Devices, systems, and methods for managing multimedia traffic across a common wireless communication network

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for managing multimedia traffic across a common wireless communication network. Embodiments may include content devices, end point devices, a network node, and a wireless dongle. The network node and the wireless dongle may have application functions transmitting and receiving application data streams including a video application. The video application may include a conversion engine to compress, expand, or convert video data. Further, both the network node and the wireless dongle may transmit downstream video streams and receive upstream video streams. In addition, the network node may have a master controller function and a node management function, and a dongle management function each managing video traffic streams and application data streams. In addition, the dongle management function controls admission of a video traffic stream originating from the wireless dongle to the wireless communication network.

BACKGROUND

Multipoint wireless communication has become a preferred manner in which to transfer information in current technology environment. Further, multipoint wireless communication can be implemented over a variety of different using different protocols such as cellular technologies using CDMA, TDMA, or GSM technologies. Alternatively, wireless communication may be conducted using WiFi or WiMAX protocols.

WiFi has become a ubiquitous technology connecting various wireless enabled appliances in an enterprise, residential wireless environment, or public “hotspots”. Further, WiFi bridges the appliances to the Internet. The users of the appliances or end point devices may support different traffic types and may access or exit the WiFi network frequently. In addition, WiFi communication networks may carry different types of information traffic such as voice traffic, video traffic, and data traffic. The video traffic may be separated into two different categories. A first category may be one-way video traffic such as viewing broadcast television content, streaming media, or IP TV. A second category may be two-way video traffic such as video conferencing. Further, the data traffic may be separated into two categories. A first category may be best effort data traffic and a second category may be background data traffic. A residential or enterprise WiFi or other type of wireless communication network may carry all or a subset of the different types of information traffic.

The previous versions of WiFi provide convenience a typical network environment such that a licensed technician is not required to install WiFi service, for example. Generally, packet drop and packet collision are not of concern because such situations are handled by either WiFi protocols or a higher layer protocol using retransmission protocols. Having such characteristics, WiFi may be suitable for data applications of which peak rates are much higher than corresponding average/mean rates. Conversely, voice traffic has a peak rate close to its average/mean rate. Alternatively, video traffic may have traffic pattern that falls in between voice traffic and data traffic.

SUMMARY

WiFi and other wireless communication networks may carry different types of information traffic including voice, video, and data. WiFi communication protocols such as the family of IEEE 802.11 standards may carry the different types of information traffic and attempt to optimize delivery based on quality of service requirements. For example, IEEE 802.11e and IEEE 802.11n specify access categories corresponding to different types of voice, video, and data traffic that may be carried on a wireless communication network such that protocols and communication mechanisms in the wireless communication network may attempt to satisfy the quality of service requirements for the different types of traffic. Further, IEEE 802.11n specifies a 2.4 GHz band as well as a 5 GHz band resulting in having more capacity than previous versions IEEE 802.11 networks. However, even with the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols, further management for the different types of traffic carried on the network may be necessary to optimize network performance as well as to satisfy service and network requirements. Further, video media content providers are offering different types of content across the Internet as well as broadcast television networks. Thus, the offering of different types of video content from different content providers and service providers coupled with the ability of wireless communication network to carry more traffic may result in more video traffic to flow across WiFi and other wireless communication networks in both residential and enterprise environments. For example, commercial and residential “hotspots” that deploy wireless communication networks providing public access to Internet and web browsing capabilities have become ubiquitous. However, current “hotspots” do not provide adequate performance for simultaneous voice, video, and data services due to lack of traffic management functions in such wireless communication networks.

IEEE 802.11e and IEEE 802.11n may specify a priority mechanism for voice, data and video traffic streams in a wireless network. However, IEEE 802.11e and IEEE 802.11n may not provide the ability to satisfy the overall performance requirements when voice, data and video traffic loads are heavy as the IEEE 802.11e and IEEE 802.11n specify the use of Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme. Video and voice traffic performance is severely degraded due to collisions inherent in this scheme. Thus without an improved traffic management scheme, applications such as multiple high-definition (HD) video streams across a WiFi network implementing IEEE 802.11e or IEEE 802.11n may create an unsatisfactory user experience.

Currently and in the foreseeable future, voice traffic streams may comprise a small percentage of overall traffic in a wireless communication network (e.g. WiFi). However, video traffic streams can be a significant portion of the overall traffic in such a wireless communication network (e.g. WiFi). In the present disclosure, a traffic management scheme may be overlaid on top of a wireless communication network (e.g. WiFi implementing IEEE 802.11e or IEEE 802.11n) to manage different types of traffic including voice, video, data as well as management packets across the wireless communication network. Traffic policing and traffic shaping may also be used to regulate the data traffic (e.g. best effort data and background data) by assigning appropriate peak and mean traffic rates. Further, video packet collisions may be reduced or avoided by either changing video traffic priority or by assigning a dedicated time slot in a time division multiplexing scheme for packet transmission. In addition, a traffic management scheme may dynamically reallocate bandwidth availability among network nodes and dongles of various type of traffic transmitted across a wireless communication network. Also, security may be enhanced by implementing encryption using a pseudo-random code to particular traffic streams. Such disclosed features may be implemented by management functions residing in, as well as executed and implemented by the networks nodes and dongles. By implementing the aforementioned schemes, collisions are minimized or totally eliminated resulting in improving overall wireless network performance.

Within the embodiments described below, an exemplary system for managing one or more types of traffic over a wireless communication network is disclosed. The system may include one or more content devices, a first wireless terminal, and a second wireless terminal each coupled to the wireless communication network. The system may also include a first end point device of one or more end point devices having an end point communication interface. The system may further include a network node having one or more node communication interfaces wherein the network node is coupled to the one or more content devices and the first wireless terminal through the one or more node communication interfaces. The network node may also have one or more node application functions transmitting and receiving one or more application data streams including a node video application. The node video application includes a conversion engine and the node video application transmitting one or more downstream video streams and receiving one or more upstream video streams. The network node may further have a master controller function and a node management function each managing one or more node video traffic streams and the one or more application data streams. Further, the master controller function and the node management function transmitting the one or more downstream video streams and the one or more application data streams and receiving one or more upstream video streams and the one or more application data streams across the wireless communication network. In addition, the network node may include a common operating system performing resource management and coupled to the one or more node communication interfaces, one or more application functions, the node video application, the master controller function and the node management function.

