Abstract: A secure, open-air communication system utilizes a plurality of “decoy” data signals to hide one or more true data signals. The true data signal(s) are channel hopped with the plurality of decoy data signals to form a multi-channel “scrambled” output signal that is thereafter transmitted in an open-air communication system. The greater the number of decoy signals, the greater the security provided to the open-air system. Further security may be provided by encrypting both the true and decoy signals prior to scrambling and/or by utilizing a spatially diverse set of transmitters and receivers. Without the knowledge of the channel assignment(s) for the true signal(s), an eavesdropper may be able to intercept (and, with time, perhaps descramble) the open-air transmitted signals, will not be able to distinguish the true data from the decoys without also knowing the channel assignment(s).

Abstract: A secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system overlapped by a dominant Ethernet-like wireless communication system, and including radio access and communication for activation, association, and authentication of a wireless device in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. An automated private service activation (APSA) port is used for accepting access and communication requests of a wireless device seeking activation, association and authentication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system. The APSA port provides an access and communication channel for radiating signals at a level exceeding a signal level of the access and communication channel only within limited spatial constraints. In addition the APSA port provides space for receiving the wireless device for activation and communication in the secondary Ethernet-like wireless communication system.

Abstract: A secure, open-air communication system utilizes a plurality of “decoy” data signals to hide one or more true data signals. The true data signal(s) are channel hopped with the plurality of decoy data signals to form a multi-channel “scrambled” output signal that is thereafter transmitted in an open-air communication system. The greater the number of decoy signals, the greater the security provided to the open-air system. Further security may be provided by encrypting both the true and decoy signals prior to scrambling and/or by utilizing a spatially diverse set of transmitters and receivers. Without the knowledge of the channel assignment(s) for the true signal(s), an eavesdropper may be able to intercept (and, with time, perhaps descramble) the open-air transmitted signals, will not be able to distinguish the true data from the decoys without also knowing the channel assignment(s).

Abstract: A video enable answering machine having many new features including customized video announcement messages, caller ID based video announcement messages, and time based video announcement messages.

Abstract: A wireless subscriber terminal (ST) for use with IP push-to-talk (IPP2T) service using a wireless local area network (WLAN) operating in a plurality of modes, including a mobile terminal having an ability to communicate over the air to a wireless Access Point (AP), the mobile terminal further programmable to use conventional WLAN protocols, and a method for operating the wireless terminal are described.

Abstract: A wireless subscriber terminal (ST) for use with IP push-to-talk (IPP2T) service using a wireless local area network (WLAN) operating in a plurality of modes, including a mobile terminal having an ability to communicate over the air to a wireless Access Point (AP), the mobile terminal further programmable to use conventional WLAN protocols, and a method for operating the wireless terminal are described.

Abstract: The present invention sets forth a network-centric service distribution method that integrates a wireless access system/service in the residence, SOHO, business or public environment through the use of a local broadband network, such as a Residential-Business Broadband Network (RBN), to the service provider's broadband transport network and to a service provider's broadband packet network that facilitates end-to-end packet telecommunication services. The method includes the step of connecting said service provider's broadband packet network to the RBN via said service provider's broadband transport network. Call and service termination functions to a plurality of local RBN devices are also provided in the method. Signals from a plurality of wireless devices are accepted and forwarded to an IEEE 802.11b interface for a wireless modem and/or to an Ethernet interface for a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)/Ethernet Processor, where the forwarded signals comprise intranet telephony and data.

Abstract: A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing synchronization between a number of overlapping area access points within a wireless LAN utilizes a Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable connection to transmit synchronization signals from a centralized hub/switch to each of the access points connected to the cable. The synchronization signal takes the form of a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) signal that is coupled onto the twisted pair used to provide the low voltage PoE signal to various powered devices. At each access point, a filter is used to remove the synchronization signal from the PoE transport, allowing for the group of access points to share a common beacon signal and allow for frequency re-use among the access points. The DS-SS signal is preferable created by a combination of a baseband signal and a set of separate pseudo noise (PN) sequences defining a precision phase (“pilot tone”) signal, a time mark (superframe/beacon) signal, and a time-of-day (real-time clock) signal.

Abstract: A method for improving packetized speech transmitted over a wireless LAN is disclosed. Speech packets transmitted over the wireless LAN are monitored for errors. Any of the speech packets found to have errors are replaced with synthesized speech packets. The synthesized speech packets may be created from a vocal tract model generated from the received speech packets during periods of time when there are no errors.

