Abstract: Wireless networks and their method of implementation include a first network and one or more networks. The first network assigns designated time slots to each of the one or more networks during which at least one device of at least one of the networks may communicate with at least one other device of its respective network.

Abstract: Self-coexistence of first and second wireless communication networks (200) is improved by transmitting a coexistence beacon from a first station (210, 220) of the first wireless communication network (200) to a first station (210, 220) of the second wireless communication network (200. The coexistence beacon includes information about a traffic reservation of the first station (210, 220) of the first wireless communication network (200). The first station (210, 220) of the second wireless communication network (200) may then use this information in a variety of ways to reduce data collisions between the two networks (200). It can communicate this information to a base station (210) of the second wireless communication network (200). The base station (210) of the second wireless communication network (200) can then use this information to more efficiently allocate frequency channels and/or time slots for future traffic reservations of the first station (220) of the second wireless communication network (200).

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a television signal embedded in a received signal including the television signal and noise is disclosed. Either first-order or second order cyclostationary property of the signals may be used for their detection. When the first-order cyclostationary property is used, the following method is used, the method comprising the steps of upsampling the received signal by a factor of N, performing a synchronous averaging of a set of M segments of the upsampled received signal, performing an autocorrelation of the signal; and detecting the presence of peaks in the output of the autocorrelation function. When the second order cyclostationary property of the signal is used, the method comprising the steps of delaying the received signal by a fixed delay (symbol time), multiplying the received signal with the delayed version, looking for a tone (single frequency) in the output.

Abstract: A distributed coordination of a wireless network operating on different channels is provided by dispatching a device on each ‘home’ channel to regularly visit other ‘foreign’ channels to propagate and listen to broadcast information on these channels. The information in the broadcast packets transmitted on the home channel is relayed to the devices on the foreign channels by the dispatched device, as a ‘proxy device’ that operates on behalf of the other devices in the home channel. In a preferred embodiment, various aspects of this proxy process are optimized to reduce overhead and delays. Each channel is configured to distinguish home devices from foreign devices, to avoid contention between home and foreign devices. Acquired beacon slots on foreign channels are reserved to facilitate returning proxy devices. At the home channel, an anchor device alerts other devices of the proxy device's temporary absence and preserves the proxy device's beacon slot on the home channel.

Abstract: A system (300), apparatus (301), and method are provided for decentralized medium access control comprising an enhanced protocol for UWB MAC that includes a distributed reservation protocol (DRP) for distributed reservation of the medium (310). The invention also relates to any wireless system (300) that uses a MAC protocol comprising a distributed reservation protocol. The method comprises devices (301) announcing medium reservations in beacons (400) and devices (301) that receive such announcements respecting the reservations.

Abstract: A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to recover service in restricted channels.

Abstract: A device (400) scans and classifies each channel within a spectrum of channels (215-270) as being occupied or unoccupied (255), and, if occupied, whether it is occupied by a primary user (240), a secondary user (230), or an unknown user (260). As a secondary device (400), transmissions are avoided on channels occupied by primary users (490). The device selectively joins an existing network of secondary devices, or establishes a new network on an unoccupied channel (125), based on the quality of service (QoS) that the channel can provide and/or other factors. If the device is paired with a target device (115), the paired device advertises itself on a selected channel (345-360) for a period that is at least as long as the time required to scan all channels, to facilitate discovery in the event that the target device is also in a search mode. The advertising duration randomly alternates (345) among integer multiples of the scan duration.

Abstract: A detector module (100) is operable in a cognitive radio device and capable of determining channel occupancy. The detector module comprises a sensor (110) for sensing incumbent signals at a variable sensing threshold, wherein the sensor generates a first occupancy indication indicating whether the channel includes an incumbent signal having a sensing metric above the variable sensing threshold; a geo-location unit (120) for generating a second occupancy indication based on a location of the detector module; and a decision unit (130) for generating an occupancy decision based on both the first occupancy indication and the second occupancy indication.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for incorporating host-device communication in wireless IJSB (WUSB). A host (101) either uses a multicast Distributed Reservation Protocol (DRP) frame on behalf of connected devices (102) to reserve wireless channel resources, a unicast DRP frame or Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) with a Poll Frame. In the case of a unicast DRP frame the number of unicast frames sent for reservation depends on the number of connected devices (102).

Abstract: A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to transmit and receive spectrum management commands for wireless devices operating in restricted channels.

Abstract: A wireless system and method including a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to notify a wireless station of the presence or absence of an incumbent wireless are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for announcing to a wireless station in a wireless network that a Quality of Service (QoS) service schedule is pending for the wireless station. The apparatus of the invention comprises a hybrid coordinator that is capable of creating and sending to the wireless station an announcement of a pending Quality of Service (QoS) service schedule. The wireless station delays entering a power save mode of operation until the wireless station receives the QoS service schedule or until a selected timeout period expires.

Abstract: A detector module (100) is operable in a cognitive radio device and capable of determining channel occupancy. The detector module comprises a sensor (110) for sensing incumbent signals at a variable sensing threshold, wherein the sensor generates a first occupancy indication indicating whether the channel includes an incumbent signal having a sensing metric above the variable sensing threshold; a geo-location unit (120) for generating a second occupancy indication based on a location of the detector module; and a decision unit (130) for generating an occupancy decision based on both the first occupancy indication and the second occupancy indication.

Abstract: A distributed coordination of a wireless network operating on different channels is provided by dispatching a device on each ‘home’ channel to regularly visit other ‘foreign’ channels to propagate and listen to broadcast information on these channels. The information in the broadcast packets transmitted on the home channel is relayed to the devices on the foreign channels by the dispatched device, as a ‘proxy device’ that operates on behalf of the other devices in the home channel. In a preferred embodiment, various aspects of this proxy process are optimized to reduce overhead and delays. Each channel is configured to distinguish home devices from foreign devices, to avoid contention between home and foreign devices. Acquired beacon slots on foreign channels are reserved to facilitate returning proxy devices. At the home channel, an anchor device alerts other devices of the proxy device's temporary absence and preserves the proxy device's beacon slot on the home channel.

Abstract: A device (400) scans and classifies each channel within a spectrum of channels (215-270) as being occupied or unoccupied (255), and, if occupied, whether it is occupied by a primary user (240), a secondary user (230), or an unknown user (260). As a secondary device (400), transmissions are avoided on channels occupied by primary users (490). The device selectively joins an existing network of secondary devices, or establishes a new network on an unoccupied channel (125), based on the quality of service (QoS) that the channel can provide and/or other factors. If the device is paired with a target device (115), the paired device advertises itself on a selected channel (345-360) for a period that is at least as long as the time required to scan all channels, to facilitate discovery in the event that the target device is also in a search mode. The advertising duration randomly alternates (345) among integer multiples of the scan duration.

Abstract: A wireless system (100) and method (401-403) includes a medium access control (MAC) layer adapted to request and receive measurement reports from wireless devices (102) operating in restricted channels.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a television signal embedded in a received signal including the television signal and noise is disclosed. Either first-order or second order cyclostationary property of the signals may be used for their detection. When the first-order cyclostationary property is used, the following method is used, the method comprising the steps of upsampling the received signal by a factor of N, performing a synchronous averaging of a set of M segments of the upsampled received signal, performing an autocorrelation of the signal; and detecting the presence of peaks in the output of the autocorrelation function. When the second order cyclostationary property of the signal is used, the method comprising the steps of delaying the received signal by a fixed delay (symbol time), multiplying the received signal with the delayed version, looking for a tone (single frequency) in the output.

Abstract: A distributed MAC protocol that includes a super-frame having a slotted Beaconing Period and a data transfer period. The super-frame includes a plurality of medium access slots which are assigned to the slotted Beaconing Period. The Beaconing Period length may be fixed or variable. The Beaconing protocol defines initializing an ad hoc network by means of starting a Beaconing Period, joining an existing Beaconing Period of ad hoc network and resolving collisions during the Beaconing Period.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently utilizing frequency spectrum resources is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining at least one spectrum opportunity (510), wherein the opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration, determining a set of altered transmission characteristics (515, 517) to allow transmission of a desired signal in the identified frequency range, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in the frequency range, and transmitting said desired signal using the altered transmission characteristics when the transmission occurs during said time duration. In one aspect of the system, the step of determining at least one opportunity comprises the steps of receiving signals in known frequency ranges, and determining the characteristics of the received signals.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are provided for adaptive flow control of layered streaming video over wireless local area networks (WLANs). In one aspect prioritised and adaptive transmission mechanisms are provided based on buffer fullness and discarding visually less important packets so that future visually more important packets can reach the decoder in time. In another aspect, aggregated control is provided for all video applications as well as separate control for each video application.