Abstract: A probe, listen and select (PLS) technique can be used to select from an available frequency spectrum a frequency band whose communication quality is suitable for wireless communication at a desired rate. Probe packets can be transmitted on different frequencies (223) during a known period of time (TPLS), and frequency channel quality information can be obtained (225) from the probe packets. This quality information can then be used to select a desirable frequency band (227). The communication quality of the selected band can also be used as basis for selecting (141) from among a plurality of modulation and coding combinations that are available for use in communications operations.

Abstract: A data encoding algorithm can be used (120) to generate overhead bits from original data bits, and the original data bits and overhead bits can be transmitted in respectively separate transmissions (121, 123), if the overhead bits are needed. At the receiver, the original data bits can be determined (125) from the received overhead bits, or the received data bits and the received overhead bits can be combined and decoded together (126) to produce the original data bits.

Abstract: A communication circuit (28) is designed with a signal processing circuit (370) arranged to produce a first plurality of data signals and receive a second plurality of data signals. A transmit circuit (364) is coupled to receive the first plurality of data signals and transmit each data signal of the first plurality of data signals on a respective transmit frequency in a predetermined sequence of transmit frequencies. A receive circuit (362) is coupled to receive each data signal of the second plurality of data signals from a remote transmitter on the respective transmit frequency in the predetermined sequence. The receive circuit applies the second plurality of data signals to the signal processing circuit.

Abstract: A communication system 100 allows for heterogeneous piconets/scattenets 100 where in multiple modes 110, 112 of transmission, one of Bluetooth 110 and one or more other modes of transmission 112 are possible. While at the same time maintaining synchronization between all the different modes of transmission 110, 112 in a given piconet and across a scatternet 100. This allows for a communication device that can communicate using a plurality of transmission modes depending on the communication needs of the device.

Abstract: A frequency hopping system such as a Bluetooth system (300) can reduce the number of RF channels it hops during a normal hopping sequence cycle providing for a Reduced Hopping Sequence (RHS). A communication unit operating in the system such as the Bluetooth master unit (302) determines if any of the RF channels has interference. If any of the channels has interference, the Bluetooth master sends a message to one or more slave units (304, 306) informing them of which channels will be removed from the hopping sequence due to potential interference problems. The units will then use the new RHS for their transmissions, thus avoiding the interference problems (e.g., both avoiding interference in the system's receivers and avoiding creating interference on frequencies that are already occupied by other neighboring systems).

Abstract: A probe, listen and select (PLS) technique can be used to select from an available frequency spectrum a frequency band whose communication quality is suitable for wireless communication at a desired rate. Probe packets can be transmitted on different frequencies (223) during a known period of time (TPLS), and frequency channel quality information can be obtained (225) from the probe packets. This quality information can then be used to select a desirable frequency band (227). The communication quality of the selected band can also be used as basis for selecting (141) from among a plurality of modulation and coding combinations that are available for use in communications operations.

Abstract: A wireless system (e.g., Bluetooth, WCDMA, etc.) with multiple antenna communication channel eigenvector weighted transmissions including possibly differing order symbol constellations for differing eigenvectors. Comparison of maximizations of minimum received symbol distances provides for selection of eigenvector combinations and symbol constellations.

Abstract: A communication circuit (28) is designed with a signal processing circuit (370) arranged to produce a first plurality of data signals and receive a second plurality of data signals. A transmit circuit (364) is coupled to receive the first plurality of data signals and transmit each data signal of the first plurality of data signals on a respective transmit frequency in a predetermined sequence of transmit frequencies. A receive circuit (362) is coupled to receive each data signal of the second plurality of data signals from a remote transmitter on the respective transmit frequency in the predetermined sequence. The receive circuit applies the second plurality of data signals to the signal processing circuit.

Abstract: In packet communications, one existing address code in a predetermined address field (AM_ADDR) of a packet can be used to indicate that bits in another field (TYPE) of the packet represent additional address information. Additional address information can also be provided for by extending the length of the predetermined address field.