In addition, the system may include a wireless dongle having one or more dongle communication interfaces wherein the wireless dongle is coupled to the second wireless terminal and the first end point device through the one or more dongle communication interfaces. The wireless dongle further having one or more dongle application functions transmitting and receiving one or more application data streams including a dongle video application. The dongle video application including a conversion engine the dongle video application transmitting one or more upstream video streams to and receiving one or more downstream video streams from the wireless communication network. In addition, the wireless dongle includes a dongle management function managing one or more application data streams and controlling admission of a dongle video traffic stream originating from the wireless dongle to the wireless communication network. Also, the wireless dongle may include a dongle common operating system performing resource management and coupled to the one or more dongle communication interfaces, the dongle video application and the dongle management function.

Further, the node management function and dongle management function are selected from the group consisting of priority, policing, traffic shaping, scheduling, admission control, authentication functions and dynamic administration of one or more service level agreements. In addition, the dongle management function is dynamically configured to implement quality-of-service requirements received from the master controller function. Also, the master controller and node management function provision a dongle management function application in the wireless dongle through the wireless communication network.

In addition, the one or more types of traffic includes voice traffic corresponding to a first priority, video traffic corresponding to a second priority, best effort data traffic corresponding to a third priority, and background data traffic corresponding to a fourth priority, wherein a priority of the one or more types of traffic is dynamically configured to conform to quality-of-service requirements. Further, the dongle management function manages a set of video traffic streams that includes one or more upstream video traffic streams and one or more downstream video traffic streams, and the dongle management function configures one or more upstream video traffic streams as first priority based on one or more management commands received from the node management function in the network node.

Another embodiment may include the node management function registering the first end point device of the one or more end point devices into the wireless communication network and allocating a first peak data rate and a first mean data rate to the first end point device for transmission of data from the first end point device based on one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and one or more wireless communication network requirements. Further, the node management function reallocates a second peak data rate and a second mean data rate to the first end point device for transmission of data from the first end point device based on a change in characteristics of the one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and a change in one or more wireless communication network requirements.

Further embodiments may include the dongle management function implementing a strict priority scheme to manage the one or more application data streams. In addition, the network node may control allocation of application data streams to the available wireless communication network bandwidth based on traffic type and characteristics of the application data streams using the master controller function and the node management function. Also, the node management function allocates a video traffic bandwidth that is a subset of the wireless communication network bandwidth for one or more video traffic streams. Further, the node management function and the dongle management function implement a time division multiplexing scheme on the video traffic bandwidth such that each of the one or more video traffic streams are assigned a time slot in the time division multiplexing scheme for transmission across the wireless communication network. Also, a time slot allocated to an inactive video traffic stream is reallocated to one or more active application data streams.

The system may also include a first terminal device traffic manager coupled to the network node and a second terminal device traffic manager coupled to the wireless dongle, each terminal device traffic manager performing traffic scheduling. Each terminal device traffic manager may include a management protocol processor that receives one or more data packets, traps one or more management protocol packets, processes the one or more management protocol packets, and transmits instructions to the wireless dongle to reallocate wireless communication network bandwidth based on processing the one or more management protocol packets, and verifies a quality-of-service for one or more transmission packets. Further, the terminal device traffic manager may include a traffic policer verifying one or more traffic streams conforming to a respective service level agreement and performing traffic shaping on the one or more traffic streams using a queue. Additionally, the terminal device traffic manager may include a scheduler engine that provides weighted round robin scheduling on scheduled traffic stream wherein weighted random early discard is performed based on excessive queue depth. Also, the terminal device traffic manager may include a management protocol responder generating one or more control packets for a management function and responding to one or more trapped management protocol packets.

Other embodiments may include the node management function and the dongle management function performing a security function using a pseudo-random code to encrypt a secured traffic stream between the network node and the wireless dongle over the wireless communication network wherein a key associated with the pseudo-random code is dynamically configured. Further, the one or more end point devices are selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, smartphone, electronic reader, television, video camera, and a wireless enabled appliance. In addition, the one or more application data streams is selected from the group consisting of voice traffic, video traffic, best effort data traffic, and background data traffic. Also, the one or more content devices may include a cable modem, a DSL modem, a WiMax access device, a Passive Optical Networking access device, an Optical Networking Terminal, an Optical Networking Unit, a Long Term Evolution wireless access device, a satellite access device, a broadband access device, a set-top box, a DVR, a DVD player, a BluRay player, and an antenna tuner.

Within the embodiments described below, an exemplary device for managing one or more types of traffic over a wireless communication network is disclosed. The device may include one or more node communication interfaces and one or more application functions transmitting one or more application data streams including a node video application. The node video application includes a conversion engine, the node video application transmitting one or more downstream video streams and receiving one or more upstream video streams. The device may include a master controller function and a node management function each managing one or more node video traffic streams and the one or more application data streams, transmitting the one or more downstream video streams and the one or more application data streams and receiving one or more upstream video streams and the one or more application data streams across the one or more node communication interfaces. The device also includes a common operating system performing resource management and coupled to the one or more node communication interfaces, one or more application functions, the node video application, the master controller function and the node management function.

In addition, the node management function is selected from the group consisting of priority, policing, traffic shaping, scheduling, admission control, authentication functions and dynamic administration of one or more service level agreements. Further, the master controller and the node management function transmit provisioning commands for a dongle management function application to the one or more node communication interfaces. Also, the one or more types of traffic includes voice traffic corresponding to a first priority, video traffic corresponding to a second priority, best effort data traffic corresponding to a third priority, and background data traffic corresponding to a fourth priority, wherein a priority of the one or more types of traffic is dynamically configured to conform to quality-of-service requirements.

Further, the node management function transmits registration information for a first end point device of the one or more end point devices to the one or more node communication interfaces and transmits allocation information to the node communication interface, the allocation information including a first peak data rate and a first mean data rate for the first end point device for transmission of data based on one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and one or more wireless communication network requirements. In addition, the node management function transmits reallocation information including a second peak data rate and a second mean data rate to the one or more node communication interfaces for the first end point device for transmission of data from the first end point device based on a change in characteristics of the one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and a change in one or more wireless communication network requirements.

Further embodiments may include the network node controlling allocation of application data streams to available wireless communication network bandwidth on traffic type and characteristics of the application data streams using the master controller function and the node management function. In addition, the node management function allocates a video traffic bandwidth that is a subset of the wireless communication network bandwidth for one or more video traffic streams, Further, the node management function implements a time division multiplexing scheme on the video traffic bandwidth such that each of the one or more video traffic streams are assigned a time slot in the time division multiplexing scheme for transmission across the wireless communication network. Also, a time slot allocated to an inactive video traffic stream is reallocated to one or more active application data streams.

Additional embodiments may include the node management function performs a security function using a pseudo-random code to encrypt a secured traffic stream wherein a key associated with the pseudo-random code is dynamically configured. In addition, the one or more end point devices are selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, smartphone, electronic reader, television, video camera, and a wireless enabled appliance. Further, the one or more application data streams is selected from the group consisting of voice traffic, video traffic, best effort data traffic, and background data traffic.

