Abstract: A modulation system and method for enabling communications across a noisy media environment is configured to employ a dynamically reconfigurable QAM modulation scheme and adjust transmission characteristics in response to information received in order to modify performance of system components.

Abstract: Performing soft error correction includes receiving a word at a soft correction engine capable of operating in more than one correction mode, identifying soft bit positions within the word, and automatically generating a number of possible results for the received word using combinations of the soft bit positions and more than one correction mode. The soft correction engine may include a Golay engine.

Abstract: A modulation system is configured to employ a dynamically reconfigurable M-ary modulation scheme.

Abstract: A filter is created by sampling noise during an inter-frame gap of a received signal, sampling a data frame preamble from within a data frame of the received signal, and computing filter coefficients based on the noise sampled during the inter-frame gap and the data frame preamble sampled from within the data frame.

Abstract: The location of a device on an electrical power line is identified using a power line characteristic, such as a power line impedance as a function of frequency, and/or a power line transfer function identified from the first device to a second device communicating with the first device over the electrical power line. Power line information is determined by receiving a signal from a first device, determining a power line transfer function based on the received signal, and determining power line information based on the determined power line transfer function.

Abstract: A filter is created by sampling noise during an inter-frame gap (110) of a received signal, sampling a data frame preamble (115) from within a data frame (105) of the received signal, and computing filter coefficients based on the noise sampled during the inter-frame gap (110) and the data frame preamble (115) sampled from within the data frame (105).

Abstract: This disclosure relates to varying load and modulation applied to each of multiple frequency subchannels based on anticipated attenuation experienced by those subchannels. Communicating data includes identifying a static component of a transmission medium for wideband communications having at least two subchannels determining a function of noise is attenuation versus frequency for the static component selecting wideband modulation schemes for the subchannels based on the function determined and communicating a data signal over the subchannels. The transmission medium includes a medium other than a copper telephone wire between and including a carrier facility and a termination of the copper telephone wire at an access point at a user premise and copper telephone wire in a cable riser in multitenant units and multi-dwelling buildings. Independent demodulation functions may be applied to at least two of the subchannels.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to varying load and modulation applied to each of multiple frequency subchannels based on anticipated attenuation experienced by those subchannels. Communicating data includes identifying a static component of a transmission medium for wideband communications having at least two subchannels (110), determining a function of noise or attenuation versus frequency for the static component (120), selecting wideband modulation schemes for the subchannels based on the function determined (130), and communicating a data signal over the subchannels (145). The transmission medium includes a medium other than a copper telephone wire between and including a carrier facility and a termination of the copper telephone wire at an access point at a user premise and copper telephone wire in a cable riser in multitenant units and multi-dwelling buildings. Independent demodulation functions may be applied to at least two of the subchannels.

Abstract: A media access control (MAC) controller is disclosed for a network providing communication for network stations located at a plurality of customer premises and sharing a communication medium, each of the premises having a plurality of network stations. The MAC controller includes a virtual local area network (vLAN) controller, providing access to the communication medium for and communication among the stations located at a single customer's premises, to define a vLAN between them. A group local area network (gLAN) controller provides access to the communication medium for and communication among interfering vLANs, two vLANs being considered to be interfering when one can sense communications over the medium from a station in the other. A MAC controller is provided in at least one station in a vLAN.

Abstract: Performing soft error correction includes receiving a word at a soft correction engine (310a, 310b) capable of operating in more than one correction mode, identifying soft bit positions within the word, and automatically generating a number of possible results (370) for the received word using combinations of the soft bit positions and more than one correction mode. The soft correction engine (310a, 310b) may include a Golay engine.

Abstract: A media access control (MAC) controller is disclosed for a network providing communication for network stations located at a plurality of customer premises and sharing a communication medium, each of the premises having a plurality of network stations. The MAC controller includes a virtual local area network (vLAN) controller, providing access to the communication medium for and communication among the stations located at a single customer's premises, to define a vLAN between them. A group local area network (gLAN) controller provides access to the communication medium for and communication among interfering vLANs, two vLANs being considered to be interfering when one can sense communications over the medium from a station in the other. A MAC controller is provided in at least one station in a vLAN.

