Abstract: A refresh control circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes a variable delay unit configured to delay a signal that is activated quickest among a plurality of row address strobe signals activated at a predetermined time interval by a predetermined time, and to generate a preliminary pulse signal, and a piled delay unit configured to delay the preliminary pulse signal by various times, and to generate a plurality of refresh period pulse signals that are sequentially activated.

Abstract: Embodiments of a sense amplifier test circuit are disclosed that may allow for detecting soft failures. The sense amplifier test circuit may include a voltage generator circuit, a sense amplifier, and a detection circuit. The voltage generator may be operable to controllably supply different differential voltages to the sense amplifier, and the detection circuit may be operable to detect an analog voltage on the output of the sense amplifier.

Abstract: A testing method for a chip with an embedded non-volatile memory and the chip is provided. A remapping circuit and the non-volatile memory are connected to a processor. The non-volatile memory has a test area and an area under test. The test area stores a test program, and the area under test stores data under test. When the processor tests the chip, the processor outputs an original instruction address, and the remapping circuit remaps the original instruction address to generate a remapped instruction address. The processor reads the test program in the test area, and executes the test program to read the data under test in the area under test and to perform a test of toggling the logic circuit.

Abstract: A system includes a memory block. The memory block includes a local control circuit that is operable to control a memory operation of the memory block. The local control circuit includes a local sense amplifier. The system also includes a global memory control circuit separate from the memory block, and the global memory control circuit is operable to communicate with the local control circuit. The global memory control circuit includes a global sense amplifier operable to receive a sensed data state from the local sense amplifier.

Abstract: A sense amplifier circuit, a method of modifying a differential voltage in a sense amplifier circuit and a memory system incorporating the sense amplifier circuit or the method. In one embodiment, the sense amplifier circuit includes: (1) a differential amplifier having first and second inputs respectively couplable to first and second complimentary bit lines and configured to receive a differential voltage therefrom representing a current logic value to be read and (2) a sense speed alteration circuit having first and second outputs respectively coupled to the first and second inputs via respective first and second capacitors and configured to cause one of the first and second capacitors to discharge to increase the differential voltage when a previously read logic value is opposite the current logic value to be read.

Abstract: A circuit and method for dynamically changing trip point voltage in a sensing inverter circuit. In one embodiment, the sensing inverter circuit includes: (1) a base inverter circuit couplable to logic-high and logic-low voltage sources at respective inputs thereof and configured to transition an output thereof from a previous logic-level voltage to a present logic-level voltage based on a logic value of an input voltage received by the base inverter circuit, and (2) a feedback circuit associated with the base inverter circuit and configured to employ the previous logic-level voltage to decouple one of the logic-high and logic-low voltage sources from one of the inputs and thereby shift a trip voltage of the base inverter circuit toward the input voltage.

Abstract: An e-fuse array circuit includes a high voltage pumping unit configured to generate a high voltage by pumping a power source voltage, a negative voltage pumping unit configured to generate a negative voltage by pumping a ground voltage, a program/read line supplied with the high voltage when a program operation is activated, a read voltage, which is lower than the high voltage, when a read operation is activated, or the negative voltage when deactivated, a row line supplied with the ground voltage when the row line is activated or the negative voltage when the row line is deactivated, an e-fuse device supplied with voltage of the program/read line, a switch device controlled by the row line and configured to electrically connect the e-fuse device with a column line, and a column circuit configured to supply the negative voltage to the column line when the column line is activated.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a high voltage generator generating a high voltage, a negative voltage generator generating a negative voltage, a divided voltage generator generating a divided voltage by dividing the power source voltage and supplying it to a read voltage terminal, a first power gate supplying the high voltage or the divided voltage to a program voltage terminal, a second power gate supplying the negative voltage or the ground voltage to a deactivation voltage terminal, a third power gate supplying the ground voltage or the divided voltage to an activation voltage terminal, and an e-fuse array circuit operating using voltage of the program voltage terminal as a program voltage, voltage of the divided voltage terminal as a read voltage, voltage of the activation voltage terminal as an activation voltage, and voltage of the deactivation voltage terminal as a deactivation voltage.

