Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080279092 | Channel control based on error correction values - A computing device configured for wireless communication may effectively control adaptation to channel conditions. The device may be configured to identify and classify conditions impacting performance of a channel so that appropriate adaptations may be made. Interference may be detected by correlating received signal strength and packet errors. High received signal strength correlated to a high packet error rate may signify presence of a source of interference. Once a source of interference is detected, other criteria may be used to determine the nature of the interference so that an adaptation that is minimally disruptive of applications can be selected. Additionally, channel degradation may be predicted by monitoring trends in error rates, including Forward Error Correction rates, and adaptation may be used before packet error rates exceed an unacceptable level. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279093 | Interference detection - A computing device configured for wireless communication may effectively control adaptation to channel conditions. The device may be configured to identify and classify conditions impacting performance of a channel so that appropriate adaptations may be made. Interference may be detected by correlating received signal strength and packet errors. High received signal strength correlated to a high packet error rate may signify presence of a source of interference. Once a source of interference is detected, other criteria may be used to determine the nature of the interference so that an adaptation that is minimally disruptive of applications can be selected. Additionally, channel degradation may be predicted by monitoring trends in error rates, including Forward Error Correction rates, and adaptation may be used before packet error rates exceed an unacceptable level. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279128 | Simultaneous wireless support in software defined radio - A system and method for providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting more than one wireless protocol simultaneously is provided. A computing device's capabilities (including, for example, hardware and/or software capabilities) is checked to determine if it supports at least two specific wireless protocols and checking a computing device's capabilities (including, for example, hardware and/or software capabilities) is checked to determine if it supports both wireless protocols simultaneously. The techniques for determining the computing device's compatibility may include comparing lists of protocol requirements to lists of system capabilities and/or generating test signals by the system according to the protocol. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279147 | Spectrum auction and sharing on wireless clients - Methods and apparatus to enable spectrum auctioning, allowing a user to gain access to otherwise unavailable spectrum is disclosed. Spectrum providers may have the exclusive rights to the spectrum, but these providers can allow other users to access the spectrum in certain situations, for example, limited time use without restrictions, or use based on interference constraints. Software Defined Radio (SDR) may be employed to allow a wireless user to bid for spectrum usage when a wireless network is otherwise unavailable to them. | 11-13-2008 |
20080279291 | OFDM transmission and reception for non-OFDMA signals - Methods and apparatuses for Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication of non-OFDM radio signals are disclosed. The non-OFDM radio signals are force-modulated into OFDM signals. In one example, a non-OFDM signal is received and is processed into an OFDM signal to produce a created OFDM signal. An actual OFDM signal is also received and is processed together with the created OFDM signal. | 11-13-2008 |
20090093956 | Transmitting location data in wireless networks - A wireless access point in a wireless network that may be adapted to transmit location data indicating its location to other devices within range, including other wireless access points and client devices. In some embodiments of the invention, the location data may be embedded in a control message or announcement transmission transmitted by the wireless access point, or other message conventionally used to broadcast network characteristics necessary for a client device to establish a connection to the wireless access point. In terms of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) layered model of a network, layer 2 control messages, including beacons, probe responses, or other suitable transmissions may be used for control messages or announcement transmissions. The other wireless access points and client devices may receive the location data broadcast by the wireless access point without establishing a connection to the client device. Devices receiving the location data may use the received location data to determine their own locations, and may provide the determined locations to consumers of location data. | 04-09-2009 |
20090094111 | Advertising framework for wireless networks - An advertising framework for transmitting advertisements from wireless access points to client devices that need not be connected to the wireless access point. The client device can display the advertisements on a user interface of the client device. Such advertisements may be transmitted, for example, as part of a control message transmitted by a wireless access point of a wireless network, or other message conventionally used to broadcast network characteristics necessary for a client device to establish a connection to the wireless access point. In terms of the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) layered model of a network, layer 2 control messages, including announcement transmissions such as beacons, may be used for control messages. | 04-09-2009 |
20090141660 | Policy enforcement for multi-radio transmission and reception - A process for controlling radio transmission and/or reception to enforce certain constraints with either single or multiple radio communication is disclosed. In one embodiment, the enforcement control may be by the corporate administrator (such as an Information Technology (IT) department) that is responsible for the company's wireless devices. In other embodiments, the enforcement control may be by a regulatory group having governmental control over wireless communication. In yet another embodiment, the enforcement control might be by a provider group, such as a provider of a local private or semi-private wireless network desiring certain controls over the users of the network. | 06-04-2009 |
20090154432 | COMPUTER RADIO WITH PRE-DEFINED CONFIGURATION SET - A computer with a software defined radio that can be configured based on a wireless technology specification. The computer may negotiate with a second computer that also includes a software defined radio to define a set of wireless technology specifications and trigger events indicating when each of the wireless technology specifications is to be used. As the computers communicate, if a trigger event occurs, both computers may reconfigure their software defined radios using a different specification in the set. By appropriately defining the wireless technology specifications in the set and the trigger events, the computers can operate with configurations that allow communication despite events that might otherwise disrupt communication between the computers. | 06-18-2009 |
20090154534 | SOFTWARE DEFINED COGNITIVE RADIO - A computing device with a software defined radio. The software defined radio has an architecture with separate components to provide control functions and data processing functions. The control components configure the data processing components so that the software defined radio provides desired operating characteristics. Components in the data plane may derive information indicating operating conditions, which can be provided to one or more of the control components. In response, the control components can modify components in the data plane to adjust to operating conditions. | 06-18-2009 |
20090156129 | SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO ARCHITECTURE - A computing device with a software defined radio. The software defined radio has an architecture with separate components to provide control functions and data processing functions. The control components configure the data processing components so that the software defined radio provides desired operating characteristics. To facilitate programming the software defined radio to communicate according to one or more wireless technologies, the computing device may include a library of wireless technology specifications. By accessing a technology specification in the library, the control components can determine an appropriate configuration of the data processing components for a selected wireless technology. The data processing components may be hardware or software and, if hardware and software components are available to perform a data processing function, the control components may select between the hardware and software components depending on throughput, processor loading or other criteria. | 06-18-2009 |
