Abstract: A WiFi communications mechanism in which simultaneous transmission is negotiated and beamforming communications performed towards at least one station (STA), while nulling is performed towards one or more other access points (APs) to reduce interference. Omni-directional transmissions are utilized in a manner to overcome preamble interferences, which is used in combination with synchronizing symbol intervals to eliminate interference from symbol transitions. The enhanced simultaneous transmission protocol allows two APs to transmit simultaneously without interfering with one another.

Abstract: Reduced signaling overhead is provided in an apparatus and method for communications within a mesh network. The communications involve using two different beacon signals. A peer beacon contains time synchronization and resource management information to maintain existing links among one or more neighboring peer stations, while a separate network discovery beacon contains mesh network profile information that identifies the mesh network to aid network discovery for wireless communication stations wanting to join the mesh network. Embodiments describe coordination between peer stations to determine which stations are to send the network discovery beacons, so that at any given period of time not all stations need to be transmitting the discovery beacons.

Abstract: Reception of a frame is appropriately stopped. A communication system is a communication system that includes first and second information processing devices. The first information processing device performs control such that a signal (which is a signal having backward compatibility) serving as an index by which the second information processing device receiving a frame stops the reception of the frame is transmitted to the second information processing device. The second information processing device performs control such that the reception of the frame is stopped based on the signal (which is a signal having backward compatibility) serving as an index by which reception of the frame is stopped when the frame transmitted from the first information processing device is received.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus/system/method utilizing directional transmission over a mmW band performing transmission of signals on a sub-6 GHz band that aids scanning for mmW mesh network discovery. A new node sends an assistance request on the sub-6 GHz band. The network node responds to the assistance request by sending an assistance response on the sub-6 GHz band. Upon exchanging the discovery assistance request and response with the network node on the sub-6 GHz band, the new node switches to the mmW band to discover neighbor(s). The network node upon exchanging the discovery assistance request and response on the sub-6 GHz band switches to mmW band to discover new nodes. Implementations can provide assistance directly or in response to cooperation between network stations.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus/system/method utilizing directional data transmission over a communication (e.g., mmW) band and propagating discovery assistance request and responses to neighboring stations (e.g., in its BSS or in the surrounding area) toward increasing network efficiency. If these stations support discovery assistance they send a discovery assistance response to the station from which the request was propagated. The STA that sent the propagated discovery assistance request processes all the responses and sends a discovery assistance response, containing information about the discovery assistance campaign, to the STA that requested the discovery assistance request.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods for wireless local area network (WLAN) communication which support real-time application (RTA) packets. The access point (AP) schedules multiple-user (MU) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions for uplink (UL) or downlink (DL) for RTA packets by allocating resources to packet transmissions before RTA packet arrival. The AP contends for channel access before the expected time of arrival of the RTA packet in the DL or UL direction. The operations reduce RTA packet latency on the WLAN.

Abstract: Reduced signaling overhead is provided in an apparatus and method for communications within a mesh network. The communications involve using two different beacon signals. A peer beacon contains time synchronization and resource management information to maintain existing links among one or more neighboring peer stations, while a separate network discovery beacon contains mesh network profile information that identifies the mesh network to aid network discovery for wireless communication stations wanting to join the mesh network. Embodiments describe coordination between peer stations to determine which stations are to send the network discovery beacons, so that at any given period of time not all stations need to be transmitting the discovery beacons.

Abstract: A communication system is a communication system that includes first and second information processing devices. The first information processing device performs control such that a signal (which is a signal having backward compatibility) serving as an index by which the second information processing device receiving a frame stops the reception of the frame is transmitted to the second information processing device. The second information processing device performs control such that the reception of the frame is stopped based on the signal (which is a signal having backward compatibility) serving as an index by which reception of the frame is stopped when the frame transmitted from the first information processing device is received.

Abstract: A wireless radio communication apparatus and method in which directional transmission, also known as beamforming, training is performed on transmissions between multiple wireless radio communication devices participating in a local network. A sector level sweep (SLS) process uses transmitter sector sweep (TXSS) training, which includes transmitting a sector sweep (SSW) followed by generating sector sweep (SSW) feedback to other nodes in the local network, with optimum transmit sector information being exchanged between nodes. Embodiments include a power save mode, a delayed SSW feedback mode, and an embedded polling and feedback mode.

Abstract: A wireless communication circuit configured for communicating over a wireless local area network (WLAN) in its reception area to communicate real-time application (RTA) packets as well as non-real time (non-RTA) packets. RTA packet retransmission is performed with lower latency in response to performing an immediate retransmission scheme that can bypass the need to contend for channel access, and/or without waiting for notifications back from a receiver before channel access. In other instances the RTA packets contend for retransmission access without a contention time window increase.

Abstract: Wireless mesh networking protocols are taught that provide neighbor node discovery in a network utilizing directional transmissions. The established mesh network is utilized to trigger stations in the mesh network to assist in neighbor discovery. The new node joining the network then does not need to wait for beacons from other mesh nodes in starting the process to join the mesh network. In this way the discovery of available nodes is accelerated. Numerous variations and scenarios of the apparatus and method are described.

