13313 results about "Wireless sensor network" patented technology

A novel system and methodology for conducting financial and other transactions using a wireless device. Credentials may be selectively issued by issuers such as credit card companies, banks, and merchants to consumers permitting the specific consumer to conduct a transaction according to the authorization given as reflected by the credential or set of credentials. The preferred mechanism for controlling and distributing credentials according to the present invention is through one or more publicly accessible networks such as the Internet wherein the system design and operating characteristics are in conformance with the standards and other specific requirements of the chosen network or set of networks. Credentials are ultimately supplied to a handheld device such as a mobile telephone via a wireless network. The user holding the credential may then use the handheld device to conduct the authorized transaction or set of transactions via, for example, a short range wireless link with a point-of-sale terminal.

A wireless communication network for programming and monitoring a plurality of network-managed devices, including electronic-ink based display devices, comprising a network management computer system, a network gateway device, one or more wireless network routers, a plurality of network-managed devices, and a network coordinator. The wireless communication network of the present invention bridges the gap between wireless display networks, wireless sensor networks, and the worlds of passive, active and partially-active RFID and real-time locating systems. The wireless communication network of the present invention allows conventional communication network protocols to operate in more flexible ways in dynamic, diverse, and heterogeneous application environments, in fields including retail, healthcare, transport, logistics, manufacturing, education, etc. At the same time, the wireless communication network of the present invention is preferably based on the IEEE 802.15.4 network layer standard, which offers low-cost wireless network communication between a large number of wireless network end-devices.

A portable data terminal (PDT) adapted to participate in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of peer PDTs can comprise: a PDT module including an encoded information reading (EIR) device, and a mesh point (MP) module communicatively coupled to the PDT module. The MP module can include a microcontroller and at least one wireless communication interface and can be configured to perform IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless station services including authentication, de-authentication, privacy, and MAC service data unit delivery, and IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless distribution system services including association, disassociation, distribution, integration, and re-association. The MP module can be further configured, responsive to receiving a MAC frame addressed to a recipient inside the wireless mesh network, to deliver the MAC frame using the distribution service. The MP module can be further configured, responsive to receiving a MAC frame addressed to a recipient outside of the wireless mesh network, to deliver the MAC frame using the integration service. The MP module can be further configured to route an incoming MAC frame according to its destination address and the frame control field. The MP module can be further configured to cause the PDT module to exit said sleeping state responsive to receiving a mobile management software (MMS) wake-up command.

The present invention can be used to facilitate the integration of wireless capability provided by wireless access points into an enterprise computer network. A gateway server is interposed between wireless access points and protected networks to provide security and integration functions, for example, authentication, access control, link privacy, link integrity, and bandwidth metering in various embodiments. Use of such a gateway server allows substantial control to be gained over network access even with the use of relatively simple access points. In general, such a gateway server receives a request to access the protected network. An authentication subsystem of the gateway server authenticates the user, preferably by accessing an external authentication server and returns a role to the authenticated user. An access controller in the gateway server provides differential access to the protected network based on the user's assigned role. A multiple gateway servers can be connected together to form a mesh network architecture.

A mobile robot includes a processor connected to a memory and a wireless network circuit, for executing routines stored in the memory and commands generated by the routines and received via the wireless network circuit. The processor drives the mobile robot to a multiplicity of accessible two dimensional locations within a household, and commands an end effector, including at least one motorized actuator, to perform mechanical work in the household. A plurality of routines include a first routine which monitors a wireless local network and detects a presence of a network entity on the wireless local network, a second routine which receives a signal from a sensor detecting an action state of one of the network entities, the action state changeable between waiting and active, and a third routine which commands the end effector to change state of performing mechanical work based on the presence and on the action state.

Techniques to estimate the position of a wireless terminal. In a method, the identities of a number of transmitters (e.g., BTSs) to be used to estimate the position are initially received. Expected areas for these transmitters are then determined. The expected area associated with each transmitter is indicative of an area where the terminal is likely to be located given that the signal from the transmitter is received by the terminal. Each expected area may comprise a location (e.g., the expected area center) to be used as an estimated position of the terminal and an uncertainty (or error estimate) associated with that estimated position. The expected areas for the transmitters are then combined (e.g., based on a weighted average) to determine a combined expected area, which is then provided as the estimate of the position of the terminal.

In general, one embodiment of the invention is a air monitor adapted to a wireless network. The air monitor enforces policies followed by the wireless network even though it is not involved in the exchange of data between wireless devices of the wireless network such as access points and wireless stations.

The present invention provides for a method and system for measuring data quality of service in a wireless network using multiple peripatetic (i.e. mobile) and / or stationary, unattended, position, and performance instruments (PUPPIs) that are remotely controlled by a back end processor. In some embodiments of the invention, the data service whose quality is measured relates to wireless Internet access, e-commerce transactions, wireless messaging, or push technologies. In other embodiments of the invention, the system includes an element that is located within the wireless network infrastructure, for example, at the WAP gateway to monitor the wireless data protocol and to perform benchmarking measurements.

