Abstract: A wireless network device including, in the wireless network device, a Bluetooth device and a wireless local area network device. The Bluetooth device is configured to establish a network of Bluetooth client stations and output a synchronization signal prior to a start of Bluetooth data transmission between the Bluetooth device and the Bluetooth client stations. The synchronization signal indicates the start of the Bluetooth data transmission. The wireless local area network device is configured to establish a network of wireless local area network client stations, receive the synchronization signal from the Bluetooth device, and transmit, a predetermined time subsequent to receiving the synchronization signal, a beacon to the wireless local area network client stations. The beacon instructs the wireless local area network client stations when to begin wireless local area network data transmission.

Abstract: A system including a diversity module and an antenna selection module. The diversity module is configured to measure i) a first signal-to-noise ratio and a first error rate for a first signal received via a first antenna, and ii) a second signal-to-noise ratio and a second error rate for a second signal received via a second antenna. The antenna selection is module configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna by comparing i) the first signal-to-noise ratio to the second signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) the first error rate to the second error rate.

Abstract: An access point configured to be implemented in a wireless network, the access point including a beacon module and a transmit module. The access point is configured to communicate with one or more client stations in the wireless network. The beacon module is configured to generate (i) a first beacon and (ii) a second beacon, wherein the first beacon is shorter in duration than the second beacon. The transmit module is configured to periodically transmit, to the one or more client stations in the wireless network, each of the first beacon and the second beacon. Each time the first beacon and the second beacon are transmitted by the transmit module, the first beacon is transmitted prior to the second beacon.

Abstract: A method of mobile gaming is disclosed. The method includes configuring a mobile device to include a plurality of gaming parameters representative of a game to be played, communicating a gaming request via a wireless network, wherein the gaming request includes a game identifier. The method further includes detecting a gaming request response, wherein the gaming request response is associated with the game identifier, exchanging at least one of the plurality of gaming parameters, and updating at least one of the plurality of gaming parameters on the mobile device to reflect the exchanged at least one of the plurality of gaming parameters.

Abstract: A handheld device including a memory, a wireless interface, and a non-wireless interface. The memory is configured to store authentication information in the handheld device. The authentication information identifies a user of the handheld device. The wireless interface is configured to interface the handheld device to a wireless network, and to permit the user of the handheld device to communicate with the wireless network based on the authentication information stored in the memory of the handheld device. The non-wireless interface is configured to interface the handheld device to a remote device including an interface compatible with the non-wireless interface of the handheld device, and to permit the remote device to communicate with the wireless network via the wireless interface of the handheld device.

Abstract: A quality-of-service enhanced access point (QAP) is provided. The QAP includes a signaling module that receives call signaling information and transmits a timing offset for a quality-of-service enhanced station (QSTA). A call offset scheduler module determines the timing offset based on the call signaling information. A buffer buffers data addressed to the QSTA, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) driver module automatically transmits at least a portion of the buffered data to the QSTA based on the timing offset.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for decreasing the amount of power consumed by a wireless signal receiver in a wireless device. Received data is communicated from the receiver to a play-out buffer in communication with a media play-out device. The level of data in the play-out buffer increases when received data is written to the buffer, and the level of data decreases when data is read from the buffer. If the level of data is above a first watermark level, the receiver is transitioned to a sleep mode while data is read from the buffer. When the level of data in the buffer falls below a second watermark level, the receiver is transitioned back to an active mode to receive data. The device communicates status messages (whether the receiver is asleep or active) to the transmitting device so that the transmitting device stops transmitting data when the receiver is in sleep mode, and transmits data when the receiver is in the active mode.

Abstract: A console is provided and includes a switch and a network device. The network device includes a switch port, first network ports, and a controller. The switch is separate from the network device. Each of the first network ports receives a frame of data, and inserts source information into the frame of data. The source information in each frame of data identifies the first network port that received the frame of data. The controller transfers each frame of data, including the source information, to the switch via the switch port. The switch: adds to each frame of data, destination information identifying one or more of the first network ports; and transfers each frame of data, including the source and destination information, to the switch port. The controller transfers each frame of data, received from the switch port, to the first network ports.

Abstract: A handheld device including a memory, a wireless interface, and a non-wireless interface. The memory is configured to store authentication information in the handheld device. The authentication information identifies a user of the handheld device. The wireless interface is configured to interface the handheld device to a wireless network, and to permit the user of the handheld device to communicate with the wireless network based on the authentication information stored in the memory of the handheld device. The non-wireless interface is configured to interface the handheld device to a remote device including an interface compatible with the non-wireless interface of the handheld device, and to permit the remote device to communicate with the wireless network via the wireless interface of the handheld device.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling transmit power amplification in a wireless transmitting device. A processor receives data to determine whether a communication channel from a transmitting device to a receiving device is strong enough to support a target data transmit rate of the devices with a power amplifier either on or off. The processor controls a switching device between a data transmitter circuit and the transmitter's antenna based on the quality of the communication channel. In a first state, the switching device connects the data transmitter circuit to the power amplifier to increase the strength of the signal communicated to the antenna. In a second state, the switching device bypasses the power amplifier. The power amplifier is turned off when the switch is in the second state, thereby decreasing the power consumed by the transmitting device as it transmits data at the target data transmit rate.

