Abstract: An amplifier having DC offset compensation includes at least one input node and a pair of differential output nodes, a biasing circuit coupled to the input node; and a plurality of current sources.

Abstract: A ground-or roof-top-based repeater in an OFDM system uses multiple transmission antennas to retransmit satellite signals. By using multiple transmission antennas, multiple identical OFDM signals are transmitted. Dithering is performed by, using a phase of Rayleigh process generator, introducing a slight variable-frequency phase offset to all but one of the multiple identical transmitted OFDM signals, and thus the effective overall channel is more dynamic and provides spatial diversity to minimize long periods of fading in fading subchannels of the OFDM signals when the receiver is in a slow moving or stationary situation. To overcome the additional cancellation problem that can occur when two or more of the transmitting antennas are in a line-of-site position with the receiver and approximately the same distance from the receiver, a delay is deliberately introduced to make the delayed signal(s) appear to be reflected signals.

Abstract: A method for processing a received encoded data unit comprises: decoding the received encoded data unit; determining whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received; prior to completing the determination of whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received, initiating the transmission of an acknowledgment message; and modifying the transmission of the acknowledgment message if it is determined that the data unit has not been correctly received. In another embodiment, a station for a communications network comprises: a decoder adapted to decode a received encoded data unit; a check processor adapted to determine whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received; and a transmitter adapted to initiate the transmission of an acknowledgment message prior to the check processor completing the determination whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received.

Abstract: A rake receiver for processing a multi-path input signal received from a communications channel, wherein each multi-path component of the multi-path input signal comprises one or more symbols, comprises a plurality of fingers and a demodulator. Each of the plurality of fingers is adapted to receive the multi-path input signal and provide a sequence of input samples corresponding to a multi-path component of the multi-path input signal. The demodulator is adapted (i) during a single clock period, to receive and process one or more input samples corresponding to only one of the fingers, (ii) for each of the fingers, to accumulate multiple processed input samples to form a symbol, and (iii) to provide the formed symbols for all fingers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless device for a wireless data communication system including the wireless device and a base station. The base station includes a plurality of first groups and a signal-processing unit. Each first group includes a receiver and at least one antenna connected to the receiver. The signal-processing unit includes memory and a processor adapted to process signals received by the first groups using a Maximum Likelihood Detection (MLD) method. The wireless device includes a plurality of second groups, each second group adapted to transmit a wireless signal to at least one first group via a corresponding communication channel. Each second group further includes a transmitter and at least one antenna connected to the transmitter.

Abstract: A communications apparatus supporting seamless integration of VoBB and POTS services can be used with or embodied in any communications appliance or voice/data gateway product that has connectivity to both services. The apparatus supports user-specified usage of one service over another on a call-by-call and/or call-category basis. For example, all long-distance outgoing calls (or those belonging to specific area codes or regions) may be specified to use the VoBB service and all local calls or just emergency “9-1-1” calls may be specified to use the POTS service. The apparatus also enables communication service features such as multiple-line (ML), three-way-calling (TWC), and conference calling (CC)) to be managed intelligently across the VoBB and POTS services.

Abstract: A recording system, such as a magnetic or optical recording system, employs an address mark (AM) detector that searches for an address mark pattern that is augmented by one or more bits of a preamble field so that a false detection rate is reduced. In one case, the address mark includes L bits, and the AM detector compares i) the input detected bits with ii) a SAM pattern of L bits augmented with m bits of the preamble to detect the SAM. In another case, the address mark includes less than L bits (e.g., L?k bits), and the AM detector compares i) the input detected bits with ii) a SAM bit-pattern of (L?k) bits augmented with m bits of the preamble to detect the SAM.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for enabling the remote purchasing of products or services, etc. (e.g., alcoholic beverages) wherein, as part of the buying transaction, the purchaser indicates a specific physical location where the product will be claimed, may identify a third party as the “recipient” of the product by providing the third-party's e-mail or text messaging address, can attach a personalized message to the transaction, and can specify the information required for recipients who are already known to the system to make an expedited return purchase in real or near-real time.

Abstract: A packet network employs frame aggregation to reduce the number of physical-layer frames employed to transfer a given amount of user data. A packet network might employ physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers of a wireless local area network (WLAN) operating in accordance with one or more IEEE 802.11 standards. Frame aggregation combines several separate, higher-layer frames with user data into one PHY-layer frame, thus increasing the amount of user data per PHY-layer frame transmitted. Frame aggregation improves the efficiency by reducing both PHY-layer overhead and MAC-layer overhead.

Abstract: A barrier device for sleep positioning including, in one embodiment, an elongated body to be placed atop a head-contacting surface of a pillow so as to define generally a boundary between a left side and a right side of the pillow, and at least one attachment device for securing the barrier device to the pillow. The elongated body has top and bottom ends and includes a pair of outwardly-projecting portions located at left and right sides of the elongated body near the bottom end. Each outwardly-projecting portion has an outer curvature substantially the same as and abutting at least a portion of the back of the head and/or neck of a user lying on the user's side with the user's head resting on one of the sides of the pillow.

Abstract: A baseband clock synthesizer having particular use in a BLUETOOTH piconet device, having the capability of generating either 12 MHz or 13 MHz clock signals generated from any reference clock signal, e.g., 12.00, 12.80, 13.00, 15.36, 16.80, 19.20, 19.44, 19.68, 19.80, and 26.00 MHz. A fractional-N frequency divider is implemented with a PLL including a variable divider allowing the use of virtually any reference frequency input to generate a locked 156 MHz clock signal used as a basis for a 12 MHz or 13 MHz baseband clock signal. A residue feedback sigma-delta modulator provides a varying integer sequence to an integer divider in a feedback path of the PLL, effectively allowing division by non-integer numbers in the PLL. Thus, the PLL can be referenced to virtually any reference clock and still provide a fixed output clock signal (e.g., 12 or 13 MHz).

Abstract: A read channel component of a magnetic recording system employs equalization of a signal received from the magnetic recording channel, the equalization being modified depending upon the presence or absence of DC shifts in the signal. Equalization corrects for DC shifts, if present, prior to detection and decoding of servo data, such as servo address mark (SAM) and Gray code data. In a first implementation, a DC shift detector detects the presence or absence of DC shifts and modifies equalization in a predetermined manner. In a second implementation, filtering is applied to the signal to enhance equalization in the presence of DC shift, and both filtered and unfiltered signals employed for detection of the servo data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an amplifier circuit has at least one branch and current-source circuitry providing a tail current to the branch, which has at least one load tank, at least one input transistor coupled to the load tank, and variable-impedance circuitry coupled between an input node of the amplifier circuit and the gate of the input transistor. The transconductance of the input transistor can be altered to achieve two or more different gain settings for the amplifier circuit. The variable-impedance circuitry can be controlled to contribute any one of at least two different levels of impedance to the overall input impedance of the amplifier circuit. If the transconductance of the input transistor is reduced, then the variable-impedance circuitry can increase the level of impedance contributed to the overall input impedance of the amplifier circuit such that the overall input impedance of the amplifier circuit remains substantially unchanged.

Abstract: Phase shifting network (110) predistorts the input to non-linear amplifier (114) to counteract AM-PM distortion. The input signal is sampled at (116) and its amplitude is detected at (118). The amplitude signal is then used to index a lookup table (122) which contains corresponding data for controlling the phase shifting network (110). The input signal may be digital and the phase shifting process may be implemented in the digital domain.