Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a bi-directional constant impedance filter. Embodiments include electric networks which give filter responses while presenting a constant impedance to a signal received at either an input or an output port for a plurality of frequencies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to simulate a length of telecommunications line. One or more bi-directional constant input impedance low pass or pole/zero filters are coupled in series with an attenuator to simulate a length of telecommunications line. The one or more filters are used to approximate the transfer function of the length of telecommunications line.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and apparatus are described to transmit a data signal from a power supply unit, over existing direct current (DC) power transmission lines, to a residential gateway which includes an infrared (IR) receiver designed to receive optical signals. In one embodiment, the IR receiver is configured to receive a carrier current communication signal from the power supply unit over a pair of copper wires coupled to the IR receiver. The carrier current communication signals may be encoded by a transmission encoding logic circuit using pulse position modulation techniques. The received carrier current communication signals may be demodulated and decoded to reproduce an input data stream.

Abstract: In general, various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described for communicating a loss of an AC power source. In at least certain embodiments, a broadband communication gateway receives a direct current (DC) output signal from an alternating current (AC) to DC converter that detects a loss of an AC input signal. The apparatus further includes a processing unit that generates a communication message in response to receiving an interrupt signal based on the detection of the loss of the AC input signal. The processing unit controls an analog front end that sends the communication message to a device external to the broadband communication gateway in response to the interrupt signal prior to a voltage of the DC output signal decreasing below a threshold voltage needed for operation of the broadband communication gateway.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling an access point to transmit a pilot signal to a mobile device operating in a specified location until a pilot signal acknowledgement is received from the mobile device indicating the pilot signal was detected at the specified location. The system and method further enabling the access point to automatically set an operational power level for the pilot signal based on a power level at which the pilot signal was being transmitted when the pilot signal acknowledgement was received.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling an access point to determine that a mobile device has crossed a wireless coverage area boundary associated with the access point and select, for transmission to the mobile device, an audible notification indicating the mobile device has crossed the wireless coverage boundary associated with the access point, wherein the audible notification is stored at the access point in compressed form, prior to determining the mobile device has crossed the wireless coverage area boundary.

Abstract: A line interface circuit with line side cancellation of a communication device is described herein. In one embodiment, a communication device includes a line interface circuit for interfacing a communication line. The line interface circuit includes a driver for driving multiple transmitting signals onto the communication line over multiple transmitting frequency bands. The line interface circuit further includes multiple transmitting filters each corresponding to one of the transmitting frequency bands. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a residential gateway is located at the network interface device and is powered with a remote power source inside the residence. In another embodiment, bi-directional data communication between the residential gateway and the remote power source is also enabled.

Abstract: In general, various methods, apparatuses, and systems for a surge protection circuit for a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) are disclosed. The surge protection circuit includes a first voltage protection device coupled to a first wire of the PSTN. A voltage protection device conducts when voltage applied across the voltage protection device at least meets a set voltage threshold. The surge protection circuit includes a second voltage protection device coupled to a second wire of the PSTN. The second voltage protection device is coupled to the first voltage protection device in series. The surge protection circuit includes a voltage divider device to cause a voltage applied differentially across the first wire and second wire to divide evenly across the first voltage protection device and the second voltage protection device.

Abstract: A packet handling detection system detects a packet handling device between an originating device and a detection device by analyzing one or more transmission parameters of a packet received at the detection device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing synchronization data on demand are described. The method includes sending one or more synchronization parameters from a receiver to a transmitter in a data communication system, and adjusting transmission of synchronization data from a transmitter to a receiver using the one or more parameters sent by the receiver.