Within the embodiments described below, an exemplary device for managing one or more types of traffic over a wireless communication network is disclosed. The device may include one or more dongle communication interfaces and one or more dongle application functions transmitting and receiving one or more application data streams including a dongle video application. The dongle video application including a conversion engine the dongle video application transmitting one or more upstream video streams to and receiving one or more downstream video streams from the one or more dongle communication interfaces. Further, a dongle management function managing one or more application data streams and controlling admission of a dongle video traffic stream originating from the device to one or more dongle communication interfaces. The device may also include a dongle common operating system performing resource management and coupled to the one or more dongle communication interfaces, the dongle video application and the dongle management function.

Further, the dongle management function is selected from the group consisting of priority, policing, traffic shaping, scheduling, admission control, authentication functions and dynamic administration of one or more service level agreements. In addition, the dongle management function is dynamically configured to implement quality-of-service requirements. Also, the device receives a dongle management function application from one of the one or more dongle communication interfaces and activates the dongle management function.

In addition, the one or more types of traffic includes voice traffic corresponding to a first priority, video traffic corresponding to a second priority, best effort data traffic corresponding to a third priority, and background data traffic corresponding to a fourth priority, wherein a priority of the one or more types of traffic is dynamically configured to conform to quality-of-service requirements. Further, the dongle management function manages a set of video traffic streams that includes one or more upstream video traffic streams and one or more downstream video traffic streams, and the dongle management function configures one or more upstream video traffic streams as first priority based on one or more management commands received from the node management function in the network node.

Other embodiments may include the device receiving registration data based on the device requesting authentication and first configuration data including a first peak data rate and a first mean data rate for a first end point device of one or more end point devices from the one or more dongle communication interfaces and allocating the first peak data rate and the first mean data rate to one or more dongle communication interfaces based on one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and one or more wireless communication network requirements. Further, the device receives second configuration data from one or more communication interfaces including a second peak data rate and a second mean data rate and reallocating a second peak data rate and a second mean data rate to the one or more dongle communication interfaces based on a change in characteristics of the one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and a change in one or more wireless communication network requirements.

Additional embodiments may include the dongle management function implementing strict priority scheme to manage one or more dongle application traffic streams. Further, the device may implement a time division multiplexing scheme on video traffic bandwidth such that one or more video traffic streams are assigned a time slot in the time division multiplexing scheme for transmission through the one or more dongle communication interfaces. In addition, a time slot allocated to an inactive video traffic stream is reallocated to one or more application data streams

Further, the dongle management function may perform a security function using a pseudo-random code to encrypt a secured traffic stream wherein a key associated with the pseudo-random code is dynamically configured. Also, the one or more application data streams is selected from the group consisting of voice traffic, video traffic, best effort data traffic, and background data traffic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which for a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of difference configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein. Further, in the following description, numerous details are set forth to further describe and explain one or more embodiments. These details include system configurations, block module diagrams, flowcharts (including transaction diagrams), and accompanying written description. While these details are helpful to explain one or more embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand that these specific details are not required in order to practice the embodiments.

FIG. 1is an exemplary network architecture100of devices, systems, and methods for managing different types of traffic across a wireless communication network105. A network node110, a dongle1(115), and a dongle2(120) may be coupled to the wireless communicate network105. Further, a network node may be a secure access node that provides different services to different end point devices on the wireless communication network. In addition, the dongle1(115) and dongle2(120) may be coupled to a service multiplexer that also provides different services to different end point devices on the wireless communication network. The network node110may be coupled to the one or more content devices such as a cable modem125, a set top box130, or a DVD player135. The one or more content devices may be coupled to a network node over a wireless communication network (e.g. WiFi) or through a wire connection. The one or more content devices may include a communication network access device such as the cable modem125DSL modem, WiMax access device, Passive Optical Networking (PON) access device, Optical Networking Terminal (ONT), Optical Networking Unit (ONU), Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless access device, satellite access device, or some other broadband access device. A communication network access device may receive different types of traffic that includes voice, video, and data traffic from a communication network (e.g. Internet). The video traffic may be from an IP TV source or streaming video. Another type of content device may be a set-top device coupled to a broadcast television network (e.g. antenna/RF, cable, satellite, etc.) and receives streaming or broadcast video. An additional type of content device may be a DVD or BluRay disc player the generates and provides video content. A further type of content device may be a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) that records video content from a broadcast or streaming source (cable television source, satellite television source, etc.). The one or more content devices receive different types of traffic/content and then may provide the traffic/content to the network node. Such application traffic streams may include voice traffic, video traffic (e.g. one-way and two-way), and data traffic (best effort and background).

Dongle1(115) may be coupled to an end point device such as a television (TV)140through an HDMI interface as well as a video conference node142. Dongle1(115) may receive downstream video traffic streams from the network node110across the wireless communication network105to be displayed on the TV140. Alternatively, dongle1(115) may be connected to the video conference node142receiving downstream video traffic streams from the network node110across the wireless communication network105to be displayed on the video conference node142. However, the dongle1(115) may also receive upstream video traffic streams from the video conference node142to be sent to the network node110across the wireless communication network105.

Dongle2(120) may be coupled to an end point device such as a personal computer (PC)145through a communication interface (via a wireless or wire connection). Dongle2(120) may receive application traffic streams from the network node110across the wireless communication network105to be transmitted to the PC145. Alternatively, dongle2(120) may receive application traffic streams from the PC145to be sent to the network node110across the wireless communication network105.

Dongle3(150) may be coupled to an end point device such as a printer155through a communication interface (via a wireless or wire connection). Dongle3(150) may receive application traffic streams from different end point devices such as the PC145to forward to printer155. In such embodiment, the wireless network105may behave as infrastructure to a multipoint communication network whereby other end point devices may communicate with each other across the wireless communication network105. Further, network node may send dongle3(150) information from across the Internet via the cable modem125. For example, a user may be outside a premises housing the printer155. However, though a laptop computer the user may send information across the Internet through the cable modem125, network node110, and the wireless communication network105. . . to dongle3(150) and then to printer155.

Each of the network node110, a dongle1(115), a dongle2(120), and dongle3(150) are network devices that may have a wireless access point and traffic management functions that manage the different types traffic carried by the wireless communication network105details of which are explained in the present disclosure.

FIG. 2is another exemplary network architecture200of devices, systems, and methods for managing different types of traffic across a wireless communication network201. A network node203, a dongle1(221), and a dongle2(231) may be coupled to the wireless communicate network201. The network node203may be coupled to the one or more content devices such as a cable modem212, a set top box214, or a DVD player216. Several different components and functions may be included in the network node203such as a network node operation system (OS)202and software functions such as a master controller function and a management protocol function (e.g. management function)208.

