Abstract: Systems and methods for optimally combining signals from multiple antennas to ameliorate the effects of noise and/or interference on OFDM communications are provided. In one embodiment, an initial spatial statistical characterization of interference and/or noise is based on training symbols received via each antenna. Because the transmitted values of the training symbols are already known, there is no need to estimate their transmitted value to form this initial statistical characterization. The data symbol values received via the multiple antennas are combined based on the initial spatial statistical characterization. The result of this combination step is then used to form a refined spatial statistical characterization of noise and/or interference. The received data symbol values are then recombined based on the refined spatial statistical characterization.

Abstract: To detect the number of transmit antennas, a fast Fourier transform operation is performed on the received samples of the transmitted long training symbols of a preamble. Next, each of the Fourier transformed results is multiplied with the reference frequency-domain representation of the long training symbol so as to remove the effect of the symbols and to maintain the channel information. Next, inverse Fourier transform or least squares operations is performed on the multiplied values to compute channel impulse response. The number of shifted impulse response in the channel impulse response represents the detected number of transmit antennas. Packets containing preambles of the present invention may be received by extended devices as well as by legacy receivers that are not configured to receive and interpret these preambles. The training symbols may be cyclically-shifted and transmitted on different transmit antennas.

Abstract: A wireless network includes a transmitting device and a plurality of receiving devices. The transmitting device is configured to receive a plurality of data packets, including a first data packet and a second data packet, prepare a preamble, prepare a signal field for each of the plurality of data packets, including a first signal field based on the first data packet and a second signal field based on the second data packet, and broadcast the preamble, the first signal field, the first data packet, the second signal field, and the second data packet as a concatenated packet.

Abstract: A modified preamble is used by extended devices that operate at higher rates, MIMO or other extensions relative to strict 802.11a-compliant devices. The extended devices might use multiple antenna techniques (MIMO), where multiple data streams are multiplexed spatially and/or multi-channel techniques, where an extended transmitter transmits using more than one 802.11a channel at a time. Such extensions to IEEE 802.11a can exist in extended devices. The modified preamble is usable for signaling, to legacy devices as well as extended devices, to indicate capabilities and to cause legacy devices or extended devices to defer to other devices such that the common communication channel is not subject to unnecessary interference. The modified preamble. is also usable for obtaining MIMO channel estimates and/or multi-channel estimates.

Abstract: A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.

Abstract: In a packet detector, one or more tests are performed for packet detection according to packet detection parameters associated with the one or more tests, a rate of false detection is measured, and the packet detection parameters are adjusted accordingly to reduce the rate of false detection. The rate of false detection might be determined by analyzing post-detection and processing of a signal deemed to be a signal representing a packet for a failure of decoding indicative of a false detection. Such analysis might include testing for a failed SFD search, training symbol anomalies, poor conditioning of metrics used to determine frequency offset and OFDM timing, incorrect data fields, or the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wide frequency offset synchronization are provided. A synchronization data sequence is encoded onto a series of OFDM frequency domain bursts as interburst phase differences between training symbols included within the successive bursts. The interburst phase differences may also encode system configuration information. This technique may be used in conjunction with other synchronization techniques to greatly extend the frequency acquisition range achievable with low cost analog components.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently transmitting power level information in a point to multipoint wireless system. Multiple subscriber units may transmit indications of their power level within a shared burst where one or more subchannels are allocated to each subscriber unit. The burst holding the power level information may be understood by the MAC layer to be a data burst. In this way, a wireline MAC protocol may be applied to wireless applications.

Abstract: A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.

Abstract: Highly effective systems and methods for synchronizing OFDM receiver parameters to an OFDM transmitter are provided. These parameters may include carrier frequency, burst timing, and cyclic prefix length. These systems and methods incorporate special structural features into the OFDM signal to facilitate synchronization. In one embodiment, a supplemental cyclic prefix is added to an OFDM signal to facilitate synchronization. In an alternative embodiment, a synchronization burst with a periodic structure is used to facilitate synchronization. According to the present invention, synchronization may be maintained even if low cost analog oscillator components are used.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for combining high data rate traffic and low data rate traffic on a common transmission medium while maximizing efficient use of available spectrum. Since spectrum is an economically valuable resource and transport of data generates revenue, the present invention directly leads to more profitable network operation. The disclosed systems are applicable to both wired and wireless transmission media. In one embodiment, a bandwidth reservation scheme provides that data rate may be varied so that when a particular data communication device is allocated a frame, it is also assigned a data rate for use in that frame. Because bandwidth usage varies with data rate, the division of available spectrum into channels for use by individual data communication devices may also vary among frames.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene comprising fluorinating 2,3,5,6-tetrachloroterephthalonitrile to obtain 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile, hydrogenating 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile to give 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene and converting 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene to 1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene.

Abstract: An article of commerce comprising a product having an outer label and/or packaging bearing a hologram, the hologram depicting a first image when viewed from one angle and a second image when viewed from a second angle, the first image depicting a problem or task associated with the use of the product and the second image depicting the effect of using the product.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for the treatment of a surface with a hygiene agent which can include the steps of: a) providing at the surface a non-photochemical catalyst (such as a transition metal compound) which catalyses the formation of the hygiene agent from one or more precursors, whereby the catalyst becomes deposited at the surface, and, b) subsequently treating the surface with a treatment agent (such as a solution of hydrogen peroxide) having the or each hygiene agent precursor, such that the hygiene agent is generated at the surface.