Abstract: A method and system for processing a payment authorization request associated with a payment card is provided. The method comprises determining a cardholder's context based on transmissions received from a user device associated with a cardholder using the payment card; determining a transaction context based on analysis of the payment authorization request; determining at least one transaction authorization preference associated with the payment card; performing a transaction authorization process to generate a transaction authorization response based on the at least one transaction authorization preference wherein information in the transaction context is used as a hint to selectively guide application of the transaction authorization preference.

Abstract: AP's associated with a communication network and any wireless devices desiring contact, operated according to a protocol in which each wireless device selects AP's with which to communicate. A system coordinator causes the AP's to operate so as to guide each wireless device to an AP selected by the system coordinator. This has the effect that, notwithstanding that the protocol involves having the wireless device make the selection of AP, functionally, the AP's make the selection for it. In a 1st technique, multiple AP's share an identifier, with the system coordinator directing one particular AP to respond to the wireless device, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal cell”. In a 2nd technique, AP's each maintain identifiers substantially unique to each wireless device, with the system coordinator directing only one particular AP to maintain any particular wireless device's identifier, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal AP”.

Abstract: Data distribution between mobile stations and external data paths is assigned to a new set of devices, distribution points. Each distribution point is independently coupled to mobile stations, also assigned to access points. Control elements operate to control the distribution points separately from the access points. Each access point maintains a substantially stateless link with each distribution point for which the two share a mobile station. Access points might exchange data with any one or more distribution points concurrently. Access points thus obtain greater bandwidth connectivity to external data paths. Mobile stations transfer between access points and transfer between distribution points independently. This has the effect that bandwidth connectivity between distribution points and external data paths have no particular requirement for VLAN separation. Mobile stations may roam among multiple Internet protocol subnets.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a seamless transition between access points for mobile devices. The method comprises associating a unique identifier for a plurality of mobile stations with a unique identifier for a first network in an acknowledgment table, then, upon receiving a frame from a mobile station, acknowledging the reception of the frame if the frame includes the unique identifier for the mobile station and the unique identifier for the network. The transfer of operation between access points is effectuated through the use of control circuitry which transfers portions of the contents of the acknowledgement table between various access points. This has the effect that the mobile stations does not sense a change in access points and thus the roaming from a first access point to a second access point is seamless.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing voice communications in a wireless network including an AP having a message waiting time that provides proper QoS while losing minimal communication bandwidth. The QoS may be responsive to the amount of user traffic in both the AP and neighboring APs. The method may include setting parameters for each level of QoS in response to a measure of the degree of contention for that level of QoS, and in response to a measure of the degree of contention for those levels of QoS with higher priority, and setting waiting time parameters in response to a stochastic model of contention at each level of QoS. Operational parameters might include contention window time, AIFS time, and back-off value(s), and might be modified in response to message QoS.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing voice communications in a wireless network including an AP having a message waiting time that provides proper QoS while losing minimal communication bandwidth. The QoS may be responsive to the amount of user traffic in both the AP and neighboring APs. The method may include setting parameters for each level of QoS in response to a measure of the degree of contention for that level of QoS, and in response to a measure of the degree of contention for those levels of QoS with higher priority, and setting waiting time parameters in response to a stochastic model of contention at each level of QoS. Operational parameters might include contention window time, AIFS time, and back-off value(s), and might be modified in response to message QoS.

Abstract: AP's associated with a communication network and any wireless devices desiring contact, operated according to a protocol in which each wireless device selects AP's with which to communicate. A system coordinator causes the AP's to operate so as to guide each wireless device to an AP selected by the system coordinator. This has the effect that, notwithstanding that the protocol involves having the wireless device make the selection of AP, functionally, the AP's make the selection for it. In a 1st technique, multiple AP's share an identifier, with the system coordinator directing one particular AP to respond to the wireless device, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal cell”. In a 2nd technique, AP's each maintain identifiers substantially unique to each wireless device, with the system coordinator directing only one particular AP to maintain any particular wireless device's identifier, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal AP”.

Abstract: Data distribution between mobile stations and external data paths is assigned to a new set of devices, distribution points. Each distribution point is independently coupled to mobile stations, also assigned to access points. Control elements operate to control the distribution points separately from the access points. Each access point maintains a substantially stateless link with each distribution point for which the two share a mobile station. Access points might exchange data with any one or more distribution points concurrently. Access points thus obtain greater bandwidth connectivity to external data paths. Mobile stations transfer between access points and transfer between distribution points independently. This has the effect that bandwidth connectivity between distribution points and external data paths have no particular requirement for VLAN separation. Mobile stations may roam among multiple Internet protocol subnets.

Abstract: A technique for providing per station control of multiple stations in a wireless network across multiple access points. A look-up table that assigns a station connected to the access point and at least one communication parameter to each of a plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs (Basic Service Set Identifiers) is stored. An access point responds to messages addressed one of the plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs and ignores messages addressed to other BSSIDs. Persistence of the BSSID allows the controller to maintain individual control over each station after moving to a second access point of the plurality of access points. A frame comprising the plurality of BSSIDs corresponding to each connected station aggregated into the frame is generated. The frame is transmitted to the plurality of stations.

Abstract: Reliable multicast delivery in wireless communication, even when a WS doesn't know its AP, is determined at the AP without the sending device. Multicast packets are received at each AP having destinations. Without altering those packets, the AP encapsulates them in an A-MSDU packet. Each A-MSDU packet is sent individually to each destination, and might encapsulate more than one multicast packet. Destinations might receive two streaming messages faster than if sent separately. AP's might choose a 1st multiple of multicast packets from a 1st source, a 2nd, different, multiple of multicast packets from a 2nd source, and a single multicast packet from a 3rd source. Individualized optimization of transmission parameters for each A-MSDU packet and each multicast packet therein. Individualized optimization of transmission parameters for the A-MSDU packet for each destination. The AP collectively optimizes delivery of distinct multicast packets to different destinations.