20090156191 | COMPUTING DEVICE WITH CONFIGURABLE ANTENNA - A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies. | 06-18-2009 |
20090175182 | Differentiated service transmission parameters adaptation - Systems and methods are provided for transmitting data on a wireless network. Some embodiments provide a technique whereby a type is determined for the transmission, at least one metric is determined for the transmission based at least in part on the transmission type and/or an indication of conditions on the channel on which the transmission is to be performed, at least one transmission parameter to be used in performing the transmission is selected to optimize the at least one metric, and the data is transmitted in accordance with the at least one transmission parameter. | 07-09-2009 |
20090190535 | ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS WITH CARRIER SENSE - A communication system in which an access point and one or more devices communicating through the access point adaptively apply Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). The access point may assign orthogonal subcarriers to devices as in conventional OFDMA, but the access point senses activity on the subcarriers and selects subcarriers without activity for assignment. In an alternative approach, a device that is configured for OFDMA communication may receive a channel assignment from a device that does not support OFDMA. The OFDMA-capable device may use only a portion of the subcarriers in the assigned channel, which may be communicated to the non-OFDMA device. During the non-OFDMA device may then ignore unused subcarriers in error detection and correction to avoid incorrectly classifying communications as erroneous. Information about OFDMA capabilities, subcarrier assignments and subcarriers in use may be communicated as information elements in network control communications, such as beacons and probe messages. | 07-30-2009 |
20090214036 | AUTHENTICATION MECHANISMS FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS - Security techniques and security mechanisms for wireless networks that transmit content such as advertisements. According to exemplary techniques, control messages comprising unrequested content (e.g., advertisement data) may be transmitted in response to a request from a client device, while in other exemplary techniques the control messages may be transmitted without any request from a client device. In some exemplary implementations, security mechanisms such as public key cryptography algorithms may be used to secure transmissions. In some of these techniques which implement public key cryptography, a user may be required to retrieve a public key from a source other than the wireless access point transmitting encrypted advertisements (e.g., a sign or terminal in a commercial entity transmitting such advertisements, or from a web service), such that the user may confirm that the encrypted content is from a source matching the retrieved public key and thus confirm the authenticity of a wireless access point. | 08-27-2009 |
20090303934 | DIRECT WIRELESS CLIENT TO CLIENT COMMUNICATION - A wireless station is connected to a wireless network through an access point and can establish a direct client-to-client connection to a second wireless station. The wireless station can communicate directly with the second wireless station without involving the access point. The wireless station communicates with the wired network and with other wireless stations through the access point. The second wireless station may have an infrastructure connection to the access point or may be independent. | 12-10-2009 |
20100118795 | COGNITIVE ERROR CONTROL CODING FOR CHANNELS WITH MEMORY - Techniques for adapting error control codes (ECCs) based on memory conditions in a channel. A wireless communication system may be adapted to detect and quantify memory in a channel, such as memory resulting from multipath fading, and adjust an ECC to reduce the possibility of errors impacting communication in the channel. In some implementations, adjusting the ECC may comprise determining a probability that a channel in an error-prone state will remain in an error-prone state, and selecting an ECC based on that probability. In other implementations, a concatenated code may be used, and the relative size of an inner and outer code may be adjusted, and/or an interleaver between the inner and outer code may be adjusted, based on the parameter quantifying the memory in the channel. | 05-13-2010 |
20100124940 | CHANNEL REUSE WITH COGNITIVE LOW INTERFERENCE SIGNALS - A computing system in which devices communicate wirelessly as secondary users in a band assigned to primary users. The computers communicate using new signals developed to reduce disruption to primary users of the band. The new signals may be produced by sensing, or otherwise determining, signals used by primary users and developing signals using a modulation scheme or other signal parameters that provides little disruption to primary users. These techniques make available to users unused and/or underused portions of the radio spectrum, such as whitespaces between television channels. The new signals may be generated by software defined radios within the computing devices or by switching between modulation schemes supported by conventional wireless network interface card. | 05-20-2010 |
20100185541 | NETWORK SERVICE FOR MODULARLY CONSTRUCTING A SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO - Systems and methods are provided that disclose a network service for modularly constructing a software defined radio (“SDR”). A server system provides an SDR kernel (i.e., a potentially platform-neutral definition of digital signal processing functionality and control operations necessary to implement the core portion of a software defined radio implementing a particular radio standard) to a client system. The client system may select a desired SDR kernel through a variety of means disclosed herein. While some SDR kernels may be provided for free and unrestricted use, others may be purchased or subscribed to and additionally restricted by digital rights management (“DRM”) policies. Based upon the agreed upon payment terms and any other restrictions, a customized set of DRM policies may be applied by the server system to the SDR kernel before sending it to a client system. Additionally, the server system may provide a description of governmental regulations applicable to a given locality. | 07-22-2010 |
20100214959 | AUTOMATIC NETWORK ADDRESS ASSIGNMENT IN A WIRELESS MESH - A computing environment containing a mesh network that is adapted to provide a reliable transport mechanism over which services may be delivered. Nodes of the mesh can automatically select routable addresses without conflicts, which allows nodes of the mesh to be accessed, even as the mesh changes through the addition or deletion of nodes. Also, nodes communicate with a protocol that supports service advertisements. These advertisements can identify mesh nodes that supply services, such as file or print servers, for which devices that have not yet connected to the network may be searching. Advertisements can also identify services to be used by nodes in the network, allowing, for example, a node to select a gateway providing a reliable connection to an external network. The mesh network can be used as a transport for communication using protocols, such as TCP/IP, that generally exhibit poor performance when using unreliable transports. | 08-26-2010 |
20100214979 | GATEWAY ADVERTISEMENT IN A WIRELESS MESH - A computing environment containing a mesh network that is adapted to provide a reliable transport mechanism over which services may be delivered. Nodes of the mesh can automatically select routable addresses without conflicts, which allows nodes of the mesh to be accessed, even as the mesh changes through the addition or deletion of nodes. Also, nodes communicate with a protocol that supports service advertisements. These advertisements can identify mesh nodes that supply services, such as file or print servers, for which devices that have not yet connected to the network may be searching. Advertisements can also identify services to be used by nodes in the network, allowing, for example, a node to select a gateway providing a reliable connection to an external network. The mesh network can be used as a transport for communication using protocols, such as TCP/IP, that generally exhibit poor performance when using unreliable transports. | 08-26-2010 |