Abstract: A setting information storage circuit includes first decoders configured to generate first input enable signals, respectively, in response to selection codes and a first set signal, first register sets configured to correspond to the first decoders, respectively, and to receive setting data when first input enable signals generated from the first decoders corresponding to the first register sets, respectively, are enabled, and store the received setting data, a second decoders configured to generate a second input enable signals, respectively, in response to the selection codes and a second set signal, and a second register sets configured to correspond to the second decoders, respectively, and to receive the setting data when second input enable signals generated from the second decoders corresponding to the second register sets, respectively, are enabled, and store the received setting data.

Abstract: A device, for mixing and dispensing a pasty mass, comprising a cartridge that is open or can be opened on two ends and has a mixing element and a feed plunger arranged in it, whereby the feed plunger, in a starting position, is arranged in the region of a first cartridge end, the mixing element is arranged on a mixing rod, the mixing rod extends through the feed plunger into the inside of the cartridge, the mixing rod and the feed plunger and the cartridge together form a tight connection that seals the cartridge inside of the device with respect to the exterior, whereby the feed plunger is arranged on the mixing rod and such that it can move in the cartridge in axial direction and whereby at least one clamping jaw is arranged on the feed plunger in appropriate manner such that the clamping jaw can be pressed onto the mixing rod by means of a locking element such that the mixing rod can no longer be shifted with respect to the feed plunger.

Abstract: A nail polish mixing apparatus for stirring the mixing balls and nail polish contained with a nail polish bottle comprises a base, a vertical support column having an opening defined by a slot, and a motor in connection with a first end of a shaft. A linkage includes a top end that is rotatably fixed to a guide pin sized and configured to move up and down within the slot, and a bottom end that is rotatably fixed to a peripheral edge of a wheel that is in connection with a second end of the shaft. A ring on the linkage is provided for securing the nail polish bottle. Upon activation, the motor rotates the wheel, causing the bottom end of the linkage to move in a circular motion and the top end of the linkage to move up and down, thereby mixing the contents in the nail polish bottle.

Abstract: Disclosed an acoustically transparent material including an acoustic wave steering material, and methods for fabrication and use thereof. The materials are specially designed structures of homogenous isotropic metals. These structures are constructed to propagate waves according to Pentamode elastic theory. The metamaterial structures are two-dimensional, intended to propagate acoustic waves in the plane in a manner which closely emulates the propagation of waves in water. The acoustically transparent materials described herein have particular utility as acoustic wave steering materials and acoustic cloaks.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system for generating an ultrasonic image of a motion status of an object according to at least an ultrasonic motion signal generated by detecting the motion of the object is provided. The ultrasonic imaging system includes a demodulation module, an analog sub-array beamformer, a filter, an analog-to-digital converter and an image processing module. The demodulation module receives and demodulates the ultrasonic motion signal so as to generate and send at least a demodulated signal. The analog sub-array beamformer receives the demodulated signal, generates and sends an analog sub-array beam signal according to the demodulated signal. The filter receives and filtering the analog sub-array beam signal. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog sub-array beam signal filtered by the filter into a digital sub-array beam signal. The image processing module receives the digital sub-array beam signal so as to generate an ultrasonic image of the motion of the object.

Abstract: An acousto-optic image capture device includes: an acoustic beam source, an acoustic lens system; an acousto-optic medium portion arranged on the path of the scattered wave transmitted through the acoustic lens system; a light source that emits a light beam including monochromatic rays of light toward the acousto-optic medium portion obliquely; an imaging lens system that condenses diffracted rays of light produced by the acousto-optic medium; and an image receiving section that detects the rays of light condensed by the imaging lens system. The acoustic lens system includes at least a telecentric acoustic system and a sound-collecting acoustic system arranged on the image space. The distance between acoustic systems is equal to the sum of the respective focal lengths of the telecentric acoustic system and the sound-collecting acoustic system. The light beam is transmitted at the focal point of the sound-collecting acoustic system through the acousto-optic medium portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help in the processing and interpretation of seismic survey data, by correlating or otherwise comparing or associating seismic data obtained from a seismic survey with flow information obtained from a well or borehole in the surveyed area. In particular, embodiments of the present invention allow for flow data representing a flow profile along a well that is being monitored by a distributed acoustic sensor to be determined, such that regions of higher flow in the well can be determined. For example, in the production zone the well will be perforated to allow oil to enter the well, but it has not previously been possible to determine accurately where in the production zone the oil is entering the well. However, by determining a flow rate profile along the well using the i)AS then this provides information as to where in the perforated production zone oil is entering the well, and hence the location of oil bearing sands.

