Abstract: An interference suppression apparatus suppresses electromagnetic field interference produced by an RFID tag. The interference suppression apparatus includes a power supply circuit, an antenna that is connected to the power supply circuit, a clock that is connected to the power supply circuit, and a load adjuster that is connected to the power supply circuit. The clock generates an output in which a time constant is adjusted to be longer than a communication time of the RFID tag. The load adjuster changes a characteristic of the antenna based on the output from the clock.

Abstract: A directable antenna system includes at least one directable antenna which has an omnidirectional antenna at a center, an inner frequency selective surface centered around the omnidirectional antenna, and an outer frequency selective surface spaced from the inner frequency selective surface. An antenna control unit can vary antenna beamwidth by changing states of active elements of the inner and the outer frequency selective surfaces. The system may include a searchable database, for example, to direct the antenna in the optimum direction for transmission and reception at a particular location. Transmission and/or reception data from a second directable antenna can be used to aim the first directable antenna.

Abstract: Provided is a noise source search device to be applied to an MM apparatus that obtains an NMR signal generated from a subject disposed in a static magnetic field by applying an RF pulse of a high frequency coil and a gradient magnetic field pulse of a gradient magnetic field coil to the subject, the device including: a reference antenna and a probe antenna that measure a noise generated in the MRI apparatus; a noise generation condition specification unit that specifies an axis and a drive frequency as a noise generation condition generated in the MRI apparatus, on the basis of a noise intensity of the noise that is measured by the reference antenna; and a noise generation site specification unit that drives the gradient magnetic field coil under the noise generation condition that is specified by the noise generation condition specification unit.

Abstract: Base station arrangement (100) adapted to receive signals from a user station; adapted to be connected to or comprises a plurality of antenna elements (1, 1, 2, 2, . . . 4,) with antenna ports (11, . . . 11) and a signal processing unit (20). The base station (21) also comprises a signal pre-processing functional unit (30) to collect channel correlation information. It is adapted to establish if there is one or more distinguishing characteristics comprising different correlation properties of different configuration properties associated with the antenna elements. Antenna elements are then assigned to different groups based on said configuration properties, and the channel correlation information is used to generate weighting information which is applied to antenna ports connected to antenna elements to control the antenna ports connected to antenna elements to control the antenna element transmit power individually or groupwise.

Abstract: Several multiband transceivers are disclosed. An exemplified multiband transceiver supporting different bands has a transformer, an inbound switch circuit, and an outbound switch circuit. The transformer has input ports on a primary side, and output ports on a secondary side. The input ports are direct-current isolated from and magnetically coupled to the output ports. The inbound switch circuit is configured to connect one of the input ports with an RF signal source for signal transmission. The outbound switch circuit is configured to connect one of the output ports with a RF output load. Optionally, an input tunable capacitor is configured to shunt with the effective inductance of one of the input ports and form a LC tank for band selection.

Abstract: An integrated RF front-end circuit comprising a balun, a receiver amplifier, a power amplifier, and a selector circuit is provided. The balun comprises a center-tapped inductor having a first node, a center-tap switchlessly coupled to a fixed voltage, and a second node. The balun receives a single-ended signal through the first node to produce a differential signal at the first and second nodes. The differential signal is provided to balanced input lines of the receiver amplifier. Balanced output lines of the power amplifier provide a differential signal to the first and second nodes. The balun converts the differential signal to a single-ended signal. The single-ended signal is available at the first node of the center-tapped inductor. The selector circuit activates the receiver amplifier and deactivates the power amplifier, and vice versa. The power amplifier may comprise only a single-ended output line connected to either the first or the second node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus manages resources in a wireless communication system by transmitting a multi-carrier switch command message to an access terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrier frequency.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal. All received signals are coupled to the same adaptive array or adaptive filter to reduce multipath or other shared interference of the first radio signal, which reduces multipath and other shared interference in the other radio signals before they are separated and processed by their respective receivers, or the individual radio signals are separated before the first signal enters the adaptive array and coupled to a slave weighting network slaved to the weights of the adaptive array of the first signal to reduce interference in all the signals.

Abstract: An omni-radio base station with multiple sector antenna units uses frequency division of sector signals to achieve increased coverage or capacity at reduced cost. Each sector antenna unit has an antenna for receiving a carrier signal associated with an antenna frequency in an available frequency band. At least one of the antenna units has an associated frequency converter that converts the carrier signal received by that antenna unit from the antenna frequency to a different respective frequency. Even though each sector receives the same carrier signal, an output carrier signal associated with each sector is at a different frequency band. A combiner combines the antenna unit carrier signals at different frequencies to create a composite signal for communication to the omni-radio base station.