Further, the network node203may have software applications that include a television/video application that includes a conversion engine206. The TV application206may process downstream video traffic streams received from the one or more content devices by the network node203and transmit such downstream video traffic streams across the wireless communication network201to a dongle (221and231) coupled to an end point device. Conversely, The TV application206may process upstream video traffic streams received from one or more end point devices by the network node203from across the wireless network201and transmit such upstream video traffic streams to the one or more content devices (212,216). Further, the TV application206may include a conversion engine that may compress, expand, or otherwise convert TV/video traffic received by the network node203into HDMI or other media formats known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the network node203may include other applications for processing other application traffic streams such as voice, video, and data received by the network node203from the wireless communication network201or the one or more content devices (212,214,216).

Also, the network node203may be coupled to a wireless access point (WAP)210that may couple the network node203to the wireless communication network201. The WAP210may be a WiFi access point implementing one or more of the IEEE 802.11 protocols. The WAP210may be configured to be in an infrastructure mode such that the WAP210may serve as a base station for other communication devices (e.g. dongles, end point devices such as printers, smartphones, and personal computers, etc.) to be associated or interconnected to one another across the wireless communication network210. The network node203may act as a central traffic management node for the wireless communication network201implementing such functions as priority designation, policing (e.g. verifying QoS requirements), traffic shaping (on every traffic stream on a traffic policing mechanism), scheduling, admission control, and authentication functions and dynamically administering one or more service level agreements. Such traffic management functions may be implemented by the master controller function and the node management function208in conjunction with the WAP210.

Dongle1(221) may be coupled to an end point device such as a television (TV)226through an HDMI interface (via a wireless or wire connection). Further, Dongle1(221) may receive downstream video traffic streams from the network node203across the wireless communication network201to be displayed on the TV226. Alternatively, dongle1(221) may be connected to another end point device (e.g. video conferencing node) and receive upstream video traffic streams to be sent to the network node203across the wireless communication network201. Several different components and functions may be included in dongle1(221) such as a dongle operating system (OS)220and software functions such as a management protocol function (e.g. management function) and shim layer222. The dongle management function222may incorporate a subset of the node management function208that may include priority designation, policing (e.g. verifying QoS requirements), traffic shaping (on every traffic stream on a traffic policing mechanism), scheduling, admission control, and authentication functions, and dynamic administration of one or more service level agreements. Further, the dongle management function222may communicate with the node management function208across the wireless network in a master and slave (command and response) paradigm to implement such traffic management functions.

Further, the dongle1(221) may have software applications that include a TV/video application that includes a conversion engine224. The TV application224may process downstream video traffic streams received from the network node203and transmit such downstream video traffic streams to an end point device such as a TV226, video conferencing node (not shown), or security camera (not shown). Conversely, The TV application224may process upstream video traffic streams received from one or more end point devices and dongle1(221) may transmit such upstream video traffic streams to the network node203. Further, the TV application224may include a conversion engine that may compress, expand, or otherwise convert TV/video traffic received by dongle1(221) into HDMI or other media formats known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, dongle1(221) may be coupled to a wireless access point (WAP)228that may couple dongle1(221) to the wireless communication network201. The WAP210may be a WiFi access point implementing one or more of the IEEE 802.11 protocols.

Dongle2(231) may be coupled to an end point device236such as a personal computer (PC) through a communication interface (via a wireless or wire connection). Dongle2(231) may receive application traffic streams from the network node203across the wireless communication network201to be transmitted to the PC236. Alternatively, dongle2(231) may receive application traffic streams from the PC236to be sent to the network node203across the wireless communication network201. Several different components and functions may be included in dongle2(231) such as a dongle operating system (OS)230and software functions such as a management protocol function (e.g. management function) and shim layer232. The dongle management function232may incorporate a subset of the node management function208that may include priority designation, policing (e.g. verifying QoS requirements), traffic shaping (on every traffic stream on a traffic policing mechanism), scheduling, admission control, and authentication functions and dynamically administering one or more service level agreements. Further, the dongle management function232may communicate with the node management function208across the wireless network in a command and response paradigm to implement such traffic management functions. In addition, the dongle2(231) may have an end point application to process application traffic streams received and transmitted by dongle2(231), either to the PC236or the network node203. The application traffic streams may be voice, video, or data traffic. For example, a user may implement a video chat program generating video traffic and send such video traffic to dongle2(231), the end point application234on dongle2(231) may process the received video traffic and the dongle management function232may manage the video traffic to conform with quality service requirements and wireless network requirements.

FIG. 3is an exemplary traffic flow diagram300illustrating contention of different types of traffic in a wireless communication network. A WiFi network may be a wireless communication network implementing one or more protocols from the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols. Such protocols may implement a Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) scheme to resolve traffic contention issues that may arise in the wireless communication network. As persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand, a wireless communication network is a communication medium that can be shared among more than one communication device (network node, content device, dongle, end point device, etc.). Further, two or more communication devices may transmit information traffic across the wireless communication network at the same time. That is, each communication device may contend for the shared wireless medium at the same time. If so, then information packets from a traffic stream from one communication device may collide with another because each communication device shares the wireless medium. As a result of the traffic collision, the information packets from both traffic streams are corrupted and each communication device may have to resend the respective information packets. CSMA/CA is scheme to resolve such contention issues across the wireless communication network by having each communication device that transmitted a collided packet to backoff some random time so that they likelihood of collision when both communication device retransmits will be low.

InFIG. 3, a first communication device may transmit an information packet from a first traffic stream314at a time t1302. Further, a second communication device may transmit an information packet from a second traffic stream316also at time t1302. A collision318occurs as a result of such a simultaneous transmission of packets. A CSMA/CA scheme may be implemented to resolve the contention between traffic stream1and traffic stream2. After detecting the collision318, each communication device senses the shared wireless medium to detect whether another communication device is transmitting information packets. The time period for this sensing function may be called a sensing interval (320and322) and would last from the time detecting the collision or transmitting of the information packets (314and316) to a time t2304. In addition, after the sensing interval (320and322) each communication device waits a respective backoff time period (324and326) to transmit the respective information packets.

The length of the backoff time period may depend on the type of traffic (voice, video, data). Higher priority traffic may have shorter backoff time periods resulting in a higher throughput across the wireless communication network. Conversely, lower priority traffic may have longer back off time periods resulting in lower throughput across the wireless communication network. InFIG. 3, information packets for traffic stream2(316,330,338) may have a lower priority than the information packets for traffic stream1(314and328). Thus, the backoff period tb2326is longer than backoff period tb1324.

