Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure enables an access point (AP) to conveniently provision multiple wireless devices. In an embodiment, the AP may normally operate in a secure mode to disregard non-secure provisioning requests from wireless devices. However, upon receipt of a request to accept provisioning requests from multiple wireless devices, the AP permits multiple wireless devices to be provisioned via the AP, in response to corresponding provisioning requests received from the respective wireless devices. The request to accept may be generated upon pressing of a push button provided on the AP, which may be referred to as a group provisioning button since multiple wireless devices are provisioned in response to pressing of that button.

Abstract: A wireless station of a wireless network identifies required active durations based on outbound request packets. Each active duration is from around a first time instance at which a corresponding request packet is to be transmitted to a second time instance corresponding to receipt of the corresponding response packet. A receiver of the wireless station is placed in an active mode in the active durations. The wireless station transmits and receives packets in the active durations. The wireless station operates the receiver in power-down mode when the receiver is not required to be operated in the active mode.

Abstract: A wireless station in a WLAN generates a first set of data elements for sending to a final destination. The wireless station forms a first Internet Protocol (IP) packet with a header portion and a payload portion. The header portion specifies an IP address of a neighbor access point (AP) as the next hop destination. The payload portion of the IP packet includes an IP address of the final destination to indicate that the data elements are to be delivered to the final destination. The wireless station transmits the IP packet to the neighbor AP according to the IP address of the neighbor AP. Extended connectivity based on wireless paths between stations of a wireless local area network (WLAN) is thus provided.

Abstract: A method for wireless communication includes communicating with a first wireless device via a first wireless communication protocol selected from multiple wireless communication protocols. The method also includes communicating with a wireless network via a second wireless communication protocol selected from multiple wireless communication protocols. The communications via the first wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication protocol are filtered via a digital filter and/or an analog filter.

Abstract: A system includes a device and a wireless network. The device uses multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless network is coupled to the device by the multiple wireless communication protocols. The device simultaneously uses two of more of the multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication protocols and the wireless communication export protocols include WiFi, ZigBee and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A first wireless device of a wireless local network is operated in an un-associated data transfer mode at a layer-2 level. In the un-associated data transfer mode, communication between the first wireless device and a second wireless device in the wireless local network is allowed to take place without prior authentication and association between the two wireless devices. The first wireless device participates in formulation of routing information in routing nodes of a wireless mesh network while operating in the un-associated data transfer mode. If configured as an end device, the first wireless device thereafter exchanges data packets with another wireless device in the mesh. If configured as a router, the first wireless device routes packets to corresponding wireless devices in the mesh. Operation in the un-associated data transfer mode may result in reduction in power consumption of nodes in the mesh, as well as increased data throughput.

Abstract: A first wireless device and a second wireless device are each capable of communicating using multiple MAC protocols. The first wireless device sets a first receiver to a power savings mode, the first receiver designed to operate according to a first MAC protocol. The first wireless device then receives, from the second wireless device, an indication on a second receiver corresponding to a second MAC protocol that data is available to be transmitted to the first wireless device from the second wireless device. In response to receipt of the indication, the first wireless sets the first receiver to an active mode, and receives the data from the second wireless device using the first receiver operating in accordance with the first MAC protocol. The second receiver consumes less power than the first receiver. Reduction of power consumption in the first wireless device may be achieved.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an access point sends timing information related to updating of a group key. A wireless station communicates with the access point according to the timing information to receive an updated group key. The updated group key is thereafter used for processing of multicast packets. Due to the use of the timing information, the wireless station can operate in a power-down mode, and yet receive at least the required group keys. In one embodiment, the timing information specifies a future time instance at which the update group may be available. In an alternative embodiment, a version number is associated with each value of the group key and the version number of the currently operative group key (in the access point) is broadcast to the wireless stations.

Abstract: A system includes a remote control, a device and a wireless network. The device is coupled to the remote control by a set of wireless communication protocols. The wireless network is coupled to the device by a set of wireless communication export protocols. The wireless communication protocols and the wireless communication export protocols include 802.11 WiFi, WiFi, ZigBee and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A wireless station of a wireless network receives data indicating inactive time durations during a day. The wireless station places a receiver, used to receive data from the wireless network, in power savings mode during the inactive time durations. The wireless station receives data when operating in an active mode. Power consumption in the wireless station is reduced. In an embodiment, the receiver is implemented according to IEEE 802.11 standards.

Abstract: A wireless station of a wireless network identifies required active durations based on outbound request packets. Each active duration is from around a first time instance at which a corresponding request packet is to be transmitted to a second time instance corresponding to receipt of the corresponding response packet. A receiver of the wireless station is placed in an active mode in the active durations. The wireless station transmits and receives packets in the active durations. The wireless station operates the receiver in power-down mode when the receiver is not required to be operated in the active mode.