Abstract: A low loss quarter wave Radio Frequency (RF) relay switch apparatus and method provides more efficient transmission of RF energy to downstream antenna switching elements in an antenna switching network. The antenna switching network may include multiple antenna multiplexer modules which are configured to operate in a local use configuration or a pass through configuration. The antenna multiplexer modules are designed for maximum efficiency in the pass through configuration acting virtually lossless when passing through RF energy.

Abstract: The present disclosure allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.

Abstract: A low noise amplifier (LNA) for use in a receiver circuit includes an adjustable impedance network including an input for receiving a radio frequency signal, a plurality of control inputs, and an output. The LNA further includes a controller coupled to the plurality of control inputs and configured to control an impedance of the adjustable impedance network. The controller controls the adjustable impedance network to provide a relatively low impedance in a terrestrial mode and to provide a relatively high impedance in a cable mode.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line arrangement includes a downstream modem, an upstream modem and a copper pair connection between the modems. Each modem includes electrical length estimation function code means which causes the respective modem to measure the attenuation of signals transmitted by the other modem at a plurality of different frequencies, and to combine these measurements, or functions thereof, together to form a combined attenuation measure and to use this combined measure to form an electrical length estimation, KL0bis. The downstream modem is operable to transmit its electrical length estimation to the upstream modem, and the upstream modem is operable to generate a definitive electrical length estimation in dependence upon both the received estimation from the downstream modem and the estimation made by the upstream modem. Having generated a definitive electrical length estimation, the upstream modem is operable to transmit this to the downstream modem.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal.

Abstract: A radio equipment controller includes a calculator that calculates a delay amount by subtracting from a given maximum delay amount an internal delay amount of a radio equipment and a delay amount of a cable, the radio equipment modulating and transmitting orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and the cable connecting the radio equipment and the radio equipment controller that creates the OFDM symbols, a detector that detects a beginning of the OFDM symbols from data that is inputted into a buffer that stores data of the OFDM symbols, and a delay controller that determines a transmission timing of the OFDM symbols so that the transmission timing of the beginning of the OFDM symbols becomes a timing that is delayed by the calculated delay amount after a reference signal with a specific period.

Abstract: A wireless communication device is adaptively operated in a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device includes a receiver subsystem having a total number of available receive chains RT. Current signal conditions are determined at the wireless communication device for signals transmitted by a given base station over the wireless communication network. Current system information regarding the wireless communication device and regarding the wireless communication network are determined. Based on the current signal conditions and the current system information, a minimum number of receive chains needed to receive and successfully decode data transmitted by the base station over the wireless communication network is determined. Specific ones of the total number of available receive chains RT are selected such that the minimum number of receive chains needed to receive and successfully decode the transmitted data is selected.

Abstract: A radio communication transceiver includes a transformer, a switch, a power amplifier (AP), and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The transformer has a primary winding and a center-tap secondary winding, the primary winding has a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and the center-tap secondary winding has a first endpoint, a second endpoint, and a third endpoint. The switch has a gate, a drain, and a source, in which the gate receives a control signal (CS), the drain is connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer through a coupling capacitor, and the source is grounded. The PA has at least one output terminal connected to the first endpoint and the second endpoint of the center-tap secondary winding of the transformer. The LNA has an input terminal connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication circuit part, a transmission path for signals, a ground, a coupler electrode, and a resonance part. The coupler electrode includes an upper flat part as an electrode, a support, and a connecting portion. The support supports the upper flat part. Thus, the upper flat part faces the ground and is separately placed therefrom at a height only enough to ignore the wavelength of the signal, while having a flexible portion which is elastically deformable in the height direction. On the connecting portion, the other end of the support is connected to the transmission path. The resonance part enlarges a current flowing into the coupler electrode through the transmission path. A micro dipole is a line segment connecting between the center of accumulated electric charge in the coupler electrode and the center of mirror charge accumulated in the ground.

Abstract: The present invention allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal.

