Patents Assigned to Broadcom Corporation
  • Patent number: 8284844
    Abstract: System and method for decoding digital video data. The decoding system employs hardware accelerators that assist a core processor in performing selected decoding tasks. The hardware accelerators are configurable to support a plurality of existing and future encoding/decoding formats. The accelerators are configurable to support substantially any existing or future encoding/decoding formats that fall into the general class of DCT-based, entropy decoded, block-motion-compensated compression algorithms. The hardware accelerators illustratively comprise a programmable entropy decoder, an inverse quantization module, a inverse discrete cosine transform module, a pixel filter, a motion compensation module and a de-blocking filter. The hardware accelerators function in a decoding pipeline wherein at any given stage in the pipeline, while a given function is being performed on a given macroblock, the next macroblock in the data stream is being worked on by the previous function in the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Jose′ R. Alvarez, Sheng Zhong, Xiaodong Xie, Vivian Hsiun
  • Patent number: 8286007
    Abstract: A hybrid technique in energy efficient Ethernet (EEE) physical layer devices (PHYs). A hybrid approach is defined that combines multiple low power modes. In one embodiment, the hybrid approach uses low power idle (LPI) and subset PHY techniques that can be selectively activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wael William Diab, Howard Frazier, Scott Powell
  • Patent number: 8285988
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for command authentication to achieve a secure interface are provided. Command authentication between a host and a slave device in a multimedia system may be achieved by on-the-fly pairing or by an automatic one-time-programming via a security processor. In an on-the-fly pairing scheme, the host may generate a host key based on a host root key and host control words while the slave may generate slave key based the host key, a slave root key and slave control words. The slave key may be stored and later retrieved by the slave device to obtain the host key for authenticating host commands. The host may be disabled from generating and/or passing the host key to the slave. In an automatic one-time-programming scheme, the security processor may burn a random number onto a one-time-programmable memory in the host and slave devices for command authentication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Stephanie Rodgers, Xuemin Chen
  • Patent number: 8284651
    Abstract: A method for generating a preamble of a frame for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless communication begins by, for each transmit antenna, generating a carrier detect field. The method continues by, for a first grouping of the transmit antennas, generating a first guard interval following the carrier detect field; and generating at least one channel sounding field. Continuing, the method applies cyclical shift prior to transmission via the first grouping of the transmit antennas. When the MIMO wireless communication includes more than the first grouping of the transmit antennas, for another grouping of the transmit antennas. For the another grouping of the transmit antennas, generating at least one other channel sounding field. The method proceeds by generating the first guard interval prior to the at least one other channel sounding field, and applying another cyclical shift prior to transmission via the another grouping of the transmit antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hansen, Jason A. Trachewsky, Rajendra Tushar Moorti, Matthew James Fischer, Christopher Young
  • Patent number: 8284209
    Abstract: Aspects of a system and method for optimizing memory bandwidth in a video system may comprise examining different combinations of input and output video formats and video processes that occur between the input and output of the video system. For each combination, a desirable memory bandwidth may be determined, where the desirable memory bandwidth may ensure a maximum system data rate is not exceeded. After determining the desirable values for all combinations of input and output video formats, an optimal value may be selected, where the optimal value may ensure that for any of the combinations the maximum system data rate is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Darren Neuman
  • Patent number: 8284769
    Abstract: Various aspects of a method and a system for a range reduction scheme for user selection in a multiuser MIMO downlink transmission are presented. Aspects of a system for range reduction may comprise a range reduction processor that determines a plurality of channel measurements corresponding to a plurality of signals. The range reduction processor may compute a plurality of channel capacities based on the channel measurements corresponding to a subset of the plurality of signals having channel gain that is greater than a remaining portion of the plurality of signals. Aspects of a method may comprise determining a plurality of channel measurements corresponding to a plurality of signals, and computing a plurality of channel capacities based on said channel measurements corresponding to a subset of the plurality of signals having a channel gain that is greater than a remaining portion of the plurality of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Chengjin Zhang, Jun Zheng, Vinko Erceg, Severine Catreux-Erceg, Pieter Roux, Pieter van Rooyen
  • Patent number: 8284799
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for supporting a variable and energy efficient data rate using a duty cycling technique and multiple power states on an Ethernet link are provided. In this regard, a data rate on a network link may be duty cycled based on characteristics of data communicated over it. The network link may operate at a first data rate for a first portion of the time interval and may operate at a second data rate for a second portion of the time interval. The duration of each portion of the time interval and/or the data rate during each portion of the time interval may be adjusted to control the duty cycling. Power consumed in a device connected to the network link may be controlled based on the duty cycling of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Wael William Diab, Howard Frazier
  • Patent number: 8284776
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include an ingress port, a header cache, and a plurality of ingress recursion engines. In some embodiments, the ingress port may be configured to receive a packet that comprises a data portion and a header portion, wherein the header portion comprises at least one header. In various embodiments, the header cache may be configured to store at least a part of the header portion of the packet. In one embodiment, the plurality of ingress recursion engines may be configured to recursively process the header portion, from outer-most header to inner-most header, until an adjacency value for the packet is determined. In some embodiments, each ingress recursion engine may be configured to process a header from the header portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Petersen
  • Patent number: 8284822
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for utilizing direct digital frequency synthesis in multi-band applications are provided. A direct digital frequency synthesizer integrated in a multiband wireless receiver chip may be enabled to generate one or more reference signals that may be utilized to down-convert VHF, UHF and L-band signals to baseband signals. The direct digital frequency synthesizer may further generate one or more reference signals, which may be utilized to calibrate one or more circuits that process received VHF, UHF, and L-band signals. In this regard, the signals generated by the direct digital frequency synthesizer may be utilized to calibrate one or more LNAs in a receive processing chain of the chip and/or one or more filters that may be utilized to process baseband signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 8283982
