Abstract: Selective intra and/or inter-prediction video encoding. Based upon anticipation of a future communication channel rate (e.g., actual physical layer channel rate) or video data rate of a communication channel, a given prediction mode for video encoding may be adaptively selected. Prediction of a future or expected value corresponding to at least one parameter associated with the communication channel (e.g., channel rate, video data rate, etc.) can drive operational mode selection/adaptation in accordance with video coding. Alternatively, one or more actual measured values corresponding to at least one parameter can drive operational mode selection/adaptation in accordance with video coding. In some instances, neither intra-prediction nor inter-prediction is performed in accordance with a non-feedback operational mode, and an input video signal undergoes compression (e.g., without intra-prediction and/or inter-prediction).

Abstract: Synchronized calibration for wireless communication devices. A protocol is presented herein that allows for calibration operation(s) by one or more wireless communication devices to mitigate (or eliminate) the disruption caused to the communication medium thereby. A calibration announcement frame is provided by a wireless communication device intending to perform calibration operation(s), and respective receiving wireless communication devices may adaptively determine whether to perform a calibration operation based thereon. In response to a calibration announcement frame, one or more other wireless communication devices may also perform calibration operation(s) (e.g., in accordance with a group calibration event, simultaneously, etc.) or may perform some operations as to minimize any effects that may be incurred during such a calibration operation(s) (e.g., enter into some robust operational mode, power savings mode, etc.). Such a calibration announcement frame may indicate respective time slots (e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformer driver circuit, which in one aspect comprises a transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding and a transformer tap, the latter electrically connected to a first voltage source. The primary winding is electrically connected at both ends to respective unipolar controllable current sinks that form part of an integrated circuit. The circuit operates by each current sink selectively sinking current from the end of the primary winding to which it is connected so as to cause current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion. The circuit further comprises a load electrically connected to the secondary winding; and protection circuitry operative to protect the integrated circuit from input levels greater than it can handle. In another aspect there is a similar transformer drive circuitry which may or may not be partly on an integrated circuit and have protection circuitry.

Abstract: Video sub-reservation protocol in a wireless ecosystem. Appropriate access is provided to a number of wireless communication devices to ensure very high performance and a high perceptual user experience with respect to media related content communications. Access to the communication medium (e.g., air within a wireless location system) is provided to various wireless communication devices in a manner as to minimize collisions and contention. In one instance, different respective access assignment periods are sub-divided to give respective communication medium access to various devices within the system. Such sub-reservation may be adaptive in response to any of a number of considerations (e.g., traffic, device processing history, etc.). Also, such sub-reservation may provide respective time specificity at or during which certain devices may conduct communications, but may also specify any other operational parameters (e.g.

Abstract: Protected content from a media source is transmitted via a wireless link using modified wireless encryption keys. Content to be delivered under a content protection scheme, e.g. High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), from a media source to a media sink is received at a wireless communication device. A content protection key, or a digital rights management (DRM) key, associated with the media sink is used to generate DRM modified wireless encryption keys. These modified wireless encryption keys are used to encrypt the wireless transmission using wireless encryption techniques, such an advanced encryption standard (AES) protocol, and transmit the encrypted content over a wireless link. The DRM modified keys can be used, for example to seed a Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption engine in place of other keys normally used in the wireless encryption process, thereby effectively integrating the DRM content protection scheme with standard wireless encryption and transmission.

Abstract: An integrated global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver may be operable to decompose GNSS IF signals associated with GPS satellites and/or GLONASS satellites into a constituent narrowband GPS data stream and/or a plurality of constituent narrowband GLONASS data streams utilizing, for example, a GPS IF tuner and/or one or more GLONASS IF tuners. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be processed at reduced sampling rates utilizing a shared sample memory in the integrated GNSS receiver. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be stored in allocated sections of the shared sample memory. The stored narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the stored narrowband GPS data stream may be processed using a correlation such as a fast Fourier transform (FFT) correlation.