As a result, the communication device may sense no activity on the shared wireless medium after waiting a backoff tb1time period324and at time t3306transmits an information packet328for traffic stream1. After waiting a backoff time period tb2326at time t4308, the communication device transmitting traffic stream2may sense that the shared wireless medium may be busy with the information packet328transmitted by the other communication device. Consequently, the communication device may restrain from sending an information packet330for traffic stream2. Such an operation may be called collision avoidance in the CSMA/CA scheme. After avoiding the collision332, the communication device waits a sensing interval334starting at time t4′309until time t5310to determine whether the shared wireless communication medium is busy. If not, the communication device waits backoff tb2time period336before transmitting the information packet338at a time t6312, if the share wireless medium is not busy, for traffic stream2. Embodiments of the present disclosure may manage different types of traffic carried on a wireless communication network by modifying the priority of a traffic stream or modifying the backoff time period associated to a traffic stream. Note the backoff times depicted onFIG. 3may be random such that the likelihood of collision during retransmit may be low.

FIG. 4is an exemplary functional block diagram400illustrating an exemplary traffic priority scheme in a wireless communication network401. Such a traffic priority scheme400may be implemented within a communication device (e.g. network node, secure access node, service multiplexer, dongle, end point device, etc.) transmitting and receiving different types of traffic across the wireless communication network401. In the traffic priority scheme400, voice traffic may be designated or determined to be a first priority or the highest priority. A traffic scheduler404may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of voice traffic streams (410,412,414) that are buffered in different queues. Further, video traffic may be designated or determined to be a second priority or the second highest priority. A traffic scheduler405may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of video traffic streams (416,418420) that are buffered in different queues. In addition, best effort data traffic may be designated or determined to be a third priority or the third highest priority. A traffic scheduler406may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of best effort data traffic streams (422,424426) that are buffered in different queues. Also, background data traffic may be designated or determined to be a fourth priority or the lowest highest priority. A traffic scheduler408may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of background data traffic streams (428,430432) that are buffered in different queues. Persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the number of traffic streams for voice, video, best effort data, and background data may be different from one another.

In such a traffic management scheme400, the communication device may transmit the voice traffic first, then video traffic, then best effort data traffic and finally background data traffic each with a distinct characteristic of deriving a respective backoff period in a WiFi CSMA/CA scheme. The embodiments may implement, for each stream of the same priority (e.g. multiplexing voice traffic streams410,412,414into voice traffic scheduler402; multiplexing video traffic streams416,418,420into video scheduler405; multiplexing best effort data streams422,424,426into best effort data traffic scheduler406; multiplexing background data428,430,432into background data traffic scheduler408), in a weighted round robin scheme by each scheduler (404-408) as known to those skilled in the art such that a subset of traffic streams with the same priority (e.g. voice) traffic streams are scheduled to be transmitted in interleaving manner with a subset of another stream (e.g. voice) traffic streams to conform to quality of service and network requirements.

FIG. 5is an exemplary functional block diagram illustrating an exemplary strict traffic priority500scheme in a wireless communication network550(not shown). In the traffic priority scheme500, and similar to the traffic scheme depicted inFIG. 4, voice traffic may be designated or determined to be a first priority or the highest priority. A queue voice traffic scheduler502may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of voice traffic streams (510,512,514) that are buffered in queues. In addition, management packets509and telemetry packets511that are transmitted, received and used by the traffic management function of the communication device may also be designated as a first priority. Further, video traffic may be designated or determined to be a second priority or the second highest priority. A video traffic scheduler504may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of video traffic streams (516,518520) that are buffered in different queues. In addition, best effort data traffic may be designated or determined to be a third priority or the third highest priority. A best effort data traffic scheduler506may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of best effort data traffic streams (522,524526) that are buffered in different queues. Also, background data traffic may be designated or determined to be a fourth priority or the lowest highest priority. A background data traffic scheduler508may be implemented in the communication device that receives N number of video traffic streams (528,530,552) that are buffered in different queues. Persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the number of traffic streams for voice, video, best effort data, and background data may be different from one another.

Each of the traffic queues (502,504,506,508) may be coupled to a strict priority mechanism540that limits the communication device to transmit every voice traffic stream first. After each voice traffic stream has been transmitted, then, only will a video traffic stream be transmitted. Thus, generally, the strict priority mechanism allows for all higher priority traffic to be transmitted before any lower priority traffic may be transmitted to the wireless communication network550. For example, there may be only packets buffered for the voice1stream (510) and the voice2stream (512). When implementing the strict priority scheme depicted inFIG. 5, a packet from voice stream1(510) may be transmitted from voice scheduler502. Thereafter, a packet from voice stream2(512) may be transmitted. Thereafter, another packet from voice stream1(510) and then another packet from voice stream2(512) until all the packets buffered for voice stream1(510) and voice stream2(512) have been transmitted. Then only shall packets from the streams (516-520) from video scheduler504be transmitted. As a result, all of the traffic schedulers (502,504,506,508) shall share the same characteristic of deriving the same backoff period. Further, such a strict priority scheme may be implemented in WiFi wireless communication network implementing the IEEE 802.11g standard. Such standard does not have categories of traffic types. Instead, a dongle implementing the strict priority scheme500may determine the type of traffic (e.g. voice, video, best effort data, background data, etc.) that is transiting the dongle and implement the strict priority scheme accordingly thereby satisfying quality-of-service requirements for various traffic streams traveling across the wireless communication network (550).

FIG. 6is an exemplary functional block diagram illustrating another exemplary traffic priority scheme600in a wireless communication network. The traffic priority scheme600may be described including two traffic management sub-schemes (602and632). Traffic management sub-scheme602may be implemented by one communication device such as a service multiplexer and traffic management sub-scheme632may be implemented by another communication device such as a secure access node. The traffic management sub-scheme may be similar to the traffic management scheme shown inFIG. 4in that it comprises of four traffic schedulers (633,635,637,639) that may implements a weighted round robin scheme to transmit buffered packets. Such a traffic management sub-scheme632may be implemented within a secure access node transmitting and receiving different types of traffic across the wireless communication network. In the traffic management sub-scheme632, voice traffic may be designated or determined to be a first priority or the highest priority. A scheduler633may be implemented in the secure access node that receives a number of voice traffic streams one of which is shown inFIG. 6(636). In addition to the voice traffic streams636, the scheduler633may schedule the transmission of management protocol packets634from the node management function to manage traffic on other communication devices on the wireless network (e.g. service multiplexer). Also, the scheduler633may receive telemetry packets638. Both management packets634and telemetry packets638may be designated or configured as first priority and be scheduled using the weighted round-robin (WRR) scheme. Further, video traffic may be designated or determined to be a second priority or the second highest priority. A scheduler635may be implemented in the secure access node that receives N number of video traffic streams (640,642,644). The video traffic may be one-way streaming video traffic or it may be downstream video traffic that is part of two-way video conferencing. In addition, best effort data traffic may be designated or determined to be a third priority or the third highest priority. A scheduler637may be implemented in the secure access node that receives N number of best effort data traffic streams (646,648.650). Also, background data traffic may be designated or determined to be a fourth priority or the lowest highest priority. A queue scheduler may be implemented in the secure access node that receives N number of background data traffic streams (652,654,656). Persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the number of traffic streams for voice, video, best effort data, and background data may be different from one another.