Abstract: A handheld device including a communication module, a memory, and a search engine. The communication module is configured to, in response to the handheld device being located in a first geographic region, (i) establish communication with a first service provider located in the first geographic region, and (ii) order a service from the first service provider. The memory is configured to store data relating to the order. The search engine is configured to, in response to the handheld device being located in a second geographic region, based on the data relating to the order stored in the memory, search for a second service provider in the second geographic region offering a particular service, where the particular service offered by the second service provide is similar to the service provided by the first service provider.

Abstract: A system including a diversity module and an antenna selection module. The diversity module is configured to measure (i) a first signal-to-noise ratio and a first error rate associated with a first antenna, and (ii) a second signal-to-noise ratio and a second error rate associated with a second antenna. The antenna selection module is configured to select the first antenna or the second antenna by comparing (i) the first signal-to-noise ratio to the second signal-to-noise ratio, and (ii) the first error rate to the second error rate.

Abstract: A wireless network device comprises a first wireless communication device that includes a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver that generates a synchronization pulse and that transmits and receives data according to a first period. A second wireless communication device receives a signal indicative of the synchronization pulse and includes a second RF transceiver that transmits and receives data according to a second period. The second period is not equal to the first period and the second wireless communication device adjusts the second period according to the first period and the synchronization pulse.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling transmit power amplification in a wireless transmitting device. A processor receives data to determine whether a communication channel from a transmitting device to a receiving device is strong enough to support a target data transmit rate of the devices with a power amplifier either on or off. The processor controls a switching device between a data transmitter circuit and the transmitter's antenna based on the quality of the communication channel. In a first state, the switching device connects the data transmitter circuit to the power amplifier to increase the strength of the signal communicated to the antenna. In a second state, the switching device bypasses the power amplifier. The power amplifier is turned off when the switch is in the second state, thereby decreasing the power consumed by the transmitting device as it transmits data at the target data transmit rate.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for decreasing the amount of power consumed by a wireless signal receiver in a wireless device. Received data is communicated from the receiver to a play-out buffer in communication with a media play-out device. The level of data in the play-out buffer increases when received data is written to the buffer, and the level of data decreases when data is read from the buffer. If the level of data is above a first watermark level, the receiver is transitioned to a sleep mode while data is read from the buffer. When the level of data in the buffer falls below a second watermark level, the receiver is transitioned back to an active mode to receive data. The device communicates status messages (whether the receiver is asleep or active) to the transmitting device so that the transmitting device stops transmitting data when the receiver is in sleep mode, and transmits data when the receiver is in the active mode.

Abstract: A system, comprising: a first receiver of a baseband processor (BBP) configured to determine whether a signal includes a frame; a second receiver of a media access controller (MAC) configured to identify a destination address in the frame; a processor configured to selectively process the frame; and a power management module configured to transition each of the first receiver of the BBP, the second receiver of the MAC, and the processor to the active mode based on predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling transmit power amplification in a wireless transmitting device. A processor receives data to determine whether a communication channel from a transmitting device to a receiving device is strong enough to support a target data transmit rate of the devices with a power amplifier either on or off. The processor controls a switching device between a data transmitter circuit and the transmitter's antenna based on the quality of the communication channel. In a first state, the switching device connects the data transmitter circuit to the power amplifier to increase the strength of the signal communicated to the antenna. In a second state, the switching device bypasses the power amplifier. The power amplifier is turned off when the switch is in the second state, thereby decreasing the power consumed by the transmitting device as it transmits data at the target data transmit rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for advertising a service on a wireless device. The method includes: storing authentication information in the wireless device; using the authentication information to establish communication between the wireless device and a service provider; and subsequent to the communication being established between the wireless device and the service provider, advertising, on the wireless device, context-specific information about a service associated with the service provider based on at least one of (i) an ambient temperature, (ii) a body temperature of a user of the wireless device, and (iii) a heart rate of the user.

Abstract: A wireless network device including a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) module, an error rate module, and an antenna selection module. The signal-to-noise ratio measures i) a first average SNR while utilizing a first antenna, and ii) a second average sNR while utilizing a second antenna. The error rate module measures i) a first error rate while utilizing the first antenna, and ii) a second error rate while utilizing the second antenna. The antenna selection module selects the first antenna or the second antenna based on i) a first comparison of the first average signal-to-noise ratio to the second average signal-to-noise ratio, and ii) a second comparison of the first error rate to the second error rate. The second comparison is selectively performed depending on the first comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for advertising a service on a wireless device. The method includes: storing authentication information in the wireless device; using the authentication information to establish communication between the wireless device and a service provider; and subsequent to the communication being established between the wireless device and the service provider, advertising, on the wireless device, context-specific information about a service associated with the service provider based on at least one of (i) an ambient temperature, (ii) a body temperature of a user of the wireless device, and (iii) a heart rate of the user.