pattern. Then, the authentication computer provides, to an accounting computer associated with the service provider, a request to allow the electronic device to access a wireless network associated with the service provider at a remote location (which is other than the home location).

Abstract: A system-on-chip including a host interface module configured to interface the system-on-chip to a host processor of a wireless device and to communicate with the host processor of the wireless device via a bus. The bus uses an application programming interface of the system-on-chip. The host processor uses the application programming interface to configure a power save mode of the system-on-chip. A power management module operated the system-on-chip in the power save mode without performing a handshake with the host processor via the bus in response to the host processor stopping communication with the system-on-chip. The handshake includes (i) sending a request to enter the power save mode to the host processor via the bus and (ii) receiving an acknowledgement of the request from the host processor via the bus.

Abstract: Extending cellular telecommunication service from a first UE to another device. The first UE may register for cellular telecommunication service with a cellular network using a first cellular service account, using a cellular communication link via a cellular radio. A second device may be discovered and a communication link may be established between the first UE and the second device. The second device may be registered to use cellular telecommunication capability provided by the first UE. Communications between the second device and the cellular network may be conveyed via the communication link between the first UE and the second device and the cellular communication link. Conveying communications between the second device and the cellular network may provide use of the first cellular service account for cellular telecommunication service to the second device.

Abstract: A first device including a timing module and a control module. The timing module is configured to calculate a first delay period between a first time a data frame is transmitted to a second device and a second time an acknowledgement frame is received from the second device. The timing module is further configured to calculate a second delay period between a third time the data frame is transmitted to the second device and a fourth time the acknowledgement frame is received from the second device. The control module is configured to calculate a total delay period corresponding to a sum of the first delay period and the second delay period and determine a distance between the first device and the second device based on the total delay and a number of times for the data frame to be transmitted to the second device.

Abstract: A mobile wireless device adapts roaming parameters used to determine searching for and switching among access points. The roaming parameters are adjusted based on a wireless network characterization for access points that includes a detected wireless network type. In an embodiment, the wireless network type is characterized by a service set identifier and a number of unique basic service set identifiers associated with the service set identifier per radio frequency band. Roaming parameters include a scan threshold, a roam threshold and a time interval between successive scans.

Abstract: A protocol governing the operation of an ad-hoc WLAN enables each device in the WLAN to be configured as a registrar and/or an enrollee. Accordingly, each device is configurable to support both the registrar as well as enrollee modes of operations. In response to a time-driven user action, the device may be configured to enter into a registrar mode or an enrollee mode. While in the registrar mode, the device enters into an aggressive beaconing phase by setting its beacon contention window to a relatively very small value. The aggressive beaconing increases the probability of the discovery of the registrar by the enrollees. Optionally the device may prompt the user to select between a registrar and an enrollee mode of operation by displaying the option on an LCD panel.

Abstract: This document describes multicast communication between wireless devices. A scheduling frame may be wirelessly transmitted by a wireless device. The scheduling frame may include a multicast address indicating a group of intended receiving devices for a payload frame. The scheduling frame may further include scheduling information indicating an order for the group of intended receiving devices to transmit acknowledgement information for the payload frame. A payload frame may also be wirelessly transmitted by the wireless device. The payload frame may include payload information intended for the group of intended receiving devices. Additionally, acknowledgement frames may be wirelessly received by the wireless device from at least a subset of the group of intended receiving devices. The acknowledgement frames may be received according to the order indicated in the scheduling information.

Abstract: Respective distances between a communication device and a plurality of wireless local area network (WLAN) access points are determined. One of the plurality of WLAN access points with which the communication device is to associate is selected based on the determined distances. A background scanning process is initiated based on determined distances. The background scanning process includes at least selecting one of the plurality of WLAN access points with which the communication device is to associate based on the determined respective distances by evaluating the plurality of WLAN access points in an order based on the determined respective distances. If it is determined that a WLAN access point is acceptable, evaluation of the plurality of WLAN access points is stopped before all of the plurality of WLAN access points have been evaluated.

