Abstract: A network, a Visible Light Communications controller (120), and a method relate to a network architecture splitting frame processing functionality between Light Fidelity Access Points (130) and the Visible Light Communications controller or a virtualized controller. In such configurations, the Light Fidelity Access Points are so-called thin devices that may be widely deployed through an infrastructure to concurrently provide illumination and network access via Visible Light Communications protocols such as IEEE 802.15.7 or variants thereof.

Abstract: A method, a controller, and a network provide Visible Light Communications Personal Area Network (VPAN) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking and mobility management systems and methods. The method includes receiving data traffic from both a Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) domain and a Visible Light Communications (VLC) domain, uniquely identifying, in a controller, a device in both the WLAN domain and the VLC domain as a same device using an addressing scheme associated with both the WLAN domain and the VLC domain, wherein the device is configured to operate in both the WLAN domain and the VLC domain, and providing data traffic to the device via one of the WLAN domain and the VLC domain based on a plurality of factors.

Abstract: A network, a Visible Light Communications controller (120), and a method relate to a network architecture splitting frame processing functionality between Light Fidelity Access Points (130) and the Visible Light Communications controller or a virtualized controller. In such configurations, the Light Fidelity Access Points are so-called thin devices that may be widely deployed through an infrastructure to concurrently provide illumination and network access via Visible Light Communications protocols such as IEEE 8.02.15.7 or variants thereof.

Abstract: A network, a Visible Light Communications (VLC) controller, and a method relate to a network architecture splitting frame processing functionality between Light Fidelity (LiFi) Access Points (APs) and a VLC controller or virtualized controller. In such configurations, the LiFi APs are so-called thin devices that may be widely deployed through an infrastructure to concurrently provide illumination and network access via VLC protocols such as IEEE 802.15.7 or variants thereof.

Abstract: A network, a Visible Light Communications (VLC) controller, and a method relate to a network architecture splitting frame processing functionality between Light Fidelity (LiFi) Access Points (APs) and a VLC controller or virtualized controller. In such configurations, the LiFi APs are so-called thin devices that may be widely deployed through an infrastructure to concurrently provide illumination and network access via VLC protocols such as IEEE 802.15.7 or variants thereof.

Abstract: A method, a controller, and a network provide Visible Light Communications Personal Area Network (VPAN) and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) interworking and mobility management systems and methods. The method includes receiving data traffic from both a Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) domain and a Visible Light Communications (VLC) domain, uniquely identifying, in a controller, a device in both the WLAN domain and the VLC domain as a same device using an addressing scheme associated with both the WLAN domain and the VLC domain, wherein the device is configured to operate in both the WLAN domain and the VLC domain, and providing data traffic to the device via one of the WLAN domain and the VLC domain based on a plurality of factors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for access point groupings bridging tunneled traffic for a communication network, includes a first step of associating each access point with a location parameter. A next step includes grouping access points in accordance with the location parameter. A next step includes receiving a packet. A next step includes bridging the packet between Layer-2 tunnels of all access points that are part of a grouping.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reliably transmitting data. A method comprises identifying a metric for a first frame of a plurality of frames, wherein the metric is indicative of decoding significance for the first frame among the plurality of frames. When the metric corresponds to a relatively high decoding significance, the method further comprises transmitting the first frame in accordance with an enhanced transmission scheme. When the metric corresponds to a relatively low decoding significance, the method further comprises transmitting the first frame in accordance with a default transmission scheme. The reliability of the enhanced transmission scheme is greater than the reliability of the default transmission scheme.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for access point groupings bridging tunneled traffic for a communication network, includes a first step of associating each access point with a location parameter. A next step includes grouping access points in accordance with the location parameter. A next step includes receiving a packet. A next step includes bridging the packet between Layer-2 tunnels of all access points that are part of a grouping.

Abstract: A method and system for distributed collaborative firewalling in a wireless wide area communication network including a plurality of controllers, comprises a binding table that is built by the controller in response to receiving identifiers of wireless clients being served by the controller, where the binding table lists the wireless clients associated with each access port under control of the controller. A processor of the controller is operable to apply stateless firewalling on wireless communication traffic from a wireless client using the binding table, and applying, by each access port, stateful firewalling on the wireless communication traffic from the wireless client.

Abstract: A method and system for distributed collaborative firewalling in a wireless wide area communication network including a plurality of controllers, comprises a binding table that is built by the controller in response to receiving identifiers of wireless clients being served by the controller, where the binding table lists the wireless clients associated with each access port under control of the controller. A processor of the controller is operable to apply stateless firewalling on wireless communication traffic from a wireless client using the binding table, and applying, by each access port, stateful firewalling on the wireless communication traffic from the wireless client.

Abstract: A network is provided that includes a first WLAN infrastructure device (WID) that defines a first subnet, and a wireless client device (WCD) that is initially associated with the first WID. The WCD associates with a “current” WID when the wireless client device roams from the first subnet to a second subnet defined by the current WID. Upon successful association, the current WID unicasts a first IGMP query message (IGMPQM) to the WCD that has a MAC header including a destination MAC address that is set to a MAC address of the WCD.

Abstract: An apparatus, network and techniques for minimizing wireless network downtime associated with a wireless switch failure are disclosed. Access ports are adopted to multiple wireless switches wherein one switch operates to exchange data and control traffic with the access port and remaining switches operate to exchange control traffic with the access port. In the event of a link failure between the wireless switch exchanging data and control traffic with the access port, the access port remains adopted to remaining switches and exchanges data and control traffic with one of the remaining switches.

Abstract: A network is provided that includes a first WLAN infrastructure device (WID) that defines a first subnet, and a wireless client device (WCD) that is initially associated with the first WID. The WCD associates with a “current” WID when the wireless client device roams from the first subnet to a second subnet defined by the current WID. Upon successful association, the current WID unicasts a first IGMP query message (IGMPQM) to the WCD that has a MAC header including a destination MAC address that is set to a MAC address of the WCD.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reliably transmitting data. A method comprises identifying a metric for a first frame of a plurality of frames, wherein the metric is indicative of decoding significance for the first frame among the plurality of frames. When the metric corresponds to a relatively high decoding significance, the method further comprises transmitting the first frame in accordance with an enhanced transmission scheme. When the metric corresponds to a relatively low decoding significance, the method further comprises transmitting the first frame in accordance with a default transmission scheme. The reliability of the enhanced transmission scheme is greater than the reliability of the default transmission scheme.

Abstract: An apparatus, network and techniques for minimizing wireless network downtime associated with a wireless switch failure are disclosed. Access ports are adopted to multiple wireless switches wherein one switch operates to exchange data and control traffic with the access port and remaining switches operate to exchange control traffic with the access port. In the event of a link failure between the wireless switch exchanging data and control traffic with the access port, the access port remains adopted to remaining switches and exchanges data and control traffic with one of the remaining switches.