Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise: a processor; a test interface that is in communication with the processor only when the test interface is enabled; a first memory to store firmware for the processor; and a second memory to store boot code for the processor, wherein when the processor is booted, the boot code causes the processor to read a portion of the firmware from a predetermined location in the first memory; wherein the test interface is enabled only when the portion of the firmware has a predetermined value.

Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise: a processor; a test interface that is in communication with the processor only when the test interface is enabled; a first one-time-programmable (OTP) memory; and a non-volatile memory to store boot code for the processor, wherein when the processor is booted, the boot code causes the processor to test the first OTP memory; wherein the boot code causes the processor to enable the test interface when the first OTP memory has not been programmed; and wherein the boot code causes the processor to disable the test interface when the first OTP memory has been programmed.

Abstract: A data dependent scrambler for a communications channel that receives a user data sequence including N symbols and host cyclic redundancy check (CRCU) bits comprises a data buffer that receives the user data sequence and the host CRCU bits. A seed finder generates a scrambling seed that is dependent upon the symbols in the user data sequence. A first scrambler receives the user data sequence from the data buffer and the scrambling seed from the seed finder and generates the scrambled user data sequence. A second scrambler generates a difference sequence that is based on the user data sequence and the scrambled user data sequence.

Abstract: A wireless device includes a transmitter that transmits packets including a header field and a data field and a coding module that selectively encodes data of the packets based on one of first and second signal processing modes. The header field of each of the packets comprises a first field that identifies one of the first signal processing mode and the second signal processing mode and a second field that identifies one of a first data length that corresponds to a transmit time period for data corresponding to the first signal processing mode and a second data length that corresponds to the transmit time period plus an extension time period for transmission of dummy data. Data fields of packets that correspond with the first signal processing mode comprise data and data fields of packets that correspond with the second signal processing mode comprise data and the dummy data.

Abstract: A data dependent descrambler for a communications channel that receives a scrambling seed and a scrambled user data sequence with N symbols each with M bits comprises a first decoder that analyzes adjacent symbols of the scrambled user data sequence, that performs G-constraint decoding on the adjacent symbols when a first of the adjacent symbols is an all-one symbol and that does not perform G-constraint encoding when the first of the adjacent symbols is not an all-one symbol. A first descrambler communicates with the first decoder and generates a user data sequence based on the scrambled user data sequence and the scrambling seed.

Abstract: Techniques for and apparatus capable of implementing packet detection and signal recognition in wireless communications systems are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed techniques and apparatus incorporate at least one of relative energy detection operable on assessment of a relative energy threshold for an inbound signal borne across an RF channel, carrier sense operable upon on assessment of at least one of a peak-to-sidelobe ratio and peak-to-peak distance defined by the inbound signal, and comparison operable upon demodulated data corresponding to the inbound signal as compared to predetermined preamble data. Clear channel assessment is performed based on determinations undertaken by one or more of the aforementioned relative energy detection, carrier sense and comparison operations.

Abstract: A communications channel includes a buffer configured to store data. The data includes a plurality of symbols. A data dependent scrambler is configured to select a non-zero symbol and compare the non-zero symbol to each of the plurality of symbols stored in the buffer. In response to the non-zero symbol being different than each of the plurality of symbols stored in the buffer, the data dependent scrambler is further configured to generate a scrambling sequence to be used in scrambling the data, and the non-zero symbol is a seed of the scrambling sequence.

Abstract: A modified Reed-Solomon (RS) decoder comprises a syndrome calculation module that calculates a plurality of syndromes from a received codeword; a syndrome modification module that cyclically modifies the plurality of syndromes; an error correction module that selectively removes a set of error values from the received codeword at a set of error locations to create a corrected codeword; and a control module that determines whether the corrected codeword is valid, generates a success signal if the corrected codeword is valid, and selectively actuates the syndrome modification module if the corrected codeword is invalid.

Abstract: An error decoding system that comprises a first Reed-Solomon (RS) decoder that receives an encoded codeword and generates a decoded codeword. An inner code (IC) decoder checks the decoded codeword for uncorrected errors. A decoding control module communicates with the first RS decoder and the IC decoder, iteratively modifies a parameter of the first RS decoder if the IC decoder detects uncorrected errors in the decoded codeword, and instructs the first RS decoder to decode the encoded codeword again after modifying the parameter.

Abstract: A scrambling system includes a seed finder that selects a scrambling seed. A first scrambler generates a scrambled sequence in response to a user data sequence and the scrambling seed. A code finder generates at least one of a token and an offset of the token from the scrambling seed. An encoder increases a Hamming weight of the scrambled sequence in response to at least one of the token and the offset.