Abstract: A method for improving a 4-dimensional (4D) repeatability by modifying a given path to be followed by a source during a seismic survey. The method includes receiving the given path at a control device associated with a vehicle that caries the source; following the given path during a first seismic survey that is a baseline survey for the 4D seismic survey; deviating from the given path to follow a new path when encountering an obstacle on the given path; and updating the given path, based on the new path, to obtain an updated given path when a deviation condition is met.

Abstract: In one example, a land based seismic sensing device includes: a seismic sensing unit having a seismic sensor in a housing configured to be buried in the ground; a control unit including a battery in a weather resistant housing configured to be exposed above ground; and a flexible cable mechanically and electrically connecting the seismic sensing unit and the control unit. The cable includes a weather resistant jacket and an electrically conductive element inside the jacket detachably connected between electronic circuitry in the sensing unit and electronic circuitry in the control unit. In one example, the control unit housing includes a first compartment configured to stow the seismic sensing unit and a second compartment configured to stow the cable.

Abstract: Methods and systems for location and/or direction of a hypocenter. The methods may involve one or more of: a) computing a joint probability density function (PDF) which includes polarization PDF and onset time PDF or a time integral of product of detection transforms to estimate the location and/or direction of a hypocenter, where the polarization PDF is generated using a weighted average of differences between measured and computed polarizations; b) computing a time integral of product of modified detection transforms associated with onset times from received data in Coalescence Microsesimic Mapping where modified detection transform is defined as (?, fd(t)?1); c) resolving 180 degree ambiguities in polarization estimated according to Hodogram; d) using polynomial interpolation to tune the location of a hypocenter; and e) computing an integration time interval of 4-D (t,x,y,z) PDF or product of modified detection transform and the restriction on grid nodes.

Abstract: In one aspect, a seismic data acquisition unit is disclosed including a closed housing containing: a seismic sensor; a processor operatively coupled to the seismic sensor; a memory operatively coupled to the processor to record seismic data from the sensor; and a power source configured to power the sensor, processor and memory. The sensor, processor, memory and power source are configured to be assemble as an operable unit in the absence of the closed housing.

Abstract: A system and techniques for acoustically establishing the onset of an emergent condition relative coiled tubing in a well. The system may include fiber optic line run through the coiled tubing for sake of vibration detection in coiled tubing indicative of buckling, structural defects or other downhole coiled tubing conditions. Thus, application optimization action may be undertaken in a manner that enhances coiled tubing operational efficacy.

Abstract: An acoustic telemetry method for use with a subterranean well can include positioning a well tool in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, and an acoustic receiver in the well receiving an acoustic signal transmitted by the transmitter, the acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor. A system for use with a subterranean well can include a well tool positioned in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, the acoustic transmitter transmits an acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor to an acoustic receiver positioned in the well.

Abstract: A system for use with a subterranean well can include a well tool which generates an acoustic signal in response to operation of the well tool, the acoustic signal being detected by an acoustic receiver in the well. A method for verification of operation of a well tool can include operating the well tool, thereby generating an acoustic signal, and an acoustic receiver receiving the acoustic signal generated by the well tool, the acoustic signal including information indicative of the well tool operating. Another system for use with a subterranean well can include a well tool which generates an acoustic signal in response to operation of the well tool, an optical waveguide which receives the acoustic signal, and an optical interrogator connected to the optical waveguide. The optical interrogator detects the acoustic signal, which is indicative of the well tool operation.

Abstract: A watercraft angle of attack system includes sensors having a position locator; a heading sensor; a tilt sensor; an acoustic Doppler velocity sensor that measures velocity of the boat relative to a volume of water remote from the boat so as to reduce the boat-induced disturbance of the velocity in the volume; and a processor programmed to receive real time data from the sensors; and to compute and display angle of attack of the watercraft relative to the water.