Abstract: Performing soft error correction includes receiving a word at a soft correction engine capable of operating in more than one correction mode, identifying soft bit positions within the word, and automatically generating a number of possible results for the received word using combinations of the soft bit positions and the more than one correction modes. The soft correction engine may include a Golay engine.

Abstract: A delay line clock multiplier is disclosed for use in a communication system, in which a delay line is used as a clock multiplier for generating a higher speed clock that may be used, for example, for data sampling. The speed and timing characteristics of the clock delay line are adjusted by controlling the supply voltage to the delay line. because proper synchronization may be achieved at the higher frequencies using an oversampling synchronization approach which in turn is made possible by the delay line clock multiplier which allows for the oversampling of a signal at sub-interval increments.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to varying load and modulation applied to each of multiple frequency subchannels based on anticipated attenuation experienced by those subchannels. Communicating data includes identifying a static component of a transmission medium for wideband communications having at least two subchannels, determining a function of noise or attenuation versus frequency for the static component, selecting wideband modulation schemes for the subchannels based on the function determined, and communicating a data signal over the subchannels. Independent demodulation functions may be applied to at least two of the subchannels.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method are provided for data communication over noisy media. The apparatus includes one or both of a transmitter circuit located at a transmitting location and a receiver circuit located at a receiving location. The data is encoded to provide error correction capabilities. The encoded signal is further modified by performing one or more linear mathematical operations in order to further randomize the data signal. The transmitter circuit thus generates a wideband spread spectrum signal based on the data which is to be transmitted, which spreads the signal and improves its immunity to noise. The coding used to spread the data signal may or may not be a function of the data itself. The present invention provides enhanced noise immunity without any resulting degradation in the operation and efficiency of the error correction coding.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method are provided for data communication over noisy media. The apparatus includes one or both of a transmitter circuit located at a transmitting location and a receiver circuit located at a receiving location. The data is encoded to provide error correction capabilities. The encoded signal is further modified by performing one or more linear mathematical operations in order to further randomize the data signal. The transmitter circuit thus generates a wideband spread spectrum signal based on the data which is to be transmitted, which spreads the signal and improves its immunity to noise. The coding used to spread the data signal may or may not be a function of the data itself. The present invention provides enhanced noise immunity without any resulting degradation in the operation and efficiency of the error correction coding.

Abstract: The present invention is for a system which uses a non-telephone wiring network, such as the existing electrical low voltage wiring of the power line distribution network to provide telephone line service to individual users. The low voltage wiring referred to herein is that used to distribute power to individual businesses and residences, e.g., 120 V single phase residential service. The telephone line service is "on-demand" in the sense that any user can interface a telephone, or other communications device, to the electrical wiring and thereby instantly obtain telephone line service. The system of the present invention may be used to provide primary telephone service to those users who do not wish to pay the expense for dedicated line service. Alternatively, the system of the present invention may be used to provide secondary telephone service, i.e., second, third, . . . line, telephone service for those users who do not wish to pay the expense for dedicated secondary line service.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method are provided for data communication over noisy media. The apparatus includes one or both of a transmitter circuit located at a transmitting location and a receiver circuit located at a receiving location. The data is encoded to provide error correction capabilities. The encoded signal is further modified by performing one or more linear mathematical operations in order to further randomize the data signal. The transmitter circuit thus generates a wideband spread spectrum signal based on the data which is to be transmitted, which spreads the signal and improves its immunity to noise. The coding used to spread the data signal may or may not be a function of the data itself. The present invention provides enhanced noise immunity without any resulting degradation in the operation and efficiency of the error correction coding.

Abstract: A power line communication system specially designed for use in local area network (LAN) configurations has receiver and transmitter sections for fast, highly reliable data communication. The receiver includes controlled adaptive second order filters for ensuring data reception in virtually any signal environment having noise and distortion characteristics, especially alternating current (AC) power lines. A wideband phase shift-keyed (PSK) carrier is impressed on the transmission medium, the carrier having power spread approximately uniformly across a useful frequency bandwidth. A transmitter section is arranged for adaptive feedback control of the transmitted signal power, so as to prevent possible damage to the transmitter when the transmission medium impedance is low. A logic control circuit provides a correlation count of a received signal in comparison with a known reference signal in order to effectively achieve phase synchronization between the receiver and transmitter.