In such a traffic management sub-scheme632, the secure access node may transmit the voice traffic first, then video traffic, then best effort data traffic and finally background data traffic. Other embodiments may be implemented in weighted round robin scheme as known to those skilled in the art such that a subset of a higher priority (e.g. voice) traffic streams are transmitted before a subset of lower priority (e.g. video) traffic streams to conform to quality of service and network requirements.

Further, a traffic management sub-scheme602may be implemented within a service multiplexer transmitting and receiving different types of traffic across the wireless communication network. The service multiplexer may be coupled to a dongle as shown inFIG. 2. In the traffic management sub-scheme602, voice traffic may be designated or determined to be a first priority or the highest priority. A traffic scheduler603may be implemented in the service multiplexer that receives a number of voice traffic streams one of which is shown inFIG. 6(606). In addition to the voice traffic streams606, the traffic scheduler603may receive management protocol packets604from the dongle management function to manage traffic transiting through the service multiplexer. Also, the traffic scheduler603may receive telemetry packets608. Both management packets604and telemetry packets608may be designate as first priority. In addition, the dongle management function, and may be in conjunction with the node management function implemented by the secure access node, may designate certain types of video traffic such as Video1(610), Video2(612), and Video N (614) as first priority. The certain types of vide traffic may be upstream video traffic streams that are part of a video conferencing stream.

Further, other types of video traffic such as streaming video may be designated or determined to be a second priority or the second highest priority. A traffic scheduler605may be implemented in the service multiplexer that receives Video N+1(613) and Video N+2(615) video traffic streams. In addition, best effort data traffic may be designated or determined to be a third priority or the third highest priority. A traffic scheduler607may be implemented in the secure access node that receives N number of best effort data traffic streams (616,618.620). Also, background data traffic may be designated or determined to be a fourth priority or the lowest highest priority. A traffic scheduler609may be implemented in the secure access node that receives N number of background data traffic streams (622,624,626). Persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the number of traffic streams for voice, video, best effort data, and background data may be different from one another.

The traffic management scheme inFIG. 6implemented over a wireless communication network (e.g. WiFi) may provide improved quality of service compared to a conventional implementation of the wireless communication network and associated protocols. Such improvements may be made in carry video conferencing traffic between the secure access node and service multiplexer because the upstream video traffic associated with such videoconferencing traffic is designated first priority and delivered at a higher priority with a shorter contention window (resulting in all likelihood shorter backoff times) than conventional traffic management techniques (e.g. designated as second priority). As a result, upstream and downstream video streams have lower probability to collide into each other.

FIG. 7is an exemplary transaction diagram700illustrating an exemplary implementation of a traffic priority (management) scheme in a wireless communication network. A network node (e.g. a secure access node)702, service multiplexer704, personal computer706, and television708may be coupled to each other across a wireless communication network. Further, the service multiplexer704may be coupled to a video conference node710and thereby may receive upstream and downstream video traffic for the video conference node710. The network node702may have a node management function and the service multiplexer may be coupled to a dongle having a dongle management function. The node management function and the dongle management function may implement traffic management and priority schemes as described in the present disclosure.

Further, the network node may transmit video traffic712to the service multiplexer704(destined for the video conference node710). Such video traffic712may be designated as second priority or video priority based on the traffic management scheme implemented by the node management function. Alternatively, the service multiplexer704may transmit video traffic714to the network node702across the wireless communication network such that the video traffic714is designated as first priority or voice priority. Further, the service multiplexer704may transmit video traffic716to the television708at a second priority or video priority. In return, the television708may transmit video traffic718to the service multiplexer at a second priority or video priority, unlike the upstream video conference traffic714which is promoted to voice priority because of real-time nature and large bandwidth constraints of video conference traffic714. In addition, the network node702may transmit best effort data traffic720to the personal computer706at a third priority or best effort data traffic priority. Alternatively, the personal computer may transmit best effort data traffic722also at a third priority or best effort data traffic priority. The traffic management scheme implemented by the service multiplexer704by designating vide traffic714as first priority traffic reduces the possibility of the video packets of the video traffic stream714to collide with other packet streams transmitted downstream including stream712across the wireless communication network.

FIGS. 8is an exemplary transaction diagram800illustrating exemplary traffic management mechanisms for a wireless communication network. A network node (e.g. a secure access node)802, service multiplexer804, and personal computer806may be coupled to each other across the wireless communication network. Further, the service multiplexer804may be coupled to a video conference node or a television810and thereby may receive upstream and downstream video traffic for the video conferencing. The network node802may have a node management function and the service multiplexer804may be coupled to a dongle having a dongle management function. The node management function and the dongle management function may implement traffic management and priority schemes as described in the present disclosure.

Further, the network node802may transmit video traffic812to the service multiplexer804(destined for the video conference/TV node810). Such video traffic812may be designated as second priority or video priority based on the traffic management scheme implemented by the node management function. Alternatively, the service multiplexer804may transmit video traffic814to the network node802across the wireless communication network such that the video traffic814is designated as first priority (voice priority) or as a second priority (video priority) depending whether the video traffic depending on whether node810is a video conference node (first priority) or an alternative node like television (second priority) as well as depending on whether additional traffic management schemes are employed to reduce the possibility for packet collision.

During the transmission of video traffic (812and814) to and from the network node802and the service multiplexer804, the personal computer806may want to register and be admitted into the wireless communication network. To do so, the personal computer806may send a registration request816to the network node. The network node802may continue to transmit and receive video traffic (818and820) from the service multiplexer804. Further, the network node802may transmit a registration confirmation command822to the personal computer806providing the allowed peak and mean data rate for the personal computer806to send best effort data across the wireless confirmation network. The node management function on the network node802determines such an allowed peak and mean data rate based on the different types of traffic transiting through the network node802to and from the wireless communication network as well as conforming to quality of service and network requirements. In return, the personal computer806transmits a registration response packet824that confirms the allowed peak and mean data rate. Thereafter, the personal computer806may receive and transmit best effort data traffic826and828across on the wireless communication network at the allowed peak and mean data rates.