Abstract: There is provided a receiving apparatus including a plurality of antennas, a phase difference detection unit to detect a phase difference of each of a plurality of received signals received by the plurality of antennas, a phase adjustment unit to align phase of the plurality of received signals based on the phase difference detected by the phase difference detection unit, an adding unit to add the plurality of received signals with the phase aligned by the phase adjustment unit together, and a synchronous detection unit to perform synchronous detection using a signal obtained by addition in the adding unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for conveying information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme to a recipient, such as a mobile device. In particular, information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme can be conveyed by appropriately mapping a physical broadcast channel within a sub-frame so as to include reference signals indicative of different antenna configurations or transmission diversity schemes. Alternatively, masking, such as cyclic redundancy check masking, can be used to provide information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting and mitigating interference are described. A device (e.g., a cellular phone) senses interference levels and digitally reconstructs the expected interference in the received signal. The device may correlate the reconstructed interference with the received signal and determine interference in the received signal based on correlation results. The device may adjust the operation of one or more circuit blocks (e.g., a mixer, an LNA, etc.) in a receiver based on the detected interference in the received signal. Alternatively or additionally, the device may condition the digital interference to obtain conditioned reconstructed interference matching the interference in the received signal and may then subtract the conditioned interference from the received signal.

Abstract: A band-switch control apparatus for an intermediate-frequency filter comprising: an adjacent interference-signal detecting unit for detecting an adjacent interference-signal, having a frequency adjacent to the desired frequency, superimposed on a reception signal having a frequency tuned to a desired frequency; a modulation-degree detecting unit for detecting a modulation degree of the reception signal; a bandwidth selecting unit for selecting a pass bandwidth of the intermediate-frequency filter corresponding to the amplitude of the adjacent interference-signal; and a band-narrowing suppression control unit for selecting a lower limit value of the pass bandwidth of the intermediate-frequency filter corresponding to the demodulation degree, the intermediate-frequency filter for passing, with a variable pass bandwidth, an intermediate-frequency signal obtained by frequency converting the reception signal, and changing the pass bandwidth selected by the bandwidth selecting unit to the lower limit value, if the

Abstract: A system and method for dynamic receive diversity allocation. A communications device comprises a first physical layer (PHY) unit, a second PHY unit, a first signal path coupled to a first antenna and to the first PHY unit, a switchable signal path coupled to a second antenna and switchably coupled to the first PHY unit and the second PHY unit, and a switch control unit coupled to the second antenna. The switch control unit dynamically generates a control signal used to switchably couple the second antenna to either the first PHY unit or the second PHY unit. The second antenna may be used to provided a needed transmit or receive antenna or an extra antenna for use in increasing diversity. Switching antennas reduces the total number of antennas and support hardware, such as digital processing hardware, for wireless communications standards having a high ratio of idle to busy time.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a transformer-based high performance cross-coupled low noise amplifier may include one or more circuits that integrate within a single chip, a balun with a low-noise amplifier. A DC current biasing path for the low-noise amplifier may be provided through the integrated balun. The low-noise amplifier may be configured as a cross-coupled low-noise amplifier, where the balun may be directly coupled to the cross-coupled low-noise amplifier. The balun may comprise two or more inductors, wherein one or more of the inductors may provide an electrical path for allowing a DC bias current to flow to ground. Integrating a balun on a single chip with a low-noise amplifier may allow the use of a single received signal input terminal. The biasing voltage may be selected to optimize performance of the low-noise amplifier.

Abstract: The present invention allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.

Abstract: In a method for determining channel quality information in a high speed packet access communication system with closed loop transmit diversity, power and variance related to a common pilot channel (CPICH) are determined for a rake receiver to obtain a closed loop transmit gain adjustment and to determine the CPICH signal-to-noise ratio. Thereafter, a high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) signal-to-noise ratio is determined from the CPICH signal-to-noise ratio and is mapped to derive channel quality information.

