Abstract: A network node includes a pushbutton to provide a button-press event and a pairer to receive the button-press event while not being in a secure domain. In response to the button-press, the pairer alternates between acting as an endpoint node and acting as a temporary domain master, until pairing is completed. In an alternative embodiment, the node includes a multi-pairer to receive the button press event and, in response, to open a pairing window, to become a domain master of a secure network and to join more than one other network node receiving a button press event to the secure network until the pairing window closes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling devices, including controller and actuators are disclosed. Actuators may be devices where remote control of the device or devices is convenient, such as lights, window shades, fans and similar items. In one method, a user sends a command to a controller and to an actuator. The controller also sends a proxy update to a second controller that is also in communication with the actuator. The proxy controller, also in contact with the actuator, now has knowledge of the state or position of the actuator and is in a better position if the proxy controller is asked to assume control of the actuator. In another method, an actuator or controller may also receive a trigger setup, asking the actuator to tell the controller when an action occurs, but not to take action until receiving a further command from the controller.

Abstract: A method of reducing latency in a screen mirroring application, comprises receiving, by a receiver from a source device, an audio stream output by the source device; receiving, by the receiver from a processor, a video stream displayed on a first screen at the source device; receiving, by a receiver, audio and video time stamps; discarding, by a controller, the audio and video time stamps; outputting, by a decoder to a second display, the audio stream and video streams independent of timing indicated by the audio and video time stamps.

Abstract: An alternating current (AC) zero-crossing indicator apparatus including a current adjusting circuit for adjusting a DC signal current for a duration of time the same as the duration of a received zero-crossing detection signal. The zero-crossing indicator apparatus additionally includes a voltage retainer for maintaining a constant DC voltage applied to a connected load during the adjusting of the DC signal current. Also included is a zero-crossing sensor for generating a zero-crossing indication signal responsive to sensing of the adjusting of the DC signal current.

Abstract: A method of reducing latency, comprising generating a vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC); detecting whether at least a part of a picture has been received; synchronizing the generation of the vertical synchronization signal to a video decoding upon detecting receiving of the at least a part of the picture.

Abstract: An Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables includes a processor, at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, both coupled with the processor. The apparatus coupled with an electrical cable includes at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire, the transmitter and the receiver each including a coupling circuit for coupling the apparatus to the residential electrical cables. The coupling circuit has a first transformer and a second transformer, the first transformer including a center tap, receive wire pairs and transmit wire pairs each being formed from at least two of the active wire, the neutral wire, the ground wire and the midpoint. The processor dynamically switches a coupling of the receiver and the transmitter respectively between the receive wire pairs and the transmit wire pairs.

Abstract: A method includes scheduling a grid of sub-burst slots in a media access plan, each sub-burst slot having a shorter duration than a minimal transmission burst duration and representing an opportunity for the initiation of a data transmission by a network device. A network device includes a sub-burst slot scheduler and a sub-burst slot grid aligner. The sub-burst slot scheduler publicizes the sub-burst slot media access plan to the network devices. The sub-burst slot grid aligner aligns the sub-burst slot grid in the event of a transmission.

Abstract: Apparatus, for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables, includes a processor, at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. The transmitter and the receiver are coupled with the processor, for respectively transmitting and receiving the signals. The apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable including at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire. At least two of the wires form receive wire pairs wherein at least two of the wires form at least one transmit wire pair. The processor enables the at least one receiver to be coupled with the receive wire pairs and wherein the processor dynamically switches a coupling of the at least one receiver to another one of the plurality of receive wire pairs.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with an electrical device, wherein the electrical device comprises a home control device, enabling the mesh network to perform channel adjustment, transmitting data through the mesh network between the first node and a second node in the mesh network, wherein the transmission utilizes channel adjustment; and performing an action based at least in part on the transmitted data.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables includes at least one active wire, neutral wire and ground wire, including at least two power line modems, each coupling an electrical device with an electrical socket, each one of the power line modems including a processor. The system has transmitters and at least one receiver, the transmitters and the receiver including a coupling circuit, the coupling circuit including a first transformer and a second transformer, the first transformer including a center tap. Receive and transmit wire pairs are respectively formed from two of the active, neutral and ground wires and the midpoint, the transmitters defining a carrier wave set over the transmit wire pair. The processor determines a frequency carrier wave for the signals and provides the signals to a respective one of the transmitters according to the carrier wave set the frequency carrier wave is in.

Abstract: A network node in a resource reservation network includes a data receiver, a transmitter and a timing adjustment requester. The data receiver receives fixed size application protocol data units (APDUs) from an application at fixed intervals. The transmitter transmits data from the network node to the network within transmission opportunities (TXOPs) associated with a constant data service flow for the application specified associated with the application and the network node in a media access plan (MAP) generated by a network scheduler. The timing adjustment requester requests adjustments of the network scheduler to the timing of TXOPs associated with the constant data service flow in order to minimize a delay between the arrival of the APDUs and their transmittal to the network.

