Abstract: A method for protecting local area networks within a selected local geographic region (e.g. office, apartment, building, coffee shop, hot-spot etc.) from wireless attacks, using a wireless sniffer apparatus. The method includes placing one or more wireless sniffer apparatus spatially to provide substantial radio coverage over at least a portion of the selected local geographic region comprising one or more local area networks. Moreover the method includes coupling one or more of the wireless sniffer apparatus to one or more of the local area networks.

Abstract: A method for protecting local area networks within a selected local geographic region (e.g. office, apartment, building, coffee shop, hot-spot etc.) from wireless attacks, using a wireless sniffer apparatus. The method includes placing one or more wireless sniffer apparatus spatially to provide substantial radio coverage over at least a portion of the selected local geographic region comprising one or more local area networks. Moreover the method includes coupling one or more of the wireless sniffer apparatus to one or more of the local area networks.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a selected region of an airspace associated with local area networks of computing devices is provided. The method includes providing one or more segments of a legacy local area network to be protected in a selected geographic region. The legacy local area network is characterized by an unsecured airspace within the selected geographic region. The method includes determining a security policy associated with the one or more segments of the legacy local area network. The security policy at least characterizes a type of wireless activity in the unsecured airspace to be permitted, denied, or ignored. Additionally, the method includes connecting one or more sniffer devices into the legacy local area network. The one or more sniffer devices are spatially disposed within the selected geographic region to cause at least a portion of the unsecured airspace to be secured according to the security policy.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a selected region of an airspace associated with local area networks of computing devices is provided. The method includes providing one or more segments of a legacy local area network to be protected in a selected geographic region. The legacy local area network is characterized by an unsecured airspace within the selected geographic region. The method includes determining a security policy associated with the one or more segments of the legacy local area network. The security policy at least characterizes a type of wireless activity in the unsecured airspace to be permitted, denied, or ignored. Additionally, the method includes connecting one or more sniffer devices into the legacy local area network. The one or more sniffer devices are spatially disposed within the selected geographic region to cause at least a portion of the unsecured airspace to be secured according to the security policy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for splicing a first data flow inbound to an intermediate node and second data flow outbound from the intermediate node transforms the first data flow and the second data flow into a single composite data flow originating at the source of the first data flow and terminating at the destination of the second data flow. The method allows any other data flows associated with the first or second data flow, such as other data flows associated with connections that encompass either the first or second data flow, to remain unaffected by the splice. The method allows intermediate nodes in a network to influence data flow between a pair of nodes at or above the transport layer without incurring all the overhead commonly associated with transport and higher layer processing.

Abstract: A method for restricting one or more wireless devices from engaging in wireless communication within a selected local geographic region. The method includes receiving an indication comprising at least identity information. Preferably, the indication is associated with a selected wireless device, which is associated with an undesirable wireless communication within the selected local geographic region. The method includes selecting one or more processes directed to restrict the selected wireless device from engaging in wireless communication and performing a prioritized access to a wireless medium using at least one of one or more sniffer devices, which are spatially disposed within a vicinity of the selected local geographic region. The method transmits one or more packets from the at least one of one or more sniffer devices. Preferably, the one or more packets are directed to perform said one or more processes to restrict the selected wireless device.

Abstract: A method for arbitrating use of wireless medium for transmission of wireless signals within a selected local geographic region. The selected local geographic region comprises a first set of a plurality of devices to be allowed to transmit wireless signals and a second set of one or more devices to be substantially restricted from transmitting wireless signals. The method includes providing identity information associated with the first set of wireless devices. The method includes transmitting over a wireless medium at least one packet for each of the wireless devices in the first set. The at least one packet for each of the wireless devices includes an identity information, including an address, associated with that wireless device. That wireless device is a recipient of the one packet on the wireless medium. The at least one packet also has a selected value in a duration field of at least the one packet.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a selected region of an airspace associated with local area networks of computing devices is provided. The method includes providing one or more segments of a legacy local area network to be protected in a selected geographic region. The legacy local area network is characterized by an unsecured airspace within the selected geographic region. The method includes determining a security policy associated with the one or more segments of the legacy local area network. The security policy at least characterizes a type of wireless activity in the unsecured airspace to be permitted, denied, or ignored. Additionally, the method includes connecting one or more sniffer devices into the legacy local area network. The one or more sniffer devices are spatially disposed within the selected geographic region to cause at least a portion of the unsecured airspace to be secured according to the security policy.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, security exposure analysis of wireless network within a selected local geographic area is provided. A computer model of the selected local geographic region comprising a layout is generated. Information regarding wireless network components is provided to the computer model. Using the computer model, signal intensity characteristics of at least one of the wireless network components are determined over at least a portion of the selected geographic region. Based at least on the signal intensity characteristics, security exposure information associated with the wireless network is determined. The security exposure information is graphically displayed on the computer screen in relation to the layout of the selected geographic region. The security exposure information includes sniffer detection and prevention coverage, access point vulnerability regions, and signal uncertainty and variability views.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, security exposure analysis of wireless network within a selected local geographic area is provided. A computer model of the selected local geographic region comprising a layout is generated. Information regarding wireless network components is provided to the computer model. Using the computer model, signal intensity characteristics of at least one of the wireless network components are determined over at least a portion of the selected geographic region. Based at least on the signal intensity characteristics, security exposure information associated with the wireless network is determined. The security exposure information is graphically displayed on the computer screen in relation to the layout of the selected geographic region. The security exposure information includes sniffer detection and prevention coverage, access point vulnerability regions, and signal uncertainty and variability views.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a selected region of an airspace associated with local area networks of computing devices is provided. The method includes providing one or more segments of a legacy local area network to be protected in a selected geographic region. The legacy local area network is characterized by an unsecured airspace within the selected geographic region. The method includes determining a security policy associated with the one or more segments of the legacy local area network. The security policy at least characterizes a type of wireless activity in the unsecured airspace to be permitted, denied, or ignored. Additionally, the method includes connecting one or more sniffer devices into the legacy local area network. The one or more sniffer devices are spatially disposed within the selected geographic region to cause at least a portion of the unsecured airspace to be secured according to the security policy.