Abstract: An acoustic underwater navigation system is disclosed. For instance, an underwater receiver determines its position using signals broadcast from an array of acoustic transmitters located near the surface. The position of the array is measured using global positioning system (GPS) technology and the transmitters collectively produce an acoustic signal in which the position and attitude of the array and the GPS time of transmission are encoded. An underwater receiver which is synchronized with the GPS time uses the transmitted position and attitude of the array and the transmission time information to calculate its position.

Abstract: An endoscopic device for generating acoustic waves with a sheath defining a center axis contains a first transducer for generating a first beam of acoustic energy radiating outwards of the endoscope sheath and a second transducer for generating a second beam of acoustic energy radiating outwards of the endoscope sheath. Both beams have different directions and intersect outside of the endoscope forming a focus spot. The second transducer is linearly movable parallel to the center axis with respect to the first transducer to displace the second beam and therefore to displace the intersection of the beams and therefore of the focus spot.

Abstract: Mechanism for displaying the day and phase of at least a first celestial body, comprising a gear train for a constant frequency gear drive on an output of a timepiece movement. This mechanism includes a means for the three-dimensional display of the day and phase of said first celestial body represented by a first mobile component, which is driven by the gear train, which includes a phase train and a day train, each in mesh on an output of this same movement. This phase train and/or this day train include at least one uncoupling means between the input and its output thereof.

Abstract: A timepiece with a wireless function comprises a movement that displays time; a conductive case that holds the movement; a crystal that is disposed on a face side of the case and covers a face side of the movement; a conductive plate that is disposed between the movement and the crystal and reflects radio waves; an antenna that has a substantially annular, conductive antenna electrode and is disposed along an outside edge of the conductive plate between the conductive plate and the crystal as seen in a lateral view; and a dial ring that is made of non-conductive material and has a channel in which the antenna is held. The antenna electrode is configured to receive the radio waves reflected by the conductive plate.

Abstract: A timepiece includes: a frame; a mobile body of a finishing gear train; and a tourbillon mechanism including a holder supporting a balance and at least one escapement. The tourbillon mechanism includes: an outer ring rotatably mounted onto the frame about a first axis; at least one inner ring inside the outer ring and rotatable relative to the outer ring about a second axis, the holder being pivotably mounted in the inner ring and secured to a shaft around which the inner ring is freely and rotatably mounted about a third axis; a first toothed member mounted onto the frame; a first pinion secured to the shaft of the holder to engage with the first toothed member to rotate the holder; and a unit driving the inner ring, engaging with the movable body of the finishing gear train and arranged to move the inner ring and, consequently, the outer ring.

Abstract: An information recording medium in which bottoms of a guide groove and a pit array formed on a disc substrate are allocated on a same flat plane and shaped in flat. Further, in a transition area from a pit array to a guide groove or from a guide groove to a pit array, the information recording medium is provided with an intermediate area composed of a pit array of which height changes from a height between a bottom and a side of a groove to another height between the bottom and a side of the pit array.

Abstract: Disclosed is an archive system for a double sided optical disc, in which optical disc drives for recording or reading data on second surfaces of double sided optical discs are mounted in at least one of first and second drive bays respectively mounted at left and right sides of a disc picker robot, so that data recording or reading operations on first and second surfaces of double sided optical discs can be automatically performed.

Abstract: A lens driving device includes a lens holder that holds a lens, a driving portion that drives the lens holder through a magnetic force produced using a coil and a magnet, and a guide shaft that supports the lens holder movably. When moving the lens holder to a target position, an AC voltage is applied to the coil over a specific interval from a beginning of movement of the lens holder. Further, an amplitude of the AC voltage is reduced stepwise with the passage of time.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a signal processing circuit that has fast response time to sudden profile changes in an electrical signal. The signal processing circuit includes a processing path configured to process an electrical signal that is generated in response to reading data on a storage medium, and a feed-forward correction module. The feed-forward correction module is configured to detect a profile variation based the electrical signal in a time window, and correct the electrical signal in the time window based on the detected profile variation.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system includes a head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion and having multiple heads disposed at a working surface, the head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion. The system also includes a tape drive unit configured to move a tape media past the working surface of the head carriage unit, the tape media having a width approximately equal to a width of the working surface of the head carriage unit. As the head carriage unit rotates and the tape moves past the working surface, a first head is configured to write a data track on the tape and a second head is configured to thereafter read the data track, where data read by the second head is for use in verifying data erasure.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system includes a head carriage unit adapted for rotational motion and having multiple heads disposed at a working surface. The system also includes a tape drive unit configured to move a tape media past the working surface of the head carriage unit, the tape media having a width approximately equal to a width of the working surface. As the head carriage unit rotates and the tape moves past the working surface, a first head is configured to write a data track to the tape and a second head is configured to thereafter read the data track, where data read by the second head is for use in verifying data integrity and performing error correction.