Abstract: An adaptive system for harvesting hydrokinetic energy from flowing fluid uses a hydrofoil-type vane in a flow-way and an electrical power generator to convert torque generated by the oscillating vane to electrical current. The generator may be electromagnetic or piezoelectric. The system includes a control module that measures the oscillation of the vane, the generated torque, or the characteristics of the generated current, and modifies the resistance of the vane or the conversion of the electrical current in response to changes therein. Some systems include a frame that can be anchored in a body of water. Some systems are portable and provide illumination. Some systems are adapted for use as hiking or camping gear and may be inserted into stream beds or used as walking sticks. Some systems are in-line devices. Some systems are adapted as fishing lures.

Abstract: A method for selecting a picture prediction mode from a candidate pool of picture prediction modes for video compression takes advantage of similarity in implementation between SKIP and DIRECT modes and one other inter-picture prediction modes, namely, the 16×16 partition mode. The SKIP/DIRECT modes are considered if and only if the final prediction information of the 16×16 partition mode, including motion vector, reference picture index, and prediction direction, is the same as that of the respective SKIP and/or DIRECT modes. The same motion prediction, reference picture index and prediction direction are used for the 16×16 partition mode and the SKIP/DIRECT modes, and therefore, the same interpolation scheme can be used for both SKIP/DIRECT and 16×16 partition modes.

Abstract: Method for transmitting and receiving signals over at least one channel between at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, the channel comprising at least one group of sub-channels, the group comprising at least one sub-channel, including the procedures of estimating at least one line characteristic of the channel and selecting a transmission scheme for each group of the at least one group of sub-channels according to the estimated line characteristic, wherein the transmission scheme is selected between a single spatial stream transmission scheme and a multiple spatial stream transmission scheme.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sensing a change in a network topology using a discovery node in a mesh network; transmitting an explore frame, based at least in part on the sensed change, from the discovery node to a destination node using an intermediate node; receiving a response to the explore frame from the destination node; determining at least one functional network route from the discovery node to the destination node based at least in part on route information received in association with the response to the explore frame, wherein the route information includes a node path; and transmitting an instruction to the destination node from the discovery node based on a reverse node path.

Abstract: System, for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables includes at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire. The system includes at least two power line modems, each one of the two power line modems including a processor, transmitters and at least one receiver, transmitters and the receiver being coupled with the processor, for respectively transmitting and receiving the signals. At least two of the wires form at least one receive wire pair and at least two of the wires form at least one transmit wire pair. Each one of the transmitters defines a respective carrier wave range over the transmit wire pair, the processor determining a frequency carrier wave for the signals when the signals are transmitted. A given one of the transmitters transmits the signals if the frequency carrier wave is in the carrier wave range of the given one of the transmitters.

Abstract: A coordinator for coordinating the use of a physical layer between a first network operating using a first network protocol and a second network operating using a second network protocol different from the first network protocol, the network protocols being non-interoperable and supporting centralized management of nodes by a master device in each network respectively, including a receiver, a transmitter, a coordinator first network type device (CNTD1) and a coordinator second network type device (CNTD2), both coupled with the receiver and the transmitter, and a synchronizer and coordinator (SAC) coupled with the CNTD1 and CNTD2, the SAC including a required resources determinator, for determining the required resources of both networks for the next transmission cycle and for providing the required resources of one network to the other, wherein the master device of one network allocates resources to the other network and vice-versa.

Abstract: A zero-crossing detection circuit includes a comparator and circuitry. The comparator produces an output signal that is indicative of zero-crossing events in an input Alternating Current (AC) waveform. The circuitry may be configured to feed the comparator with first and second rails voltages, and to progressively increase the rails voltages during time intervals derived from the input AC waveform, so as to feed the comparator with target values of the rails voltages in time-proximity to the zero-crossing events. The circuitry may be configured to compensate for an error in detecting the zero crossing events caused by differences in amplitude of the input AC waveform, by correcting the input AC waveform provided to the comparator. The circuitry may be configured to activate the comparator during time intervals preceding respective anticipated times of the zero-crossing events, and to deactivate the comparator at least once during time periods other than the time intervals.

Abstract: Method for communication channel coordination between nodes, each node including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables. The residential electrical cables include at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire, at least two of the wires forming wire pairs. The method includes the procedures of, for a given one of the receiver, examining the transmitter in each one of the nodes which communicates with the receiver, selecting one of the examined transmitters as a primary transmitter, determining an optimal receive wire pair for the receiver to receive the signals transmitted between the primary transmitter and the receiver, informing all the examined transmitters of the determined optimal receive wire pair, and tracking at least one communication characteristic over the determined optimal receive wire pair.

Abstract: A method for a network device of a powerline communications network includes selecting between a default preamble signal and a network-specific preamble signal specific to the network but not to a neighboring network and transmitting at least user data in conjunction with the selected preamble signal. Another method for a network device of a powerline communications network includes tuning a sensor to detect network-specific preamble signals specific to the network but not to a neighboring network and receiving at least user data associated with the preamble signals.