Abstract: One or more access points in a wireless communication system, wherein at least one of those access points includes a set of more than one antennae capable of concurrent communication, and at least one of those more than one antennae is isolated from a remainder of that set of antennae during concurrent communication. Isolation includes one or more of disposed a first antenna in a null region of a second antenna, disposing a first antenna to communicate polarized and substantially orthogonal to a second antenna, disposing a set of antennae to communicate at two or more carrier frequencies, wherein each first antenna adjacent to a second antenna operate at distinct such carrier frequencies, or disposing a set of antennae to communicate using two or more substantially distinct protocols, wherein substantially each first antenna adjacent to a second antenna operate at substantially distinct such protocols.

Abstract: A technique for providing per station control of multiple stations in a wireless network across multiple access points. A look-up table that assigns a station connected to the access point and at least one communication parameter to each of a plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs (Basic Service Set Identifiers) is stored. An access point responds to messages addressed one of the plurality of persistent, uniquely-assigned BSSIDs and ignores messages addressed to other BSSIDs. Persistence of the BSSID allows the controller to maintain individual control over each station after moving to a second access point of the plurality of access points. A frame comprising the plurality of BSSIDs corresponding to each connected station aggregated into the frame is generated. The frame is transmitted to the plurality of stations.

Abstract: AP's associated with a communication network and any wireless devices desiring contact, operated according to a protocol in which each wireless device selects AP's with which to communicate. A system coordinator causes the AP's to operate so as to guide each wireless device to an AP selected by the system coordinator. This has the effect that, notwithstanding that the protocol involves having the wireless device make the selection of AP, functionally, the AP's make the selection for it. In a 1st technique, multiple AP's share an identifier, with the system coordinator directing one particular AP to respond to the wireless device, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal cell”. In a 2nd technique. AP's each maintain identifiers substantially unique to each wireless device, with the system coordinator directing only one particular AP to maintain any particular wireless device's identifier, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal AP”.

Abstract: One or more access points in a wireless communication system, wherein at least one of those access points includes a set of more than one antennae capable of concurrent communication, and at least one of those more than one antennae is isolated from a remainder of that set of antennae during concurrent communication. Isolation includes one or more of disposed a first antenna in a null region of a second antenna, disposing a first antenna to communicate polarized and substantially orthogonal to a second antenna, disposing a set of antennae to communicate at two or more carrier frequencies, wherein each first antenna adjacent to a second antenna operate at distinct such carrier frequencies, or disposing a set of antennae to communicate using two or more substantially distinct protocols, wherein substantially each first antenna adjacent to a second antenna operate at substantially distinct such protocols.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a seamless transition between access points for mobile devices. The method comprises associating a unique identifier for a plurality of mobile stations with a unique identifier for a first network in an acknowledgment table, then, upon receiving a frame from a mobile station, acknowledging the reception of the frame if the frame includes the unique identifier for the mobile station and the unique identifier for the network. The transfer of operation between access points is effectuated through the use of control circuitry which transfers portions of the contents of the acknowledgement table between various access points. This has the effect that the mobile stations does not sense a change in access points and thus the roaming from a first access point to a second access point is seamless.

Abstract: Uplink medium access control on per-wireless device level for a specific user. An access point sends a beacon frame to a wireless device. The beacon frame includes a BSSID that is unique to the wireless device. The beacon frame also includes embedded uplink configurations specifying uplink medium access for the wireless device. In one embodiment, a controller recognizes a device or user associated with the device, and sends corresponding uplink configurations for embedding in a subsequent beacon frame.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing voice communications in a wireless network including an AP having a message waiting time that provides proper QoS while losing minimal communication bandwidth. The QoS may be responsive to the amount of user traffic in both the AP and neighboring APs. The method may include setting parameters for each level of QoS in response to a measure of the degree of contention for that level of QoS, and in response to a measure of the degree of contention for those levels of QoS with higher priority, and setting waiting time parameters in response to a stochastic model of contention at each level of QoS. Operational parameters might include contention window time, AIFS time, and back-off value(s), and might be modified in response to message QoS.

Abstract: Uplink medium access control on per-wireless device level. An access point sends a beacon frame to a wireless device. The beacon frame includes a BSSID that is unique to the wireless device. The beacon frame also includes embedded uplink configurations specifying uplink medium access for the wireless device. In one embodiment, a controller recognizes a device or user associated with the device, and sends corresponding uplink configurations for embedding in a subsequent beacon frame.

Abstract: An AP having a message waiting time that provides proper QoS while losing minimal communication bandwidth, setting parameters for each level of QoS in response to a measure of the degree of contention for that level of QoS, and in response to a measure of the degree of contention for those levels of QoS with higher priority, and setting waiting time parameters in response to a stochastic model of contention at each level of QoS. Changes in contention at each level of QoS affect the AP's waiting time parameters for that level of QoS and also for levels of QoS with lower priority. Operational parameters might include contention window time, AIFS time, and back-off value(s), and might be modified in response to message QoS.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a seamless transition between access points for mobile devices. The method comprises associating a unique identifier for a plurality of mobile stations with a unique identifier for a first network in an acknowledgment table, then, upon receiving a frame from a mobile station, acknowledging the reception of the frame if the frame includes the unique identifier for the mobile station and the unique identifier for the network. The transfer of operation between access points is effectuated through the use of control circuitry which transfers portions of the contents of the acknowledgement table between various access points. This has the effect that the mobile stations does not sense a change in access points and thus the roaming from a first access point to a second access point is seamless.