Abstract: A method and system for enhancing a load balancing network's ability to load balance sessions is presented. A session identifier is placed within the TCP packet to enable a new mechanism of load distribution and connection grouping within a load balancing system. Specifically, TCP is invoked by a user application to obtain a unique session identifier value. On receiving such a packet, the destination load balancing system hashes over at least the session identifier value, and the node corresponding to the results of the hash algorithm acquires the packet. This method of hashing ensures that the same node acquires all subsequently received TCP packets possessing the same session identifier regardless of the source IP address or source port information. The node then places an identical session identifier value in the form of a response session identifier in its TCP response packet.

Abstract: An application program is disclosed for execution on a computing device capable of supporting network communications via multiple differing communication modes. The application includes a set of user interface elements facilitating easy user selection of one of a set of communication modes supported by the computing device. Thereafter, the selected communication mode is utilized to support communications for the application. The application program also includes an interface to a transport layer component. The interface initiates binding a network interface to an endpoint opened by the application in accordance with the designation of the communication mode. Furthermore, the interface passes transmission requests to the interface identifying the endpoint. Therefore the interface facilitates forcing use of the designated network interface to complete the transmission requests of the application.

Abstract: Criteria-driven methods and a framework are disclosed that facilitate configuration/selection of one or more wireless network interfaces/networks for carrying out wireless communications on a computing device. The wireless network interface selection and coexistence driver architecture described herein facilitates automated selection of a particular mode of network access based upon status information provided by a set of network interface drivers associated with particular network interfaces and wireless technologies. Furthermore, a criteria-driven interface/network selection framework is described that is potentially invoked in a variety of situations including, but not limited to, when an application is invoked or to select another interface/network to avoid detected interference.

Abstract: A protocol and method for establishing wireless data sessions between wireless clients, each of which support multiple wireless protocols is presented. A commonly supported wireless protocol is utilized to share the wireless protocols supported by the clients' circuitry. A wireless data session is then established based on the common capabilities of the wireless clients. Where multiple common protocols are supported, user preferences are utilized to determine which of the commonly supported protocols will be utilized for the wireless data session. Once a data session is established, the control channel may be idled periodically to conserve power. Alternatively, the protocol utilized in the wireless data session may be used to transmit control messages using the protocol of the present invention.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method for providing centralized address management of static IP addresses through the dynamic host control protocol. Static or permanent IP addresses are those addresses assigned by DHCP having an infinite lease time. The assignment of such static IP addresses follows the conventional DHCP mechanism for the assignment of other IP addresses. However, the centralized reclamation of a statically or permanently assigned IP address by a network administrator through the DHCP server presents novel aspects of the invention heretofore unknown. Specifically, through the system and method of the present invention, the DHCP server is capable of reclaiming at any point in time, a statically or permanently assigned IP address by transmitting a DHCP RECLAIM command to the DHCP client, or through its relay agent. In the normal situation, the DHCP client acknowledges the RECLAIM command, allowing the IP address to be placed in the FREE state.

Abstract: A framework and method are disclosed for supporting changed addresses by mobile network nodes. Such support is provided through enhancements to the mobile network nodes and utilizes DNS servers, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and virtual private network (VPN) servers—or their functional equivalents—to dynamically assign a current network address to a mobile node, provide the current network address to an authoritative name server, and thereafter have correspondent nodes update their addresses for the mobile node based upon an address provided by the authoritative name server. A mobile node registers all of its name-to-address mappings with its authoritative DNS server using a time to live of zero. Furthermore, when a mobile node moves outside its home security domain, the mobile node initiates a virtual private network connection to a virtual private server for a security domain.

Abstract: A method and mobile node are disclosed that facilitate persisting virtual private network structures across multiple network addresses assigned to the mobile node. The method includes initially setting up a virtual private network tunnel between a mobile node and a virtual private network tunnel server. Virtual private network structures that support the virtual private network tunnel are based upon a home address specified for the mobile node. When the mobile node changes addresses, the mobile node transmits a binding update to the virtual private network tunnel server specifying the new network address. Thereafter, a mapped relation is created from the new network address to the home address for the mobile node, thereby facilitating continued use of virtual private network structures that are based upon the home address for the mobile node.

Abstract: Network DNA may be determined for a computer network that taxonomically classifies the computer network. Network DNA may include derived network DNA components and raw network DNA components. Raw network DNA components may be acquired from local or remote sources. Derived network DNA components may be generated according to derived network DNA component specifications. Derived network DNA component specifications may reference raw network DNA components. Network DNA determined for the computer network may include a network species component capable of indicating network species classifications for computer networks. Network species classifications may include enterprise network, home network and public place network. Network species classifications may be determined as a function of network security, network management and network addressing. One or more network DNA stores may be configured to store network DNA for computer networks.

Abstract: A method and system for multicast network transmissions dynamically sets response time parameters for handling negative acknowledgments (NAKs). When the sender receives a NAK for a lost packet, it returns an NAK confirmation (NCF), waits for a back-off time before sending requested repair data, and then waits for a “linger time” during which the sender does not respond to other NAKs for the same lost packet. The back-off time and the linger time are dynamically set according to the position of the requested sequence number in the sender's transmit window such that the back-off time is shorter when the requested data is closer to being flushed out of the transmit window. After receiving the NCF, the receiver waits for a timeout period and resends the NAK if no repair data is received. The timeout period for data receipt is dynamically set according to a statistical average time for receiving repair data from the sender and the estimated sender's transmit window size.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for dynamically subscribing for access to a wireless wide-area network via an online process. Subscription information and user credentials are digitally transmitted by a network carrier to a networking device and is stored locally by the device in a SmartCard, other portable medium, or on the device's hard drive. The locally stored credentials and information may subsequently be updated wirelessly. No human interaction is required to subscribe, and access may be limited by a variety of criteria. A subscription may be used to access networks operated by multiple network carriers.

Abstract: A wireless technology (e.g., Wi-Fi) coexistence architecture and method are disclosed for managing potential conflicts between wireless technology interference sources. A coexistence driver maintains a conflict map identifying potentially conflicting wireless technologies on a computing device. Such technologies, due to their use of overlapping transmission frequency spectra, potentially create signal interference with one another while transmitting. Managing such conflict is carried out by initially identifying conflicts arising from wireless technology interference sources based on entries within the conflict map for a set of currently installed wireless technology interfaces. Thereafter the coexistence driver creates a virtual coexistence driver to manage an identified set of conflicting wireless technology interference sources, wherein the coexistence driver regulates transmission of data sets by wireless technology interfaces according to a coexistence scheme including priority-based data transmissions.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless network communications provides a “dual-mode” wireless device that operates concurrently as a member of two disjoint wireless networks, such as an infrastructure (“IS”) network and an ad hoc (“AH”) network. The dual-mode device has a wireless controller driver inserted in its networking stack (e.g., the stack comprising of the Network and NDIS drivers) that exposes two virtual wireless network adapters, one for the first wireless network and one for the second wireless network. Each virtual wireless network adapter has an associated queue for queuing packets in the flow for the corresponding wireless network mode. The wireless controller driver controls the switching of the network mode. In one embodiment where the two networks include an IS network and an AH network, the mode switching is triggered by poll signals transmitted by an access point of the IS network.

Abstract: A system and method that allows a user to concurrently connect to multiple wireless networks with a single network interface card is presented. The networks may be infrastructure (“IS”) networks and ad hoc (“AH”) networks. A driver is inserted into a device's networking stack and exposes a plurality of virtual wireless network adapters, one for each network. The adapters are enabled and disabled in accordance with which network is presently activated. Packets for a network are queued when the network is not enabled. The wireless driver controls the switching of the network card. In one embodiment where multiple wireless cards are switching in and out of AH networks, the method converges the switching times for the cards in an AH network to ensure concurrent connectivity in the AH network for at least a brief time period every switching cycle of the wireless cards.

