Abstract: A technique to provide frequency offset estimation for packets transmitted during a service period allocated strictly for designated source and destination devices. The destination device obtains coarse and fine frequency offset estimation from the short and long preambles. A residual frequency offset is tracked for the data blocks and combined with the coarse and fine frequency offset to obtain a total frequency offset to apply to the data blocks. The total frequency offset value at the end of the first packet is saved and, instead of again estimating the coarse and fine frequency offset values with the short and long preambles of the second packet, the saved total frequency offset value is used as the initialization value to add to the residual frequency offset in the second packet. The saved offset value at the end of each packet becomes the initialization value for the subsequent packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for polling for near field communications (NFC) devices by checking for multiple protocols. A NFC device polls for devices by first maintaining an unmodulated carrier field active for a specific period of time. The NFC device then polls using a first modulation and waits for a response. If there is no response, and without again maintaining another unmodulated carrier field for a specific period of time, the NFC device polls using a second modulation that is greater than the first modulation and waits again for a response.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method of manufacturing integrated circuit (IC) devices. The method includes coupling a first surface of a first intermediate substrate to a first surface of a second intermediate substrate, forming a first plurality of patterned metal layers on a second surface of the first intermediate substrate to form a first substrate and a second plurality of patterned metal layers on a second surface of the second intermediate substrate to form a second substrate, and separating the first and second substrates. Each of the first substrate and the second substrate is configured to facilitate electrical interconnection between a respective IC die and a respective printed circuit board (PCB).

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting and using power in a near field communications mode, includes a host device with operating components. A first near field communication (NFC) device is contained in the host device and is configured to be selectively coupled to one of the operating components. The first NFC device harvests energy from a second NFC device and converts the harvested energy to electrical power. The first NFC device receives information from the second NFC device and power on the operating component as a function of the information received from the second NFC device. The first NFC device transfers data to or from the operating component when the operating component is powered on. The first NFC device powers off the operating component when the transfer of data between the first NFC device and the operating component has been completed.

Abstract: A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory, a first PLC interface, and a second PLC interface. The PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a first remote PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard and configures the first PLC interface to service communications to support the first PLC communication standard. The PLC device also determines that the PLC device will service communications with a second remote PLC device according to a second PLC communication standard and configures the second PLC interface to service communications to support the second PLC communication standard. The PLC device may service communications via the first and second PLC devices concurrently when the first and second PLC communication standards are not conflicting. The PLC device may transmit communications via the first PLC interface and receive ACKs via the second PLC interface.

Abstract: A communications device includes a PLC interface operable to couple at least two differing communication signals to at least two differing pairs of at least three conductors of a powerline medium. A processing module of the device and the PLC interface interact with a remote PLC device to determine connectivity of the remote PLC device to the PLC device via the at least three conductors of the powerline medium, select at least two conductor pairs of the powerline medium that communicatively couple the PLC device to the remote PLC device for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) signal servicing, and simultaneously transmit MIMO PLC signals to the remote PLC device via the at least two conductor pairs. The communications device may also include a non-PLC interface, with the communications device operable to divide MIMO communications between a powerline medium and a non-PLC medium, e.g., coaxial cable, cat-5 cable.

Abstract: A universal network interface controller (UNIC) is provided for interfacing a host computer to a switch fabric, a packet network, or both. The UNIC includes ingress transmit logic designed to transmit switch fabric data in memory associated with the host computer to a switch fabric. The UNIC further includes egress receive logic designed to receive switch fabric data from the switch fabric to store the received switch fabric data in the host memory associated with the host computer. As an option, the ingress transmit logic may be further designed to transmit packet network data in memory associated with the host computer to a packet network, such as Ethernet, and the egress receive logic may be further designed to receive the packet network data from the packet network and to store the received switch fabric data and the received packet network data in the host memory associated with the host computer.

Abstract: An electronic device that includes a sensor module, a measuring module and a near field communication (NFC) device. The sensor module receives an input signal. The measuring module measures the strength of the input signal and determines whether the input meets a predefined threshold. If the strength of the input signal meets the predefined threshold, the measuring module activates the NFC device. If the strength of the input signal does not meet the predefined threshold, the measuring module de-activates the NFC device.

