Abstract: A first battery assembly is in a first battery housing that is mechanically engageable with a portable computer, and a second battery assembly is in a second battery housing that is mechanically couplable to the first battery housing. A switch has a first configuration in which communication is established between the portable computer and the first battery assembly and a second configuration in which communication is established between the portable computer and the second battery assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for autonomic extensions to wake on LAN are presented. An access point detects wake on LAN (WOL) requests that are targeted for unassociated clients. When the access point detects a WOL request for an unassociated client, the access point stores the WOL request in a table for a predefined amount of time. A client queries the access point periodically to see if the access point is storing a WOL request which is targeted for the client. When the access point receives the query, the access point compares the client's identifier, such as its MAC address, with targeted client identifiers corresponding to pending WOL requests. When the access point detects a match, the access point sends the WOL request to the client for the client to process.

Abstract: A wireless device operating under the IEEE 802.11 specifications passively scans for a wireless access point coupled to a network backbone, wherein the scanning is performed using a default set of channels. The wireless device will then determine if the access point operates under an IEEE 802.11d specification, thus providing a country code to the wireless device. The wireless device will then utilize the country code to determine if the wireless device is legally authorized to communicate with the selected access point with wireless signal channels in addition to the default set of channels. The wireless device can then communicate with a selected access point utilizing any of the default set of channels and the wireless signal channels in addition to the default set of channels.

Abstract: A method of configuring a communication card in a computer system comprises retrieving information relating to a country in which the computer system will be used from the computer system into the communication card. Based on the retrieved information, the communication card selects a configuration setting from a plurality of configuration settings stored in the communication card, and loads the selected configuration setting into memory in the communication card.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing an access point in a wireless network to operate at maximum speed includes determining if there is at least one client within the network that is operating at less than the maximum speed. If there is, then instruct the at least one client to decrease transmission range until the at least one client is no longer in range of the access point. Then, instruct a client at the maximum speed to interface with the at least one client to provide a peer-to-peer connection wherein the maximum speed client acts as an access point for the at least one client.

Abstract: A method of selecting a network connection for use with a data processing system includes detecting environmental information indicative of a current environment in which the system is operating, determining whether the current environment is a known environment, and, rapidly selecting a current network connection by identifying a known environment network connection. Detecting environmental information may include detecting time information and detecting whether specified hardware (e.g., docking station, external monitor, printer, external network adapter) is present. The determining may include accessing a network connection data structure containing historical network connection information. The network connection data structure may include a plurality of records, each record identifying an environmental state and a network connection used in conjunction with the respective environmental state.

Abstract: A system and method for concurrent WLAN and WPAN wireless modes from a single device is presented. A client uses a Wi-Fi device's infrastructure mode to communicate in a WLAN environment and, during idle WLAN times, uses the Wi-Fi device's adhoc mode to communicate in a WPAN environment. The Wi-Fi device uses a watchdog timer to switch between infrastructure mode and adhoc mode. When the client's Wi-Fi device switches to infrastructure mode, the client's Wi-Fi device uses an infrastructure register and an infrastructure device driver to transfer data over the WLAN environment. Likewise, when the client's Wi-Fi device switches to adhoc mode, the client's Wi-Fi device uses an adhoc register and an adhoc device driver to transfer data over the WLAN environment. The client uses a code shim to act as a virtual device driver at times when either the infrastructure device driver or the adhoc device driver is inactive.

Abstract: A device that requires a regulatory label includes a label affixed to a surface of the device and a marking mechanism in the device that detects a configuration setting associated with the device and alters a portion of the label based on the configuration setting such that the label indicates information related to the configuration setting of the device.

Abstract: A method that utilizes software and hardware mechanisms to meet the FCC requirement for a U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device in which it operates, while providing wireless ready U-NII devices and CRUable U-NII radios. Enhancements are made to the software BIOS, including the inclusion of a table of approved radio-antenna PCI ID pairs to create an authentication scheme that verifies and authenticates the radio and antenna combination as being an FCC-approved unique coupling during boot-up of the system. The BIOS also comprises an OEM field that stores an encrypted secret key utilized to complete a second check of the radio model placed in the device. During boot up of the device, the PCI ID pairs from the BIOS are compared against the PCI ID of the radio and the secret key is checked against the radio model.

Abstract: Communications are provided for wide-channel and narrow-channel wireless devices within a common area over a number of channels within a common radio frequency band. Since communications using a wide-channel wireless signal interfere with at least two channels over which communications using narrow-channel wireless signals can occur, wide-channel communications are established only when it is determined that a wide-channel wireless device is present within the common area.

