Multi-band communications for a single wireless base station
First Claim
1. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of channel queues each to store packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands;
a memory to store a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and
a controller toselect one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme,cause a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels,exchange packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels,cause a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, andcause a further start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless network apparatus and corresponding method and computer program comprises channel queues each to store packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands; a memory to store a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and a controller to select one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, and on that channel, cause a start beacon packet to be sent, exchange packets of data for an interval specified by the channel access time value, cause a stop beacon packet to be sent at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value, and cause a further start beacon packet to be sent at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value.
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Citations
266 Claims
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1. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of channel queues each to store packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; a memory to store a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and a controller to select one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, cause a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels, exchange packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, cause a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, and cause a further start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of channel queue means each for storing packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queue means correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; memory means for storing a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and controller means for selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, causing a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels, exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, causing a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, and causing a further start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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storing, in a plurality of channel queues, packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; storing a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; causing a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels; exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels; causing a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and causing a further start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium embodying instructions, executable by a computer for a wireless network apparatus, for:
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storing, in a plurality of channel queues, packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; storing a channel access time value and a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; causing a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels; causing packets of data to be exchanged with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels; causing a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and causing a further start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of channel queues each to store packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; a memory to store a channel access time value for each of the wireless channels; and a controller to select one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, cause a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels, wherein the start beacon packet comprises the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, and exchange packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of channel queue means each for storing packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queue means correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; memory means for storing a channel access time value for each of the wireless channels; and controller means for selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, causing a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels, wherein the start beacon packet comprises the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels, and exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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storing, in a plurality of channel queues, packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; storing a channel access time value for each of the wireless channels; selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; causing a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels, wherein the start beacon packet comprises the channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium embodying instructions, executable by a computer for a wireless network apparatus, for:
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storing, in a plurality of channel queues, packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; storing a channel access time value for each of the wireless channels; selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme, and causing a start beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels, wherein the start beacon packet comprises a channel access time value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and causing packets of data to be exchanged with the selected one of the wireless channels for an interval specified by the channel access time value for the selected wireless channel. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of channel queues each to store packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; a memory to store a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and a controller to select one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; and exchange packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for a predetermined interval, cause a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the predetermined interval, wherein the stop beacon packet comprises the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and resume exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels after an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of channel queue means each for storing packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; memory means for storing a return to channel value for each of the wireless channels; and controller means for selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; and exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for a predetermined interval, causing a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the predetermined interval, wherein the stop beacon packet comprises the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and resuming exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels after an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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107. A method comprising:
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storing, in a plurality of channel queues, packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; storing a channel access time value for each of the wireless channels; selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels for a predetermined interval; causing a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the predetermined interval, wherein the stop beacon packet comprises a return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels after an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113)
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114. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium embodying instructions, executable by a computer, for:
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storing, in a plurality of channel queues, packets of data to be transmitted on a respective wireless channel in one of a plurality of frequency bands, wherein at least two of the channel queues correspond to wireless channels in different ones of the frequency bands; storing a channel access time value for each of the wireless channels; selecting one of the wireless channels according to a channel polling scheme; causing packets of data to be exchanged with the selected one of the wireless channels for a predetermined interval; causing a stop beacon packet to be sent to the selected one of the wireless channels at the end of the predetermined interval, wherein the stop beacon packet comprises a return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels; and exchanging packets of data with the selected one of the wireless channels after an interval specified by the return to channel value for the selected one of the wireless channels. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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121. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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an infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel, and to receive start beacon packets and stop beacon packets from the wireless base station; an ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel; and a master controller to cause the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets, and to cause the ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel only after receiving one of the stop beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130)
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131. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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infrastructure controller means for exchanging packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel, and for receiving start beacon packets and stop beacon packets from the wireless base station; ad hoc controller means for exchanging packets of data with one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel; and master controller means for causing the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets, and for causing the ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel only after receiving one of the stop beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140)
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141. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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receiving one or more start beacon packets; receiving one or more stop beacon packets; exchanging packets of data with the wireless base station according to an infrastructure network model only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets; and exchanging packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations according to an ad hoc network model only after receiving one of the stop beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (142, 143, 144, 145, 146)
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147. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium embodying instructions, executable by a computer for a wireless network apparatus, for:
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receiving one or more start beacon packets; receiving one or more stop beacon packets; causing packets of data to be exchanged with the wireless base station according to an infrastructure network model only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets; and causing packets of data to be exchanged with the one or more wireless end stations according to an ad hoc network model only after receiving one of the stop beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (148, 149, 150, 151, 152)
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153. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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an infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel, and to receive start beacon packets and stop beacon packets from the wireless base station; and a master controller to cause the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets, and to cause the wireless network apparatus to enter a sleep state on receiving one of the stop beacon packets, and to leave the sleep state on receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162)
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163. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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infrastructure controller means for exchanging packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel, and for receiving start beacon packets and stop beacon packets from the wireless base station; and master controller means for causing the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets, and for causing the wireless network apparatus to enter a sleep state on receiving one of the stop beacon packets, and to leave the sleep state on receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172)