FIG. 9is an exemplary transaction diagram900illustrating exemplary traffic management mechanisms for a wireless communication network. A network node (e.g. a secure access node)902, service multiplexer904, and personal computer906may be coupled to each other across the wireless communication network. Further, the service multiplexer904may be coupled to a video conference node or a television910and thereby may receive upstream and downstream video traffic for the video conferencing. The network node902may have a node management function and the service multiplexer904may be coupled to a dongle having a dongle management function. The node management function and the dongle management function may implement traffic management and priority schemes as described in the present disclosure.

Further, the personal computer906may receive and transmit best effort data traffic (912and914) across on the wireless communication network at certain peak and mean data rates. Thereafter, the service multiplexer904may want register the video conference/TV node910into the wireless network, thereby sending a registration request916to the network node902. The node management function on the network node902may analyze the different types of traffic transiting the network node to the wireless communication network. Based on the different types of traffic and the traffic management scheme as well as the quality service and network requirements, the network node may send the personal computer906a command918to reduce the peak and mean data rate of the best effort data received and transmitted from the personal computer906. In return, the personal computer906may provide a response920confirming the reduction of the peak and mean data rates for best effort data traffic.

Subsequently, the network node902may send the service multiplexer a registration confirmation922for admitting video traffic from the video conference/TV node910into the wireless network. In return, the service multiplexer904may provide a registration response924to the network node902. Thereafter, the network node902may transmit and receive video traffic streams (926and928) for the video conference/TV node910to the service multiplexer904.

FIG. 10is an exemplary transaction diagram100illustrating an exemplary authentication of an end point device such as a personal computer1006in a wireless communication network. The personal computer may be coupled to a dongle device. Such an authentication process may involve the personal computer1006attempting to gain web access1010through the wireless communication network and network node1002. Before allowing the personal computer access to the Web or Internet, the network node1002may send the personal computer an authentication request1012using a node management function to install software on the personal computer1006(e.g. “push install” as known to those of ordinary skill in the art). The installed software would perform all the required dongle management protocol and features. The personal computer1006may respond to the authentication request1012by accepting the installation of the software and by sending a registration command as well as a passcode1014. The network node902may send a registration confirmation1016to the personal computer1006. In return, the personal computer may provide a registration response1018to the network node1002to complete the registration process.

FIG. 11is an exemplary transaction diagram1100illustrating an exemplary traffic management mechanism for a wireless communication network. A network node (e.g. a secure access node)1102, service multiplexer1104, and personal computer1106may be coupled to each other across the wireless communication network. Further, the service multiplexer1104may be coupled to a video conference node or a television1110and thereby may receive upstream and downstream video traffic for the video conferencing. The network node1102may have a node management function and the service multiplexer1104may be coupled to a dongle having a dongle management function. The node management function and the dongle management function may implement traffic management and priority schemes as described in the present disclosure.

Further, the personal computer1106may receive and transmit best effort data traffic (1112and1114) across on the wireless communication network at certain peak and mean data rates. Thereafter, the service multiplexer1104may want to de-register the video conference/TV node1110from the wireless network, thereby sending a de-registration request1116to the network node1102. Subsequently, the network node1102may send the service multiplexer1104a de-registration confirmation1118. In return, the service multiplexer1104may provide a de-registration response1120to the network node1102. Further, the personal computer1106may continue to receive and transmit best effort data traffic (1122and1124) across on the wireless communication network.

In addition, the node management function on the network node1102may analyze the different types of traffic transiting the network node to the wireless communication network. Based on the different types of traffic and the traffic management scheme as well as the quality service and network requirements, the network node may send the personal computer1106a command1126to increase the peak and mean data rate of the best effort data received and transmitted from the personal computer1106. In return, the personal computer1106may provide a response1128confirming the increase of the peak and mean data rates for best effort data traffic.

In an embodiment associating a dongle with a video terminal node (video dongle), and such a vide dongle becomes inactive without properly de-registering, a node management function may periodically send a command packet to query status of a video dongle to identify a level of activeness. If a video dongle is no longer active according to such a query/discovery process, the video dongle may be forced to shut down and the bandwidth associated with the video dongle application may be re-allocated to other applications.

FIG. 12is an exemplary functional diagram depicting a device traffic manager1200implementing an exemplary traffic management scheme. A node management function on a network node or a dongle management function coupled to another communication device may include the device traffic manager1200. One of the function of the device traffic manager1200may be traffic scheduling. Further, the device traffic manager1200may have several different components that include management protocol processor1205, a traffic policer1210, a weighted random round robin early discard engine1215, a traffic scheduler1220, and a management protocol responder1225. The weighted random round robin early discard engine1215and a traffic scheduler1220may be called collectively a discard and scheduler engine. Additional components of the device traffic manager1200may include a node logic circuit and a WiFi transceiver1235. In addition, persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand data and commands exchanged between the different functional components (1205-1235) shown inFIG. 12(e.g. drop report, command request, queue and scheduler control, etc.).

The management protocol processor1205receives one or more data packets from the WiFi transceiver1235, traps one or more management protocol packets, processes the one or more management protocol packets, and transmits instructions to reallocate wireless communication network bandwidth based on processing the one or more management protocol packets. Further, the management protocol processor1205verifies a quality-of-service for one or more transmission packets. The traffic policer1210verifies one or more traffic streams received from node logic circuit1230(from the node logic circuit from either network node or the dongle) to conform to the respective service level agreement and perform traffic shaping on the one or more traffic streams using a queue. In addition, the discard and scheduler engine (1215and1220) performs weighted random early discard based on queue depth and weighted round robin scheduling. Weighted round robin scheduling may be performed for each class of traffic. Additional intelligence could be applied to the WRED dropping mechanism so that packets may be dropped such that they would not cause severe retransmit of a session or cause any other unnecessary delays. Also, the management protocol responder1225generates one or more control packets for management protocol function according to the Management Protocol Processor's instruction to respond to a master controller's request including commands like a status query with a command response from the master controller function if it is located in a dongle. The management protocol responder1225may also generate response protocol packets and other protocol packets facilitating registration and de-registration processes according to the Management Protocol Processor's requests. If the management protocol responder1225is located in a Network Node, it would send out management protocol packet according to the Management Protocol Processor's requests including command and registration confirmation packets.