20100217655 | SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT IN A WIRELESS MESH - A computing environment containing a mesh network that is adapted to provide a reliable transport mechanism over which services may be delivered. Nodes of the mesh can automatically select routable addresses without conflicts, which allows nodes of the mesh to be accessed, even as the mesh changes through the addition or deletion of nodes. Also, nodes communicate with a protocol that supports service advertisements. These advertisements can identify mesh nodes that supply services, such as file or print servers, for which devices that have not yet connected to the network may be searching. Advertisements can also identify services to be used by nodes in the network, allowing, for example, a node to select a gateway providing a reliable connection to an external network. The mesh network can be used as a transport for communication using protocols, such as TCP/IP, that generally exhibit poor performance when using unreliable transports. | 08-26-2010 |
20110019557 | PACKET AGGREGATION - Methods and apparatus for improving the efficient use of a wireless channel. Flows of compatible packets to be transmitted are processed in separate queues based on characteristics of the packets, destination and quality of service (QoS) requirements. Aggregation parameters selected for each flow define when packets aggregated on a flow are to be sent. The aggregation parameters may reflect packet type, such as QoS requirements, an application type and/or wireless channel conditions. In some embodiments, the aggregation parameters indicate a threshold frame size or include a threshold time to buffer a packet while waiting for other packets on that flow to fill a frame. When an aggregation parameter for a queue is met, the aggregated packets are transmitted as a frame. The queue is cleared and subsequent packets may begin aggregating. Some types of packets, such as acknowledgment packets, may be sent without aggregation. | 01-27-2011 |
20110105094 | LOCATION INTEGRATION IN SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO - A computing device having a software defined radio (SDR) wireless network interface is automatically configured to support a wireless service in response to a request from the user to access the service. The computing device may determine the appropriate profile and obtain it by querying a remote database. The query may indicate the computing device's current location, though location information may alternatively be determined by a server coupled to the database. The communication profile is downloaded from the remote database using an existing or available network connection. The software defined radio is configured with the communication profile and is used to access an available wireless service. Content obtained from the wireless service is presented through a user interface of the computing device. | 05-05-2011 |
20110142014 | REMOTE WIRELESS SERVICE INVOCATION WITH EFFICIENT POWER USE ON TARGET WIRELESS DEVICE - A protocol for operation of wireless devices enables a wireless device to remotely and securely invoke a service on a target wireless device without requiring the user of the target wireless device to take any action and without requiring the target wireless device to use power unnecessarily. Mutual authentication is executed while the target wireless device remains in a low power discoverable mode. The discoverable mode includes discovery windows separated by inactive windows when the radio of the target wireless device is powered down. | 06-16-2011 |
20110151770 | SYSTEM CAPABILITY DISCOVERY FOR SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO - Capability checking to examine a computing device's capabilities to determine if the device supports a software defined radio to communicate according to a specific wireless protocol. Applicants have appreciated that as the reliance on software defined radio increases, numerous potential options may be available to a user for performing wireless communication. Applicants have appreciated the desirability of providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting one or more wireless protocols. | 06-23-2011 |
20110173485 | FEC IN COGNITIVE MULTI-USER OFDMA - A multiuser scheme allowing for a number of users, sets of user, or carriers to share one or more channels is provided. In the invention, the available channel bandwidth is subdivided into a number of equal-bandwidth subchannels according to standard OFDM practice. A transmitter transmits data on a set of OFDM subchannels that need not be contiguous in the spectrum or belong to the same OFDM channel. A receiver receives and decodes the data and detects errors on subchannels. The receiver then broadcasts the identity of those subchannels on which the error rate exceeds a specific threshold, and the transmitter may select different subchannels for transmission based on this information. | 07-14-2011 |
20110195667 | DISTRIBUTED DATABASE ACCESS FOR SPECTRUM ACCESS - A bootstrapping technique for wirelessly obtaining white space data that may be used to identify an available white space channel for connecting to a service. Portable wireless devices may collaborate to provide white space data to a device requesting such data. A requesting device transmits a request for the white space data using, for example, an unlicensed band. A device receiving the request may transmit a copy of the data to the requesting device. The transmitted copy may be obtained by the receiving device from a local data store or may be provided from a database server to which the receiving device is connected. In the later case the receiving device acts as a proxy between the database server and the requesting device. Once the white space data is received by the requesting device it may be used to select a channel for communication in the white space. | 08-11-2011 |
20110222424 | DIRECT WIRELESS CLIENT TO CLIENT COMMUNICATION - A wireless station is connected to a wireless network through an access point and can establish a direct client-to-client connection to a second wireless station. The wireless station can communicate directly with the second wireless station without involving the access point. The wireless station communicates with the wired network and with other wireless stations through the access point. The second wireless station may have an infrastructure connection to the access point or may be independent. | 09-15-2011 |
20110225479 | FAST AND RELIABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A communication system that provides fast and reliable communications. The system is suitable for use in connection with wireless computing devices in which transmission errors may occur because of channel conditions, such as interference. Channel conditions causing transmission errors may be bursty and transient such that the errors temporarily overwhelm an error control code. By combining data received for multiple transmission attempts of a packet that fail error checking or that pass error checking with low reliability, a reliable representation of the packet may be quickly constructed. Though, combining may be omitted when a transmission attempt is received that passes error checking with high reliability. | 09-15-2011 |
20110231551 | NETWORK RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH PREDICTION - A computing device including an indicator predicting use of a network resource. The indicator may provide an indication that a threshold associated with a budget for the network resource has or will be reached. When a user requests a network operation that will consume the network resource, an amount of the network resource to be consumed by the operation is predicted, if possible. If the prior use of the network resource and the amount to be used to complete the network operation exceeds a threshold the user may be warned and given an opportunity to cancel the operation or adjust the way in which the operation will be performed. If the amount of network resource a network operation will consume is unknown, a rate of use of the network resource is determined and a time until the budget is reached is estimated. An administrative tool is provided for managing network resources and setting budgets for resource consumption by users, devices, or applications. | 09-22-2011 |
20110235732 | OFDM TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION FOR NON-OFDM SIGNALS - Methods and apparatuses for Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication of non-OFDM radio signals are disclosed. The non-OFDM radio signals are force-modulated into OFDM signals. In one example, a non-OFDM signal is received and is processed into an OFDM signal to produce a created OFDM signal. An actual OFDM signal is also received and is processed together with the created OFDM signal. | 09-29-2011 |
20110237238 | CELLULAR SERVICE WITH IMPROVED SERVICE AVAILABILITY - A cellular communication system in which overload of a base station is averted by offering users the option to communicate using a spectrum outside of the spectrum allocated for cellular communication. Incentives are offered to connect to the base station using the alternative spectrum, which may not support communications at the same rate as could be supported using the spectrum allocated to the base station for cellular communications. Users may be selected to receive an offer to receive incentives based on range to the base station, with users closer to the base station being more likely to receive such an offer. The cellular communications system may be a 3G wireless system and the alternative spectrum may be white space in the digital TV spectrum. | 09-29-2011 |