    Abstract: An equalization circuit adjusts (e.g., equalizes) an input signal according to the value of one or more adjustment signals (e.g., equalization coefficients) without a multiplication operation. For example, the circuit may add or subtract a value of a coefficient signal to the amplitude of an input signal. Here, whether the coefficient is added or subtracted may depend on the sign of a control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David Kyong-Sik Chung, Afshin Momtaz
  • Publication number: 20120252491
    Abstract: Passive location determining of a 3G handset is provided. The method may include the following steps: sending a sequence of 3G ‘Pings’ directed at a specified handset over a 3G network; determining the specified handset user identifier and the sewing base station of the specified handset based on reoccurrences of user identifiers responsive of the ping requests, captured from the forward access channel (FACH) of each base station; decoding the FACH of the serving base station responsive to an additional ping, yielding parameters required for receiving uplink dedicated channel (UL DCH); estimating, in each location associated with a base station, a time difference between fastest possible and actual arrival of a signal over the UL DCH sent by the specified handset, wherein the estimating is synchronized to the serving base station; and calculating the location of the specified handset, based on the estimated time differences associated with the locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ilya DEGTYAR, Alon Shechter, Rafael Carmon
  • Publication number: 20120250199
    Abstract: A Power over Ethernet electrostatic discharge protection circuit has a diode with an anode coupled to an Ethernet port and a cathode coupled to a non-collapsible clamp. The non-collapsible clamp is coupled to the cathode and ground. A transistor can be added, with the transistor drain coupled to the diode anode and the transistor source is coupled to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Agnes WOO
  • Publication number: 20120250552
    Abstract: Aspects of a greedy search user group selection scheme with range reduction for FDD multiuser MIMO downlink transmission with finite-rate channel state information feedback are provided. The method may comprise receiving feedback information via a communication channel for a plurality of users in a frequency division duplex system. The system capacity may be maximized using the feedback information based on a signal from a single user within a reduced search range or based on the signal from the single user and at least one other signal from another user within a remaining portion of the search range. The feedback information may comprise quantized gain and/or direction of the channel state information of the users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Chengjin Zhang, Jun Zheng, Pieter van Rooyen
  • Publication number: 20120249388
    Abstract: A technique to extend antenna coverage pattern of a planar antenna array. In one instance a reflector is disposed above the planar antenna array and in another instance a lens element is disposed above the planar antenna array. The reflection or refraction of RF signals allows antenna coverage pattern to be extended in a horizontal direction parallel to the planar surface of the antenna array and beyond a coverage pattern that is typically not available, without such reflection or refraction of the RF signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hansen, Vadim Piskun
  • Publication number: 20120250518
    Abstract: A non-intrusive and operational communication system monitoring and diagnostics. Loopback-type testing is facilitated through testing that is split between transmit and receive sections. Transmit testing on a port can be based on test packets that are removed from the transmission path by a PHY upon detection. Receive testing on a port can be based on live traffic packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Wael William Diab
  • Publication number: 20120254627
    Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting data may include controlling encryption and/or decryption and identifying a destination of corresponding encrypted and/or decrypted data, utilizing rules based on a source location of the data prior to the encryption or decryption and an algorithm that may have been previously utilized for encrypting and/or decrypting the data prior to the data being stored in the source location. The source location and/or destination of the data may comprise protected or unprotected memory. One or more of a plurality of algorithms may be utilized for the encryption and/or decryption. The rules may be stored in a key table, which may be stored on-chip, and may be reprogrammable. One or more keys for the encryption and/or decryption may be generated within the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Dellow
  • Publication number: 20120250728
    Abstract: Embodiments allow for the use of the SS modulation technique (and thus for significant reduction of EMI due to clock transmission) in scenarios involving tight synchronization requirements between two devices. In particular, embodiments can be used in high-speed communication networks (e.g., high-speed Ethernet) where a clock signal embedded in the data stream at the transmitter and recovered from the data stream at the receiver is the only source for synchronization between the transmitter and the receiver (i.e., no other synchronization channel available). Embodiments are also especially useful in communication systems utilizing echo cancellers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Neven PISCHL, Joseph Cordaro, Yongbum Kim
  • Publication number: 20120249194
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for the switching of clock signals. A clock network switching system includes a first re-synchronization circuit coupled to a first input clock, and a second re-synchronization circuit coupled to a second input clock. There is also an input select decoder coupled to the first and second re-synchronization circuit that can dynamically select either the first or the second input clock to be active. When an input clock is selected to be active, the re-synchronization circuit associated with the selected input clock generates an output clock synchronized with the selected input clock where both a high pulse width and a low pulse width of the output clock are not less than those of the selected input clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Iraj MOTABAR
  • Publication number: 20120254851
    Abstract: An energy efficiency control policy library. Network devices can access the energy efficiency control policy library to download library control policies that are compatible with the network device. Such library control policies can be identified based on configuration information that is provided to the energy efficiency control policy library. In this control policy provider framework, the energy efficiency control policy library can be designed to monitor and analyze configuration and performance information that is uploaded from the network devices. Such continual monitoring and analysis would enable the energy efficiency control policy library to identify continual optimizations to the control policy in the network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Wael William Diab
  • Publication number: 20120250538
    Abstract: Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for reducing battery power consumption during a discontinuous reception and transmission mode of operation of a communication device. When operating in the discontinuous reception and transmission mode, a communication device can process radio frequency signals received from base stations to identify a set of active base stations based on a quality of the received radio frequency signals. This can reduce the total number of base stations to decode the corresponding system frame number (SFN). Based on the decoded SFN, the communication device can select a base station to perform hand-off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jin-Sheng Su, Vivek Ramaprasad