Abstract: A broadcast system is disclosed that allows a broadcaster to provide multiple levels of subscription services. Subscribers have the option of listening to fewer (or no) commercials if they pay a higher fee, or listening to more commercials if they pay a lower (or no) fee. Commercials can be demographically targeted, cannot be skipped, and can be audited for billing purposes.

Abstract: An apparatus, a carrier medium storing instructions to implement a method, and a method in a node of a wireless network able to receive packets that exactly or substantially conform to a wireless network standard according to which each packet includes a header having bits that have respective correct values in the case that the packet exactly conforms to the standard. The method includes receiving a start-of-packet (SOP) trigger that indicates that a packet may have been received, checking one or more bits in the header to determine whether or not they have their respective correct values, and continuing to process the packet in the case that the checking indicates that the checked bits have their respective correct values. In one implementation, the header includes a first field modulated at a known rate that has one or more reserved bit locations, and a second field modulated at a data rate indicated in the first field.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for radiolocation using time differences of arrival. The method includes receiving transmit timestamps from a set of wireless stations of a wireless network. Each station transmits at least once. The transmit timestamp uses a local timestamping clock to indicate when a station transmitted a packet. The method further includes receiving sets of timestamped captured samples from each station that receives one of the transmitted packets. The times of arrival of each packet at each station are determined from the received sets of timestamped captured samples, and, the relative positions of the stations are determined from the determined times of arrival and the received transmit timestamps. The transmitting by the stations is in a round robin manner one station after the other, and several round robins may be used to mutually calibrate local clocks. Also an apparatus for inclusion in a station of a wireless network.

Abstract: A media broadcast and distribution system is disclosed which substitutes storage for communications, allowing more efficient use of scarce bandwidth resources. One embodiment allows a terrestrial FM broadcaster to offer a larger number of higher quality audio channels than current satellite radio services such as Sirius and XM Satellite Radio. This embodiment also has features that offer a better user experience than with personal audio devices such as Apple's iPod™. Another embodiment allows satellite radio services to expand their video offerings.

Abstract: A computer-readable carrier medium in wireless station for wireless network. Encoded in the carrier medium are instructions that when executed carry out a method operating at the link layer (L2) in the wireless station. The method includes, prior to the station being associated with a wireless network, wirelessly receiving L2 frames transmitted from one or more wireless access point of one or more wireless networks that the station can hear. The method further includes gathering information about the received L2 frames, including L2 information and L3 information. The L3 information includes whether an access point is sending an IP packet from a mobility agent, such that the station may associate with a wireless network that is in communication with the mobility agent. The method further includes storing information about the wireless networks that the station can hear in a database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method, an apparatus, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out a method. One method includes tagging packets and forwarding packets in a wireless mesh network using stored forwarding information for the tag, wherein the forwarding information is according to a centrally determined routing method and tag distribution method.

Abstract: A method of wirelessly transmitting or receiving a packet of information, and an apparatus to wirelessly transmit or receive a packet of information. In the case of transmitting, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the packet, over a network link during transmit time. In the case of receiving, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the received packet, over a network link during receive time. The transmitting or receiving is by a station of a wireless network and the streaming is to or from the station from or to a network device coupled to the station by the network link.

Abstract: One embodiment includes tracking utilization of the backhaul wireless bandwidth of a mesh network related to time sensitive packet data, receiving a call admission request for a call from a client station of a first mesh access point of the mesh, ascertaining using the tracked utilization whether to approve the call admission request using a backhaul call admission control method, and approving the call by sending a positive call admission response if the backhaul call admission control method approves the call and if an access level call admission control method ascertains to approve the call admission request at the access level.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to track the channel response for subcarriers in an OFDM receiver for a packet of information that includes a known transmitted part. The receiver has a signal-to-tone transformer to determine subcarriers corresponding to a received packet. The method stores a function of an initial estimate of the channel response for a subcarrier, and accepts a pre-decision constellation point value that is a post channel correction using a first estimate of the channel response. The method includes: makes a decision using the pre-decision constellation point value, re-modulates the decision to form a post-decision constellation point value, and forms a complex valued product of the function of the first estimate for the subcarrier and the complex-valued ratio of the pre-decision and post-decision values. This complex valued product forms a measure of the current channel estimate to use for updating the stored quantity.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting the start-of-packet in a wireless receiver operating in a packetized wireless network. One method embodiment includes calculating a plurality of start of packet (SOP) indicators, each for one or more of a plurality of receive chains in the receiver; determining one or more linear combinations of respective pluralities of the calculated SOP indicators to form one or more combined SOP indicators; comparing each of a plurality of SOP indicators or combined SOP indicators, including at least one of the combined SOP indicators to a respective threshold to form one or more respective SOP events; and, in the case there is more than one SOP event, determining a logic function of the SOP events to form a SOP decision event.