Abstract: There is provided a receiving apparatus having a simple configuration and an excellent ability to eliminate multipath noise, in which an antenna in a good reception state can be instantly selected. A reception signal from an antenna is inputted to an intermediate-frequency amplifying circuit via an antenna switching circuit, a front end and an A/D converting circuit, and an S meter signal from an S meter circuit is inputted to a controlling section via a noise detecting filter and an absolute value circuit. Then, the controlling section compares noise components outputted from the absolute value circuit (noise level) with a threshold value Vth outputted from a threshold value setting section. When the noise level becomes higher than the threshold value Vth, an antenna selection controlling signal is outputted to the antenna switching circuit, and antennas are switched.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus manages resources in a wireless communication system by transmitting a multi-carrier switch command message to an access terminal instructing the access terminal to switch between a diversity mode where each antenna module of a plurality antenna modules receives a single carrier signal transmitted at a single carrier frequency and a multi-carrier mode where a first antenna module of the plurality antenna modules receives a first multi-carrier signal transmitted at a first carrier frequency and a second antenna module receives a second multi-carrier signals transmitted at a second carrier frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for improved data transmission on a wireless link to a remote receiving node includes a communication device for converting packets to RF at a physical data rate, an antenna apparatus having a plurality of antenna configurations for transmitting the RF, and a processor for selecting the antenna configuration and the physical data rate based on whether the remote receiving node indicated reception of the data transmission. The processor may determine a table of success ratios for each antenna configuration and may rank each antenna configuration by the success ratio. The processor may transmit with an unused antenna configuration to probe the unused antenna configuration and update the table of success ratios. Similarly, the processor may maintain a table of effective user data rates, rank each physical data rate by the effective user data rate and probe unused physical data rates to update the table.

Abstract: A base station for use in a wireless network communicating with a plurality of subscriber stations. The base station transmits in a downlink channel to a first subscriber station using a plurality of transmit antennas. The base station transmits to the first subscriber station using either a transmit diversity scheme or a beamforming scheme according to the amount of correlation between the transmit antennas observed at the first subscriber station. The base station also transmits to the first subscriber station using a cyclic delay diversity scheme having either zero delay or non-zero delay according to the amount of antenna/channel correlation observed at the first subscriber station.

Abstract: A wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving wireless communications using at least one beam is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of WTRUs, at least one beam-forming antenna, and at least one radio network controller (RNC). The antenna is capable of beam-forming and beams emanating from the antenna may be adjusted in accordance with actual conditions in the wireless communication system. The antenna is further capable of dithering beams in the azimuth and/or elevation plane for breaking up null areas due to beam overlap.

Abstract: The present invention allows transmission of multiple signals between masthead electronics and base housing electronics in a base station environment. At least some of the received signals from the multiple antennas are translated to being centered about different center frequencies, such that the translated signals may be combined into a composite signal including each of the received signals. The composite signal is then sent over a single feeder cable to base housing electronics, wherein the received signals are separated and processed by transceiver circuitry. Prior to being provided to the transceiver circuitry, those signals that were translated from being centered about one frequency to another may be retranslated to being centered about the original center frequency.

Abstract: A near field microwave scanning system includes a switched array of antenna elements forming an array surface, a scan surface substantially parallel to the array surface and separated by a distance less than about 1 wavelength of the measured frequency, and a processing engine for obtaining and processing near field data, without the use of an absorber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, such as a transponder, that has a plurality of antennas for multi-frequency usage. The wireless communication device comprises a control system, communication electronics, memory, and the aforementioned antennas. A wireless communication device having a pole antenna may be used with one or more loop conductor antennas to achieve the desired operating frequencies. A wireless communication device having a dipole antenna may be coupled across a loop conductor antenna to provide different loop conductor configurations depending on the frequency.

Abstract: The invention provides a cell phone which shows good receiving sensitivity even in a state where synchronization with a base station is not provided, such as power-on and detection of a dead space. The invention alternately switches between a plurality of antennas a predetermined number of times per fixed time predetermined in accordance with the number of perch channels in a state where synchronization with a base station is not provided, and sets an antenna whose mean value of the receiving level of each of these antennas is the highest as an antenna to be used subsequently, that is, an antenna to open a control channel.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the degradation in performance of one or more radio signals that are co-transmitted with a first radio signal from the same transmitting antenna in the same frequency channel and received by the same antenna due to multipath or other shared interference, where the one or more radio signals can be separated from the first radio signal.

Abstract: Substantial improvements in frequency reuse in microwave communications systems is achieved by canceling co-channel interference and transmitter leakage. Interferometric beam-narrowing reduces beamwidth without reducing peak magnitude of the beam pattern. Frequency-dependent beam-shaping compensates for frequency-dependent distortions of the beam pattern thereby improving bandwidth. A spatial demultiplexing technique utilizes spatial gain distributions of received signals to separate signals, even from co-located transmit sources, and uses microwave lensing to enhance received spatial gain distributions. Predetermined cross-polarization interference is used to separate differently-polarized receive signals. A reference branch provides a cancellation signal to a receiver to cancel transmitter leakage signals. An error signal controls an impedance-compensation circuit that is responsive to changes in antenna impedance but not to receive signals.