Abstract: A method for protecting local area networks within a selected local geographic region (e.g. office, apartment, building, coffee shop, hot-spot etc.) from wireless attacks, using a wireless sniffer apparatus. The method includes placing one or more wireless sniffer apparatus spatially to provide substantial radio coverage over at least a portion of the selected local geographic region comprising one or more local area networks. Moreover the method includes coupling one or more of the wireless sniffer apparatus to one or more of the local area networks.

Abstract: An apparatus for wireless communication including an automated intrusion detection process is provided. The apparatus has a portable housing, which may have a length no greater than 1 meter, a width no greater than 1 meter, and a height of no greater than 1 meter. A processing unit (e.g., CPU) is within the housing. One or more wireless network interface devices are within the housing and are coupled to the processing unit. The apparatus has an Ethernet (or like) network interface device within the housing and coupled to the processing unit. A network connector is coupled to the Ethernet network device. One or more memories are coupled to the processing unit. A code is directed to perform a process for detection of a wireless activity within a selected local geographic region. According to a specific embodiment, the wireless activity is derived from at least one authorized device or at least an other device.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for detecting wireless access devices coupled to local area network of computers. The method includes coupling a sniffer device to a local area network. The method includes transferring one or more packets to be directed to a selected device over the local area network. The selected device is preferably coupled to the local area network. The method includes intercepting the one or more packets to be directed to the selected device at the sniffer device. Moreover, the method includes deriving information from the intercepted one or more packets using the sniffer device. The method can generate one or more marker packets in a selected format using the sniffer device. The marker packets are provided based upon at least a portion of the information derived from the intercepted packets.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a selected region of an airspace associated with local area networks of computing devices is provided. The method includes providing one or more segments of a legacy local area network to be protected in a selected geographic region. The legacy local area network is characterized by an unsecured airspace within the selected geographic region. The method includes determining a security policy associated with the one or more segments of the legacy local area network. The security policy at least characterizes a type of wireless activity in the unsecured airspace to be permitted, denied, or ignored. Additionally, the method includes connecting one or more sniffer devices into the legacy local area network. The one or more sniffer devices are spatially disposed within the selected geographic region to cause at least a portion of the unsecured airspace to be secured according to the security policy.

Abstract: A method for connecting two or more devices via a wireless communication channel is provided. In one embodiment, a method of connecting a first device to a second device includes the steps of arbitrarily assigning one of two possible states to each device, wherein in a first state, a device seeks to establish a connection with another device, and in a second state, the device renders itself available for connection with the other device; and alternating a present state of each device between the first state and the second state in accordance with a predefined probability distribution until either a predetermined timeout period has expired or a connection between the devices has been established, the length of time that each device remains in the first and second states being controlled by the probability distribution. In a second embodiment, a method of forming a scatternet between a plurality of devices or nodes in an ad hoc wireless communication network is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides shared communication medium capability to the plethora of computer devices, like the PCCAs, that normally are able to communicate with other devices via dedicated point-to-point links, e.g., via the practically universal RS-232 ports. It allows the sharing of the communication medium in a dynamic fashion depending on the instantaneous traffic demands by the various communicating devices. It further allows the emulation of point-to-point links over the shared communications medium in such a way that applications running on a PCCA use the shared medium transparently. Thus, this invention enables applications designed to operate over a point-to-point connection to operate over the shared medium without any modifications of the applications or the point-to-point devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and computer product for a mobile device to roam securely and seamlessly from one access point to another access point without disrupting an active PPP connection. The method includes establishing, maintaining, and terminating a PPP connection between a mobile device and a PPP server via an access point, wherein the mobile device is equipped with a serial asynchronous communication interface. The PPP server is attached to a packet switched data network, and the access point is acting as a bridge between the serial communication interface and the packet switched communication interface. Also provided is a method to emulate a direct RS-232 cable connection between a mobile device and another computer located several hops away from the mobile device. It provides a method of keeping the RS-232 cable emulation between the mobile device an another computer system intact despite changes in mobile device's location in the network.

Abstract: A method for connecting two or more devices via a wireless communication channel is provided. In one embodiment, a method of connecting a first device to a second device includes the steps of arbitrarily assigning one of two possible states to each device, wherein in a first state, a device seeks to establish a connection with another device, and in a second state, the device renders itself available for connection with the other device; and alternating a present state of each device between the first state and the second state in accordance with a predefined probability distribution until either a predetermined timeout period has expired or a connection between the devices has been established, the length of time that each device remains in the first and second states being controlled by the probability distribution. In a second embodiment, a method of forming a scatternet between a plurality of devices or nodes in an ad hoc wireless communication network is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices and systems for dynamically adjusting transcoding parameters so as to increase the benefits of transcoding. Methods of adaptation are designed to cope with the variability of network characteristics and of the size of transcoded images. The invention also provides a method and apparatus to enable the transcoding proxy to adjust a quality-size tradeoff on a per-image and/or a per-client basis. The adaptive transcoder chooses different parameters for each object, and provides performance improvements. The invention further provides a general framework for making policy decisions taking into account available bandwidth, content and type of image, and user preferences. The invention also includes methods for generating feedback about the choice of optimal transcoding parameters to the user.