Abstract: Analog signal paths are utilized between a baseband processor and a radio front end to support high throughput communications for a multiple in multiple out radio transceiver that support communications over two or more antennas. Specifically, analog differential I and Q path communication signals are exchanged between a radio front end core and a baseband processor to maximize throughput capacity for high data rate signals. Along the same lines, the impedances of traces and the interface are matched to reduce I/Q imbalance.

Abstract: Channel condition prediction employing a transmit queuing model. An average transmission queue delay monitor generates an indication of average transmit queue latency during the transmission of a video stream to a remote wireless device. The average transmit queue latency is compared to a predetermined threshold for purposes of adjusting encoding bit rate (or other encoding parameter) of the video stream. In one mode, the predetermined threshold reflects a maximum tolerable average queue depth beyond which video data is likely to be lost or unacceptably delayed under certain channel conditions. If the average transmit queue latency exceeds the predetermined threshold, the encoding bit rate (or related encoding parameter) is lowered or raised as necessary to decrease or increase the transmit queue depth to a desired level. In another mode, the transmit queuing model is used in conjunction with channel throughput estimation information to adaptively adjust one or more encoding parameters.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for network communications via a configurable multi-use Ethernet PHY are provided. In this regard, an Ethernet PHY may be configured based on characteristics of a network link over which the Ethernet PHY communicates, energy efficiency considerations, etc. In one embodiment a first Ethernet PHY, a first MAC, a second Ethernet PHY, and a second MAC can be integrated within a network device. Data can be received by the second Ethernet PHY, buffered in a queue, and transmitted by the first Ethernet PHY, where the second Ethernet PHY receives the data at a rate that may be different than the rate at which the first Ethernet PHY transmits the data. In some instances, the second Ethernet PHY may be operable to request that a link partner pause or slow down transmission of data based on a status of the queue.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a high amplitude oscillation generator includes an LC tank circuit, a gain stage, a dynamic bias circuit, a bias current source, and a dynamic bias circuit receiving a current source feedback voltage and outputting a gain stage bias voltage. The dynamic bias circuit adjusts the gain stage bias voltage in response to a change in the current source feedback voltage after a start up of the LC tank circuit. The dynamic bias circuit thereby increases an amplitude of oscillations produced by the oscillation generator. The dynamic bias circuit can include an error amplifier, the error amplifier generating the gain stage bias voltage responsive to the current source feedback voltage. The current source feedback voltage can change with a voltage drop across the bias current source. The current source feedback voltage can also be received from an output of the oscillation generator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the latency and for increasing throughput for MoCA devices that are connected via a coax network are provided. One method according to the invention includes, in a network having a plurality of network modules, each of the plurality of network modules being connected to a coax backbone, communicating over the coax backbone between the plurality of network modules. The method further includes a requesting the use of short burst messages. The method further includes responding to the requesting by constructing a short burst message with a single channel equalization section and reducing the number of bits per hertz in the transmission constellation. The resulting messages can be received with an acceptable error rate while making more efficient use of the MoCA network.

Abstract: A network device receives multiple protocol data units (PDUs), or packets, and initiates aggregation of an intended number of the packets to form a transmission block. During the aggregation process, the device receives a priority PDU, or packet, and in response to receiving the priority PDU, terminates the aggregation process, either permanently or temporarily, even though the number of packets aggregated prior to receiving the priority packet is less than the number of packets intended to be included in the transmission block. The device releases the priority packet for transmission out of turn, ahead of the already aggregated packets. The priority packet can be released individually, with the aggregation being resumed after release of the priority packet, or the priority packet can be pre-pended to the already aggregated block of packets and the entire block released with a priority assigned according to the priority of the priority packet.

