Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless access point receives a wireless advertisement frame having a source address field that indicates a reachable node being advertised, a destination address field that indicates a destination to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address field that indicates a transmitting node from which the wireless advertisement frame is received, and a receiver address field that indicates the access point. The wireless access point then transmits a reflected wireless advertisement frame having a source address field that indicates the reachable node, a destination address field that indicates the destination, a transmitter address field that indicates the wireless access point, and a receiver address field that indicates both a plurality of receivers the reflected wireless advertisement frame is to be accepted by, and a node that is to be excluded from accepting the reflected wireless advertisement frame.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless access point receives a wireless advertisement frame having a source address field that indicates a reachable node being advertised, a destination address field that indicates a destination to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address field that indicates a transmitting node from which the wireless advertisement frame is received, and a receiver address field that indicates the access point. The wireless access point then transmits a reflected wireless advertisement frame having a source address io field that indicates the reachable node, a destination address field that indicates the destination, a transmitter address field that indicates the wireless access point, and a receiver address field that indicates both a plurality of receivers the reflected wireless advertisement frame is to be accepted by, and a node that is to be excluded from accepting the reflected wireless advertisement frame.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating location or containment of rogue or unauthorized access points on wireless computer network environments. Embodiments of the present invention support one to a plurality of rogue containment methodologies. A first rogue containment type involves identification of the physical connection of the rogue access point to the wired network infrastructure and, thus, allows for disabling of that physical connection to contain the rogue access point. Other rogue containment methods involve wireless techniques for containing the effect of rogue access points. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating network location of rogue access points to determine whether one or more rogue containment methodologies should be applied. As discussed below, the rogue location and containment functionality described herein can be applied to a wide variety of wireless network system architectures.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for acquiring service provider information includes querying a wireless network for service provider information, receiving an advertisement response containing advertising service scheduling information, and configuring a power conservation mode responsive to the advertising service scheduling information.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to detecting address spoofing in wireless networks by, after receiving a wireless management frame, transmitting verification messages to determine whether a given wireless node (e.g., a wireless access point, or wireless client) has legitimately lost its connection state.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating troubleshooting wireless connectivity issues in a wireless network. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, either a diagnostic supplicant in the wireless client or a diagnostic manager initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link in response to one or more events. In one embodiment, after the diagnostic supplicant establishes a link to a diagnostic manager via a diagnostic link, the diagnostic supplicant generates and transmits a problem report to the diagnostic manager. The problem report initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic manager and the diagnostic supplicant.

Abstract: A rear-operated, articulated floor scrubber (24) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the scrubber (24) comprises a front portion (28), a rear portion (28) that is pivotally connected to the front portion (26), and an operator interface (38) associated with the rear portion (28). The scrubber (24) further comprises a solution tank (40) for hold cleaning solution and a recovery tank (42) for holding cleaning solution and entrained debris that is picked up from the floor after the floor has been scrubbed. In one embodiment, a portion (26, 28) of one of the tanks (40, 42) overlies a portion (26, 28) of the other tank (40, 42).

Abstract: In a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system, a hierarchical architecture is provided which employs a protocol which divides protocol processing functions between a plurality of substantially identical access elements in which reside time-critical protocol functions, such as acknowledgment and retransmission of packets, and a centralized control element which provides control and management functions related to dynamic configuration of wireless networks, such as processing of network management messages (e.g., authentication and association), load control, channel control, and handoff, processing of physical layer information, and processing of channel characteristics, propagation, interference or noise, for the plurality of access elements on the WLAN without loss of information about the wireless characteristics of the access elements.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating the application of pre-allocation policies in a wireless network environment. According to one implementation of the present invention, a central controller, or other control point in a wireless network infrastructure, applies one or more policies that limit the number of resource pre-allocations a given wireless client may establish with one or more wireless access points. In one implementation, the central controller provides a pre-allocation list to a wireless client that is requesting pre-allocation. By limiting a wireless client's ability to pre-allocate resources, the central controller optimally manages the resources of the wireless network. In alternative embodiments, the central controller can terminate pre-allocations between a wireless client and one or more wireless access points to enforce pre-allocation policy on the wireless network infrastructure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, two portals lie between a wireless mesh network and a LAN. Each portal provides a communication path between the mesh network and the LAN. The second portal is configured to forward data frames with unknown destinations to the first portal across an intramesh path between the two portals.

Abstract: A method of hybrid route discovery in a mesh network is described. The method comprises the optional designation of a root node of the mesh network and formatting a route request message at an originating mesh point, where the route request messages include a hop limit parameter. If a root node has been configured, the route request is responded to with a message that describes the route to the root. If a direct route between two nodes is required, the route request message is broadcast from the originating mesh point, and the hop limit parameter limits the number of times the route request message will be forwarded. The originating mesh point receives a unicast route reply message from a neighboring mesh point, after the neighboring mesh point received the route request message. Finally, a route connecting the originating mesh point and the destination mesh point is established.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating roaming and client handoffs in wireless networks. In one implementation, the present invention is directed to a coordination mechanism facilitating handoffs of wireless clients in a wireless network infrastructure. In one implementation, the coordination mechanism minimizes the use of group- or multi-casting to provide a scalable wireless network roaming infrastructure.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to a key distribution and caching mechanism that facilitates roaming in wireless networks. In one implementation, the present invention reduces the latency associated with handoffs by reducing the time required to set up encryption or other secure access mechanisms between access points and clients in the wireless network infrastructure. In one implementation, the present invention operates proactively to distribute authentication credential information to selected components of the wireless network infrastructure before a client roams to another access point.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to a border access point protocol that facilitates network selection and mobility operations for wireless clients, such as dual-mode wireless telephones and other devices. In one implementation, the present invention provides a wireless network infrastructure comprising a plurality of access points, at least some of which are so-called border access points that provide border information to wireless clients. The border information, in one embodiment, indicates to the wireless client that the transmitting access point is proximal to the perimeter of the intended coverage area of the wireless network infrastructure. In another implementation, the border information indicates that the transmitting access point is proximal to a point of egress from, or ingress to, a coverage area.