Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110264730 | CLIENT DEVICE CONFIGURED TO CONNECT WITH A HOME NETWORK - A smart network may include a smart network host device as well as one or more client devices configured to connect to the smart network. Each of the client devices may implement one or more services that the client device exposes to other devices connected to the smart network. A client device configured to connect to the smart network may implement one or more modules configured to facilitate connecting to the smart network, registering the client device or services running on the client device with the smart network, diagnosing issues with the client device or the smart network, and upgrading the firmware of the client device. The client device may be configured to perform the various operations with minimal input from an owner of the smart network. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265151 | METHOD OF ADDING A CLIENT DEVICE OR SERVICE TO A WIRELESS NETWORK - A smart network host device automatically registers a device or service with a wireless network using identification information and an authorization credential associated with the device or service. The smart network host device obtains the requisite identification information and authorization credential from a network association apparatus associated with the specific device or service to be registered with the wireless network. The smart network host device performs the registration automatically once the smart network host device confirms that the device or service has been associated with the wireless network and a secure password authentication protocol is successfully performed by the smart network host device and the device or service. The network association apparatus may comprise an RFID tag. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265154 | APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING A CLIENT DEVICE OR SERVICE WTIH A WIRELESS NETWORK - A network association apparatus includes identification information and an authorization credential associated with a specific client device or service to be connected to a wireless network. The apparatus is configured to automatically provide the identification information and the authorization credential to a host device of a wireless network in a secure fashion when brought into close proximity to or physically connected with the host of the wireless network. The apparatus may comprise an RFID tag. | 10-27-2011 |
20110282936 | DEVICE AND SERVICE MANAGEMENT BASED ON LAYER 2 THROUGH LAYER 7 DEVICE ATTRIBUTES - A smart network may include a smart network host device as well as one or more client devices configured to connect to the smart network. Each of the client devices may implement one or more services that the client device exposes to other devices connected to the smart network. Each of the client devices includes network layer 2 and 3 attributes as well as network layer 7 application attributes. The application attributes are enumerated as named services, which each client device registers with the smart network host device. When a client device needs access to a named service, the smart network host device uses layer 2, 3, and 7 attributes associated with the client device to select a suitable server for providing the named service to the client device. | 11-17-2011 |
20110314083 | MULTICAST AND SYNCHRONIZATION EMULATION FOR CONTENT TRANSFORMED STREAMS - Embodiments of the present disclosure emulate multicast by generating and synchronizing multiple unicasts of a single content in different encoding formats to multiple devices on a shared network. In one embodiment, a method for multicast emulation includes receiving a request to join an active stream containing a media content. The method also includes identifying a position of the active stream from which to start a new unicast stream of the same media content. The method further includes providing the new unicast stream starting from the identified position, where the new unicast stream is in a format independent from the format of the active stream and the new unicast stream is synchronized to the active stream. | 12-22-2011 |
20120317247 | CONFIGURING MULTIPLE NETWORK DEVICES IN A SETUP FLOW - A smart network may include a smart network host device as well as a smart network connector device, a smart network extender device and one or more client devices configured to connect to the smart network. An installation module is configured to connect to the smart network host device to determine whether a user is attempting to setup multiple network devices substantially simultaneously. The installation module then configures the multiple network devices based on the other network devices connected to the smart network host device. The installation module simplifies setup of the smart network by combining the configuration of multiple network devices into a single setup flow. | 12-13-2012 |
20120317254 | NETWORK PLATFORM IN A NETWORK DEVICE ECOSYSTEM - A smart network may include a smart network host device as well as one or more client devices configured to connect to the smart network. Each of the client devices may implement one or more services that the client device exposes to other devices connected to the smart network. When a client device connects to the smart network, the client device may transmit a message to the smart network host device requesting the client device and zero or more services to be registered on the smart network. Once the client device and services are registered, other devices on the smart network may identify and utilize the resources or functions provided by the client device by querying the smart network host device for information related to the resources on the smart network. The smart network host device also notifies services about relevant service events on the smart network. | 12-13-2012 |
20120317619 | AUTOMATED SEAMLESS RECONNECTION OF CLIENT DEVICES TO A WIRELESS NETWORK - A host device for a wireless network may be configured to implement at least two virtual access points for connecting client devices to the wireless network. A user virtual access point enables a client device to connect to the wireless network and transmit network traffic to other devices connected to the wireless network. In addition, a setup virtual access point provides an additional access point to connect to the wireless network when network credentials for the user virtual access point, such as a service set identifier (SSID) or a password, are changed by a user. When a client device cannot find the user virtual access point based on a stored SSID or password, the client device may be configured to automatically reconnect to the setup virtual access point to request a new SSID and network credentials for the user virtual access point. | 12-13-2012 |
