Cisco Technology, Inc.

Cisco Systems Wireless Networking (australia) Pty Limited

G2 Microsystems Pty. Ltd.

Philip J Ryan

Brian Donald Hart

John D O'Sullivan

Andrew Robert Adams

Richard A Keaney

Andrew Frederick Myles

Mark Krischer

David S Goodall

Michael J Webb

Neil Weste

Geoffrey J Smith

Kevin C H Wong

David James Skellern

Ludovico N De Souza

Uri Parker

Kurt A Lumbatis

Jason R Crawford

Thomas McDermott

John S Gloekler

Grzegorz B Zyner

Eldad Perahia

Bretton Lee Douglas

David J Pignatelli

Ender Ayanoglu

Milind Paranjpe

Gordon T Foyster

Thomas Dejanovic

Ludivico N De Souza

A method, an apparatus for inclusion in a wireless station, and a computer readable storage medium for operation in a wireless station. The method includes received data from at least one remote station and determining an EVM measure from samples of the received data. If the remote station(s) is/are access point(s), the station selects an access point for association according to criteria that include the measure of the EVM from the remote station.

Selecting an access point according to a measure of received signal quality

An apparatus, a carrier medium storing instructions to implement a method, and a method in a node of a wireless network able to receive packets that exactly or substantially conform to a wireless network standard according to which each packet includes a header having bits that have respective correct values in the case that the packet exactly conforms to the standard. The method includes receiving a start-of-packet (SOP) trigger that indicates that a packet may have been received, checking one or more bits in the header to determine whether or not they have their respective correct values, and continuing to process the packet in the case that the checking indicates that the checked bits have their respective correct values. In one implementation, the header includes a first field modulated at a known rate that has one or more reserved bit locations, and a second field modulated at a data rate indicated in the first field. In such an implementation, the checking includes processing the first field and checking one or more bits in the first field to determine whether or not they have their respective correct values, and, if the checked bits of the first field have their respective correct values, checking the second field for integrity.

Early detection of false start-of-packet triggers in a wireless network node

A method of wirelessly transmitting or receiving a packet of information, and an apparatus to wirelessly transmit or receive a packet of information. In the case of transmitting, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the packet, over a network link during transmit time. In the case of receiving, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the received packet, over a network link during receive time. The transmitting or receiving is by a station of a wireless network and the streaming is to or from the station from or to a network device coupled to the station by the network link.

Method and apparatus to provide data streaming over a network connection in a wireless MAC processor

Telemetry data may be included in packet exchanges of authentication protocols. In one example, a tag, associated with shipped goods, authenticates with a local area network that is associated with a destination of the goods. An identification is received from the tag and the authentication and the identification are sent to a remote location as an indication of the goods being at the destination.

Telemetry data in packet exchanges

An apparatus, a carrier medium storing instructions to implement a method, and a method for controlling the gain of a radio receiver for receiving packets of information in a wireless network. The receiver is connected to an antenna subsystem and has receive signal path including a plurality of sections including a first section coupled to the antenna subsystem and a next section. Each section has an adjustable gain and is able to provide a measure of the signal strength at its output. The method includes waiting for a start of packet indication, providing a measure of the signal strength at the output of the first section and the next section, and adjusting the gains of the first and the next sections using the provided measured signal strengths. In one embodiment, the receive signal path includes a filter, the provided measure for the first section is before the filter, and the provided measure for the second section is after the filter. The gain adjusting sets first section's gain according to the measured signal strength at the output of the first section and sets the next section's gain according to the provided measure of signal strength at the output of the next section relative to the provided measure of signal strength at the output of the first section. In one embodiment, the gain adjusting o is carried out in sequential AGC stages, one stage setting the gain of one or more sections.

Adaptive AGC in a wireless network receiver

A method of wirelessly transmitting or receiving a packet of information, and an apparatus to wirelessly transmit or receive a packet of information. In the case of transmitting, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the packet, over a network link during transmit time, including encrypting the data element during the streaming in real time prior to the transfer over the network link. In the case of receiving, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the received packet, over a network link during receive time, including decrypting the data element during the streaming in real time after to the transfer over the network link. The transmitting or receiving is by a station of a wireless network and the streaming is to or from the station from or to a network device coupled to the station by the network link.

