Abstract: A method for managing nodes in a network includes assigning to a cycle set a cycle having a size of n, the preferred maximum nodes per cycle, or smaller. If this cycle set does not include the all of the nodes in the network, the method includes increasing n by one and assigning to the cycle set a cycle that accesses at least one of the nodes not currently in the cycle set and has a size n, until the cycle set includes all of the nodes in the network. The method further includes moving from the cycle set to a final set a cycle that accesses a node that is accessed by only that particular cycle. If this final set does not include all of the nodes in the network, the method includes moving a remaining cycle from the cycle set to the final set wherein the remaining cycle carries a largest intracycle traffic among cycles in the cycle set, until the final set includes all of the nodes in the network.

Abstract: A method for improving a downlink signal received by a listener on a phone is disclosed. The method includes calculating an environment noise level of the listener and filtering and adjusting gain of the downlink signal based on the environment noise level.

Abstract: A non-linear processor for use in an echo canceller is set forth. The non-linear processor includes a center clipping digital filter receiving an echo compensated signal. The non-linear processor provides a center clipped output signal having non-linear thresholds at values of +TNLP and ?TNLP. The value of TNLP is dynamically dependent, at least in part, on echo return loss measurements. To limit the processor's susceptibility to corruption from double-talk conditions, the non-linear processor inhibits the dynamic setting of the TNLP value when a double-talk condition is present. Additionally, or in the alternative, the non-linear processor locks the value of the echo return loss measurement after a predetermined number of consecutive echo return loss measurements have values falling within a predetermined range of one another. Such locking further reduces the susceptibility of the non-linear processor to corruption from double-talk conditions.