Abstract: A communication circuit (28) is designed with a signal processing circuit (370) arranged to produce a first plurality of data signals and receive a second plurality of data signals. A transmit circuit (364) is coupled to receive the first plurality of data signals and transmit each data signal of the first plurality of data signals on a respective transmit frequency in a predetermined sequence of transmit frequencies. A receive circuit (362) is coupled to receive each data signal of the second plurality of data signals from a remote transmitter on the respective transmit frequency in the predetermined sequence. The receive circuit applies the second plurality of data signals to the signal processing circuit.

Abstract: In wireless communication arrangements that utilize a transmission period of time followed by a retransmission period of time, the utilization and effectiveness of retransmission communications can be advantageously increased by dynamically assigning desired communications to respective retransmission time slots of the retransmission period.

Abstract: Interference cancellation/suppression by a wide band radio (100) includes the steps of searching for all narrow band interferer signals such as Bluetooth signals (502). Communicating with the detected Bluetooth piconets (504). Estimating when the Bluetooth signals will occur (506) using the information received during step (504) . And using a suppression technique in association with the estimations as to when/where the interfering signals will occur in order to counter the interfering signal(s). In an alternate embodiment, both the narrow band (304) and wide band (302) signals are stored (306). Then the one or more narrow band Bluetooth signal(s) (304) and decoded (308) and subtracted (308) from the wide band packet prior to it being decoded (312).

Abstract: A wireless communication transmission channel estimation by initial data exchange to determine calibration factors to apply to tracked channel estimations from received transmissions.

Abstract: Space time transmit diversity (9, 14, 17, 19) is applied at the block level to an original block of bits (12) in order to reduce the effects of fading in wireless communication systems that use nonlinear modulation schemes (13, 33). At the receiving end, fading parameters (?1, ?2) are estimated (?E1, ?E2) and the properties of complex conjugates are utilized (28, 29, 201, 202) to produce a result (r1, r2) that is representative of the original block of bits.

Abstract: A high speed Bluetooth system with switch-to quadrature amplitude modulation allows for simple mobile devices with video data rates in applications such as Internet downloading. Mobile devices may have multiple antennas and adaptive hopping frequencies.

Abstract: A probe, listen and select (PLS) technique can be used to select from an available frequency spectrum a frequency band whose communication quality is suitable for wireless communication at a desired rate. Probe packets can be transmitted on different frequencies (223) during a known period of time (TPLS), and frequency channel quality information can be obtained (225) from the probe packets. This quality information can then be used to select a desirable frequency band (227). The communication quality of the selected band can also be used as basis for selecting (141) from among a plurality of modulation and coding combinations that are available for use in communications operations.

Abstract: The frequency hopping pattern of a first wireless communication device is modified such that each transmission (73) to a second wireless communication device is on a frequency (MSj+1) that the second device's normal frequency hopping pattern specifies for one of the second device's next several transmissions to the first device. This permits the second device to make quality measurements (54) on a frequency that the second device will soon use (51) for transmission to the first device.

Abstract: A communication system 100 allows for heterogeneous piconets/scattenets 100 where in multiple modes 110, 112 of transmission, one of Bluetooth 110 and one or more other modes of transmission 112 are possible. While at the same time maintaining synchronization between all the different modes of transmission 110, 112 in a given piconet and across a scatternet 100. This allows for a communication device that can communicate using a plurality of transmission modes depending on the communication needs of the device.

Abstract: Automatic repeat request (ARQ) operations can be implemented in wireless communications by sending (2401) a plurality of data packets in a superpacket, and responding (2430) with an acknowledgement packet that indicates which packets of the superpacket require retransmission.

Abstract: Space time transmit diversity (9, 14, 17, 19) is applied at the block level to an original block of bits (12) in order to reduce the effects of fading in wireless communication systems that use nonlinear modulation schemes (13, 33). At the receiving end, fading parameters (?1, ?2) are estimated (?E1, ?E2) and the properties of complex conjugates are utilized (28, 29, 201, 202) to produce a result (r1, r2) that is representative of the original block of bits.