Abstract: Implementing a portion of a data stream to encrypt data packets being transmitted in a wireless network. More specifically, data segments from one or more data packets may be used to dynamically change the master key used to encrypt the data packets. Each of the transmitting and receiving nodes includes a constellation of master keys which may be implemented to encrypt a data packet. Data segments selected from one or more data packets which are transmitted from the transmitting node to the receiving node may be used to define the selection of one of the master keys used to encrypt a subsequent data packet. Because the master key may be selected as a function of the data stream, the master key used to encrypt a particular packet may be changed dynamically on a packet-by-packet basis.

Abstract: Wireless network and method for communicating in same. More specifically, techniques for improving over-the-air transmissions in networks implementing wired-equivalent privacy (WEP) security protocols. In one embodiment, during transmission of an encrypted data packet, the standard initialization vector field in the header of an encrypted data packet does not include the corresponding initialization vector used to encrypt the data packet. Further, the initialization vector is composed as a function of other data packets which are transmitted before the encrypted data packet that implemented the corresponding initialization vector. A receiving node reconstructs the initialization vector using the previously transmitted data packets. Accordingly, the receiving node is able to decrypt data packets without receiving an initialization vector along with the corresponding data packet that was encrypted with the initialization vector.