Abstract: A wireless communication circuit for operating over a wireless local area network (WLAN) in which real time application (RTA) traffic and non-RTA traffic coexist and are distinguished from one another. RTA queues are created to enqueue RTA packets while non-RTA packets are pushed into non-RTA queues. Management frames containing RTA session parameters and RTA queue setting information are exchanged between stations. Channel time is allocated to RTA queues for transmitting packets, during which non-RTA queues are not allowed to access the channel. Stations determine which RTA queues to enqueue an RTA packet into based on RTA queue classification information of its RTA session.

Abstract: To keep safety of a network and to facilitate connection to the network. An information processing apparatus comprises a communication unit and a control unit. The communication unit is directed for receiving a connection authentication request from a new device other than a plurality of devices configuring a network in which the plurality of devices make wireless communication on a one-to-one basis to be mutually connected. Further, the control unit is directed for transferring the connection authentication request to the plurality of devices in a case of receiving the connection authentication request, and for performing control to permit the new device to connect to the network on the basis of the responses to the connection authentication request from the plurality of devices.

Abstract: A WiFi communications mechanism in which simultaneous transmission is negotiated and beamforming communications performed towards at least one station (STA), while nulling is performed towards one or more other access points (APs) to reduce interference. Omni-directional transmissions are utilized in a manner to overcome preamble interferences, which is used in combination with synchronizing symbol intervals to eliminate interference from symbol transitions. The enhanced simultaneous transmission protocol allows two APs to transmit simultaneously without interfering with one another.

Abstract: Wireless communication is performed in a wireless network by dividing up a data transmission interval (DTI) within the communication frame into a plurality of time slots based on determining the number of best sector directions from the AP to each STA in the wireless network. Each STA transmits only during this time slot, while the AP uses receiver beamforming and receives only from a single beamforming direction for each of these time slots. A time slot may be used by more than one STA if they are in the same best antenna sector direction from the AP, wherein they contend for access within this time slot.

Abstract: Performing a pre-packet arrival channel contention procedure in stations of a WLAN to enhance support for real-time applications (RTAs) which are sensitive to communication delays. The stations track active real-time application sessions and identify running RTA sessions with respect to communication times, rates and packet sizes. A station attempts to gain access to the communication channel using a pre-packet arrival channel contention process before a packet arrives from the application layer of an RTA, based on information received from the RTA as to what time the packet will arrive to a MAC queue in a MAC layer of the wireless station. Thus, the RTA packets incur less delay while the process can also reduce communications overhead.

Abstract: There is provided a wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method, which can perform information transfer, while suppressing interference to other terminal stations, and preventing a reduction of a transmission opportunity of other terminal stations. By causing the transmission power to be reduced, at the time when a traffic amount to be transmitted and received by itself increases, a terminal station which performs wireless access based on CSMA on a mesh network can suppress interference to other surrounding terminal stations, and can prevent a reduction of a transmission opportunity of other terminal stations. By measuring the number of and sizes of packets to be transmitted and received, it is possible for a terminal station to comprehend the traffic amount to be transmitted and received by itself, and perform a control of the transmission power by this.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating via a routing protocol in a wireless network having directional transmission capabilities. Reliable peer stations are identified using Beamforming (BF) training feedback metrics. Routing discovery messages are transmitted by unicast to reliable peer stations, with neighborhood discovery lists disseminated among peer stations in a unicast mode. From the above information, routing tables are constructed with best routing between a source and a destination station, wherein messages can be routed using said routing table from a source peer station, through intermediate peer stations, to a destination peer station. In addition, other embodiments are described, including a simplified two-hop routing apparatus and method.

Abstract: Wireless directional communication is performed in the millimeter wave (mmW) band by nodes in a wireless mesh network. Beacon frames are configured to incorporate an activity indicator that signals active and inactive communication directions on the mmW, with a flag for each respective direction of communication (transmit or receive). The activity indicator is utilized to enhance route and beam selection so as to obtain connections subject to less interference, and/or that create less interference to other stations. The activity indicator is also, or alternately, utilized for improving selections of a connection to an access point (AP) or station (STA) or mesh station (MSTA), toward reducing interference, or selecting which beam from a given AP, STA, or MSTA is to be utilized. Distributed interference and resource coordination can be initiated, and/or rerouting determined, based on the activity indicator.

Abstract: To suitably suppress distribution delay at the time of multi-hop communication or broadcast transfer while including a communication station in a power-saving state. First, STA-A immediately transmits broadcast data to STA-B which is running in an active mode, and subsequentially, executes transmission of a beacon at a TBTT when STA-C operates a receiver, and then transmits the broadcast data to the STA-C. Thus, the broadcast data can be distributed to the STA-B which is running in the active mode with the minimum delay, and on the other hand, the broadcast data is distributed to the STA-C which is running in a sleep mode in a sure manner while generating a delay quantity of only T0.