Abstract: A system and method for implementing a peer-to-peer wireless local area network (WLAN) that does not require a conventional wireless access point, yet facilitates many of the features provided by an access point, such as channel access management and Quality of Service functions. A method for dynamically selecting a Channel Access Manager (CAM) that (preferably) has the ability to communicate with the greatest number of wireless stations in a given WLAN is provided. The CAM is then used to manage channel access for the WLAN. A method for selecting one or more proxy CAMs that establish communication paths between the CAM and wireless stations with which the CAM traditionally would not be able to communicate is also provided. The invention also provides a method for resolving the issues that occur when a new station is added to the WLAN, and provides optimize routing of messages to maximize transmission bandwidths.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a peer-to-peer wireless local area network (WLAN) that does not require a conventional wireless access point, yet facilitates many of the features provided by an access point, such as channel access management and Quality of Service functions. A method for dynamically selecting a Channel Access Manager (CAM) that (preferably) has the ability to communicate with the greatest number of wireless stations in a given WLAN is provided. The CAM is then used to manage channel access for the WLAN. A method for selecting one or more proxy CAMs that establish communication paths between the CAM and wireless stations with which the CAM traditionally would not be able to communicate is also provided. The invention also provides a method for resolving the issues that occur when a new station is added to the WLAN, and provides optimize routing of messages to maximize transmission bandwidths.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a node includes: a circuit. The circuit is configurable based, at least in part, on control signals external to the node to be applied to the node via a power distribution system formed when the node is coupled to a plurality of nodes. The circuit includes the capability to deliver and to interrupt the delivery of power via the power distribution system.

Abstract: A method and a system for implementing leaf node proxy in a network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a leaf node is switched to a standby state in response to a standby command. A leaf node self-identification (“self-ID”) packet is synthesized in response to leaf node information, which is stored in a parent node. The leaf node self-ID packet is transmitted from the parent node in response to a request.