Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for transmitting data packets in a wireless network over a multi-access channel involving sequentially sending a plurality of medium access control (MAC) data packets from a transmitter over the multi-access channel, using a physical layer protocol based on a standard physical layer protocol having a short interframe spacing (SIFS), wherein the plurality of MAC data packets includes at least a first data packet and a second data packet separated by a reduced interframe spacing that is less than SIFS, attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets at a receiver using the physical layer protocol, including the first data packet and the second data packet separated by the reduced interframe spacing, and sending from the receiver a single acknowledgement packet associated with attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets.

Abstract: Mixed mode security is provided for a mesh network comprising a plurality of open mesh points and at least one secure mesh point that is capable of sending and receiving encrypted traffic. Aspects of the exemplary embodiment include configuring the secure mesh point to forward unencrypted traffic received from one of the plurality of open mesh points; and configuring the secure mesh point to be a source of unencrypted source traffic, and to receive unencrypted traffic that is destined for the secure mesh point to enable routes in the mesh network to terminate at the secure mesh point.

Abstract: A frame groupcast system for a mesh node in a mesh network having a plurality of mesh nodes includes a transceiver that receives a groupcast frame and a groupcast determination module that determines whether to forward the received groupcast frame based on at least one measurement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing location-aware WiFi access for a portable device include determining an initial location of the portable device and transmitting the initial location to a WiFi location provider, wherein the WiFi location provider comprises locations and WiFi parameters for a plurality of WiFi access points, wherein each WiFi access point has a corresponding wireless range. The locations and the WiFi parameters for a set of WiFi access points are then received from the WiFi location provider, wherein the set of WiFi access points are within a radius of the initial location of the portable device. At least one WiFi access point in the set of WiFi access points is scanned for that contains the portable device within its wireless range. The portable device then connects to the at least one WiFi access point, thereby forming a WiFi connection.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for transmitting data packets in a wireless network over a multi-access channel involving sequentially sending a plurality of medium access control (MAC) data packets from a transmitter over the multi-access channel, using a physical layer protocol based on a standard physical layer protocol having a short interframe spacing (SIFS), wherein the plurality of MAC data packets includes at least a first data packet and a second data packet separated by a reduced interframe spacing that is less than SIFS, attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets at a receiver using the physical layer protocol, including the first data packet and the second data packet separated by the reduced interframe spacing, and sending from the receiver a single acknowledgement packet associated with attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets.

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: Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise a communication circuit to establish an infrastructure mode wireless connection with a wireless client through a wireless access point, and to establish a direct link setup (DLS) mode wireless connection with the wireless client; and a control circuit to select either infrastructure mode or DLS mode for communication with the wireless client based on at least one characteristic of the infrastructure mode and DLS mode wireless connections; wherein the communication circuit exchanges frames of data with the wireless client using the selected mode.

Abstract: A wireless network device comprises a physical layer (PHY) module that sends and receives packets wirelessly. A mesh routing module receives a first packet including a metric and a source address from a second wireless network device via the PHY module, transmits a second packet including a cumulative metric to a third wireless network device via the PHY module, determines the cumulative metric based upon the metric from the first packet and a link metric, and determines the link metric based upon a state of charge of the wireless network device and a transmission parameter of the second packet.

Abstract: A wireless network device comprises a forwarding table and a mesh routing module. The forwarding table stores direct and reverse entries, each including a destination address, a next hop address, and a metric. The metric of the direct entries corresponds to a route from the wireless network device to the destination address. The metric of the reverse entries corresponds to a route from the destination address to the wireless network device. The mesh routing module wirelessly receives route discovery packets and creates corresponding entries in the forwarding table.

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 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: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are presented for transmitting data packets in a wireless network over a multi-access channel involving sequentially sending a plurality of medium access control (MAC) data packets from a transmitter over the multi-access channel, using a physical layer protocol based on a standard physical layer protocol having a short interframe spacing (SIFS), wherein the plurality of MAC data packets includes at least a first data packet and a second data packet separated by a reduced interframe spacing that is less than SIFS, attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets at a receiver using the physical layer protocol, including the first data packet and the second data packet separated by the reduced interframe spacing, and sending from the receiver a single acknowledgement packet associated with attempting to receive the plurality of MAC data packets.

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 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: The invention includes an apparatus and a method for wirelessly transmitting and re-transmitting sub-protocol data units between a transceiver and a subscriber unit. The method includes the transceiver receiving standard data units and forming sub-protocol data units. The transceiver transmits a plurality of sub-protocol data units to the subscriber unit. A subset of the plurality of sub-protocol data units includes an acknowledge request indicator. The subscriber unit receives the sub-protocol data units. The subscriber unit transmits back to the transceiver a response to the acknowledge request indicator, indicating which sub-protocol data units were successfully received by the subscriber unit.