Abstract: In order to facilitate reduced power consumption of an electronic device (such as a smartphone) when communicating with another electronic device (such as an access point) in a wireless network, the electronic device may change a wake policy based on the applications executing on the electronic device. In particular, the electronic device may monitor a subset of the applications currently executed by a processor in the electronic device, where the subset can include zero or more of the applications. Based on the subset, the wake policy of an interface circuit in the electronic device may be changed. This wake policy may specify a frequency of wake ups to receive information from the other electronic device and/or monitoring of unicast or multicast bits in a Traffic Indication Map element. In this way, the time that the electronic device is in the active mode can be reduced, thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: An electronic device, e.g., a mobile device, having access to a wireless network roams from one access point (AP) to another using access point detection based on location and learning. A learning scheme may modify a list of nearby access points determined based on location to identify neighboring access points where roaming is possible. The identified neighboring access points where roaming is possible may be ordered based on roaming history, such as the frequency of the roams to a particular AP. The roaming history may be maintained on a per client basis or aggregated across all clients using an AP.

Abstract: Extending cellular telecommunication service from a first UE to another device. The first UE may register for cellular telecommunication service with a cellular network using a first cellular service account, using a cellular communication link via a cellular radio. A second device may be discovered and a communication link may be established between the first UE and the second device. The second device may be registered to use cellular telecommunication capability provided by the first UE. Communications between the second device and the cellular network may be conveyed via the communication link between the first UE and the second device and the cellular communication link. Conveying communications between the second device and the cellular network may provide use of the first cellular service account for cellular telecommunication service to the second device.

Abstract: A clock generator generates a first clock. A receiver transitions, based on the first clock, from a power save mode to an active mode to receive a DTIM beacon from an access point. The DTIM beacon is transmitted at a DTIM beacon interval based on a second clock of the access point. A beacon sensing module determines a number of times the DTIM beacon is missed by the receiver during a predetermined time period subsequent to the receiver transitioning from the power save mode to the active mode. A transmit module transmits a number of requests to the access point during a given DTIM beacon interval. The number of requests is based on the number of times the DTIM beacon is missed. A synchronization module receives information about the second clock from the access point and synchronizes the first clock to the second clock based on the information.

Abstract: A network device including a transceiver and a control module. The transceiver is configured to detect beacons or probe responses transmitted between stations in a network, wherein each of the stations is separate from other ones of the stations, and a first one of the stations includes the network device. The control module is configured to (i) determine a number of active conversations in the network based on the beacons or probe responses, (ii) adjust a length of a window based on the number of active conversations, and (iii) transition between power modes based on the length of the window. During the window, the control module is configured to transmit a frame via the transceiver, and wherein the frame indicates the network device has a packet to transmit to a second one of the stations.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable power-save methods for wireless networks. Embodiments of the present invention are compliant with the IEEE 802.11 protocol. Further, embodiments of the present invention are readily inter-operable with other third party implementations.

Abstract: A method automatically connects a device to a WiFi network. The method includes determining WiFi networks that are available for a connection thereto. The method includes categorizing each of the WiFi networks as a private WiFi network or a public WiFi network in which the private WiFi network utilizes a first association process while the public WiFi network utilizes a second association process. The method includes executing a first automatic connection process using the first association process until a successful connection is established to one of the private WiFi networks based upon a first prioritized list. The method includes executing a second automatic connection process until a successful connection is established to one of the public WiFi networks based upon a second prioritized list when the first automatic connection process to the private wireless networks is unsuccessful.

Abstract: A system and method synchronizes network data for a device registered to a user. The network data includes a list of a plurality of known wireless networks and authentication data associated with each of the known wireless networks. The method includes establishing a connection to a server of a synchronization network. The method includes transmitting identification data to the server. The identification data indicates the network data corresponding to the user to which the device is registered. The method includes receiving the list of known wireless networks from the server via the synchronization network. The method includes receiving a secure file including the authentication data from the server via the synchronization network.