Abstract: A method includes exposing a plate on a support surface of an imager using one or more laser beams, the exposing while there is a metallic screen structure located on the support surface between the plate and the support surface such that the amount of back-reflected radiation is reduced compared to the plate being placed directly on the support structure with no screen between the plate and support surface. An apparatus includes the combination of a base material having the support surface and the metallic screen structure thereon.

Abstract: A system for managing a bill of materials includes a data structure having at least one record with a primary key data field, an owner data field for indicating the owner of the record, the owner data field including data representative of one of a plurality of owners, and at least one other data field. In another aspect, the system for managing a bill of materials includes a database having a single namespace, and at least one record with a primary key data field, an owner data field for indicating the owner of the record, the owner data field including data representative of one of a plurality of owners, and at least one other data field.

Abstract: A method for automatic hidden node detection that includes observing frame exchange sequences that conform to a MAC standard such as the IEEE 802.11 standard. The method includes detecting a hidden node upon receiving a response frame without previously receiving the frame causing the response. Similar conclusions may be drawn from longer frame sequences. When a hidden node has been detected with reasonable certainty, a hidden node report is sent to a hidden node manager. In one embodiment, the hidden node manager is centralized, and in another, the management function is performed in a distributed manner. Upon receiving a report, the hidden node manager automatically invokes hidden node avoidance measures by sending one or more action frames. In another embodiment, the hidden node manager turns on a hidden node mitigation method. In the case of the IEEE 802.11 standard, the hidden node manager turns on the IEEE 802.11 hidden node mitigation method based on RTS/CTS exchange.

Abstract: For data compressed using the first compression method that includes codewords generated by variable length coding sets of quantized transform coefficients using a first variable length coding method, decoding the codewords to create ordered sets of quantized transform coefficients, each created set forming an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients, and re-encoding the created ordered sets of quantized transform coefficients using a second variable length coding method to produce a re-coded set of codewords. The second variable length coding method produces shorter codewords, on average, than the first variable length coding method. The decoding and re-encoding is a lossless process such that no additional quantization or other errors are introduced to the received data by the method.

Abstract: An apparatus, e.g., in a network edge device, a method, and a software program product for synchronizing two or more redundant media streams, e.g., MPEG video streams. The method includes receiving network packets encapsulating redundant media streams representing the same media program, buffering the received streams, learning a program identifier for the media program, searching the packets of the redundant streams for synchronization points defined by a plurality of parameters of stream packets, synchronizing the redundant streams based on the comparison, and providing a single stream as an output stream.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and software containing computer readable code to implement the method implemented in a first wireless device, e.g., an access point. The method includes, for a particular network identifier, e.g., BSSID, of at least one network identifier supported by the first wireless device that including a transmitter and modulator, each network identifier identifying a wireless network, e.g., an IEEE 802.11 BSS for which the first wireless device acts as an access point, transmitting full parent beacon frames periodically at the beacon frame rate for the particular network identifier; and transmitting at least one mini-beacon frames in between consecutive full parent beacon frames for the particular network identifier. Each mini beacon frame includes a subset of the information in a full parent beacon frame, and further including timing information indicative of when the next full parent beacon frame will be transmitted for the particular network identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating channel characteristics in a multicarrier wireless receiver such as an OFDM wireless receiver. The method includes determining a channel estimate for each of a set of subcarriers by receiving multicarrier data as a result of a wireless transmission of data that includes a known signal, wherein the determining uses a part of the received data that corresponds to the known signal. The method further includes smoothing the channel estimates according to a smoothing filter to form smoothed channel estimates. The smoothed channel estimate for a particular subcarrier includes a contribution from the channel estimates of one or more subcarriers nearby the particular subcarrier take advantage of correlation that may exist between the particular subcarrier's channel and the channels of the one or more nearby subcarriers.

Abstract: A method and software to cause a processor to implement a method to set a packet age limit in an access point of a wireless network for communicating time-sensitive data with an associated wireless client station. One method includes the client station sending feedback to the access point so that the access point can set its packet age limit. Another method includes the access point setting its packet age limit according to feedback from the associated client station and/or according to information determined at the access point about the network.

Abstract: A system for providing a listener with an augmented audio reality in a geographical environment said system comprising a position locating system for determining a current position and orientation of a listener in.

Abstract: A video codec that allows for improved performance of embedded devices using vector quantization and the high correlation between frames in a scene to reduce the overhead associated with displaying video data. Video coding includes determining scene changes in a movie, producing one codebook for each scene, and coding each frame within a scene with the same codebook. The quantized video data is then losslessly compressed and formed into a video stream. Video decoding includes decoding the codebook for a frame and supplying the codebook and frame indices for frame rendering. Alternatively, video coding also includes dividing CPU time between codebook processing, indices processing, and frame rendering to ensure smooth video output.