Abstract: A method to map an application session to a compatible multiple grants per interval (MGI) service flow is provided. The method includes the steps of sorting available MGI service flows according to a duration of their grant intervals in a first list and sorting application sessions according to a maximum size of a packet in an application session in a second list. The method further includes the step of mapping an application session from the second list to a MGI service flow in the first list if a maximum size and periodicity of packets in the application session are compatible with a grant size and grant interval of the MGI service flow and transmitting packets corresponding to the application session in the mapped MGI service flow.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product embodiments for managing traffic flows member of a plurality of available member resources in a communications device are disclosed. Embodiments include configuring a flow table containing a plurality of mappings, where each of the mappings specifies a relationship between one of a range of index values and at least one of the plurality of available member resources of an aggregated resource, assigning using the flow table respective traffic flows to at least one of the plurality of available links, and responsive to a change in the plurality of available member resources, changing the plurality of mappings.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board is disclosed. A conductive metal layer is formed on a first surface of a dielectric substrate. One or more vias are formed through the substrate. A conductive metal layer is formed on the first surface of the substrate and is patterned to form conductive traces on the first surface of the substrate. A plating mask is formed on the second surface of the substrate. One or more openings are formed in the plating mask to correspond to the location of the via(s). Conductive metal is deposited in the via(s) sufficient to substantially fill the via(s) and make contact with the conductive metal layer on the first surface and substantially to the level of the plating mask. The plating mask is removed from the substrate such that one or more conductive posts extend outwardly from the second surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A search request received from a user is converted to a search request integer value using an operational portion of a chip in network equipment. The search request integer value is compared to representative data integer values that were previously converted from a dataset of search terms using the operational portion, the representative integer values being stored on the chip. If the comparing is successful, a signal is transmitted to a second database, the signal being used to determine a message to be transmitted to the user that corresponds to the representative data integer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a two-stage bypass power amplifier are provided. In general, the two-stage bypass power amplifier is configured to receive a RF signal that is to be transmitted to a remote device and provide gain to the RF signal prior to the RF signal being transmitted to the remote device. The two-stage bypass power amplifier is configured to operate efficiently (in terms of power) at two different gain or output power levels and can be extended to operate efficiently at additional gain or output power levels.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, a field transistor structure is provided. The field transistor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a metal gate, a polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) layer, and first and second metal portions. The polysilicon layer has first, second, third, and fourth sides and is disposed between the semiconductor substrate on the first side and the metal gate on the second side. The polysilicon layer is also disposed between the first and second metal portions on the third and fourth sides. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the field transistor structure may also include a thin metal layer disposed between the polysilicon layer and the semiconductor substrate. The thin metal layer may be electronically coupled to each of the first and second metal portions.

Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for processing signals in a communication system may include maximizing system capacity for a time division duplex (TDD) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, based on reducing a search range within which to find a group of signals having maximum channel gain. At least one of: a first signal for a first user and a second signal for a second user may be selected, which are both within the reduced search range, and which provides a maximum system capacity. The first signal for the first user may be selected from the reduced search range corresponding to a channel gain that is greater than a channel gain corresponding to a remaining portion of the reduced search range. The reduced search range may be generated by sorting a plurality of signals based on a channel gain corresponding to each of the plurality of signals.

Abstract: A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a PLC interface, a wireless interface, a processing module, and memory. The PLC device communicates with a second PLC device via the PLC interface to establish a wireless transmission timing base, communicates with the second PLC device via the power mains to coordinate simultaneous wireless data transmissions to a client device from the PLC device and the second PLC device, wirelessly transmits data to the client device based upon the wireless transmission timing base and the coordination with the second PLC device. In combination the PLC devices' simultaneous wireless data transmissions may be Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmissions, diversity transmissions, and/or beam formed transmissions. In another operation, the PLC device characterizes its surroundings based upon concurrent directional transmission and receipt of wireless transmissions by the PLC device.

Abstract: An adaptive electronic transmission signal cancellation circuit for separating transmit data from receive data in a bidirectional communication system operating in full duplex mode is disclosed. The output of a main transmitter responsive to a first bias current is connected to the output of a receiver through an internal resistor. A first replica transmitter responsive to a second bias current and matched to the main transmitter current gain and rise/fall time characteristics is connected to the input terminal of the receiver, and produces a cancellation voltage between the output terminal of the main transmitter and the input terminal of the receiver as a function of the second bias current and the internal resistor.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide graphics using a graphical engine are provided. In one example, a system may provide layered graphics in a video environment. The system may include a bus, a graphical engine and a graphical pipeline. The graphical engine may be coupled to the bus and may be adapted to composite a plurality of graphical layers into a composite graphical layer. The graphical engine may include a memory that stores the composite graphical layer. The graphical pipeline may be coupled to the bus and may be adapted to transport the composite graphical layer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for power combining in a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include power combining signals from power amplifiers (PAs) on a chip. The PAs may be coupled to a single distributed antenna via antenna ports. A phase of each of the signals may be matched at the antenna ports via phase-matching circuitry. A characteristic impedance may be configured at the ports based on a location of the ports. The PAs may be impedance matched to the antenna ports via impedance matching elements. A power level of the power-combined signals may be monitored via a power detector coupled to the distributed antenna. The power detector may include an envelope detector, such as a diode. The antenna may be integrated on the chip or may be located external to the chip. The signals may include RF signals and the antenna may include a microstrip antenna.