Abstract: Wireless networks and their method of implementation include a first network and one or more networks. The first network assigns designated time slots to each of the one or more networks during which at least one device of at least one of the networks may communicate with at least one other device of its respective network.

Abstract: A wireless device and method may be used to receive messages. The wireless device may include, among other things, a receiver, a processor, and a memory. The processor may be configured to determine whether a received message includes a mobile device identification. The processor may perform the determination periodically, for example, during a transmit time interval (TTI). If at least one of the received messages includes a mobile device identification and information indicating that data is to be sent to the wireless device, the wireless device may initiate receiving data in accordance with the information. If a received message does not include any mobile device identification, the wireless device may initiate discontinuous reception. The discontinuous reception may be performed until the next TTI.

Abstract: In order to reduce the average wait time, information regarding regulatory domain, a component of channel availability, may be obtained through an apparatus and method for transmitting within available channels in a wireless network. This includes determining available channels in a wireless network by: receiving regulatory domain information within the wireless network; generating a frame with at least one component corresponding to the regulatory domain information; transmitting the frame unsolicited by a beacon; receiving the report at a station; and determining whether a channel is available for transmission based, at least in part, on the component corresponding to the regulatory domain information contained in the frame.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes at least one hybrid coordinator (HC) and at least one Quality of Service Station (QSTA). The HC transmits a schedule frame element (SEF). The WLAN also includes a clocking mechanism that sets a substantially absolute start time of a service interval. A method of synchronizing the HC and the QSTA includes transmitting a schedule element frame (SEF), and setting a substantially absolute start-time of a service interval, and a first transmitted frame element.

Abstract: A wireless network (100) includes a plurality of wireless stations (QSTAs) (102) and an access point (QAP) (101). The QAP, or one or more of the QSTAs, or both, are adapted to measure delay data, or queue data, or both, per one or more traffic type. A method of wireless communication is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specification of the start time for taking measurements in wireless local area networks (WLAN), in which the start time of measurements to be taken is included in a Measurement Start Time field of a Measurement Request Frame and the interpretation of the start time for a specific measured element is determined by a Mode field included in each Measurement Request Element field of the Measurement Request Frame. Optionally, the start time of a Measurement Request Frame is specified using a time synchronization function (TSF) timer value or part thereof in order to avoid ambiguities in interpretation of the start time reported.

Abstract: A distributed MAC protocol that includes a super-frame having a slotted Beaconing Period and a data transfer period. The super-frame includes a plurality of medium access slots which are assigned to the slotted Beaconing Period. The Beaconing Period length may be fixed or variable. The Beaconing protocol defines initializing an ad hoc network by means of starting a Beaconing Period, joining an existing Beaconing Period of ad hoc network and resolving collisions during the Beaconing Period.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for power management in an Independent Basic Service Set (IBSS) Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that replaces the Ad-hoc Traffic Indication Message (ATIM) and its associated control logic, with a protocol comprising a variable length Data Alert frame transmission period or Data Alert window that accommodates the traffic in the IBSS and is followed by a data frame transmission period, a special End of Alert frame, a special LIFS for the End of Alert frame and new control logic. The End of Alert frame has a lower priority in a contention for a medium with a Data Alert frame, i.e., the Data Alert frame has the equivalent of a higher priority, thereby maximizing the number of Data Alerts sent during any Data Alert window. This approach to power management achieves optimal allocation of time used to send Data Alert frame and data frame thus minimizes power consumption by all wireless stations of the IBSS.

Abstract: A new type of measurement (150) recently adopted in the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard is used by the a system and method that allows devices (301) to detect if microwave ovens (302) are operating in their vicinity. By scanning the medium, the devices (301) derive information about whether a commercial and/or residential microwave oven causes interference on the medium (310). The information is derived from the collected pattern of medium occupancy times that is characteristic of microwave ovens by using medium sensing histograms (150) defined by the standard.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for measuring medium activity patterns in wireless networks and deriving information about the radio environment from the measured medium activity/patterns. This invention is three-fold. First, it defines what to measure, including medium idle/busy patterns based on power detection, medium idle/busy pattern based on preamble detection, and medium idle/busy pattern based on virtual sensing. Second, it provides a mechanism for communicating the measurement request and report, as illustration for the case of IEE 802.11. And last, it defines the information that can be derived given these measurements as discovery of: non-802 devices, 802.11e systems, 802.11e contention-based medium access priorities, 802.11e controlled medium access usage, 802.11b/g existence, and hidden stations.

Abstract: A distributed MAC protocol is provided that includes a superframe (102) having a slotted Beaconing Period (104) and a data transfer period (103). The provided superframe (102) comprises a plurality of medium access slots (107) and a plurality of medium access slots (107) is assigned to the slotted Beaconing Period (104). The Beaconing Period length (106) may be fixed or variable. The provided Beaconing protocol defines initializing an ad hoc network by means of starting (101) a Beaconing Period (104), joining an existing Beaconing Period (104) of ad hoc network and resolving collisions during the Beaconing Period.

Abstract: A wireless network (100) includes a plurality of wireless stations (QSTAs) (102) and an access point (QAP) (101). The QAP, or one or more of the QSTAs, or both, are adapted to measure delay data, or queue data, or both, per one or more traffic type. A method of wireless communication is also described.

Abstract: A plurality of methods, computer program product, and apparatus that use a lower 32 bit field of a 64-bit 802.11 TSF timer, so as to encode the reference time instant without the ambiguity as to whether there the reference time is referring to a future time or a past time. According to an aspect of the present invention, the fact that the low order 32 bits of the TSF timer wraps over in about 71 minutes is exploited to remove any ambiguity in the reference times contained in the Schedule Element frame. One method employs an algorithm base on distance between two reference points to determine whether the timer has wrapped around a time period, and another method uses a delay interval or a timeout to determine whether or not the TSF timer is wrapped or unwrapped. Another method includes determining whether an absolute value of X?O is less than, or greater than or equal to maximum value M/2.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing in wireless LANs is provided. The system and method uses a new management command comprising a management frame for load balancing purposes. The new “load balancing” management frame comprises a two part frame body: at least one AP Information set and at least one switch condition set. The switch condition set may further comprise specification of a predetermined algorithm.

Abstract: In order to reduce the average wait time, information regarding regulatory domain, a component of channel availability, may be obtained through an apparatus and method for transmitting within available channels in a wireless network. This includes determining available channels in a wireless network by: receiving regulatory domain information within the wireless network; generating a frame with at least one component corresponding to the regulatory domain information; transmitting the frame unsolicited by a beacon; receiving the report at a STA; and determining whether a channel is available for transmission based, at least in part, on the component corresponding to said regulatory domain information contained in the frame.

Abstract: Wireless networks and their method of implementation include a first network and one or more networks. The first network assigns designated time slots to each of the one or more networks during which at least one device of at least one of the networks may communicate with at least one other device of its respective network.

Abstract: In a wireless local area network (WLAN), the present invention provides a system and method for identifying traffic suffering from bad link quality and dynamically adjusting channel access to restrict the effect of this bad link quality. The dynamic adjustment to channel access is accomplished by lowering or raising the limit on the number of packets that can be transmitted between an AP and the wireless station over the a link as determined by the link quality. The link quality is determined by tracking the number of successive packet transmission successes and errors.

Abstract: A plurality of methods, computer program product, and apparatus that use a lower 32 bit field of a 64-bit 802.11 TSF timer, so as to encode the reference time instant without the ambiguity as to whether there the reference time is referring to a future time or a past time. According to an aspect of the present invention, the fact that the low order 32 bits of the TSF timer wraps over in about 71 minutes is exploited to remove any ambiguity in the reference times contained in the Schedule Element frame. One method employs an algorithm base on distance between two reference points to determine whether the timer has wrapped around a time period, and another method uses a delay interval or a timeout to determine whether or not the TSF timer is wrapped or unwrapped. Another method includes determining whether an absolute value of X?O is less than, or greater than or equal to maximum value M/2.

Abstract: A Medium Sensing Time Histogram Table structure is provided for inclusion in a Management Information Base (MIB) for storing and accessing Medium Sensing Time Histogram measurement results, such as Medium Sensing Time Histogram Measurement Reports. A predetermined number of entries may be provided in the Medium Sensing Time Histogram Report Table for this purpose. An apparatus and method is provided for a wireless device to enter and access entries in the Medium Sensing Time Histogram Report Table. The method and apparatus is intended for use in the IEEE 802.11k standard as well as any WLAN requiring measurement of the medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specification of the start time for taking measurements in wireless local area networks (WLAN), in which the start time of measurements to be taken is included in a Measurement Start Time field of a Measurement Request Frame and the interpretation of the start time for a specific measured element is determined by a Mode field included in each Measurement Request Element field of the Measurement Request Frame. Optionally, the start time of a Measurement Request Frame is specified using a time synchronization function (TSF) timer value or part thereof in order to avoid ambiguities in interpretation of the start time reported.