Abstract: A system contains a wireless station connected to an embedded device by a wired path, with the wireless station being part of a wireless network. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the wireless station places a receiver (communicating on the wireless network) in power savings mode upon occurrence of a first condition, and restores the receiver to active mode upon occurrence of a second condition. Such transitions between active and power savings modes are employed while receiving data units from a wireless network and providing the data units to the embedded device. In one embodiment, the first and second conditions correspond to a higher threshold and lower threshold for available data in the memory of the wireless station used for buffering not-yet-transferred data units. In alternative embodiments, the conditions are determined based on corresponding express indications by the embedded device.

Abstract: A wireless station of a wireless network receives, using a receiver, data units from another wireless device in the wireless network. The wireless station stores the data units in a memory contained in the wireless station. The wireless station determines if a current storage level in the memory is greater than a first threshold, and if so, sets the receiver in power savings mode. The wireless station then consumes data units stored in the local memory until the current storage level is lower than a second threshold. The wireless station maintains the receiver in the power savings mode until the current storage level falls below the second threshold. The receiver is then placed in active mode so that the station can receive additional data units for storing in the memory. Power consumption in the wireless station is thereby reduced.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure enables convenient provisioning of multiple wireless devices. In an embodiment, a provisioning agent (e.g., a smart phone) identifies wireless devices requiring provisioning to operate as wireless stations and communicates with each wireless device to provide provisioning parameters for joining a first basic service set (BSS). However, during such communication, the provisioning agent operates as a wireless station and each wireless device operates as an access point (AP) outside of the first BSS. Each wireless device is enabled to be configured according to the received provisioning parameters to thereafter operate as a corresponding wireless station of the first BSS.

Abstract: A first wireless device and a second wireless device are each capable of communicating using multiple MAC protocols. The first wireless device sets a first receiver to a power savings mode, the first receiver designed to operate according to a first MAC protocol. The first wireless device then receives, from the second wireless device, an indication on a second receiver corresponding to a second MAC protocol that data is available to be transmitted to the first wireless device from the second wireless device. In response to receipt of the indication, the first wireless sets the first receiver to an active mode, and receives the data from the second wireless device using the first receiver operating in accordance with the first MAC protocol. The second receiver consumes less power than the first receiver. Reduction of power consumption in the first wireless device may be achieved.

Abstract: A wireless node of a wireless network maintains link information for a set of layer-2 addresses, each of the layer-2 addresses corresponding to a medium access control (MAC) address of a corresponding device that transmits packets on the wireless network. The link information indicates whether the corresponding device is in an uplink direction or a downlink direction with respect to the wireless node. The wireless node receives a layer-2 packet in one of the uplink direction and downlink directions, the layer-2 packet containing a layer-2 address specifying a destination system, with no layer-2 address in the layer-2 packet indicating that the packet is destined to the wireless node. The wireless node forwards the layer-2 packet to a next wireless device in one of the uplink direction and downlink direction.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are related to provisioning of wireless devices. In an embodiment, a wireless device (sought to be provisioned) receives values for provisioning parameters from an external user device, and attempts to join a wireless local network according to the received values for the provisioning parameters. The wireless device sends a response to the external user device indicating whether or not the joining was successful. The external user device may display the result indicating whether or not provisioning was successful. The wireless device may operate in a time division multiplexed manner as an access point (for securing the credentials) and as a station (once provisioning is complete).

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure enables an access point (AP) to conveniently provision multiple wireless devices. In an embodiment, the AP may normally operate in a secure mode to disregard non-secure provisioning requests from wireless devices. However, upon receipt of a request to accept provisioning requests from multiple wireless devices, the AP permits multiple wireless devices to be provisioned via the AP, in response to corresponding provisioning requests received from the respective wireless devices. The request to accept may be generated upon pressing of a push button provided on the AP, which may be referred to as a group provisioning button since multiple wireless devices are provisioned in response to pressing of that button.

Abstract: A first wireless device of a wireless local network is operated in an un-associated data transfer mode at a layer-2 level. In the un-associated data transfer mode, communication between the first wireless device and a second wireless device in the wireless local network is allowed to take place without prior authentication and association between the two wireless devices. The first wireless device participates in formulation of routing information in routing nodes of a wireless mesh network while operating in the un-associated data transfer mode. If configured as an end device, the first wireless device thereafter exchanges data packets with another wireless device in the mesh. If configured as a router, the first wireless device routes packets to corresponding wireless devices in the mesh. Operation in the un-associated data transfer mode may result in reduction in power consumption of nodes in the mesh, as well as increased data throughput.

Abstract: An access point (AP) in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure provides a convenient approach to provision wireless devices. In an embodiment, the AP initiates push button mode of WPS procedures with a wireless device, in response to receiving of a provisioning request from the wireless device, without requiring a WPS push button signal locally. The AP thereafter operates to complete provisioning of the wireless device. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device may also participate in push button mode of WPS, without requiring a push button signal locally. In an embodiment, a wireless device automatically transmits a request for provisioning. An AP within the transmission range, responds back with a command to initiate push button mode of WPS procedures. The wireless device communicates with the AP to complete provisioning.