Abstract: A secure hard drive comprises a storage medium that stores encrypted digital content and corresponding encrypted content keys. A public key decryption module receives one of the encrypted content keys from the storage medium and decrypts the encrypted content key using a private key to generate a content key. A block decryption module receives the encrypted digital content corresponding to the one of the encrypted content keys from the storage medium and the content key from the public key decryption module and decrypts the encrypted content using the content key. The storage medium is a magnetic storage medium. The public key decryption module and the block decryption module are implemented by a system on chip (SOC). A content player receives the decrypted digital content from the block decryption module and generates at least one of an analog output signal and a digital output signal.

Abstract: A receiver includes a demodulator that receives data packets each having a preamble and that generates spreading codewords by correlating a spreading code with the preambles of the data packets. A signal quality device determines signal quality values at a plurality of antennas for each of the data packets after correlation with corresponding ones of the spreading codes and selects one of the plurality of antennas based on the signal quality values. Each of the signal quality values includes a peak-to-average ratio value.

Abstract: A communications channel comprises a buffer that receives user data that includes a plurality of m-bit symbols. A data dependent scrambler communicates with the buffer, searches for a first m-bit symbol that is non-zero and is at least one of different than the plurality of m-bit symbols in the user data and different than inverses of the plurality of m-bit symbols in the user data. The first m-bit symbol is a seed of a scrambling sequence. The data dependent scrambler generates the scrambling sequence by repeating the seed.

Abstract: A data dependent scrambler for a communications channel that receives a user data sequence including N symbols each with M bits includes a seed finder that selects a scrambling seed and a first scrambler that receives said user data sequence and said scrambling seed from said seed finder. The first scrambler generates a scrambled user data sequence. A first encoder identifies a string of X consecutive zeros in adjacent symbols of the scrambled used data sequence and replaces one of the adjacent symbols with an all-one symbol. The first encoder replaces the other of the adjacent symbols with first bits representing a position of the string of X consecutive zeros and second bits representing bits of the adjacent symbols that are not in the string of X consecutive zeros.

Abstract: An access point comprises a transmitter. A coding module communicates with the transmitter and generates a first packet including a first field that identifies one of a standard signal processing mode and an extension signal processing mode, a second field that selectively defines a data length based on one of a transmit time period for the first packet and the transmit time period plus an extension mode time period for performing the extension signal processing mode, and a third field that selectively comprises one of the data and the data and dummy data.

Abstract: A data dependent scrambler for a communications channel that receives a user data sequence including X bits that are organized as N M-bit symbols includes a seed finder that generates a scrambling seed that is dependent upon the symbols in the user data sequence. A first scrambler receives the user data sequence from the data buffer and the scrambling seed from the seed finder and generates the scrambled user data sequence. An H-code finder generates at least one of an H-code token that is dependent upon the symbols in the user data sequence and an offset of the H-code token from the scrambling seed. An H-code encoder receives the scrambled user data sequence and at least one of the H-code token and the offset. The H-code encoder increases a Hamming weight of the scrambled user data sequence using the at least one of the H-code token and the offset.

Abstract: A wireless station comprises a transmitter. A coding module communicates with the transmitter and generates a first packet including a first field that identifies one of a standard signal processing mode and an extension signal processing mode, a second field that selectively defines a data length based on one of a transmit time period for data of the first packet and the transmit time period plus an extension mode time period for performing the extension signal processing mode, and a third field that selectively comprises one of the data and the data and dummy data.

Abstract: A communication system for communicating data packets includes a receiver subsystem. The receiver subsystem comprises a first antenna, and a second antenna. A direct sequence spread-spectrum demodulator communicates with the first and second antennas. The demodulator is configured to correlate a spreading code with a preamble of each data packet to produce a spreading codeword. The spreading code includes a predetermined number of chips. A signal quality measurement device is responsive to the direct sequence spread-spectrum demodulator. The device is configured to measure signal quality values corresponding to each of the first and second antennas for each data packet after correlation with the spreading code and to select one of said first and second antennas on the basis of the measured signal quality values.

Abstract: A method for providing e-mail spam rejection that includes identifying user controlled access lists that allow the user to determine which e-mail messages will be passed to the user and which e-mail messages will be rejected, and service provider controlled access lists that allow the service provider to determine which e-mails may be passed to the user. In one embodiment, the user controlled access lists include a contact list established by the user that identifies contacts whose e-mail messages will be sent directly to the user, and a rejection list established by the user that identifies entities whose e-mail messages will be rejected and not sent to the user. The service provider controlled access lists include an honorable business list and an honorable user list.

Abstract: Techniques for and apparatus capable of implementing packet detection and signal recognition in wireless communications systems are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed techniques and apparatus incorporate at least one of relative energy detection operable on assessment of a relative energy threshold for an inbound signal borne across an RF channel, carrier sense operable upon on assessment of at least one of a peak-to-sidelobe ratio and peak-to-peak distance defined by the inbound signal, and comparison operable upon demodulated data corresponding to the inbound signal as compared to predetermined preamble data. Clear channel assessment is performed based on determinations undertaken by one or more of the aforementioned relative energy detection, carrier sense and comparison operations.