Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for communicating transmit parameters to a data transmitter for transmitting a data frame. Two or more levels of transmit parameters are associated with each data frame and are accessible and adjustable by a processor, such as a firmware processor. A data transmitter retrieves the transmit parameters of a level only if all attempts (initial attempt and retransmissions) at the previous level were unsuccessful. Each level includes a continuation data element, such as a designated bit, to indicate to the data transmitter that a subsequent level exists. The processor may adjust the transmit parameters in a transmit control table and may add levels of transmit parameters to the transmit control table based on transmission performance information.

Abstract: A network device including a medium access control device and an adaptation module. The medium access control device is configured to transmit a first frame based on a first parameter. The first parameter identifies one of a first guard interval, a first group of one or more antennas, a first preamble type, or a first bandwidth. The adaptation module is configured to (i) determine whether transmission of the first frame is successful, and (ii) if the transmission of the first frame is unsuccessful, select a second parameter. The second parameter identifies one of a second guard interval, a second group of one or more antennas, a second preamble type, or a second bandwidth. The medium access control device is configured to, in response to unsuccessful transmission of the first frame, transmit the first frame based on the second parameter.

Abstract: A network interface including: a physical layer device configured to transmit frames received from a host to a network; and a medium access control device configured to receive a first frame of the frames, and iteratively transmit the first frame to the physical layer device based on a first set of parameters until at least one of (i) the physical layer device receives an acknowledgement signal indicating that the first frame has been successfully transmitted, (ii) a number of unsuccessful transmissions of the first frame is equal to a predetermined count value, or (iii) a predetermined period expires prior to successful transmission of the first frame, wherein the first set of parameters comprise a first plurality of transmission parameters.

Abstract: A wireless network device includes N access point (AP) modules having N BSSID's, where N is an integer greater than 1. The wireless network device includes a control module that communicates with the N AP modules. The control module stores the N BSSID's, a BSSID of an (N+1)th external AP that communicates with M client stations, and at least one MAC address of at least one of the M client stations, where M is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The control module communicates with the (N+1)th external AP by emulating at least one of the M client stations.

Abstract: A medium access control device includes a memory configured to store a plurality of sets of transmission parameters and a plurality of count values. A queue module is configured to store a plurality of frames. A control module is configured to receive a first frame of the plurality of frames from the queue module. A control module is configured to transmit the first frame using a first transmission parameter set of the plurality of sets of transmission parameters until at least one of successful transmission occurs, a number of unsuccessful transmissions is equal to one of the plurality of count values associated with the first transmission parameter set, and a predetermined period expires. The control module is configured to transmit the first frame using a second transmission parameter set in response to the first frame not being transmitted based on the first transmission parameter set.

Abstract: A medium access control (MAC) device comprises memory, a queue module, and a control module. Memory stores N transmission parameter specifications and N?1 count values, each count value being associated with one of the N specifications, where N is an integer greater than one. The queue module stores a plurality of frames. The control module receives a first frame of the plurality of frames from the queue module and selectively attempts to transmit the first frame using a first specification of the N specifications until at least one of successful transmission occurs, a number of unsuccessful transmissions is equal to one of the N?1 count values associated with the first specification, and a predetermined period expires. The control module selectively attempts to transmit the first frame using a second specification of the N specifications when transmission of the first frame is unsuccessful using the first specification.

Abstract: An integrated circuit counter is capable of implementing a relatively high count while being testable using a relatively low number of clock cycles. A linear-feedback shift register (LFSR) having n bit positions is used as the counter. The feedback path of the shift register includes an exclusive OR (XOR) gate that couples selected bits back to the input of the register, in order to implement a 2.sup.n -1 counter. Combinatorial logic circuitry is included to test the counter in significantly less than 2.sup.n -1 clock cycles. This allows for implementing a testable "watchdog timer" that may be used to detect software runaway conditions in microprocessor systems, among other uses.