Abstract: A method for providing a virtual Wi-Fi network with secure tunnel provisioning is disclosed. The method provides a reliable, persistent connection between wireless communications enabled devices located at a user's premises and a service provider, and includes the steps of using a software code running on a computing device to pass instructions including a remote server address to an Application Programming Interface (API) running on a wireless router connected to the computing device through a Local Area Network (LAN); using the wireless router to establish a secure communication session with the remote server through a Wide Area Network (WAN); receiving at the wireless router through the WAN parameters required to set up a wireless Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN); and using the router, establishing a wireless VLAN at the user's premises and connecting the wireless VLAN to the remote server through the WAN using a secure tunnel connection.

Abstract: A method for providing a virtual Wi-Fi network with secure tunnel provisioning is disclosed. The method provides a reliable, persistent connection between wireless communications enabled devices located at a user's premises and a service provider, and includes the steps of using a software code running on a computing device to pass instructions including a remote server address to an Application Programming Interface (API) running on a wireless router connected to the computing device through a Local Area Network (LAN); using the wireless router to establish a secure communication session with the remote server through a Wide Area Network (WAN); receiving at the wireless router through the WAN parameters required to set up a wireless Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN); and using the router, establishing a wireless VLAN at the user's premises and connecting the wireless VLAN to the remote server through the WAN using a secure tunnel connection.

Abstract: An interface between radios supporting different air interfaces is disclosed that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages associated with inter-radio interfaces in the prior art. The present invention enables the needed coordination across multiple wireless protocols, such as 802.11 and Bluetooth, by providing a communication link spanning different integrated circuits when each radio is on a separate integrated circuit. This low cost, low complexity link can be added to standard integrated circuits produced by individual companies without adding appreciably to the overall cost of the integrated circuits.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for assigning addresses to stations in a local area network without some of the costs and disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. In particular, the illustrative embodiment ensures that unique addresses are assigned to the stations in a local area network in such a way that the broadcasting of the address does not reveal the identity of the station. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention accomplishes the dynamic address generation without modification to the frame formats or low-level medium access control protocol. The present invention is particularly useful for stations that wish to associate with a local area network and request services from that network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are exemplary techniques for establishing a direct link independent of an access point and for identifying proximate wireless stations users. The method and method are provided in a wireless network with an access point logically connected to at least a first wireless device and a second wireless device to notify the first wireless device that the second wireless device is in proximity to said first device. The system and method also establish a direct wireless link between a first wireless device and at least one proximate wireless device by identifying a second wireless device within a predetermined proximity of the first wireless device, determining an identity associated with a user of the second wireless device, comparing the identify with a set identities, and notifying the user of a proximity of the user of the second wireless device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed that enables both an IEEE 802.11 transceiver and a Bluetooth transceiver to be employed in a single wireless telecommunication station (e.g., a device supporting a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, etc.) without interfering on each other. In particular, the illustrative embodiment enables standard “off-the-shelf” IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth transceivers to work in a coordinated fashion in a single telecommunications terminal. In the illustrative embodiment, an IEEE 802.11 transceiver that uses a shared-communications channel notifies a Bluetooth transceiver that a transmit opportunity exists and that the Bluetooth transceiver has permission to use the shared-communications channel. The technique disclosed is also applicable to communications protocols other than IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving vehicle tracking and remote control. A wireless telecommunications system infrastructure receives a unique vehicle identifier via a shared-communications channel from a vehicle being tracked, as well as location information for that vehicle. The location information is derived from Global Positioning System signals or from the address of the local infrastructure currently in contact with the vehicle, or both. The same shared-communications channel is used to convey control messages to the vehicle, wherein the messages are mapped into control signals that can disable the vehicle's engine or control some other system that is part of the vehicle.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for conveying extended functionality control and management information in networks. Enhanced stations encode the control and management information in pre-existing messages. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the enhanced stations perform the encoding without the need to create nonstandard or proprietary frame formats. Unenhanced stations that are present in the same network as enhanced stations react to the encoded information in a benign way.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed that provides an improvement in how stations that operate in accordance with different protocols coexist in the same network without some of the costs and disadvantages of the prior art. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides protection against collisions due to transmissions in accordance with a first protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11, etc.) occurring around the same time as transmissions in accordance with a second protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.). Protection against collisions is achieved in the illustrative embodiment by a protecting station causing other stations (e.g., access points, etc.) to defer any pending first protocol transmissions during a predetermined time interval. The protecting station is then able to transmit in accordance with the second protocol during the predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed involves a station (e.g., an IEEE 802.11 station, etc.) requesting that one or more frames be transmitted from an access point to the station. The station might have been in power save mode during Bluetooth operation for the purpose of causing the access point to queue frames that are intended for the station. The station making the request is collocated with the Bluetooth station or is, in fact, a single station that supports two protocols (i.e., has two parts), and is able to determine the regular timing of the Bluetooth synchronous connected oriented (SCO) packet transmissions. The requests to the access point for IEEE 802.11 frames are timed to cause the access point response frames to fall between the Bluetooth messages, thus managing potential interference.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for improving how stations that operate in accordance with different protocols coexist with an access point that operates in accordance with a single protocol. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a station provides timing information to an IEEE 802.11 access point. The access point uses the timing information to determine when it may transmit any available frames to the station, so as not to interfere with any ongoing Bluetooth packet transmissions that are made by the station.