20110238498 | SERVICE STAGE FOR SUBSCRIPTION MANAGEMENT - A utility for managing subscriptions for multiple services in a consistent fashion. The utility may collect information from multiple service providers and present the information to a user in a consistent format. A user interface component may control the user interface during performing actions associated with managing subscriptions, regardless of the specific service for which management operations are performed. The utility may include a feedback component, providing feedback relating to a user such that service providers can elect to supply offers for additional services or service features that align with a user's interests. | 09-29-2011 |
20110268157 | DATA ENCODING - The receiver portion of a UWB wireless device is altered by replacing analog-to-digital circuitry with a simple energy detection circuit. In embodiments, the coding methodology of a transmitter is altered to support the simplified receiver configuration. For example, instead of coding the data to be sent in the phase of the UWB signal, the data is encoded in a binary fashion in discrete frequency subbands of the UWB signal. Although this may reduce the usable bandwidth of the channel, it also decreases the complexity and power consumption of UWB devices. In one or more embodiments, a UWB device is able to select a transmission mode (BPSK or Energy Coding) based on its environment. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, receiving devices may switch between coding modes based on the capabilities of a remote transmitter and/or a peer receiver. | 11-03-2011 |
20120014363 | SIMULTANEOUS WIRELESS SUPPORT IN SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO - A system and method for providing the ability to discover the capabilities of a user's computer to determine whether it is capable of supporting more than one wireless protocol simultaneously is provided. A computing device's capabilities (including, for example, hardware and/or software capabilities) is checked to determine if it supports at least two specific wireless protocols and checking a computing device's capabilities (including, for example, hardware and/or software capabilities) is checked to determine if it supports both wireless protocols simultaneously. The techniques for determining the computing device's compatibility may include comparing lists of protocol requirements to lists of system capabilities and/or generating test signals by the system according to the protocol. | 01-19-2012 |
20120022948 | ADVERTISING FRAMEWORK FOR WIRELESS NETWORKS - Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points or other wireless communication devices. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, Bluetooth, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. A graphical user interface is provided that enables a user to select a desired service. | 01-26-2012 |
20120139690 | CONTEXT DEPENDENT COMPUTER OPERATION - A context dependent computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context. The computing device may determine its context by reading a value from a tag using low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to a location where the tag is affixed. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation. In response to reading a value of a tag, the computing device may identify an application to launch, identify devices with which to pair or take other actions that configure the computing device for its context. | 06-07-2012 |
20120144083 | UNIVERSAL DOCK FOR CONTEXT SENSITIVE COMPUTING DEVICE - A dock for interacting with a computing device. The computing device configures itself for operations based on its context, which may be determined form the dock by reading a value from a tag on the dock. The computing device may use low power transmissions such that receiving a value from the tag provides an indication of proximity to the dock. The value read provides an indication of a desired operation, and, in response to reading a value of the tag, the computing device may launch an application, pair with devices in the vicinity of the dock, or take other actions that configure the computing device. A universal dock, usable with computing devices of a plurality of form factors, may be implemented by providing an array of tags and, in some cases, a non-contact power supply. | 06-07-2012 |
20120147268 | DIRECT CONNECTION WITH SIDE CHANNEL CONTROL - A wireless computer that pairs with a remote audio-video presentation device, such as a television. As a result of the pairing, a communication channel is established for the computer to transmit audio-video content for presentation through that device. Additionally, as part of the pairing, the computer and remote device select a side channel for communication of user commands. The wireless computer may display a user interface through which a user may input commands that control the manner in which the remote audio-video device presents the content. As a result, a user may use the wireless computer as a remote control for the audio-video device, controlling both the content presented and the manner in which it is presented. The side channel may use different frequencies than the channel used to communicate audio-video content, and may use very low power at frequencies in the digital TV spectrum. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147274 | COGNITIVE USE OF MULTIPLE REGULATORY DOMAINS - A wireless communication system that concurrently communicates information in multiple regulatory domains to facilitate audio/video media streaming and other high bandwidth operations. One domain may be licensed and the other may be unlicensed. Transmission in the licensed domain may occur in white space in the domain, and the amount of information transmitted in that domain may be limited by regulations. The amount of information conveyed in the licensed domain may also depend on channel conditions in either or both of the domains. As a result, the relative amount of to information transmitted in each domain may vary dynamically. The system includes a transmitter that dynamically determines weighting coefficients applied to each of a plurality of channels to set power levels in both domains to achieve a desired metric for the overall communication. A corresponding receiver assembles the substreams into a stream that can then be displayed or otherwise processed. | 06-14-2012 |
20120147825 | DIRECT CONNECTION WITH SIDE CHANNEL CONTROL - A wireless computer that pairs with a remote audio-video presentation device, such as a television. As a result of the pairing, a communication channel is established for the computer to transmit audio-video content for presentation through that device. Additionally, as part of the pairing, the computer and remote device select a side channel for communication of user commands. The wireless computer may display a user interface through which a user may input commands that control the manner in which the remote audio-video device presents the content. As a result, a user may use the wireless computer as a remote control for the audio-video device, controlling both the content presented and the manner in which it is presented. The side channel may use different frequencies than the channel used to communicate audio-video content, and may use very low power at frequencies in the digital TV spectrum. | 06-14-2012 |
20120155643 | SECURE PROTOCOL FOR PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A wireless computing device operating as a controller of a peer-to-peer group configured to generate unique master keys for each device joining the group. The wireless computing device may use the unique master keys to selectively remove remote devices from the group such that the remote device cannot later rejoin the group. Other remote devices, each possessing a master key that remains valid, can disconnect from the group and later reconnect to the group without express user action. To support such behavior, the wireless device may provide a user interface through which a user may manage connected remote devices by providing commands to selectively disconnect or remove remote devices from the group. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158839 | WIRELESS NETWORK INTERFACE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND DIRECT MODES - An architecture for a computing device to enable the computing device to support peer-to-peer communications using a wireless radio also configured for infrastructure-based communication. The architecture includes a driver for the wireless radio that supports ports for communication in accordance with the peer-to-peer protocol. A port may act as a control port through which action frames that control the formation of a peer-to-peer group may be sent and received. One or more other ports may be used for exchanging data with other devices in the group. Each of these ports may be configured in accordance with its role in the group, such that each port may be configured for operation as a group owner or a client. Additionally, after establishing a group, the control port may be used as a side channel for controlling a device in a group associated with another port. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158947 | OPERATING SYSTEM SUPPORTING COST AWARE APPLICATIONS - A mobile computing device that supports cost aware network behavior. An operating system of the mobile computing device may associate data for transmission with a entity and, based on a policy applicable to that entity and information on data usage, determine appropriate processing for the data. The processing may include transmitting the data, with or without throttling, or blocking transmission of the data. The policy, for example, may be supplied by a user or may be encoded in a tag supplied with the data for transmission. The policies may be specified for entities such as an application, an operating system service, a user account or a category of applications. Enforcement of the determined processing may be based on action within the stack or a separate enforcement mechanism, such as a firewall. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158981 | FAST JOIN OF PEER TO PEER GROUP WITH POWER SAVING MODE - A wireless peer-to-peer protocol that supports fast and low power joining to an existing group. The protocol may be an extension of a peer-to-peer protocol that supports a sleep state for a device controlling the group. When a device is seeking to join a group at a time when the controlling device is in a sleep state, another device that has information about the controlling device may provide information to the joining device that may then be used by the joining device to more quickly, and using less power, synchronize with the controlling device. The information may include information about a channel used by the controlling device or about timing of availability of the controlling device. The information may also reveal whether the group provides a service being sought by the joining device or may otherwise influence whether the joining device will attempt to join a group. | 06-21-2012 |
20120182875 | COGNITIVE MULTI-USER OFDMA - A computing device operating according to a frequency division multiplexed protocol in which communication occurs over a signal formed from a plurality of sub-channels selected from anywhere in a frequency spectrum. A computing device may select sub-channels cognitively by using information about sub-channels previously deemed suitable or unsuitable by that computing device or other computing devices. A described technique for determining sub-channel suitability includes analyzing radio frequency energy in the sub-channel to detect signals generated by another computing device or high noise levels. Information may also be used to cognitively select sub-channels to be analyzed, such as by first selecting for analysis previously-used sub-channels. | 07-19-2012 |
20120201317 | STACK SIGNALING TO APPLICATION WITH LACK OF REQUESTED BANDWIDTH - A system for signaling an application when a requested data rate and Quality of Service cannot be achieved using OFDM wireless data transmission, and the application proceeds by either renegotiating QoS and data rate, or waiting until they requested rate and QoS are met. | 08-09-2012 |
20120207233 | SIGNALING TO APPLICATION LACK OF REQUESTED BANDWIDTH - A system for signaling an application when a requested data rate and Quality of Service cannot be achieved using OFDM wireless data transmission, and the application proceeds by either renegotiating QoS and data rate, or waiting until they requested rate and QoS are met. | 08-16-2012 |
20120233266 | PEER-TO-PEER GROUP WITH RENEGOTIATION OF GROUP OWNER - A computing device that selectively renegotiates roles of devices in an existing peer-to-peer group. As the group is formed, the device may negotiate with other devices to select a device to control the group. During operation of the group, a device in the group may initiate a renegotiation that may lead to the selection of an alternative device to control the group. Renegotiation may be triggered by a message containing an information element signifying a request for renegotiation. Such a message may be sent either by the controlling device or other device in the group, and may be sent based on a state of the device. The state may relate to a source of power to the device such that a client that is connected to a source of power or a controlling device that is running low on battery power may request a renegotiation. | 09-13-2012 |
20120239755 | ROAMING GROUPS IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A computing device that forms a group in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol in which a device may be identified based on a credential of a user. The credential may be used to determine a unique identifier for the user such that the same identifier is used on any device operated by the same user. Such an identifier may be used in connection with a peer-to-peer protocol that supports persistent peer-to-peer groups. As a result, the unique identifier for the user may be retained by remote devices that have paired with any device operated by a particular user such that those remote devices may automatically establish a connection with any other device operated by the same user that similarly uses the same unique identifier for the user. | 09-20-2012 |
20120254420 | NETWORK RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH PREDICTION - An indicator for a device may provide an indication that a threshold associated with a budget for a network resource has or will be reached. When a user requests a network operation that will consume the network resource, an amount of the network resource to be consumed by the operation is predicted, if possible. If the prior use of the network resource and the amount to be used to complete the network operation exceeds a threshold the user may be warned and given an opportunity to cancel the operation or adjust the way in which the operation will be performed. If the amount of network resource a network operation will consume is unknown, a rate of use of the network resource is determined and a time until the budget is reached is estimated. | 10-04-2012 |
20120290730 | MASS RE-FORMATION OF GROUPS IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A system in which wireless devices form a group in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol and, at a later time, a device may send an invitation request to trigger the devices tore-form the peer-to-peer group. The invitation request may contain an identifier that is associated with a set of a plurality of devices. Those devices may be related such that they perform a function for which a user would want to use those devices together. The group of devices, for example, may be multimedia devices that receive and present streaming multimedia content or may be human interface devices that collectively act as an interface for a work station incorporating a wireless computing device operated by a user. Requesting that remote devices concurrently re-form a group reduces the time and spectral congestion associated with re-forming the group, particularly when the remote devices may periodically enter a low power state. | 11-15-2012 |
20120296986 | AUTO CONNECT IN PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A wireless device that automatically forms a connection to a remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol. The remote device may be designated as an auto-connect device for the wireless device such that, when the wireless device determines that it is in the vicinity of the auto-connect device, it can re-form a connection to the remote device based on stored information for re-establishing connections among a persistent group of devices, but without any express user input. When a user requests that the wireless device perform a function that involves interaction with an auto-connect device, that function may be performed with the delay associated with forming a connection. Any of multiple techniques may be employed for identifying devices designated as auto-connect devices and for determining when the wireless device and a remote, auto-connect devices are in close proximity. | 11-22-2012 |
20120297229 | AUTO-CONNECT IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A wireless device that automatically forms a connection to a remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol. The remote device may be designated as an auto-connect device for the wireless device such that, when the wireless device determines that it is in the vicinity of the auto-connect device, it can re-form a connection to the remote device based on stored information for re-establishing connections among a persistent group of devices, but without any express user input. When a user requests that the wireless device perform a function that involves interaction with an auto-connect device, that function may be performed with the delay associated with forming a connection. Any of multiple techniques may be employed for identifying devices designated as auto-connect devices and for determining when the wireless device and a remote, auto-connect devices are in close proximity. | 11-22-2012 |
