Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling transmission of data units in a network. In one embodiment, a method of controlling transmission of data units in a network node includes receiving a fragment of a data unit. The method further includes determining at least one of (a) whether a prior fragment of the data unit has been dropped and (b) whether a subsequent fragment of the data unit is likely to be dropped. The method further includes at least one of (c) transmitting the received fragment of the data unit only if no prior data fragment of the data unit has been dropped and (d) transmitting the fragment of the data unit only if no subsequent fragment of the data unit is likely to be dropped.

Abstract: A network interface includes a radio frequency system and a media access controller. The media access controller includes first and second client modules and a control module. Each of the client modules wirelessly communicates with a network via the radio frequency system and the antenna. Each of the client modules is controllable to be in an active state or a sleep state. The control module determines priority levels of the first client module and the second client module. The control module also, based on the priority levels, (i) controls the first client module to be in the active state to permit communication between the first client module and the radio frequency system, and (ii) controls the second client module to be in the sleep state to prevent communication between the second client module and the radio frequency system.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling operation of a wireless device, a host assembly of the wireless device enters into a handshaking procedure with firmware of the wireless device to initiate entry into or exit from a host sleep mode. Before such entry or exit, the handshaking procedure may require the host assembly to send an initiation handshake signal to the firmware, and require the firmware to send a confirmation handshake signal back to the host assembly. Entry or exit may be delayed until after the confirmation signal is received. The confirmation signal may vary depending on the handshaking configuration and activation data, and the confirmation signal may vary depending on whether the wireless device is in a power save mode or not.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide improved mesh networks with properties that address various shortcomings of current mesh network implementations. At least some embodiments are directed to improving operations of mesh networks in connection with battery powered devices and address concerns associated with latency issues due to power save nodes as well as load balancing. Yet other embodiments address route cache timeouts, reduce route discovery overhead, perform proactive route maintenance based on a node's battery, and provide a straightforward battery-aware process based sleep protocol.

Abstract: A system includes a signal processing module and a control module. The signal processing module receives a first clear channel assessment (CCA) signal for a first sub-channel of a communication channel, increases a pulse width of the first CCA signal by a predetermined period of time, and generates a second CCA signal. The control module receives the second CCA signal and a third CCA signal for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The control module transmits data via one of the second sub-channel and the communication channel based on the second and third CCA signals.

Abstract: A wireless network interface includes a component, a first sub-client module that operates using a first wireless protocol, and a second sub-client module that operates using a second wireless protocol. The first and second wireless protocols are different. The first and second sub-client modules share use of the component. A component sharing control module selectively transitions the first sub-client module into and out of a state to allow the second sub-client module to use the component during the state.

Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods comprise: a mesh path module adapted to select a mesh path between a first mesh point in a mesh network and a second mesh point in the mesh network, wherein the mesh path module comprises a neighbor discovery module adapted to determine whether the second mesh point is one hop from the first mesh point, a one-hop mesh path module adapted to select a one-hop mesh path between the first mesh point and the second mesh point when the second mesh point is one hop from the first mesh point, and a multi-hop mesh path module adapted to discover a multi-hop mesh path between the first mesh point and the second mesh point only when it is determined that the second mesh point is not one hop from the first mesh point.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a transceiver module, a beacon miss module, and a control module. The transceiver module is configured to, at predetermined times, transition a wireless network device from an inactive mode to an active mode. The beacon miss module is configured to count a number of delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) beacons missed by the transceiver module during each of a first predetermined period and a second predetermined period, wherein the first predetermined period is shorter than the second predetermined period. The control module is configured to adjust the predetermined times at which the wireless network device is transitioned from the inactive mode to the active mode based on the number of the DTIM beacons missed by the transceiver module during each of i) the first predetermined period and ii) the second predetermined period.

Abstract: A system includes a signal processing module and a control module. The signal processing module receives a first clear channel assessment (CCA) signal for a first sub-channel of a communication channel, increases a pulse width of the first CCA signal by a predetermined period of time, and generates a second CCA signal. The control module receives the second CCA signal and a third CCA signal for a second sub-channel of the communication channel. The control module transmits data via one of the second sub-channel and the communication channel based on the second and third CCA signals.

Abstract: A wireless network device comprises a physical layer (PHY) module that sends and receives packets wirelessly, a first media access control (MAC) module that wirelessly communicates with a second wireless network device in an ad-hoc mode via the PHY module, and a second MAC module that wirelessly communicates with an access point in an infrastructure mode via the PHY module.