Abstract: A protocol and method for establishing wireless data sessions between wireless clients, each of which support multiple wireless protocols is presented. A commonly supported wireless protocol is utilized to share the wireless protocols supported by the clients' circuitry. A wireless data session is then established based on the common capabilities of the wireless clients. Where multiple common protocols are supported, user preferences are utilized to determine which of the commonly supported protocols will be utilized for the wireless data session. Once a data session is established, the control channel may be idled periodically to conserve power. Alternatively, the protocol utilized in the wireless data session may be used to transmit control messages using the protocol of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention detects and responds to events occurring on a computer network medium. When a network media event is detected, network parameters are adjusted, if possible, to adapt to the new circumstances brought about by the event, and traffic may be rerouted if that is appropriate. High-level protocol drivers and network-aware applications are notified of the event so that they may adapt to the changed network circumstances. Sometimes, as a result of the network media event, the computer communicates with other devices on the network to discover the state of network entities, network elements, and services.

Abstract: A method for executing commands on multiple computers of a network is provided in which a command may be entered at one computer, replicated, and sent to other computers of the network. Each computer receiving the replicated command may also repeat the replication process and sent the command to still other computers. The command may be stored and replicated in conjunction with the replication of entries or records of a database. When one computer update another computer as to the changes made to its individual copies of the database, it transmits a replication message to the other computer. When the other computer receives the replication message, it may store the command in a record of its copy of the database and, if appropriate, execute it. A record type field may be used to distinguish command records from other types of database records.

Abstract: To provide enhanced quality of service (QoS) communication capability, a wireless network is implemented in which different channels are used for conveying different types of data and in which wireless devices are selectively operated in either an infrastructure or ad hoc mode automatically selected to make best use of the available communication bandwidth. For example, a wireless device for a computer can be operated selectively as a client wireless device that is in communication with a legacy access point in an infrastructure mode on one channel, while using one or more different channels to communicate selectively in either ad hoc mode or infrastructure mode with client devices. To make efficient use of wireless devices, IEEE 802.11a or 802.11g wireless devices are used for communicating audio/video data on one channel, while an IEEE 802.11b wireless device is used on a different channel for communicating web page data.

Abstract: The utilization is described of an automatically generated Internet protocol (“IP”) address in a networked environment. An IP address is automatically generated and used while an IP address server is unavailable or unreliable. The system used either the automatically generated IP address or the assigned address depending on certain circumstances. For example, if the IP address server repeatedly assigns conflicting IP address, the system continues to use the generated IP address despite having received an assigned IP address from the IP address server. Also, if the communication is within a common local area network, the generated IP address is used so as to avoid encryption of the communication in accordance with TCP/IP protocol.

Abstract: A power management scheme for use in a wireless device reduces the power consumption of the network interface module of the wireless device by selectively putting the network interface module into a low-power state for an idle time. The length of the idle time is calculated such that the amount of delayed traffic data accumulated is expected to be less than or equal to a pre-selected threshold when the network interface module is put in the low-power state for the calculated idle time. The amount of delayed traffic data as a function of the idle time is modeled using average inter-arrival and service rates that are derived from traffic statistics data.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for a client, having established one set of security keys, to establish a new set without having to communicate with an authentication server. When the client joins a group, master session security keys are derived and made known to the client and to the group's access server. From the master session security keys, the access server and client each derive transient session security keys, used for authentication and encryption. To change the transient session security keys, the access server creates “liveness” information and sends it to the client. New master session security keys are derived from the liveness information and the current set of transient session security keys. From these new master session security keys are derived new transient session security keys. This process limits the amount of data sent using one set of transient session security keys and thus limits the effectiveness of any statistical attacker.