20130028152 | WIRELESS ACCESS POINT WITH MODULAR NETWORK ELEMENTS - A wireless access point (AP) has a modular architecture, where each network element module provides one or more added capabilities to the wireless AP, such as devices and/or services. The modular and mechanically interlocking structure of the wireless AP enables a network user to easily expand or otherwise modify a home wireless network in a simplified manner by physically adding or removing specific network element modules. Each network element module includes the requisite power, high-speed digital signal, and module control connections in an integrated connection port, and is already loaded with suitable software for devices included in the network module element. Consequently, the network user can expand the smart network with a desired functionality by simply plugging the desired network element module into the wireless AP, and all connection and network association procedures are carried out automatically. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033995 | CHANNEL SCANNING IN A NETWORK HAVING ONE OR MORE ACCESS POINTS - Techniques are presented for channel scanning in a network having one or more access points. In one embodiment, a first frequency band is scanned to identify a first access point. A channel indicator is received from the first access point. A second frequency band is scanned based on the channel indicator, to identify a second access point. The second access point may be identified based on the channel indicator. | 02-07-2013 |
20130055363 | CONNECTING REMOTE AND LOCAL NETWORKS USING AN IDENTIFICATION DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REMOTE NETWORK - One or more portable identification devices associated with a first smart network can be carried with a user of the first smart network to a second smart network and used to automatically identify the first smart network and allow authorized access to the smart network via the second smart network. The one or more portable identification devices are configured to automatically provision the second smart network with the information necessary for the second smart network to identify the first smart network and the authorization credentials to connect to the first smart network. In some example embodiments, the portable identification devices may be RFID tags. | 02-28-2013 |
20130064132 | IDENTIFYING A WIRELESS NETWORK DEVICE ACROSS FACTORY RESETS - Techniques are presented for discovering a previously configured network device. In one embodiment, a basic service set identification (BSSID) that uniquely identifies a network device (i.e., a router) is saved when the network device or a client device is configured. The stored BSSID indicates that the network device has previously been configured. After the network device is reset—i.e., one or more user-configurable settings return to their default settings—a client device may execute a setup application to reconfigure the network device. The setup application may compare the BSSID being broadcasted by the network device with the BSSID stored in the memory. If the BSSIDs match, the setup application may automatically select the network device without user input. Because the network device was previously configured, the setup application assumes that the user is attempting to reconfigure the network device after it has been reset. | 03-14-2013 |
20130067041 | AUTOMATIC DIFFERENTIATION OF SETUP TYPE IN ROUTER SETUP APPLICATION - Techniques are presented for configuring multiple client devices to connect to a network device (e.g., a wireless router). In one embodiment, a setup application executing on one of the client devices determines if the network device has previously been configured. For example, the network device may broadcast a predefined network name to advertise that a user access point has been configured. If the polling setup application detects the predefined network name, then it can skip any steps that would configure the network device. Accordingly, the setup application only configures the client device to connect to the network device. | 03-14-2013 |
20130074061 | CENTRALLY COORDINATED FIRMWARE UPGRADE MODEL ACROSS NETWORK FOR MINIMIZING UPTIME LOSS AND FIRMWARE COMPATIBILITY - Techniques are presented for managing firmware updates for a plurality of devices within a wireless network. Embodiments monitor network usage of the plurality of devices to collect historical usage data. An optimal window of time for updating the firmware of the plurality of devices is then determined, based on the collected historical device usage data. Embodiments flag at least one of the plurality of devices for a firmware update, based on a current firmware version of the device and a corresponding available firmware version for the device. In one embodiment, dependencies for each of the plurality of devices are considered in flagging the devices for the firmware update. The firmware of the flagged devices is updated during the determined optimal window of time. | 03-21-2013 |
20130089001 | ASSOCIATING WI-FI STATIONS WITH AN ACCESS POINT IN A MULTI-ACCESS POINT INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORK - A wireless network client may be configured to use push button configuration (PBC) techniques to associate with wireless networks that include multiple access points. When the configuration buttons on a smart network host device, such as a wireless network host device, and an enrolling client device are pressed, one of the access points is selected to perform the push button configuration process with the client device. The selected access point then enters a PBC mode, allowing the client and selected access point to perform the authentication and configuration exchange. | 04-11-2013 |
20140280865 | NETWORK-PROXIMITY-BASED EVENTING - In one embodiment, a network device detects a proximity state change of a mobile device in relation to the detecting network device, and compares the state change and mobile device to a set of configured policies. Based on one or more particular policies matching the state change and the mobile device, the network device may then perform one or more configured actions. | 09-18-2014 |
20140281000 | SCHEDULER BASED NETWORK VIRTUAL PLAYER FOR ADAPTIVE BIT RATE VIDEO PLAYBACK - A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes identifying a bit rate associated with an adaptive streaming client that is engaged in a media session, where the bit rate is used to maintain a particular video quality for a media stream. The method also includes using a network virtual player to lock the bit rate for a particular time interval for the adaptive streaming client; and supporting the bit rate from a network for the adaptive streaming client during the media session. In more particular embodiments, the method can include detecting a plurality of congestion points flow instrumentation; and reducing a committed service rate for the virtual player based, at least in part, on the flow instrumentation. | 09-18-2014 |