Abstract: A wireless network device includes a transceiver module, a beacon miss module, and a control module. The transceiver module is configured to transition the wireless network device from an inactive mode to an active mode at a wakeup time. The wakeup time is a predetermined time period before a time at which a delivery traffic indication message (DTIM) beacon is expected by the wireless network device. The beacon miss module is configured to count a number of DTIM beacons missed by the transceiver module during each of a first predetermined period and a second predetermined period. The first predetermined period is shorter than the second predetermined period. The control module is configured to selectively adjust the wakeup time during operation of the wireless network device based on the number of the DTIM beacons missed by the transceiver module during each of the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period.

Abstract: A method in a communication network includes receiving a data unit that includes a request to transmit an aggregate data unit to a communication device, and, in response to receiving the data unit, generating an aggregate data unit for transmission to the communication device, where the aggregate data unit includes a plurality of component data units, each having a respective media access channel (MAC) header, and a duration of the aggregate data unit is determined using a parameter negotiated with the communication device.

Abstract: A system includes a host interface module and a power management module. The host interface module is configured to receive configuration information from a host processor of a wireless device. The configuration information indicates that the host processor is to (i) operate in a power save mode, and (ii) in response to the wireless device receiving data of a predetermined category from a wireless network, transition from the power save mode to an active mode. The power management module is configured to generate a first signal in response to the wireless device receiving data of the predetermined category from the wireless network. The first signal transitions the host processor from the power save mode to the active mode in which the host processor processes the data of the predetermined category.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for transmission generation at a node in a wireless network involving writing a sequence of transmission instructions to a plurality of independently accessible buffers such that each one of the sequence of transmission instructions is written to one of the plurality of independently accessible buffers, reading each one of the sequence of transmission instructions from one of the plurality of independently accessible buffers, and carrying out at least one transmission task in accordance with each transmission instruction read from one of the plurality of independently accessible buffers, wherein a read operation for reading one of the sequence of transmission instructions from one of the independently accessible buffers may overlap in time with a write operation for writing another one of the sequence of transmission instructions to another one of the independently accessible buffers.

Abstract: A network device includes a base band processor (BBP) receiver to detect a frame in a signal. A media access controller (MAC) receiver identifies a destination address in the frame. A power management module transitions the BBP receiver to an active mode based on an estimated energy level of the signal before transitioning the MAC receiver, a processor, a MAC transmitter, and a BBP transmitter to the active mode; transitions the MAC receiver to the active mode when the frame is present after transitioning the BBP receiver to the active mode and before transitioning the processor, the MAC transmitter, and the BBP transmitter to the active mode; and transitions the processor to the active mode based on the destination address after transitioning the BBP receiver and the MAC receiver to the active mode and before transitioning the MAC transmitter and the BBP transmitter to the active mode.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving packets; transferring the packets to an output circuit when aggregation of the packets is not enabled; transferring the packets to a queue when aggregation is enabled; enabling aggregation when a rate of receiving the packets into the queue is greater than a predetermined rate or a number of the packets in the output circuit>a first number; and generating aggregate packets each comprising packets in the queue, transferring each aggregate packet to the output circuit when a number of packets in the aggregate packet>a second number, and transferring the aggregate packet to the output circuit when a number of packets in the aggregate packet?the second number, when a predetermined interval elapses, wherein the interval begins when the queue is empty when receiving a packet or a number of aggregate packets in a device receiving the aggregate packets<a third number.

Abstract: A wireless network includes a transmitting device and a plurality of receiving devices. The transmitting device is configured to receive a plurality of data packets, including a first data packet and a second data packet, prepare a preamble, prepare a signal field for each of the plurality of data packets, including a first signal field based on the first data packet and a second signal field based on the second data packet, and broadcast the preamble, the first signal field, the first data packet, the second signal field, and the second data packet as a concatenated packet.

Abstract: A wireless network includes a transmitting device and a plurality of receiving devices. The transmitting device is configured to receive a plurality of data packets, including a first data packet and a second data packet, prepare a preamble, prepare a signal field for each of the plurality of data packets, including a first signal field based on the first data packet and a second signal field based on the second data packet, and broadcast the preamble, the first signal field, the first data packet, the second signal field, and the second data packet as a concatenated packet.

Abstract: An access point configured to connect a station to a wireless network includes a wireless communication unit configured to send data to the station, and a control unit configured to adjust one or more operational parameters of the access point based on indicative parameters of a basic service set (BSS), which includes the access point and the station.

Abstract: A power-management system for wireless network devices includes a media access control module (MAC) that receives a first enable signal and based thereon selectively transmits and receives data packets. A clock generator module receives a second enable signal and based thereon selectively generates a clock signal that is communicated to the MAC. A power management module receives configuration information associated with a plurality of power savings modes. The power management module generates the first and second enable signals based on a selected one of the power savings modes and the configuration information.