Abstract: A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for assigning a frequency to an access point in a wireless network comprising a plurality of access points. The system and method includes accessing a rule-base to obtain a set of rules for the wireless network, accessing a license database to obtain information about relevant wireless nodes in a region, creating a list of possible primary node frequencies from a list of frequencies associated with primary wireless nodes in the license database, creating a list of possible secondary node frequencies from a list of frequencies associated with secondary wireless nodes in the license database, identifying a list of clear frequencies from a set of unused frequencies, selecting a frequency from frequencies in the lists of possible primary node frequencies, possible secondary node frequencies, and clear frequencies and registering the frequency in the license database.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and computer readable medium for allocation of an available power to Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) frequency tones in a DMT-based Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: initializing the DMT-based DSL modem by calculating aggregate values of channel attenuation, noise power, and power mask; pre-filtering to flag noisy bins that are unable to support a minimum number of bits with the maximum power available for transmission in a bin; and using a repeated-bisection splitting scheme to allocate the available power substantially optimally among a plurality of bands for DMT frequency tones.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing synchronization between a number of overlapping area access points within a wireless LAN utilizes a Power over Ethernet (PoE) cable connection to transmit synchronization signals from a centralized hub/switch to each of the access points connected to the cable. The synchronization signal takes the form of a direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) signal that is coupled onto the twisted pair used to provide the low voltage PoE signal to various powered devices. At each access point, a filter is used to remove the synchronization signal from the PoE transport, allowing for the group of access points to share a common beacon signal and allow for frequency re-use among the access points. The DS-SS signal is preferable created by a combination of a baseband signal and a set of separate pseudo noise (PN) sequences defining a precision phase (“pilot tone”) signal, a time mark (superframe/beacon) signal, and a time-of-day (real-time clock) signal.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for WLAN communication are described. Intercell interference between overlapping WLAN cells is mitigated by a combination of frequency reuse, code division and time resource negotiation. Information used for time resource negotiation can be broadcast via beacon signal or communicated via a wireline backbone system which interconnects access points.

Abstract: A method for improving packetized speech transmitted over a wireless LAN is disclosed. Speech packets transmitted over the wireless LAN are monitored for errors. Any of the speech packets found to have errors are replaced with synthesized speech packets. The synthesized speech packets may be created from a vocal tract model generated from the received speech packets during periods of time when there are no errors.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for assigning a frequency to an access point in a wireless network comprising a plurality of access points. The system and method includes accessing a rule-base to obtain a set of rules for the wireless network, accessing a license database to obtain information about relevant wireless nodes in a region, creating a list of possible primary node frequencies from a list of frequencies associated with primary wireless nodes in the license database, creating a list of possible secondary node frequencies from a list of frequencies associated with secondary wireless nodes in the license database, identifying a list of clear frequencies from a set of unused frequencies, selecting a frequency from frequencies in the lists of possible primary node frequencies, possible secondary node frequencies, and clear frequencies and registering the frequency in the license database.

Abstract: Access priority for wireless devices located in an area in which radiofrequency (RF) coverage areas of a first wireless access point and a second wireless access point overlap is controlled by coordinating operation of the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point. The wireless devices access a common RF channel via a collision sense multiple access/collision avoidance mechanism. The probability of accessing the RF channel may be varied by adjusting the length of interframe spacings and the length of contention windows. The length of the interframe spacings and the length of the contention windows associated with the first access point and associated with the second access point are configured such that the probability of wireless devices associated with the first wireless access point accessing the RF channel is greater than the probability of wireless devices associated with the second wireless access point accessing the RF channel.

Abstract: A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for increasing Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) in a wireless communication system comprising a plurality of antennas each antenna providing a signal, a device for selecting a subset of signals provided by the plurality of antennas, a maximum ratio combiner for summing the selected subset of signals provided by the plurality of antennas, and a decision device for measuring the selected subset of signals against a predefined threshold. The device for selecting the subset of signals is coupled to the plurality of antennas. The maximum ratio combiner is coupled to the selected subset of signals and the decision device for measuring the selected subset of signals against a predefined threshold. The decision device is coupled to the selecting device such that one selected signal of the selected subset of signals is replaced by an unused signal provided by the plurality of antennas.