A system for monitoring the location of individuals, such as parolees, includes a wearable device worn by the individual and a portable device operatively coupled to the wearable device. The portable device is operatively coupled to a monitoring system through a wireless telephone network. The portable device transmits periodically encrypted location information as well as status information across the wireless network to the monitoring system. The monitoring system tracks the location of the individual and alerts the appropriate authorities when the individual violates a rule, such as a condition for parole. The portable device increases the time between transmissions when the individual is within a specified home location and reduces the time between transmissions when outside the specified location.

Adaptive ambient services are provided. In some embodiments, an adaptive ambient service includes providing an ambient service profile. In some embodiments, an ambient service includes implementing an ambient service profile for assisting control of the communications device use of an ambient service on a wireless network, in which the ambient service profile includes a plurality of service policy settings, and in which the ambient service profile is associated with an ambient service plan that provides for initial access to the ambient service with limited service capabilities prior to activation of a new service plan; monitoring use of the ambient service based on the ambient service profile; and adapting the ambient service profile based on the monitored use of the ambient service.

A novel system and methodology for conducting financial and other transactions using a wireless device. Credentials may be selectively issued by issuers such as credit card companies, banks, and merchants to consumers permitting the specific consumer to conduct a transaction according to the authorization given as reflected by the credential or set of credentials. The preferred mechanism for controlling and distributing credentials according to the present invention is through one or more publicly accessible networks such as the Internet wherein the system design and operating characteristics are in conformance with the standards and other specific requirements of the chosen network or set of networks. Credentials are ultimately supplied to a handheld device such as a mobile telephone via a wireless network. The user holding the credential may then use the handheld device to conduct the authorized transaction or set of transactions via, for example, a short range wireless link with a point-of-sale terminal.

A system and method for authenticating votes received from a voter's mobile device. A computer is programmed with a set of computer-readable instructions and a includes database accessable by mobile device reading a durable computer readable medium stored in a computer hardware server, the database comprising a registered voter and a geographical location for the registered voter's postal mail delivery address. The system and method receive a vote in an election over a wireless carrier network, determine the geographical location of a device which transmitted the vote over the wireless network comprising cell tower triangulation, and reject the vote if the geographical location of the device which transmitted the vote is not within a predetermined distance from the geographical location for the registered voter stored in the database.

A wireless sensor network, a node device thereof and a method for arranging communications therein are presented. A first frequency is used in wireless communication of information between a headnode and subnodes of a first cluster (103) using a time slotted channel access scheme. A headnode of a second cluster (113) known the first frequency and selects a second, different frequency for use in wireless communication of information within said second cluster (113) using a time slotted channel access scheme. The headnode of the first cluster (103) is informed about the second frequency selected for the second cluster (113). Information from the headnode of said first cluster (103) to the headnode of said second cluster (113) is communicated on said second frequency, using the same time slotted channel access scheme as other nodes in said second cluster (113).

A power and control system for minimizing home-run power lines to fixtures located throughout a building and wirelessly controlling fixtures according to zones defined irrespective of their wiring. Less “pipe and box” is necessary when branch circuits are not used to define zones. A building may be wired in order to minimize costs, while increasing flexibility and reliability by implementing wireless zone control.

System and method for decentralized control of wireless networks, made up by a set of access points (AP) that provide connection service to a set of stations (STA). The method comprises carrying out, during the start-up process, an automatic selection of the transmission channel (S7) of each access point (AP) to minimize interference, and which is based on the following information transmitted between the access points (AP) in the network:a list of the access points (AP) that are within the range of reach of each access point (AP) in the network;the powers with which each access point (AP) receives signals from the access points within its reach;a list of preferred channels, with the lowest level of interference, for each access point (AP) in the network.The method also enables, among other features, carrying out an automatic transmit power selection (S8).

Wireless network devices discover individual mesh nodes and networks of mesh nodes. An association is formed on the basis of peer-to-peer interactions at layer-1, layer-2 and / or higher layers of the Open System Interconnect (OSI) model. In particular, the system uses Beacon, Probe Request, Probe Response, Association Request, Association Response, and Disassociation frames and introduces a new Extensible Mesh Information Element (EMIE) used by mesh nodes to discover, authenticate, and associate with other peer nodes.

A wireless electrical power metering system is provided. A processor having a multichannel power line transceiver, a wireless transceiver, and a power meter attached thereto measures power consumption information on a power line inductively coupled with the power meter. The processor converts the power consumption information into IP-based data, and transmits same over the wireless transceiver. The information can be wirelessly received by a remote monitoring station or transmitted across the Internet for storage, analysis, and billing. The processor generates appliance control signals and generates same across the multichannel power line transceiver to remotely control appliances in response to power consumption trends. The processor provides firewall capabilities, and relays information between a wired or wireless network and a power line network, thereby expanding the size of existing household networks. Further, the processor allows multiple dwellings to be networked using power lines, and households to be connected to the Internet via a power line network.

In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device has a plurality of software applications including an Internet browser application, an electronic mail (e-mail) communication application, and an audio or video player application. The mobile device is adapted to receive, from wireless communication networks or through use thereof, available quality of service data for the wireless networks and store the corresponding data in association with each network identification. The available quality of service data includes at least a bandwidth criterion and a delay criterion associated with each wireless network. For each one of the software applications, the mobile device is adapted to execute the software application; identify, based on the stored quality of service data, one or more wireless networks having a bandwidth criterion and a delay criterion that best match a bandwidth requirement and a delay requirement, respectively, of the executed software application; and select, based on the identifying, an available wireless network for communication using the executed software application.

Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating automated detection of rogue wireless access points in a wireless network environment. The present invention, in one embodiment, integrates automated detection of rogue access points into wireless network systems. As discussed more fully below, the present invention can be applied to a variety of wireless network system architectures.

An anonymous location wireless network service for use in a wireless network that tracks the location and identity of network users, such as networks complying with enhanced 911 standards. The service provides content providers with the location of network users without revealing their identities. The service includes a wireless network having a proxy server, a network communication link to a plurality of web sites, and a wireless communication link to a plurality of handheld devices. The proxy server blocks identity by reading the location and identity information of network devices, generating dummy identifications, relating the dummy identifications to the identity information, storing the relationships in a memory storage, and forwarding the location information and dummy identifications to the global computer network. Upon receiving return messages from the global computer network, the proxy server reads the dummy identifications, looks up the related identity information in the memory storage, and forwards the data to the appropriate network devices.

The present invention relates to a sensor network having node architecture for performing trust management of neighboring sensor nodes, and to an adaptive method for performing trust management of neighboring sensor nodes for monitoring security in the sensor network. The sensor network includes a base station and a plurality of sensor nodes for reporting sensed information packets to the base station through radiofrequency signals relayed by other sensor nodes. A judge sensor node may have a trust estimator in its node architecture to evaluate trustworthiness of a neighboring suspect sensor node by determining a personal reference and receiving personal references from jury sensor nodes. Based on the trustworthiness of the suspect, the judge may modify a route for transmitting packets to the base station.

Systems and methods are provided to implement a dynamic and efficient cascading policy management framework architecture for both wired and wireless networks. A plurality of Policy Functions (PFs) are assigned to a plurality of Policy Enforcement Points (PEP). The PFs make decisions regarding local policy control at the specific PEP. The PFs then delegate the policy requests or IP flows to a separate PEP that is more conducive to enforcing that policy request. Thus, policy decisions are made at the point where the most information is available, leading to fewer policy requests traversing back and forth across a network. Additionally, this cascading Policy Management Framework Architecture allows for unified policy management across multiple types of networks, including wired (Internet) and wireless (UMTS).

An access point is to handle received broadcast or multicast traffic as multiple instances of unicast traffic, where each instance is destined for a corresponding wireless client device associated with the access point. A client device may adjust its listen interval parameter according to predefined considerations, for example a charge level of a battery to power the client device and an expected usage model for the device. A client device may initiate a reassociation request to inform the access point of its adjusted listen interval parameter.

Applications of CI processing to ad-hoc and peer-to-peer networking significantly improve throughput, network capacity, range, power efficiency, and spectral efficiency. CI-based subscriber units perform network-control functions to optimize network performance relative to channel conditions, network loads, and subscriber services. CI codes are used to identify and address network transmissions. Channel characteristics of communication links are employed to encode, address, and authenticate network transmissions. CI transceivers used as relays and routers employ unique characteristics of transmission paths to code and decode network transmissions. A central processor is adapted to perform array processing with signals received from, and transmitted by, a plurality of subscriber units in a wireless network.

A system, apparatus, and method for maintaining a socket connection over a wireless network. For example, one embodiment of the invention is a wireless data processing device for emulating a socket connection comprising: a wireless radio for establishing a wireless communication channel with a wireless service provider over a wireless network; a network protocol stack including at least one layer configured to establish a socket connection with a remote server over the wireless network, the network protocol stack further including an application layer for executing applications capable of transmitting and receiving data over the socket connection; and a resumable socket module configured to emulate an open socket connection transparently to applications within the application layer, even when the wireless communication channel is temporarily lost, the resumable socket module counting a number of bytes transmitted or to be transmitted to the remote server and maintaining a buffer containing the bytes transmitted or to be transmitted.

In a wireless network, a lowest cost path from a source node to a target node is selected from a plurality of potential paths. The source node sums costs for the links of each potential path. For each link, these costs include a cost of interference, dependent on a number of nodes affected by a signal sent via the respective link. The link costs can also include a cost of transmission, dependent upon a data rate for the respective link, and a cost of coordination for transmissions with other nodes of the network.

A method and apparatus for receiving content over a wireless network are described, including determining a first server from which to receive a content clip to be streamed, requesting the content clip to be streamed from the selected first server, receiving the streamed content clip from the selected first server, determining a peer device from which to receive a content clip to be downloaded, requesting the content clip to be downloaded and receiving the downloaded content clip. The first server is a mesh content server.