Abstract: A radio receiver system, having two receiving antennas, two receivers, and a transformer transmitter, which is provided for the purpose of supplying radio signals of both antennas to each of the receivers, the transformer transmitter having a first winding and a second winding, wherein the two receiving antennas are connected to the end terminals of the first winding, and a first of the two receivers is connected to a center tap of the first winding and the second of the two receivers is connected to an end terminal of the second winding.

Abstract: This invention covers the use of multiple internal antennas to locate a nuisance cell phone which is being inappropriately operated. For a largely 1-dimensional layout like an airplane, an embodiment teaches the location being done by using differential timing teaches the use of either differential timing or a bearing angle technique. For a largely 2-dimensional layout, such as a theater, the invention uses either differential timing or a bearing angle approach.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention facilitate providing wireless links with longer link ranges and/or better suppression of interference than can be provided by the integrated antennas of a typical wireless network node. While, in some cases, it is possible to install intermediate wireless network nodes to hop through long expanses between distant wireless network nodes, it is desirable for distantly spaced wireless network nodes to reach one another through a single transit link (i.e. one hop). This approach is preferable because a single transit link is capable of higher data rates and better interference suppression than multi-hop transit links. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for enhancing the link range achievable by typical wireless network nodes so that distantly spaced wireless network nodes are able to communicate with one another using only a single transit link.

Abstract: A switching circuit includes switching transistors connected to one of an input terminal and an output terminal of the switching circuit, and a control bias supply circuit that supplies a control bias for cutting off all the switching transistors to the switching transistors when all of the switching transistors are in a non-selected state.

Abstract: A wireless communication receiver (20) comprises an antenna structure (22) and a joint searcher and channel estimator (24). The antenna structure acquires dimensionally differentiated signals which are concurrently utilized by the joint searcher and channel estimator for determining both a time of arrival and channel coefficient. The wireless communication receiver can be either a mobile terminal or a network node (e.g., a radio access network node such as a base station node, also called Node-B). In “spatial” embodiments, the antenna structure comprises an array of plural antennas. The signals acquired by different antennas of the array are dimensionally differentiated with regard to a spatial dimension, and the time of arrival and a composite channel coefficient are essentially concurrently determined by the joint searcher and channel estimator.

Abstract: A diversity antenna arrangement to reduce cost and the number of switching operations between different antennas includes an antenna changeover switch for switching between antennas, and an evaluation circuit for evaluating reception quality of a signal derived from a signal received from at least one of the antennas and conveyed to a receiving device via the antenna changeover switch. The evaluation circuit emits an evaluation signal based on the determined reception quality. A control device drives the antenna changeover switch based on the evaluation signal. A weighting device, using a first coefficient, weights the signal conveyed to the receiving device via the antenna changeover switch, and using a second coefficient, weights a signal received from at least one further antenna. A summing circuit adds the weighted signals. A regulating circuit generates the coefficients to minimize the temporal amplitude fluctuations of the composite signal, which is evaluated by the evaluation circuit.

Abstract: A wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving wireless communications using at least one beam is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of WTRUs, at least one beam-forming antenna, and at least one radio network controller (RNC). The antenna is capable of beam-forming and beams emanating from the antenna may be adjusted in accordance with actual conditions in the wireless communication system.

Abstract: A telecommunication system uses a satellite antenna showing on the horizontal plane, a sufficiently narrow radiation lobe to discriminate two adjacent satellites and showing on the vertical plane, a sufficiently narrow vertical lobe to ensure an adequate gain, but sufficiently ample to enable the reception of a certain number of satellites in adjacent orbital positions, by land stations distributed over a certain meridian arc without the necessity for antenna elevation angle variations.

Abstract: A radio receiver system having a plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of receivers is described in which antenna signals of a multiplicity of the plurality of receiving antennas are fed to each of the plurality of receivers. The plurality of receiving antennas may be interconnected to the plurality of receivers more flexibly as a function of the desired reception strategy. In addition, the functionality of the entire system may also be maintained in the event of a defect or failure of one or more receiving antennas.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for conveying information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme to a recipient, such as a mobile device. In particular, information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme can be conveyed by appropriately mapping a physical broadcast channel within a sub-frame so as to include reference signals indicative of different antenna configurations or transmission diversity schemes. Alternatively, masking, such as cyclic redundancy check masking, can be used to provide information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme.