Abstract: A central registration system provides channel maps of available spectrum channels to radio devices. The channel map indicates relative noise floor amounts among the available channels. For this purpose, an amount of predicted interference caused by high-power protected transmitters on each channel available to the requesting radio device for wireless communications is determined, where interference from primary channel and out-of-band emissions of the transmitters is considered.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device.

Abstract: A provisioning engine provisions spectrum into an allocable spectrum object. The provisioning engine includes an interface configured to receive inputs of available spectrum information and a plurality of provisioning parameters. The plurality of provisioning parameters include at least one signal strength limit, and may include at least first and second signal strength limits that may be boundary strength limit and an allocation strength limit. A controller is configured to execute a spectrum provisioning application that is stored in a memory and, by execution of the spectrum provisioning application, the provisioning engine is configured to generate an allocable spectrum object in accordance with the provisioning parameters. Spectrum encompassed within the spectrum object is allocable by an allocation engine to spectrum users in accordance with the provisioning parameters.

Abstract: A hybrid TDMA-CSMA MAC protocol is provided for allocating time slots within a frame having a structure in which transmission time is divided into a first number of actual TDMA time slots and a second number of “virtual” CSMA time slots. Each time a given node receives a Hello message, it can calculate variables based on an HSN field. A ratio of the first number to the second number can be dynamically adjusted depending upon the traffic conditions. When TDMA time slots within the frame are freed (e.g., no longer being used), slot position optimization techniques are provided for moving these freed TDMA time slots back into the CSMA portion of the frame and reallocating or moving other TDMA time slots into the portion of the frame that was previously occupied by the freed TDMA time slots to thereby maximize resource utilization.

Abstract: When a source node (SN) seeks to transmit a first communication stream (FCS) to a destination node (DN), a method is provided for allowing the SN to preempt a lower priority communication stream (LPCS). User priorities are supported during slot scheduling based on stream-identifiers (IDs) and stream priority values exchanged by each of the nodes. A scout request message (SRM), which includes a stream ID and a user priority value of the SN, is transmitted to a next-hop node along a route towards the DN. A node along the route determines if free time slots are available along the route to meet QoS requirements of the FCS, and if not, the node determines whether there is a LPCS in the neighborhood, and if so, the node frees the particular time slots currently being used by the LPCS, and allocates the particular time slots for the FCS.

Abstract: A wireless radio device includes a wireless transceiver configured to receive on a first channel set and transmit on a second channel set and a control circuit. The control circuit determines one or more available channels for transmission and selects one or more channels for the second channel set from the channels available for transmission. The control circuit also determines one or more available channels for reception, the one or more available channels for reception including the one or more available channels for transmission and one or more channels that are not available for transmission due to operation of an incumbent radio device in a location of the radio device; and selects one or more channels for the first channel set from the channels available for reception.

Abstract: A dynamic and distributive aggregation method in which a node determines the frame size of an aggregated frame based on or according to a transmission time of one or more of the received frames. This scheme to aggregate frames is based on the average packet size and average transmission time in the neighborhood. The method enables the aggregated packet size to dynamically change based on the neighborhood conditions. Usage of link rates and fair transmission time assignment enables the high data rate nodes to send more traffic but not to an extent of over-utilizing the channel thus achieving higher throughput efficiencies while maintaining fairness within a high data rate multi-hop wireless communication network.

Abstract: Systems and methods of efficiently providing network access for a portable electronic device while moderating power consumption are described. The electronic device may have a cellular radio and a network radio for communicating with an alternative network. In a default state, the electronic device may carry out communications using the cellular radio, and the network radio may be in an off state. Periodically, the electronic device may determine if the electronic device has moved. If so, a location of the electronic device may be determined and a check may be carried out to determine if the electronic device is in range of an available alternative network. If the electronic device is in range of an available alternative network, the network radio may be turned on and an attempt to connect to the alternative network may be made.

Abstract: A central registration system provides channel maps of available spectrum to radio devices based on feedback and spectrum allocation policies. Each available channel in the channel map is given a score that is indicative of the quality of the channel for use by the particular radio device for which the channel map was generated. The quality score for each available channel may be based on the radio device's susceptibility to different types of interference and/or radio device's tolerance of the different types of potential interference.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a number of spatial channels to use to transmit a data packet from a source node to a destination node. This determination can be made based on a Probability of Channel non-Correlation (PCC) function that is generated and updated by the source node based on feedback from the destination node. The PCC function indicates a probability of whether a plurality of spatial channels are non-correlated.

Abstract: Network access for a secure network is transparently provided to a wireless device using a social networking type of framework. An operator of a secure wireless network may register the network and access credentials for the network with a network access management system. The operator also may configure network access settings, such as designating a sharing level, that permits wireless devices meeting access criteria for the sharing level to use the network. Electronic devices belonging to social media contacts, such as family members and friends, may be associated with the registered network. When the associated devices or other qualifying devices are within communication range of the network, a client function in the device may coordinate with the network access management system to provide network access to the devices. The coordination may take place through a network different than the secure network, such as a cellular network to which the electronic device has subscription access.

Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and using a connectivity option that has lower power consumption in the electronic device than another, typically default, connectivity option. The mobile device may scan for connectivity options and communicate those options to a network access management system. The management system may, in turn, identify which option may reduce power consumption by the electronic device and communicate that option to the mobile device. It is contemplated that the mobile device may not have credentials for using the option that reduces power consumption by the electronic device. Therefore, access credentials may be supplied by the management system to enable the electronic device to use the option.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing network access information from one or more servers to a wireless device. The wireless device acquires information from the servers about available networks at a current location of the wireless device. The network information is based on a plurality of device parameters, network parameters and regulatory requirements that govern the operation of the wireless device. In addition, the wireless device may assess the acquired information for suitability for communications to be carried out by the wireless device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dynamically identifying locations of a plurality of mobile nodes in a time division multiple access (TDMA) based ad hoc communication network, wherein one or more mobile nodes are being moved in and out of a predefined region. The method comprises allocating a hello slot in a dedicated channel of the TDMA based ad hoc communication network to each of the mobile nodes and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through hello slot allocation map, receiving location information from each of the mobile nodes during their hello slot and determining mobile nodes that are inside the predefined region based on the received location information, allocating a data slot to each determined mobile nodes inside the predefined region and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through data slot allocation map, and receiving updated location information from each determined mobile nodes during their data slot.

Abstract: In a network comprising a source, a destination, and intermediate nodes along a route between the source and the destination, techniques are provided for allocating one or more time slots to transmit a particular data stream along the route based on the QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. In one implementation, a Scout Request message (SRM) is sent from the source to the destination to allocate time slots along the route to transmit a particular data stream to the destination. The SRM can include QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. Each intermediate node along the route can allocate one or more time slots to transmit the particular data stream based on the QoS requirements needed to transmit the particular data stream along the route.

Abstract: A hybrid TDMA-CSMA MAC protocol is provided for allocating time slots within a frame having a structure in which transmission time is divided into a first number of actual TDMA time slots and a second number of “virtual” CSMA time slots. Each of the nodes in a multi-hop network can transmit a Highest Slot Number (HSN) field. Each time one of the Hello messages is received from a neighbor node, a given node can calculate variables based on the HSN field. The given node can use these variables to calculate a ratio of the first number to the second number. This ratio can be dynamically adjusted depending upon the traffic conditions observed by nodes within the multi-hop ad hoc network at any particular time to thereby change the relative percentages of the frame which are allocated for a TDMA portion and a CSMA portion of the frame.

Abstract: In a network comprising a source, a destination, and intermediate nodes along a route between the source and the destination, techniques are provided for allocating one or more time slots to transmit a particular data stream along the route based on the QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. In one implementation, a Scout Request message (SRM) is sent from the source to the destination to allocate time slots along the route to transmit a particular data stream to the destination. The SRM can include QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. Each intermediate node along the route can allocate one or more time slots to transmit the particular data stream based on the QoS requirements needed to transmit the particular data stream along the route.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a number of spatial channels to use to transmit a data packet from a source node to a destination node. This determination can be made based on a Probability of Channel non-Correlation (PCC) function that is generated and updated by the source node based on feedback from the destination node. The PCC function indicates a probability of whether a plurality of spatial channels are non-correlated.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a link metric for a communication link along a path between a source node to a destination node is provided. A node can generate a link metric (LM) for the communication link between the particular node and next-hop node towards the destination node in the path based on a plurality of variables. The node can determine the LM for the communication link based on a plurality of variables including: bandwidth on the communication link, a number of spatial streams used to transmit over the communication link, and a guard interval used used to transmit over the communication link.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving efficiency and reliability of broadcast transmission in a multi-hop wireless mesh communication network. In some implementations, systems and methods are provided for a leaf mesh node to acknowledge reception of a broadcast packet broadcast by an Intelligent Access Point (IAP), and for allowing the IAP to determine whether to re-communicate the broadcast packet that it had previously re-transmitted when no acknowledgment is received from a leaf mesh node.