Abstract: Adaptive wireless channel allocation in a multi-user environment based on quality of received video streams. During the transmission of encoded media streams from a wireless access device to at least first and second video devices over a wireless channel, transmission windows are allocated in shared transmission frame intervals for transmission of media packets to the first and second video devices, respectively. Relative priorities are set/adjusted for the video devices based, at least in part, on one or more of the following: channel estimation information, reception characteristics, transmission acknowledgment information, video device characteristics and/or user feedback. The relative priorities are utilized to adaptively (re)allocate at least one portion of the transmission frame intervals. In addition to channel reallocation, the prioritization of devices may be utilized to adaptively alter the encoding bit rate of one or more media streams.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and thermal performance in integrated circuit (IC) packages are described. A die-up or die-down package includes a protective lid, a plurality of ground posts, an IC die, and a substrate. The substrate includes a plurality of ground planes. The IC die is mounted to the substrate. Plurality of ground posts is coupled to plurality of ground planes that surround IC die. Protective lid is coupled to plurality of ground posts. The plurality of ground posts and the protective lid from an enclosure structure that substantially encloses the IC die, and shields EMI from and radiating towards the IC die. The enclosure structure also dissipates heat generated by the IC die during operation.

Abstract: A communication device includes memory, an input interface, a processing module, and a transmitter. The processing module receives a digital signal from the input interface, wherein the digital signal includes a desired digital signal component and an undesired digital signal component. The processing module identifies one of a plurality of codebooks based on the undesired digital signal component. The processing module then identifies a codebook entry from the one of the plurality of codebooks based on the desired digital signal component to produce a selected codebook entry. The processing module then generates a coded signal based on the selected codebook entry, wherein the coded signal includes a substantially unattenuated representation of the desired digital signal component and an attenuated representation of the undesired digital signal component. The transmitter converts the coded signal into an outbound signal in accordance with a signaling protocol and transmits it.

Abstract: A wireless access device transmits encoded media streams to at least first and second clients over a shared wireless channel. First and second transmission windows are established in a transmission frame interval for transmission of media packets to the first and second clients, respectively. An unused portion of one of the transmission windows is identified using, for example, transmission status information (from the wireless access device) associated with the media packets. The unused portion of the transmission window is adaptively reallocated for use in transmission of media packets associated with the other transmission window. In one mode of operation, the reallocation process may trigger a reversal in the order of the first and second transmission windows in subsequent transmission frame intervals.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a network device configured to prevent data misalignment of a data packet containing extra header bytes. The network device includes an ingress module having an input interface to receive data. A header detector configured to detect the header bytes of the cell and remove the header from the cell of the data packet is also provided on the network device. A counter determines whether the cell of the data packet contains a multiple of a predetermined bytes. If the counter determines that the cell of the data packet does not satisfy the multiple of the predetermined bytes, an insertion module inserts null bytes into the cell of the data packet to form a modified cell of the data packet. Then, an extraction module removes the null bytes from the modified cell of the data packet when the modified cell exits the network device.

Abstract: A configurable transceiver includes an RF receiver section that generates at least one downconverted signal from a received RF signal. A receiver processing module processes at least one downconverted signal in a plurality of receiver stages to produce a stream of inbound data, wherein the receiver processing module is configurable in response to a control signal to selectively bypass at least one of the plurality of receiver processing stages. A transmitter processing module processes outbound data in a plurality of transmitter stages to produce at least one baseband signal, wherein the receiver processing module is configurable in response to the control signal to selectively bypass at least one of the plurality of transmitter processing stages. An RF transmitter section generates at least one RF signal from the at least one baseband signal.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving higher data rates in physical layer devices. Costs imposed by large data rate increases represented by generational increases in Ethernet standards activities are avoided through physical layer device modifications that enable marginal increases in data bandwidth. Building-block reuse can be promoted through the selective use of clocking rate increase, increase in coding efficiency, and bit reuse.

Abstract: A receiver includes a bandpass filter module, a sample and hold module, a discrete time filter module, and a conversion module. The bandpass filter module is operable to filter an inbound wireless signal to produce a filtered inbound wireless signal having a bandwidth. The sample and hold module is operable to sample and hold, at a rate corresponding to a multiple of the bandwidth of the filtered inbound wireless signal, the filtered inbound wireless signal to produce a frequency domain sample pulse train. The discrete time filter module is operable to filter the frequency domain sample pulse train to produce a filtered sample pulse. The conversion module is operable to convert the filtered sample pulse into an inbound baseband signal.