Method and apparatus to provide inline encryption and decryption for a wireless station via data streaming over a fast network

An apparatus for inclusion and a method for operation in a station (STA) of a wireless network. The method includes received data from at least one remote station and determining a measure of the signal quality, e.g., a measure of the EVM from samples of the data received from the remote station(s). If the remote station(s) is/are access point(s), the station selects an access point for association according to criteria that include the measure of the EVM from the remote station. If the received data includes a request management message, the station responds to the request management message with a response management message that include a measure of the EVM of the received data corresponding to the request management message. Thus, the remote station receiving the response management message receives an indication of the quality of the link between the station and the remote station without the receiving remote station necessarily being EVM-capable.

A configurable Viterbi decoder to decode a coded signal for inclusion in a radio receiver for implementing the physical layer receiving function (PHY) of a wireless data network. The decoder includes a branch metric generator with an input to the coded signal, an ACS subsystem coupled to the branch metric generator, and a survivor memory unit coupled to the ACS subsystem. The decoder includes a plurality of outputs each providing a decoded version of the input signal decoded to a distinct decision depth such that the Viterbi decoder is programmable to decode the signal to one of a plurality of decision depths.

Adaptive Viterbi decoder for a wireless data network receiver

An apparatus in a node of a wireless network for setting the data rate for sending data to a remote node, and a method for setting the data rate. The method includes receiving a packet from the remote node, determining a measure of signal quality for the received packet; and selecting the data rate for communicating to the remote node according to at least the determined signal quality. The measure of signal quality is a measure of the EVM of the received packet. One implementation conforms to one or more variants of the IEEE 802.11 standard that uses OFDM packets.

Selecting the data rate of a wireless network link according to a measure of error vector magnitude

A method, apparatus, and carrier medium for determining channel state information (CSI) in an OFDM radio receiver. The receiver is for receiving packets of OFDM data as a result of OFDM data being transmitted. The method includes forming an estimate of the channels of the subcarriers for received OFDM data to provide frequency responses of the channels of the subcarriers, and forming a measure of quality ('channel state information,' 'CSI') for the channels of the subcarriers based on the relative strength of the frequency responses. The forming of the CSI does not require estimating the relative amount of noise or interference in each channel. The formed CSI is used in demodulating and decoding received OFDM data.

Decoding method and apparatus using channel state information for use in a wireless network receiver

A method of determining a geographical location of an asset tracking device, includes searching, by the asset tracking device, for available location determination schemes at the geographical location, selecting one of the available location determination schemes, and determining coordinates of the geographical location using the selected location determination scheme. Some embodiments also include making a decision based, at least in part, upon the geographical location coordinates determined by using the selected location determination scheme. Some embodiments include transmitting a location message, the location message including the coordinates of the geographical location and an indication as to the selected location determination scheme.

Location determination method and system for asset tracking devices

A digital AGC system for burst operation, particularly suited for receiving packets in a wireless local area network. One embodiment includes a log detector that provides a signal strength measure, called the received signal strength indication (RSSI) over a wide dynamic range. The AGC system includes estimating the power in a received signal by averaging the log of the signal power. The Start of Packet detection avoids using the radio receiver's main analog to digital converters to preserve power.

Automatic gain control and low power start-of-packet detection for a wireless LAN receiver

Devices, such as tracking devices, cooperate with one another to establish the routing necessary for a relay network in which a device having power-efficient and data-reliable communication with an access portal, operates to relay messages from devices which do not have an acceptable communication path to and/or from the access portal. In one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of devices synchronously determine whether an acceptable communication path can be established between themselves and one or more access portals by measuring the signal strength of an access portal beacon. In another aspect of the present invention, one or more devices, which have determined that an acceptable communication path can be established between themselves and an access portal, transmit information regarding their availability to relay messages on behalf of devices which have determined that an acceptable communication path cannot be established between themselves and an access portal.

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Stanmore, Australia

Philip J Ryan