Abstract: A novel and useful media access control (MAC) protocol that is intended for use over noisy shared media channels. The MAC protocol provides layer 2 functionality over a network using a shared medium including a backoff mechanism for CSMA/CA channel access, link addressing that reduces the overhead of long MAC addresses, a flooding scheme having controlled exposure for broadcast transmissions, multicast transmissions using selective ACKs, implementation of traffic prioritization using an adaptive backoff scheme, a second layer repeater establishment process and multi-packet transport for short packets and fragmentation for long packet transport.

Abstract: A novel and useful apparatus for and method of single antenna interference cancellation (SAIC) in a wireless communications system. A class of algorithms is disclosed for Downlink Advanced Receiver Performance (DARP) receivers based on a novel metric calculation used during equalization and optionally in other portions of the receiver as well, e.g., soft value generation. A DARP receiver for 8PSK EDGE modulation is presented wherein the interfering signals comprise GMSK modulated signals. The modified metric takes into account the rotation remaining in the noise component of the received signal after de-rotation of the 8PSK signal. Considering the interferer to be a GMSK signal, the I/Q elements of the noise are correlated and this fact is used to modify the decision rule for the received signal thus improving the performance of the equalizer. The model is further extended to take into account temporal error correlation.

Abstract: An element dispensing package suitable for dispensing adhesive strips or bandages. Each element is contained within an envelope formed by opposed upper and lower sheets. The lower sheet has a release liner secured thereto to protect the element while it is within the dispenser. The element is releasably secured to a first tab and is separated from the package when the envelope is opened. The first tab has one or more gripping means to facilitate dispensing of the element contained within the package. Additionally, the upper sheet and the lower sheet have optional gripping means (e.g., a second tab) to facilitate dispensing of the element contained within the package.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of enforcing precedence of committed traffic over excess traffic that overcomes the difficulty in supporting committed over excess traffic and has particular application to distributed queuing systems. Queue control messages are generated and transmitted to other line cards to guarantee that committed traffic is not dropped when sent from multiple sources such as line interface cards to a single destination. When the level of a queue exceeds a threshold and flow control is received for the corresponding destination, the queue starts dropping excess traffic and messages indicating the queue status are sent to all other lines cards. When a line card receives a queue control message that another line card started dropping excess traffic to a specific destination, it also starts dropping excess traffic to that destination as well.

Abstract: A subport forwarding and provisioning mechanism whereby a plurality of subports implemented using slower speed processors are used to perform the packet processing for a higher speed packet stream. Outbound packets are assigned a subport based on their MPLS labels. Once assigned, the packets are forwarded to a particular subport. The output of all the subports is aggregated and combined into a single high speed packet stream and transmitted over the link. Inbound packets are received by the high speed PHY and forwarded to one of a plurality of subports. The subport chosen is the one having the same subport index as the one through which the packet was sent out over at the transmitting node. Conventional layer 2 switches can also be used whereby reserved source MAC addresses are assigned to subports. The switch forwards the inbound packets to one of the subports in accordance with the packet's source MAC address.

Abstract: A novel and useful acquisition and synchronization mechanism for spread spectrum communication systems whereby a synchronization sequence comprising a plurality of known symbols spaced apart by predefined time delay intervals is transmitted as the start of packet signal. At the transmitter, a synchronization sequence is transmitted at the beginning of each packet. A synchronization sequence is generated which includes a plurality of symbols with predefined time gaps between each of the symbols. Multiple synchronization sequences may be generated wherein each sequence comprises a unique set of time delays or gaps between each of the symbols. Each set of unique time delays or gaps between symbols of a sequence is stored as a synchronization sequence gap template in memory.

Abstract: A lossless image streaming system for the transmission of images over a communication network. The system eliminates the necessity to store a compressed version of the original image, by losslessly streaming ROI data using the original stored image. The imaging system also avoids the computationally intensive task of compression of the full image. When a user wishes to interact with a remote image, the imaging client generates and sends a ROI request list to the imaging server. The request list can be ordered according to the particular progressive mode selected (e.g., progressive by quality, resolution or spatial order). The imaging server performs a fast preprocessing step in near real time after which it can respond to any ROI requests in near real time. When a ROI request arrives at the server, a progressive image encoding algorithm is performed, but not for the full image. Instead, the encoding algorithm is performed only for the ROI.

Abstract: In a system for transmitting a three-dimensional (3-D) digital image over a communication network, in response to a client computer generating a request for interaction with a 3-D image stored on an image storage device, a server computer performs two-dimensional sub-band transform decompositions in x-axis and y-axis directions upon the 3-D image, performs a one-dimensional sub-band transform decomposition in a z-axis direction upon a portion of the two-dimensionally transform-decomposed digital image, and progressively transmits to the client computer data representing a region of interest specified in the client request.

Abstract: A protection mechanism capable of providing both local and end-to-end connection protection for dual homed access/aggregation devices or customer-edge devices in a network. The protection mechanism provides end-to-end and fast local protection for off the shelf access devices that do not have any built in per-connection protection capabilities. The access device is connected via two separate physical uplinks to two edge switches of the network. For each connection to be protected, a main path is provisioned from one edge switch and an alternative path is provisioned from the other edge switch. The edge switches are adapted to comprise means for switching traffic from the main path to the alternative path in the event a failure along the main path is detected. Failures both in the stack portion, the core portion and in the access device uplinks are protected against.