Abstract: A communication device includes a media access control (MAC) and a physical layer (PHY) processor and supports multi-profile communications with one or more other communication devices. The PHY processor selects a profile based on one or more characteristics of a communication pathway between the device and the one or more other communication devices. A profile may include operational parameters such as modulation coding set (MCS), forward error correction (FEC) and/or error correction code (ECC), a number of bits per symbol per sub-carrier and/or sub-carrier mapping (e.g., such as based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)), cyclic prefix, channel(s) used in transmission, bit-filling and shortening, unicast and/or multicast transmission, and/or other operational parameters.

Abstract: In an embodiment, triplets of network-enabled FCIs operate to monitor the three phases of a power distribution system. In being network-enabled, the FCIs also operate as nodes of an RF mesh network. In an embodiment, upon the detection of a power failure, the triplet of network FCIs is serially operated so as to extend their networking capabilities by approximately three times.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to an address processing method, a gateway device, and an access point. An access point sends a request message to a gateway device. The access point obtains an address of an access controller from the gateway device. The address of the access controller is an address of an access controller selected by the gateway device. The access point establishes a CAPWAP tunnel with the access controller selected by the gateway device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first stationary router may detect a disconnected backhaul link to a destination. In response to detecting the disconnected backhaul link, the first stationary router may send a message to a first traveling mobile device, to cause the message to be sent toward the destination via a second stationary router. The second stationary router may receive the message from the first traveling mobile device, and in response to forwarding the message to the destination over its connected backhaul link, may send an acknowledgment toward the first stationary router via a second traveling mobile device. The first stationary router may then, in response to receiving the acknowledgment, cease sending copies of the message to other traveling mobile devices.

Abstract: The instant application describes a method and an apparatus for restoring T1 service in the event of a copper cable failure. The apparatus includes an interface configured to receive a T1 signal from a first customer device experiencing the copper cable failure; a converter configured to receive the T1 signal from the interface and place the T1 signal inside an IP packet routable over a wide area network; and a router configured to receive the IP packet from converter and send the IP packet over the wide area network to a central hub for conversion back into the T1 signal and delivery to a second customer device. The method requires equipment on one side of the T1 (e.g., at the location of the failure), and does not need knowledge of the customer's network addressing scheme. Solution is completely layer 2 and needs no input from the customer to re-establish service.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system of fate sharing segment protection. In one embodiment, this can be accomplished by monitoring the infrastructure segments, detecting a fault at the infrastructure segment, provisioning protection group between the source node and the destination node as outer work and outer protect (Outer Protection Group, OPG), and between at least two intermediate nodes as inner work and inner protect (Inner Protection Group IPG) and provisioning at least one supplementary outer protect on the same port of the OPG nodes where the OPG is provisioned, such that the outer supplementary protect diverge in such a way that mirrors the behavior (or shares the fate) of the inner work and inner protect.

Abstract: There is provided port switches SWP1 to SWP4, fabric switches SWF1 and SWF2, and user switches SWU1 and SWU2, the port switches SWP1, SWP2 functioning logically as one switch by being connected with a shared communication line between redundancy ports Pr. The port switch SWP2 may receive frames from the user switch SWU1, and when the frames are to be originally transferred from a port P1 to the fabric switch SWF1, the frames are transferred though the redundancy port Pr to the port switch SWP1 if there is a fault on the port P1 side. The port switch SWP1 transfers the frames received from the port switch SWP2 through the redundancy port Pr to the fabric switch SWF1 that is the original transfer destination.

Abstract: In order to provide a communication system and a communication system processing method with which fault resistance is improved and also signal loopback can be prevented, a communication system is provided with, for example, port switches SWP1 to SWP3, fabric switches SWF1 and SWF2, and user switches SWU1 and SWU2, and SWP1 and SWP2 are connected by a common communication line between redundancy ports Pr to thereby form the same domain group (MLAG) and logically function as one switch. Each of SWF1 and SWF2 sets, for ports P1 and P2 to which SWP1 and SWP2 that are constituent elements of the same domain group are connected, a sublink SLK that causes the ports P1 and P2 to logically function as one port.

Abstract: Disclosed are a building baseband unit, a baseband processing panel, and a failure processing method for the baseband processing panel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device receives a destination unreachable message originated by a particular node along a first source route, the message carrying an encapsulated packet as received by the particular node. In response, the device may determine a failed link along the first source route based on a tunnel header and the particular node. Once determining an alternate source route without the failed link, the device may re-encapsulate and re-transmit the original packet on an alternate source route with a new tunnel header indicating the alternate source route (e.g., and a new hop limit count for the tunnel header and an adjusted hop limit count in the original packet).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for processing shared risk group (SRG) information in communications networks. The method includes obtaining at least one SRG identifier by processing SRG information included in network information received at a first network layer from a second network layer, and processing the at least one SRG identifier using one or more operations configured to ensure that the SRG identifier is unique among a plurality of SRG identifiers. The apparatus includes a network interface adapted to receive network information comprising SRG information, a processor coupled to the network interface, and a memory coupled to the processor and adapted to obtain at least one SRG identifier by processing the SRG information and to process the at least one SRG identifier. The computer-readable storage medium is configured to store program instructions that when executed are configured to cause a processor to perform the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing services are disclosed. One aspect comprises determining a plurality of services to be provided over a first communication path to a destination, determining a select service of the plurality of services to be provided over a failover path to the destination, detecting a failure of the first communication path, and routing the select service over the failover path in response to the failure of the first communication path.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for implementing performance improvements in a multicast protocol for networks that support incipient congestion indications via packet marking in instances of packet loss in the network during time-correlated blockages by providing indications in the physical (PHY) layer. A receiver rate calculation is adjusted so that a loss due to blockage is ignored completely and only packets marked using an Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) packet marking protocol are treated as losses. Receiver rates are modified based on ECN principles to ignore losses. A NORM receiver rate equation may remain substantially unchanged while a sender is enabled to keep sending at a higher data rate, even in instances of blockage in support of higher system throughputs without defining a completely new receiver rate equation. Time-correlated blockages are not treated as losses.

Abstract: An embodiment includes determining estimate(s) of bandwidth for class(es) of quality of service to be implemented in base station(s) for service(s) provided to user equipment by the base station(s), determining expiration time(s) for corresponding ones of the estimate(s) of bandwidth, and communicating indications of the same toward mobile backhaul node(s). At a backhaul node, the indications are received and, based on the received indications, downstream bandwidth is modified for user equipment of different quality of service classes, wherein the downstream bandwidth passes through the mobile backhaul node toward the base station(s). Apparatus, software, and computer program produces are also disclosed.

Abstract: A supporting node maintains a retransmission database that stores information about the historical retransmission rates of user terminals served by the network. The supporting network node provides the information about the retransmission rates of the user terminals to the base stations that are serving the user terminals. When a user terminal is being scheduled to receive a downlink transmission, the scheduler at the base station may use historical retransmission rates of the user terminal to select transmission parameters, e.g. modulation and coding scheme (MCS) and/or transport block (TBS), for the downlink transmission.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for enabling WiFi offload by integrating the WiFi and cellular networks operations at a radio access network level. The embodiments include a WiFi network component configured to determine whether to send over a cellular air interface a packet designated for WiFi according to a predefined rule. If the rule is met, the WiFi network component sends the packet to a cellular network component over the cellular air interface. The cellular network component is configured to process the received packet for cellular transmission, and transmit the packet using the cellular air interface to a receiver device. The predefined rule comprises at least one of sending the packet using the cellular air interface if the packet belongs to a predefined packet type, if the packet has a size below a predefined threshold size, and if the nature of the destination address for the packet is a broadcast address.