Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC

Laxman Nallani

Don Gunasekara

Kevin Caldwell

Harriet DuBois

Ahmed Bencheikh

Instead of monitoring a wireless region for beacons, to learn of availability of different wireless access points in a particular geographical region, an end user-operated communication device generates a network discovery request message. The communication device initiates wireless broadcast of the network discovery request message from the user-operated communication device to any of one or more listening non-beacon-generating wireless access points in a wireless network environment. Each of the non-beacon generating wireless access points receiving the network discovery request message from the user-operated communication device produces a respective network discovery response message including network identity information (such as one or more SSIDs) associated with the respective non-beacon generating wireless access point. The non-beacon generating wireless access points transmit network discovery response messages to the user-operated communication device, informing the communication device of network availability.

Management frames and usage in a wireless network environment

A mesh network management resource receives connectivity status information indicating wireless connectivity amongst multiple wirelessly interconnected access points in a mesh network and multiple clients. Based on the received connectivity status information, the mesh network management resource allocates portions of wireless bandwidth in the mesh network to wirelessly communicate between a root access point in the mesh network and each of the multiple interconnected access points. The root access point transmits messages over the allocated portions of wireless bandwidth from the root access point through the multiple interconnected access points to the multiple clients. According to one configuration, the mesh network management resource allocates use of wireless bandwidth amongst the wirelessly interconnected access points in the mesh network based at least in part on class of service information assigned to different subscribers in the mesh network environment.

Resource allocation in a wireless mesh network environment

Apparatus and methods for providing backhaul access connectivity to e.g., a vehicular hotspot. In one embodiment, a wireless network of access points comprises so-called 'parent access points' (PAPs), 'child access points' (CAPs), and &#x201c;transit access points&#x201d; (TAPs). Each PAP operates as a service gateway and provides a wireless coverage area, which is further augmented by the coverages of its subsidiary CAPs. Each TAP can connect to either a PAP or a CAP for backhaul access. During exemplary operation, a user's Wi-Fi client device connects to a TAP located in the vehicle (e.g., car, train, bus, etc.), and provides connectivity to a host managed content distribution network to which the user subscribes.

Apparatus and method for wireless network services in moving vehicles

A wireless access point may be openly accessible to public use. The wireless access point receives an association communication from a computer device to establish a wireless communication link with the wireless access point. The association communication can includes unique information such as vendor specific information associated with a network interface card in the computer device, an IP (Internet Protocol) network address assigned to the computer device, etc. The wireless access point establishes a wireless communication link between the wireless access point and the computer device. The wireless access point utilizes the unique information to verify authenticity of the request to terminate the wireless communication link. In a similar vein, a computer device can receive unique information associated with a wireless access point and use the unique information to verify authenticity of a request by the access point to terminate the wireless communication link.

Growing community of inventors

Herndon, VA, United States of America

Laxman Nallani