20120297306 | AUTO-CONNECT IN A PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK - A wireless device that automatically forms a connection to a remote device in accordance with a peer-to-peer protocol. The remote device may be designated as an auto-connect device for the wireless device such that, when the wireless device determines that it is in the vicinity of the auto-connect device, it can re-form a connection to the remote device based on stored information for re-establishing connections among a persistent group of devices, but without any express user input. When a user requests that the wireless device perform a function that involves interaction with an auto-connect device, that function may be performed with the delay associated with forming a connection. Any of multiple techniques may be employed for identifying devices designated as auto-connect devices and for determining when the wireless device and a remote, auto-connect devices are in close proximity. | 11-22-2012 |
20120320886 | PHONE SUPPORTING MODE CONVERSION - A mechanism for a wireless device to obtain access to network connectivity through a WAN-enabled device. The wireless device may use peer-to-peer communication to request the WAN-enabled device enter a mode in which it serves as an access point to its WAN. The wireless device may then associate with the WAN-enabled device in its role as an access point to access connectivity services. Such a capability may be used, for example, to allow a wireless computing device to gain access to the Internet through a smartphone or other device that has Internet access, and can also be configured to communicate in accordance with the Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct standards. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322368 | SIMPLE PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK FORMATION - Wireless devices that support bootstrapping of a peer-to-peer connection. The wireless devices may use an infrastructure mode connection to exchange security information, such as a PIN, used in establishing the peer-to-peer connection. This security information may be encrypted in accordance with a security protocol used by the access point and then may be applied in a security protocol used to establish a peer-to-peer connection. Such a bootstrapping capability supports operating scenarios in which devices that are communicating over an infrastructure network encounter an operation that requires transfer of large amounts of data and automatically transition to a peer-to-peer connection that provides better performance. With these techniques, a computing device may automatically connect to a display device and stream audio/video data to the display. | 12-20-2012 |
20130065580 | CELLULAR SERVICE WITH IMPROVED SERVICE AVAILABILITY - A cellular communication system in which overload of a base station is averted by offering users the option to communicate using a spectrum outside of the spectrum allocated for cellular communication. Incentives are offered to connect to the base station using the alternative spectrum, which may not support communications at the same rate as could be supported using the spectrum allocated to the base station for cellular communications. Users may be selected to receive an offer to receive incentives based on range to the base station, with users closer to the base station being more likely to receive such an offer. The cellular communications system may be a 3G wireless system and the alternative spectrum may be white space in the digital TV spectrum. | 03-14-2013 |
20130067068 | EVENT-DRIVEN DETECTION OF DEVICE PRESENCE FOR LAYER 3 SERVICES USING LAYER 2 DISCOVERY INFORMATION - Techniques for detecting presence of a remote device at Layer 2 in response to an indication of an attempt to use the device and without maintaining a Layer 3 connection to the device. The techniques allow reducing power consumption without compromising the device's availability. A device that pairs with a remote wireless device may establish a Layer 3 connection to the remote device to provide services to a user. The Layer 3 connection and underlying Layer 2 connection (e.g., WI-FI, WI-FI DIRECT™ or BLUETOOTH®) may be terminated when the Layer 3 connection is not actively used. Once use of the remote device is desired, its presence may be detected using a Layer 2 device discovery mechanism and the Layer 2 and Layer 3 connections to the device may be reestablished. Services provided at Layer 3, such as steaming data, may then be performed over the reestablished Layer 3 connection. | 03-14-2013 |
20130073923 | FAST AND RELIABLE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A communication system that provides fast and reliable communications. The system is suitable for use in connection with wireless computing devices in which transmission errors may occur because of channel conditions, such as interference. Channel conditions causing transmission errors may be bursty and transient such that the errors temporarily overwhelm an error control code. By combining data received for multiple transmission attempts of a packet that fail error checking or that pass error checking with low reliability, a reliable representation of the packet may be quickly constructed. Though, combining may be omitted when a transmission attempt is received that passes error checking with high reliability. | 03-21-2013 |
20130095772 | COMPUTING DEVICE WITH CONFIGURABLE ANTENNA - A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies. | 04-18-2013 |
20130139011 | PREDICTING DEGRADATION OF A COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BELOW A THRESHOLD BASED ON DATA TRANSMISSION ERRORS - Applicants have discovered that error detection techniques, such as Forward Error Correction techniques, may be used to predict the degradation below a certain threshold of an ability to accurately convey information on a communication channel, for example, to predict a failure of the communication channel. In response, transmission and/or reception of information on the channel may be adapted, for example, to prevent the degradation below the threshold, e.g., prevent channel failure. Predicting the degradation may be based, at least in part, on data transmission error information corresponding to one or more blocks of information received on the channel and may include determining an error rate pattern over time. Based on these determinations, the degradation below the threshold may be predicted and the transmission and/or reception adapted. Adapting may include initiating use of a different error encoding scheme and/or using an additional communication channel to convey information. | 05-30-2013 |
20130150071 | LOCATION DETERMINATION FOR WHITE SPACE UTILIZATION - A technique for a wireless device to obtain white space information from a component configured for cellular communication, such as a cellular phone. The wireless device and cellular phone may communicate using a short-range connection, such as a peer-to-peer connection, ensuring that the white space information, which is location based, generated by the cellular phone is also accurate for the location of the wireless device. With such white space information, the wireless device can comply with regulatory requirements for white space use by accessing a regulatory database identifying, by location, available white space channels. When the cellular phone is configured for accessing a wide area network, the cellular telephone may provide the white space information as a set of channels available for white space communication. Channels of the set may be prioritized based on one or more parameters, including frequency, permitted transmit power or detected noise. | 06-13-2013 |
20130155980 | ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS WITH CARRIER SENSE - A communication system in which an access point and one or more devices communicating through the access point adaptively apply Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). The access point may assign orthogonal subcarriers to devices as in conventional OFDMA, but the access point senses activity on the subcarriers and selects subcarriers without activity for assignment. In an alternative approach, a device that is configured for OFDMA communication may receive a channel assignment from a device that does not support OFDMA. The OFDMA-capable device may use only a portion of the subcarriers in the assigned channel, which may be communicated to the non-OFDMA device. During the non-OFDMA device may then ignore unused subcarriers in error detection and correction to avoid incorrectly classifying communications as erroneous. Information about OFDMA capabilities, subcarrier assignments and subcarriers in use may be communicated as information elements in network control communications, such as beacons and probe messages. | 06-20-2013 |