Abstract: A wireless network access point is described which provides the resources of a backbone network to wireless clients. The access point is able to minimize the performance impact on 802.11g clients in the presence of mixed in 802.11g/802.11b traffic by isolating wireless network traffic based on protocol. At least one 802.11g timer is maintained for 802.11g traffic. Request for transfers by 802.11b clients which are blind to 802.11g traffic are delayed until after the expiration of the 802.11g timer. Traffic for 802.11g clients proceeds unimpeded while the 802.11g timer is active. A similar timer is optionally maintained for 802.11b traffic.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for minimizing in-band noise in a WLAN network is presented. The method includes the steps of detecting, at a first wireless device that communicates with a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) via a first access point, a signal interference that is caused by a second wireless device that communicates with the WLAN via a second access point, wherein the first and second access points communicate with their respective first and second wireless devices via a same channel; and minimizing the signal interference by sending an instruction to the second wireless device to switch to a third access point, wherein the third access point uses a different channel than the channel that is used by the first and second access points.

Abstract: An arrangement facilitating the connection of a client to a network through an access point, particularly in an area with overlapping 0.11n channels. Preferably, a client may communicate with two access points and “ask” one of them to stop transmitting long enough so as to facilitate communication with the other access point. Current specifications otherwise provide no workable arrangement for handling overlapping channels.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and system for handling the use of multiple 802.11n channels in a location where there are a small number of available channels. An access point (“access point A”) having a client (“client A”) located solely within its coverage area and another client (“client B”) located within its coverage area and a coverage area of an adjacent access point (“access point B”) may receive a request to hold back 802.11n traffic from client B. Client B sends such a request since it is prevented from communicating with access point B using the 802.11n standard due to the interference from access point A communicating with client A using the 802.11n standard. As a result, access point A switches its standard of operation from using the 802.11n standard to communicate with client A to a standard that uses a bandwidth of 22 MHz (e.g., 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g standards).

Abstract: A wireless communication network comprising: (1) a plurality of mobile devices each configured to receive a beacon being broadcasted within the network and determine based on information transmitted within the beacon whether the mobile device is supported within the network; and (2) one or more access devices configured to broadcast the beacon within the network. Each of the mobile devices has a transmitting mechanism for communicating with the one or more access device. However, only those mobile devices that are supported by the network respond to the receipt of the beacon. Thus, no transmission occurs from the mobile devices until the device is identified as being supported by the network. These mobile devices instantiating a communication path with the one or more access devices and request an authentication from the one or more access devices. In this manner, a handshake mechanism is established between the access devices and the mobile devices that are supported by the network.

Abstract: Apparatus and method provides dynamic load balancing of network bandwidth between access points in an 802.11 wireless LAN. The access point generates and monitors average bandwidth utilization of client devices connected to said access point. The average bandwidth utilization for each client device is aggregated and selected clients are forced to roam to other access points if the aggregate bandwidth is equal or exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A method that utilizes both software and combination software and hardware mechanisms to comply with the FCC requirement for an U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device, while providing CRUable dual mode wireless cards and wireless-ready U-NII devices. Enhancements are made to the system BIOS and Device Driver, and two new software-implemented utilities are provided to create authentication schemes that verify and authenticates the CRUable dual mode U-NII radio and antenna combination as being an FCC approved unique coupling during operation of the system. The system boots with only ISM transmission capability and is allowed to complete a U-NII transmission request only with an approved U-NII radio-antenna combination.

Abstract: In accordance with the preferred embodiment, an access point provides dynamic load balancing of network bandwidth between access points within the 802.11 wireless LAN. The access point uses the RTS/CTS protocol to reduce the bandwidth available to a single device using an excessive amount of network bandwidth. The access point places a device that has been monopolizing a network channel on a Restricted List, and regulates bandwidth on the network by not returning a CTS to any client on the Restricted List. When the client's network usage drops below a policy driven threshold set by the number of network users, the client is removed from the list and the access point will respond to a RTS from the client with a CTS.

Abstract: A method and system for conserving battery strength of a client device, such as a laptop computer, on a wireless local area network (WLAN). The client device monitors the addresses of incoming data packet messages while running at a lowest bandwidth permitted by the protocol of the client device. When a data packet is detected that is addressed to the client device, the client device bandwidth is increased to a higher bandwidth to receive subsequent data packets. Subsequent incoming data packets are received by the client device until transmissions cease, after which the client device returns to the lowest bandwidth. By remaining in a lowest bandwidth mode while monitoring incoming packets, the client device is able to extend the life of the client device battery.

Abstract: A method that utilizes software means to meet the FCC requirement for an U-NII antenna to be an integral part of the device in which it operates, while providing wireless ready U-NII devices and CRUable U-NII radios. Enhancements are made to the system BIOS, including the inclusion of a table of PCI IDs and secret key pairs. The CRUable radio includes a pair of validation registers (VRs) and an EEPROM storing an PCI ID and secret key of an approved device. During boot up of the device, the PCI ID and secret key from the device's BIOS are compared against the PCI ID and secret key stored in the radio's EEPROM. The first comparison completes a radio-to-device authentication in the device, while the second comparison completes a device-to-radio authentication in the radio. U-NII transmission capability is enabled only when both parameters match, indicating FCC approved device-antenna-radio combination under the “integral” requirement.