Abstract: A wireless communication network includes an access point and a plurality of stations. The access point sends towards the stations periodic information arranged in time frames or beacon intervals. The stations in the network are configured to in a first mode through the access point, and in a second mode directly with each other. The time frames are partitioned into a first time interval wherein the stations communicate in the first mode over a first channel; a second time interval wherein the stations communicate in the second mode over a second channel, and a third time interval wherein the stations communicate in either of the first or the second mode.

Abstract: A method for encoding video signals subjects the signals to unbalanced multiple description coding. The unbalanced multiple description coding codes a video signal in a first high resolution packet and a second low resolution packet and represents, respectively a first high resolution description and a second low resolution description. The unbalanced multiple description coding step includes using different intra refresh periods for the first and second high resolution descriptions, with an intra refresh period for the second low resolution description shorter than the intra refresh period of the first high resolution description.

Abstract: Transmission of multicast packets over a local area network is controlled by: identifying the condition where only a single receiver exists within the local area network for a given multicast group of packets, and allowing, upon occurrence of that condition, Automatic Repeat Request of the packets multicast towards said single receiver. A preferred field of application is wireless local area networks for use in a home environment.

Abstract: A method for encoding video signals subjects the signals to unbalanced multiple description coding. The unbalanced multiple description coding codes a video signal in a first high resolution packet and a second low resolution packet and represents, respectively a first high resolution description and a second low resolution description. The unbalanced multiple description coding step includes using different intra refresh periods for the first and second high resolution descriptions, with an intra refresh period for the second low resolution description shorter than the intra refresh period of the first high resolution description.

Abstract: A method for encoding video signals subjects the signals to unbalanced multiple description coding. The unbalanced multiple description coding codes a video signal in a first high resolution packet and a second low resolution packet and represents, respectively a first high resolution description and a second low resolution description. The unbalanced multiple description coding step includes using different intra refresh periods for the first and second high resolution descriptions, with an intra refresh period for the second low resolution description shorter than the intra refresh period of the first high resolution description.

Abstract: The errors that may occur in transmitted numerical data on a channel affected by burst errors, are corrected via the operations of: ordering the numerical data in blocks each comprising a definite number of data packets; generating for each block a respective set of error-correction packets comprising a respective number of correction packets, the respective number identifying a level of redundancy for correcting the errors; and modifying dynamically the level of redundancy according to the characteristics of the bursts and of the correct-reception intervals between two bursts. Preferential application is on local networks, such as W-LANs for use in the domestic environments.

Abstract: The errors that may occur in transmitted numerical data on a channel affected by burst errors, are corrected via the operations of: ordering the numerical data in blocks each comprising a definite number of data packets; generating for each block a respective set of error-correction packets comprising a respective number of correction packets, the respective number identifying a level of redundancy for correcting the errors; and modifying dynamically the level of redundancy according to the characteristics of the bursts and of the correct-reception intervals between two bursts. Preferential application is on local networks, such as W-LANs for use in the domestic environments.

Abstract: The errors that may occur in transmitted numerical data on a channel affected by burst errors, are corrected via the operations of: ordering the numerical data in blocks each comprising a definite number of data packets; generating for each block a respective set of error-correction packets comprising a respective number of correction packets, the respective number identifying a level of redundancy for correcting the errors; and modifying dynamically the level of redundancy according to the characteristics of the bursts and of the correct-reception intervals between two bursts. Preferential application is on local networks, such as W-LANs for use in the domestic environments.

Abstract: A wireless communication network includes an access point and a plurality of stations. The access point sends towards the stations periodic information arranged in time frames or beacon intervals. The stations in the network are configured to in a first mode through the access point, and in a second mode directly with each other. The time frames are partitioned into a first time interval wherein the stations communicate in the first mode over a first channel; a second time interval wherein the stations communicate in the second mode over a second channel, and a third time interval wherein the stations communicate in either of the first or the second mode.

Abstract: Transmission of multicast packets over a local area network is controlled by: identifying the condition where only a single receiver exists within the local area network for a given multicast group of packets, and allowing, upon occurrence of that condition, Automatic Repeat Request of the packets multicast towards said single receiver. A preferred field of application is wireless local area networks for use in a home environment.

Abstract: Transmission of multicast packets over a local area network is controlled by: identifying the condition where only a single receiver exists within the local area network for a given multicast group of packets, and allowing, upon occurrence of that condition, Automatic Repeat Request of the packets multicast towards said single receiver. A preferred field of application is wireless local area networks for use in a home environment.

Abstract: A device of a plug-and-play type, which can be integrated in a home network having at least one audio-video Media-Server device or else at least one audio-video Media-Renderer device. The device can be activated for selectively configuring parameters and devices for setting up audio-video calls for connection between the home network and a packet network, such as the Internet. Preferentially, the device is based upon UPnP (Universal Plug-and-Play) technology and uses either a signaling protocol on IP packet network, such as the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and ITU-T H.323, or else mobile communications systems, such as the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). The device is able to redirect audio-video streams in the context of a plurality of devices capable of reproducing them and/or to selectively acquire said audio-video streams from a plurality of devices capable of supplying them.

Abstract: A method for encoding video signals subjects the signals to unbalanced multiple description coding. The unbalanced multiple description coding codes a video signal in a first high resolution packet and a second low resolution packet and represents, respectively a first high resolution description and a second low resolution description. The unbalanced multiple description coding step includes using different intra refresh periods for the first and second high resolution descriptions, with an intra refresh period for the second low resolution description shorter than the intra refresh period of the first high resolution description.

Abstract: The errors that may occur in transmitted numerical data on a channel affected by burst errors, are corrected via the operations of: ordering the numerical data in blocks each comprising a definite number of data packets; generating for each block a respective set of error-correction packets comprising a respective number of correction packets, the respective number identifying a level of redundancy for correcting the errors; and modifying dynamically the level of redundancy according to the characteristics of the bursts and of the correct-reception intervals between two bursts. Preferential application is on local networks, such as W-LANs for use in the domestic environments.

Abstract: A system controls operation of a network, such as a WLAN, where at least one information stream is delivered to at least one user via a link that is exposed to variable operating conditions. The system includes a controller module for monitoring the operating conditions of the link, and at least one transcoder for selectively transcoding the information stream by selectively varying one or more transcoding parameters as a function of the monitored operating conditions.