FIG. 13shows exemplary traffic diagrams (1300and1341) illustrating an exemplary time division traffic management scheme to be implemented on traffic carried by a wireless communication network such as WiFi. A traffic diagram1300illustrates a time division management scheme, as a result, there may be a possibility of packet collision being reduced. The node management function and/or the dongle manage function may implement the time division scheme to satisfy quality of service requirements and network requirements. The time division management traffic management scheme transmits video traffic in a time division manner and the other types of traffic (e.g. best effort data, background data) are contending for the remaining time in a time period using CSMA/CA techniques. In the exemplary traffic diagram1300, two time periods are shown. The wireless communication network may carry four video traffic streams. Therefore, a time division multiplexing scheme is implemented with four time slots, t1(1302and1322), t2(1304and1324), t3(1306and1326), and t4(1308and1328) in a given time period A video traffic stream is transmitted during each time slot1341(1302-1328). The remaining time in the time period1343is for other types of traffic (voice, best effort data, and background data). The traffic diagram1341shows that one of the four video traffic streams shown in traffic diagram1300has been terminated or no longer active. Consequently, the traffic management scheme allocates the time slot that was previously allocated to the terminate video traffic to the other types of traffic (voice, best effort data, background data). Thus, remaining three video traffic streams are transmitted during time slots t1(1342), t2(1344), and t3(1346), respectively1381. Other types of traffic (voice, best effort data, and background data) are transmitted during the remaining time1383in the time period. This includes time slot t4(1348) that was previously allocated to the terminated or inactive video traffic stream.

Further embodiments of the time division multiplexing scheme may be configured such that voice traffic streams can be transmitted in the time period (1343,1383) with the data traffic streams or transmitted in one of the time slots assigned to one of the video traffic streams (1302-1308,1342-1346) whenever possible (likelihood of collision may be small between voice stream and video stream) because voice traffic has higher priority than video and data. The time division multiplexing scheme shown inFIG. 13may implemented by the management protocol processor1205by turning on and off the traffic scheduler1220. The management protocol processors are synchronized to each other among the network node and the dongles by using Network Timing Protocol (NTP). One vehicle to implement the distribution of the NTP information using the management protocol is to institute a synchronization command which contains required NTP timing information. As a result, timing to identify the time slot can be synchronized among the network node and dongles.

WiFi security schemes using such security protocols as WPAv½ or WEP are considered the weak point for WiFi security concerns.FIG. 14is an exemplary functional block diagram1400illustrating encryption of a information traffic scheme. The transmission side of the encryption scheme1401includes the payload to be transmitted1402and the pseudo-random code1404. The payload of the traffic scheme may be encrypted by inputting the payload1402and the pseudo-random code1404in to an exclusive-or function. The output of the exclusive-or function1406is the encrypted or scrambled traffic1408. This scrambled traffic1408can be transported via a WiFi Network including the one with traffic management schemes described in the present disclosure. Alternatively, the reception side of the encryption scheme1400includes an exclusive-or function1410and a pseudo-random code1414. The pseudo-random code1404and1414shall be synchronized. One method to synchronize application of1404and1414is to use the packet header information to identify the start and ending point for applying the codes1404and1414. The output of the exclusive-or function is the received payload1412. As a results, the security and privacy of the WiFi traffic schemes is further enhanced. Unlike WAP, WEP or other security protocols, only a key for the pseudo-random code is provided to both network node and dongle performing the encryption shown inFIG. 14. The encryption embodiment shown inFIG. 14may encrypt only the payload or only the header of a traffic stream or both a header and the payload.

FIGS. 15A-15Care exemplary flowcharts illustrating exemplary methods for managing different types of traffic across a wireless communication network. InFIG. 15A, a step in the exemplary method1500may be transmitting and receiving one or more application data streams including a node video application, as shown in block1502. The node video application includes a conversion engine. An additional step in the method may be the node video application transmitting one or more downstream video streams, as shown in block1504. A further step in the method may be receiving one or more upstream video streams, as shown in block1506. Another step in the method may be managing one or more node video traffic stream and the one or more application data streams using a master controller function and a node management function, as shown in block1508. An additional step may be transmitting and receiving one or more application data streams using a dongle management function, as shown in block1510. The application data streams may include a dongle video application wherein the dongle video application including a conversion engine. A further step may be the dongle video application transmitting one or more upstream video streams, as shown in block1514. Another method may be receiving one or more downstream video streams from the wireless communication network, as shown in block1516. A further step may be controlling admission of a dongle video traffic stream to the wireless communication network using a dongle management function, as shown in block1518.

Referring toFIG. 15B, another step in the example method may be provisioning a dongle management function application to the wireless dongle across the wireless communication network using the master controller and node management function, as shown in block1520. A further step may be dynamically configuring the dongle management function to implement quality-of-service requirements received by the master controller function by the dongle management function, as shown in block1522. An additional step method may be managing a set of video traffic streams that includes a first subset of video traffic streams and a second subset of video traffic streams using the node management function, as shown in block1523. Another step may be designating or configuring a first subset (upstream) of video traffic streams as first priority based on analyzing the one or more types of traffic received and sent from the network node, as shown in block1524. A further step may be registering a first end point device of the one or more end point devices into the wireless communication network, as shown in block1526. An additional step may be allocating a first peak data rate and a first mean data rate to the first end point device for transmission of data based on one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication network and one or more wireless communication network requirements, as shown in block1528. Another method may be reallocating a second peak data rate and a second mean data rate to the first end point device for transmission of data based on a change in characteristics of the one or more types of traffic flowing across the wireless communication and a change in one or more wireless communication network requirements, as shown in block1530. A further step may be implementing strict priority scheme to manage one or more dongle application traffic streams and the dongle video traffic stream, as shown in block1532.

Referring toFIG. 15C, another step in the method may be implementing a time division multiplexing scheme on the video traffic bandwidth using the node management function and the dongle management function such that each of the one or more video traffic streams are assigned a time slot in the time division multiplexing scheme, as shown in block1534. An additional step may be reallocating a time slot for an inactive video stream to one or more application data streams, as shown in block1536. A further step may be performing a security function using a pseudo-random code to encrypt a secured traffic stream between the network node and the wireless dongle over the wireless communication network using the node management function and the dongle management function, as shown in block1538. A key associated with the pseudo-random code is dynamically configured.

The traffic management schemes described in the present disclosure may be implemented, for example, in a wireless communication network environment and may be generally implemented in a multiple transmitter and multiple receiver communication environment such that the multiple transmitters and multiple receivers share a communication medium.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the examples described in the present disclosure are illustrative and not limiting and that the concepts illustrated in the examples may be applied to other examples and embodiments.

Note that the functional blocks, methods, devices and systems described in the present disclosure may be integrated or divided into different combination of systems, devices, and functional blocks as would be known to those skilled in the art.

In general, it should be understood that the circuits or functions described herein may be implemented in hardware using integrated circuit development technologies, or yet via some other methods, or the combination of hardware and software objects that could be ordered, parameterized, and connected in a software environment to implement different functions described herein. For example, the present application may be implemented using a general purpose or dedicated processor running a software application through volatile or non-volatile memory. Also, the hardware objects could communicate using electrical signals, with states of the signals representing different data.