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173. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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receiving one or more start beacon packets; receiving one or more stop beacon packets; exchanging packets of data with the wireless base station according to an infrastructure network model only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets; and entering a sleep state on receiving one of the stop beacon packets, and leaving the sleep state on receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (174, 175, 176, 177, 178)
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179. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for a wireless network apparatus, the computer program comprising instructions for:
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receiving one or more start beacon packets; receiving one or more stop beacon packets; causing packets of data to be exchanged with the wireless base station according to an infrastructure network model only after receiving one of the start beacon packets and before receiving a next one of the stop beacon packets; and causing the wireless network apparatus to enter a sleep state on receiving one of the stop beacon packets, and leaving the sleep state on receiving a next one of the start beacon packets. - View Dependent Claims (180, 181, 182, 183, 184)
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185. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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an infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; an ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller receives a start beacon packet from the wireless base station, the start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; a memory to store the channel access time value; and a master controller to cause the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only during an interval specified by the channel access time value, and to cause the ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191)
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192. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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infrastructure controller means for exchanging packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; ad hoc controller means for exchanging packets of data with one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller means receives a start beacon packet from the wireless base station, the start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; memory means for storing the channel access time value; and master controller means for causing the infrastructure controller means to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only during an interval specified by the channel access time value, and for causing the ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198)
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199. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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receiving a start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; exchanging packets of data over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model only during an interval specified by the channel access time value; and exchanging packets of data over the wireless channel according to an ad hoc network model thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (200, 201)
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202. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for a wireless network apparatus, the computer program comprising instructions for:
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receiving a start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; causing packets of data to be exchanged over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model only during an interval specified by the channel access time value; and causing packets of data to be exchanged over the wireless channel according to an ad hoc network model thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (203, 204)
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205. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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an infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller receives a start beacon packet from the wireless base station, the start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; a memory to store the channel access time value; and a master controller to cause the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only during an interval specified by the channel access time value, and to cause the wireless network apparatus to operate in a sleep state thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211)
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212. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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infrastructure controller means for exchanging packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller means receives a start beacon packet from the wireless base station, the start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; memory means for storing the channel access time value; and master controller means for causing the infrastructure controller means to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel only during an interval specified by the channel access time value, and for causing the wireless network apparatus to operate in a sleep state thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218)
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219. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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receiving a start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; exchanging packets of data over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model only during an interval specified by the channel access time value; and operating in a sleep state thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (220, 221)
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222. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for a wireless network apparatus, the computer program comprising instructions for:
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receiving a start beacon packet comprising a channel access time value; exchanging packets of data over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model only during an interval specified by the channel access time value; and operating in a sleep state thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (223, 224)
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225. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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an infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; an ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller receives a stop beacon packet from the wireless base station, the stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; a memory to store the return to channel value; and a master controller to cause the ad hoc controller to exchange packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel only during an interval specified by the return to channel value, and to cause the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231)
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232. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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infrastructure controller means for exchanging packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; ad hoc controller means for exchanging packets of data with one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller means receives a stop beacon packet from the wireless base station, the stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; memory means for storing the return to channel value; and master controller means for causing the ad hoc controller means to exchange packets of data with the one or more wireless end stations over the wireless channel only during an interval specified by the return to channel value, and for causing the infrastructure controller means to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238)
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239. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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receiving a stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; exchanging packets of data over the wireless channel according to an ad hoc network model only during an interval specified by the return to channel value; and exchanging packets of data over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (240, 241)
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242. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for a wireless network apparatus, the computer program comprising instructions for:
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receiving a stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; causing packets of data to be exchanged over the wireless channel according to an ad hoc network model only during an interval specified by the return to channel value; and causing packets of data to be exchanged over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (243, 244)
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245. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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an infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller receives a stop beacon packet from the wireless base station, the stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; a memory to store the return to channel value; and a master controller to cause the wireless network apparatus to operate in a sleep state only during an interval specified by the return to channel value, and to cause the infrastructure controller to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251)
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252. A wireless network apparatus comprising:
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infrastructure controller means for exchanging packets of data with a wireless base station over a wireless channel; wherein the infrastructure controller means receives a stop beacon packet from the wireless base station, the stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; memory means for storing the return to channel value; and master controller means for causing the wireless network apparatus to operate in a sleep state only during an interval specified by the return to channel value, and for causing the infrastructure controller means to exchange packets of data with the wireless base station over the wireless channel thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258)
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259. A method for a wireless network apparatus comprising:
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receiving a stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; operating in a sleep state only during an interval specified by the return to channel value; and exchanging packets of data over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (260, 261)
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262. A computer program stored on a computer-readable medium for a wireless network apparatus, the computer program comprising instructions for:
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receiving a stop beacon packet comprising a return to channel value; operating in a sleep state only during an interval specified by the return to channel value; and causing packets of data to be exchanged over a wireless channel according to an infrastructure network model thereafter. - View Dependent Claims (263, 264)
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265. A start beacon packet comprising a plurality of element fields, each element field comprising an element identification parameter, a length parameter, and an information parameter, wherein the information parameters comprise:
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a service set identity (SSID) parameter; a supported rates parameter; a distribution set (DS) parameter set; a traffic information map (TIM) parameter; and a channel access time (CAT) parameter.
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266. A stop beacon packet comprising a plurality of element fields, each element field comprising an element identification parameter, a length parameter, and an information parameter, wherein the information parameters comprise:
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a service set identity (SSID) parameter; a supported rates parameter; a distribution set (DS) parameter set; a traffic information map (TIM) parameter; and a return to channel (RTC) parameter.
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Specification