Abstract: A wireless access point includes at least a first service set identifier associated with a public LAN. The wireless access point provides wireless access to the public LAN and to a wide area network (WAN). The wireless access point implements an access policy that provides unrestricted access to the WAN to a first type of wireless application or wireless device detected by the wireless access point, and restricted access to the WAN to a second type of wireless application or wireless device detected by the wireless access point.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses, and systems are described in which devices having no common electrical ground communicate. In at least certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a transformer block to communicate a plurality of data signals and a synchronous clock signal between a first device with a first ground reference and a second device with a second ground reference over a data communication link. The first device sends the plurality of data signals to a modulator block having one or more Boolean logic gates that receive each data signal in combination with the synchronous clock signal. The modulator block sends a plurality of modulated data signals corresponding to the plurality of data signals to the transformer block. The transformer block sends the plurality of modulated data signals and the synchronous clock signal to the second device to provide the data communication link between devices having different ground references.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a DSL communication device comprising a line interface circuit is disclosed. The line interface circuit includes a hybrid circuit to interface the communication device to a communication line, a lowpass transmit filter to pass signals in a first frequency band, and a highpass transmit filter to pass signals in a second frequency band, where the second frequency band is higher in frequency than the first frequency band. The outputs of the highpass and lowpass filters are coupled in parallel to the communication line. The lowpass and highpass filters as well as the low and highpass transformers are optimized for their frequency bands. Further, the edges of the low and high frequency bands are sufficiently separated to reduce interference from the other frequency band. These factors, in part, allow a multiple tone communication device to be capable of operating in multiple modes of operation with multiple DSL varieties.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are described for multi-carrier communication using adaptive tone-pruning. The method may include transmitting a data-bearing signal over a plurality of tones on a communication loop within a plurality of communication loops and calculating a minimum tone cost according to a tone cost algorithm. The tone cost algorithm defines a tone cost associated with a selected tone within the plurality of tones. The tone cost of the selected tone is based on a predefined loading frequency and a signal-to-noise ration (SNR) of the selected tone. The method also may include determining a bit loading pattern for the data-bearing signal according to the minimum tone cost. This determination may occur in response to a determination that a minimum allowable transmission power is greater than a minimum required transmission power for the data-bearing signal.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus are described in for a wireless access point. The wireless access point allows access to a wireless LAN that has two or more service set identifiers (SSIDs). At least one of the SSIDs is associated with a public wireless LAN. The wireless access point implements a segmentation policy that 1) provides unimpeded access to a Wide Area network through the public wireless LAN based on a first type of application or a first type of device detected by the wireless access point and 2) restricts access to the Wide Area network through the public wireless LAN by requiring an authorization check to access the Wide Area network based on detecting a second type of application.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a loop extender for improving the transmission of digital subscriber line (DSL) signals over a local loop is disclosed. The loop extender includes selectable line termination and equalization (SLTE) DSL amplification circuitry capacitively coupled to the local loop via bypass relay switches, a plain old telephone service (POTS) loading coil adapted to be coupled to the local loop for improving transmission of POTS band signals over the local loop, and a diagnostic/control unit (DCU) coupled to the local loop for receiving and processing control signals from a central office, coupled to the bypass relay switches via a bypass relay for controlling the bypass relay switches, and coupled to the SLTE DSL amplification circuitry via a plurality of switch control lines for controlling the SLTE DSL amplification circuitry.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for reliable multicarrier communication in the presence of periodic impulsive interference is disclosed. A power level of noise in a signal is determined. An impulse noise in the signal is detected. A gain factor associated with the impulse noise is determined and applied to the noise power of the signal to calculate an equivalent noise power. In one aspect, the equivalent noise power is used to determine a signal-noise-ratio.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for reliable multicarrier communication in the presence of timing phase error is disclosed. Phase noise due to a sampling-time phase mismatch between a transmitter device and a receiver device is measured in a signal. A Gaussian noise power level in the signal is determined, and a gain factor associated with the phase noise is calculated. The gain factor is applied to the Gaussian noise power level to calculate an equivalent noise power. In one aspect, the equivalent noise power is used to determine a signal-to-noise ratio. In another aspect, the signal is a multicarrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers.

Abstract: In general, various methods and apparatus are described that use a multi-tone receiver. The multi-tone receiver detects data in a multiple tone signal. The receiver has a detector module to measure a noise power level present in the system and to detect for an asymmetric Gaussian noise source in the background noise. An equivalent noise power is obtained by applying a compensating gain factor to the asymmetrical noise source. The gain factor is used when the detector indicates that the asymmetric Gaussian noise source exists in the background noise. Any bit-loading algorithm that is based on a symmetric Guassian noise source assumption can also be used with asymmetrical Guassian noise sources if this gain factor is applied.