20130170380 | ADAPTING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK TO VARYING CONDITIONS - Systems and methods are disclosed for adapting a communication system to varying conditions. Using some form of discovery protocol, the communication standards supported by at least two communicants are determined. Each communicant may then periodically monitor the quality of the channel established by the communication standard and dynamically select a set of one or more communication standards to use for communicating. Further, when communicants share common non-standard parameterized implementations of communication standards, changes to the protocols which the communication standards comprise can be used to add options for a more dynamic response to changing conditions than is possible when adhering only to an established communication standard. | 07-04-2013 |
20130219058 | NETWORK RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH PREDICTION - An indicator for a device may provide an indication that a threshold associated with a budget for a network resource has or will be reached. When a user requests a network operation that will consume the network resource, an amount of the network resource to be consumed by the operation is predicted, if possible. If the prior use of the network resource and the amount to be used to complete the network operation exceeds a threshold the user may be warned and given an opportunity to cancel the operation or adjust the way in which the operation will be performed. If the amount of network resource a network operation will consume is unknown, a rate of use of the network resource is determined and a time until the budget is reached is estimated. | 08-22-2013 |
20130232253 | PEER-TO-PEER DISCOVERY - A wireless device that discovers other wireless devices for the formation of a peer-to-peer connection may perform a scan that is limited in duration and power consumption. The scan nonetheless is highly likely to discover a device, if a discoverable device exists. In addition, the scan may be performed in compliance with parameters of a peer-to-protocol such that the scan may be readily implemented in a wireless device, in some embodiments even as a firmware upgrade on a wireless network interface card. Parameters of the scan may be adjusted to increase the likelihood that, if the scan completes without discovering a device, no discoverable device exists. The scan may be used in an overall process in which discovery ends or the scan is selectively repeated following an unsuccessful scan, without entering a find phase. | 09-05-2013 |
20130301681 | Frequency Hopping for Dynamic Spectrum Access - Described is a technology by which available radio frequency channels are switched/varied by communicating devices according to a frequency hopping pattern. The pattern may be a pseudorandom pattern, which may be weighted based at least in part on channel interference data. As also described herein, interference-related data may be used in a decoding scheme. | 11-14-2013 |
20130336335 | Error Control Coding for Noncontiguous Channel Aggregation - The subject disclosure is generally directed towards a technology by which non-contiguous channels of unequal bandwidth may be aggregated for use by communication devices. A data stream is partitioned (e.g., via puncturing) into partitioned data streams for communication over aggregated non-contiguous channels, one partitioned data stream per channel, in which partitioning is based upon each channel's bandwidth. Secondary puncturing may be used on any partitioned data stream that is to be transmitted over a channel associated with a regulatory constraint, e.g., a regulatory mask. Database querying, which may include providing device filter characteristics, may be used to obtain the set of channels available for use, along with any regulatory mask associated with a channel. | 12-19-2013 |
20130337741 | WHITE SPACE UTILIZATION - The concepts relate to broadcasting white space utilization. One example can interact with a wireless device that is configured to obtain authorization to use a set of radio white space frequencies in accordance with one or more constraints. The example can obtain an individual radio white space frequency and associated individual constraints. This example can also utilize the individual radio white space frequency for network access independent from the wireless device that is configured to obtain the authorization. | 12-19-2013 |
20130337857 | WHITE SPACE UTILIZATION - The concepts relate to broadcasting white space utilization. One example can function as a client relative to a wireless access point that is configured to obtain authorization to utilize a radio white space frequency according to a set of constraints. The example can function as a Wi-Fi direct group owner to establish a Wi-Fi connection with a device that is not the wireless access point. This example can also transmit data over the radio white space frequency to the device in compliance with the set of constraints. | 12-19-2013 |
20130343182 | PACKET AGGREGATION - Methods and apparatus for improving the efficient use of a wireless channel. Flows of compatible packets to be transmitted are processed in separate queues based on characteristics of the packets, destination and quality of service (QoS) requirements. Aggregation parameters selected for each flow define when packets aggregated on a flow are to be sent. The aggregation parameters may reflect packet type, such as QoS requirements, an application type and/or wireless channel conditions. In some embodiments, the aggregation parameters indicate a threshold frame size or include a threshold time to buffer a packet while waiting for other packets on that flow to fill a frame. When an aggregation parameter for a queue is met, the aggregated packets are transmitted as a frame. The queue is cleared and subsequent packets may begin aggregating. Some types of packets, such as acknowledgment packets, may be sent without aggregation. | 12-26-2013 |
20140073261 | WHITE SPACE UTILIZATION - The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can measure a potential radio white space frequency. The example can also communicate results of the measuring for other devices and receive other results from the other devices relating to the potential radio white space frequency. The method can further determine whether the potential radio white space frequency is actually an available radio white space frequency based upon the results and the other results. | 03-13-2014 |
20140098665 | SIGNALING TO APPLICATION LACK OF REQUESTED BANDWIDTH - A system for signaling an application when a requested data rate and Quality of Service cannot be achieved using OFDM wireless data transmission, and the application proceeds by either renegotiating QoS and data rate, or waiting until they requested rate and QoS are met. | 04-10-2014 |
20140119208 | Sub-Channel Detection for Wireless Data Communication - Techniques for sub-channel detection for wireless data communication are described. In at least some implementations, techniques can utilize subsets of available wireless channels for inter-device data communication. For instance, in at least some embodiments, a wireless connection between a client device and a wireless device can be established according to a pre-specified subset of sub-channels. Further, in at least some embodiments, a wireless device can be configured to transmit and/or receive data using a specific subset of sub-channels, while a client device can be configured to scan a larger set of sub-channels to search for data communication from the wireless device. The client device can detect transmitted signal from the wireless device at the subset of sub-channels, and can utilize the set of sub-channels for data communication between the wireless device and the client device. | 05-01-2014 |
20140133407 | CONNECTION INFORMATION FOR INTER-DEVICE WIRELESS DATA COMMUNICATION - Techniques for connection information for inter-device wireless data communication are described. In at least some embodiments, a broker device maintains wireless connection information for various wireless devices. The wireless connection information includes wireless channels at which particular wireless devices can be accessed. The broker device can provide the wireless connection information to various other devices to enable wireless communication with the wireless devices. | 05-15-2014 |
20140143629 | Wireless Access Point Mapping - Techniques for wireless access point mapping are described. In at least some embodiments, various characteristics of a wireless access point are detected. Examples of such characteristics include signal strength for wireless signal transmitted by the wireless access point, identifying information for the wireless access point, data error rates for data transmitted by the wireless access point, and so forth. Characteristics of a wireless access point can be detected at multiple different geographic locations to enable a reception range mapping to be generated for the wireless access point, e.g., for an area in which signal reception for the wireless access point is qualitatively acceptable. | 05-22-2014 |
20140242981 | White Space Utilization - The concepts relate to radio white space utilization. One example can obtain information about a location of a device. The example can access a white space database to obtain radio white space frequencies relative to the location. This example can also perform active scanning of at least some of the radio white space frequencies at the location and not perform active scanning on allocated frequencies. | 08-28-2014 |
20140267558 | DYNAMIC WIRELESS CONFIGURATION FOR VIDEO CONFERENCE ENVIRONMENTS - Systems, methods, and software for facilitating wireless conference environments are disclosed. In an implementation, a media system obtains environment information comprising a physical characteristic of a conference environment in which to host a least a portion of a video conference. The media system also obtains schedule information comprising a schedule for a portion of a surrounding environment associated with the conference environment. The media system identifies a configuration in accordance with which to wirelessly exchange video with another media system or system s engaged in the video conference. The configuration is based at least in part on the physical characteristic of the conference environment and the schedule for the portion of the surrounding environment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274089 | Radio Spectrum Utilization - The concepts relate to radio channel utilization. One example can obtain a set of channels that are available at a location of a device. The example can send the set of available channels to the device. The example can also receive information that the device established a network on an individual channel from the set of available channels. The example can further cause the information about the individual channel to be associated with the location. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274090 | Radio Spectrum Utilization - The concepts relate to radio channel utilization. One example can monitor a location of a mobile device that has cellular capabilities. The example can identify a set of channels that are available to the mobile device at the location. The example can also send the set of channels to the mobile device with a suggestion for the mobile device to utilize one or more of the channels of the set to accomplish data communication rather than using the cellular capabilities. | 09-18-2014 |
20140301242 | Radio White Space Database Discovery - The concepts relate to radio white space utilization and more specifically to discovery of radio white space databases that cover a specific location. One example can communicate a location to a radio white space database. The example can obtain, from the radio white space database, information about another radio white space database that covers the location. The example can supply the location to the another radio white space database. The example can also receive a set of radio white space frequencies and associated constraints for the location from the another radio white space database. The example can further communicate data over individual radio white space frequencies of the set in accordance with the constraints at the location. | 10-09-2014 |
20140328251 | DIRECT CONNECTION WITH SIDE CHANNEL CONTROL - A wireless computer that pairs with a remote audio-video presentation device, such as a television. As a result of the pairing, a communication channel is established for the computer to transmit audio-video content for presentation through that device. Additionally, as part of the pairing, the computer and remote device select a side channel for communication of user commands. The wireless computer may display a user interface through which a user may input commands that control the manner in which the remote audio-video device presents the content. As a result, a user may use the wireless computer as a remote control for the audio-video device, controlling both the content presented and the manner in which it is presented. The side channel may use different frequencies than the channel used to communicate audio-video content, and may use very low power at frequencies in the digital TV spectrum. | 11-06-2014 |
20140329474 | COMPUTING DEVICE WITH CONFIGURABLE ANTENNA - A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies. | 11-06-2014 |
20140334432 | FEC IN COGNITIVE MULTI-USER OFDMA - A multiuser scheme allowing for a number of users, sets of user, or carriers to share one or more channels is provided. In the invention, the available channel bandwidth is subdivided into a number of equal-bandwidth subchannels according to standard OFDM practice. A transmitter transmits data on a set of OFDM subchannels that need not be contiguous in the spectrum or belong to the same OFDM channel. A receiver receives and decodes the data and detects errors on subchannels. The receiver then broadcasts the identity of those subchannels on which the error rate exceeds a specific threshold, and the transmitter may select different subchannels for transmission based on this information. | 11-13-2014 |
20140351379 | COGNITIVE USE OF MULTIPLE REGULATORY DOMAINS - A wireless communication system that concurrently communicates information in multiple regulatory domains to facilitate audio/video media streaming and other high bandwidth operations. One domain may be licensed and the other may be unlicensed. Transmission in the licensed domain may occur in white space in the domain, and the amount of information transmitted in that domain may be limited by regulations. The amount of information conveyed in the licensed domain may also depend on channel conditions in either or both of the domains. As a result, the relative amount of information transmitted in each domain may vary dynamically. The system includes a transmitter that dynamically determines weighting coefficients applied to each of a plurality of channels to set power levels in both domains to achieve a desired metric for the overall communication. A corresponding receiver assembles the substreams into a stream that can then be displayed or otherwise processed. | 11-27-2014 |
20140372232 | SERVICES ADVERTISEMENT IN A WIRELESS MESH - A computing environment containing a mesh network that is adapted to provide a reliable transport mechanism over which services may be delivered. Nodes of the mesh can automatically select routable addresses without conflicts, which allows nodes of the mesh to be accessed, even as the mesh changes through the addition or deletion of nodes. Also, nodes communicate with a protocol that supports service advertisements. These advertisements can identify mesh nodes that supply services, such as file or print servers, for which devices that have not yet connected to the network may be searching. Advertisements can also identify services to be used by nodes in the network, allowing, for example, a node to select a gateway providing a reliable connection to an external network. The mesh network can be used as a transport for communication using protocols, such as TCP/IP, that generally exhibit poor performance when using unreliable transports. | 12-18-2014 |
20140378127 | Radio Channel Communication - The concepts relate to radio channel utilization. One example can monitor a location of a mobile device that has both a first type of wireless capabilities and a second type of wireless capabilities. The example can determine a distance from the location of the mobile device to a location of a wireless device. The example can cause data to be transmitted from the mobile device to the wireless device at a power level based upon the distance. | 12-25-2014 |
20140378147 | CELLULAR SERVICE WITH IMPROVED SERVICE AVAILABILITY - A cellular communication system in which overload of a base station is averted by offering users the option to communicate using a spectrum outside of the spectrum allocated for cellular communication. Incentives are offered to connect to the base station using the alternative spectrum, which may not support communications at the same rate as could be supported using the spectrum allocated to the base station for cellular communications. Users may be selected to receive an offer to receive incentives based on range to the base station, with users closer to the base station being more likely to receive such an offer. The cellular communications system may be a 3G wireless system and the alternative spectrum may be white space in the digital TV spectrum. | 12-25-2014 |
20150074269 | NETWORK RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH PREDICTION - An indicator for a device may provide an indication that a threshold associated with a budget for a network resource has or will be reached. When a user requests a network operation that will consume the network resource, an amount of the network resource to be consumed by the operation is predicted, if possible. If the prior use of the network resource and the amount to be used to complete the network operation exceeds a threshold the user may be warned and given an opportunity to cancel the operation or adjust the way in which the operation will be performed. If the amount of network resource a network operation will consume is unknown, a rate of use of the network resource is determined and a time until the budget is reached is estimated. | 03-12-2015 |