Patents Assigned to Broadcom
  • Patent number: 8275423
    Abstract: A power management scheme for a wireless communications device processor substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By incorporating controls for sleep and wake-up mode transitions in the processor's control logic, improved power savings with reduced latency is provided, obviating the need for hardware-focused solutions with elaborate signaling mechanisms. A fully integrated power management with staged wake-up operations controlled by the MAC solution consumes less power than the conventional wireless LAN solutions in standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Matson, Bruce E. Edwards
  • Patent number: 8274887
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a total offered traffic load for a shared resource within a network switching system may be determined, the total offered traffic load may include, for example, a sum of offered traffic loads from one or more active virtual output queues (VOQs) of the network switching system. A capacity of the shared resource within the network switching system may be determined. A transmission rate from one or more of the active VOQs over the shared resource may be adjusted such that the total traffic load from the active VOQs does not exceed the capacity of the shared resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Brian A. Petersen
  • Patent number: 8274970
    Abstract: A voice communication device that supports both Internet telephony and public switched telephone network telephony, and maintains the quality of communication. The voice communication device consists of a user interface, a plurality of communication interfaces and a processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the user interface and to the plurality of communication interfaces. The voice communication device maintains quality of service by analyzing the service characteristics of a plurality of communication pathways and determining one communication pathway that compares best in terms of quality of service and cost and transferring to that communication pathway prior to or during the call. Alternatively, a user set service characteristic configurations may also determine the choice of a communication pathway that meets the user requirements of quality of service and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Bennett, Jeyhan Karaoguz
  • Patent number: 8274914
    Abstract: A first of a plurality of intermediate routing devices is operable to advertise to and/or receive status information from remaining one(s) of the intermediate routing devices. The intermediate routing devices may store and/or analyze the advertised and/or received status information and may make routing decisions based on it. The first routing device may advertise status information for itself and/or for one or more other intermediate routing devices. Data may be routed based on type of data, service level and/or priority associated with the data. The advertised and/or received status information comprises current status information, predicted status information and/or past status information which may be based on one or more of port status, CPU utilization, memory utilization, quality of service (QoS), bandwidth utilization, bandwidth availability, traffic load, congestion, number of connections handled and capability to provide a particular level of service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 8276009
    Abstract: A mobile phone that uses OS virtualization for minimizing power consumption in mobile phones is provided. Apparatus and methods may involve conserving processor power in a mobile phone according to the invention may include the following steps. A first step may be awakening a first processing core from a low power state in response to a first operating system (OS) thread. A following step may include processing the first OS thread using the first processing core. A next step may include determining whether utilization of the first processing core over a first time period has exceeded a predetermined threshold. The method may also include awakening a second processing core from a low power consumption state if utilization of the first processing core over a first time period has exceeded a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: James King
  • Patent number: 8275316
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a fast power control mechanism for Bluetooth devices may include receiving from a first Bluetooth device, a request for a transmit power adjustment for one or more operating modes. A step size may be received for the transmit power adjustment via the received request. The transmit power may be adjusted as a function of the step size. A feedback message may be sent to the first Bluetooth device, wherein the feedback message may indicate a status of the adjusting. The transmit power adjustment may be requested via a Link Management Protocol (LMP) message. One or more operating modes may comprise a Bluetooth Basic Rate (BR) mode, and/or a Bluetooth Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn Ding
  • Patent number: 8274114
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to increase a breakdown voltage of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a modified breakdown shallow trench isolation (STI) region to effectively reduce a drain to source resistance when compared to a conventional semiconductor device, thereby increasing the breakdown voltage of the semiconductor device when compared to the conventional semiconductor device. The modified breakdown STI region allows more current to pass from a source region to a drain region of the semiconductor device, thereby further increasing the break down voltage of the semiconductor device from that of the conventional semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include a modified well region to further reduce the drain to source resistance of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Ito
  • Publication number: 20120240004
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wael William Diab, Scott Powell, Yong Kim
  • Publication number: 20120236838
    Abstract: Provided is dual mode operation by a communicating device in wireless network. The communicating device selects a radio frequency (RF) channel and a physical layer type. The communicating device processes signals received via the selected RF channel based on the selected physical layer type. The communicating device may determine whether a beacon frame has been detected base on the signals that were received via the selected RF channel and processed based on the selected physical layer type. When a frame is not detected, the communicating device may determine a signal energy level for the received signals. The communicating device may establish an association with an existing network based on detection of the beacon frame or the communicating device may transmit an originating beacon frame based on the determined signal energy level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Trachewsky, Christopher Hansen, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Saishankar Nandogopalan
  • Publication number: 20120236845
    Abstract: A signal processing system which discriminates between voice signals and data signals modulated by a voiceband carrier. The signal processing system includes a voice exchange, a data exchange and a call discriminator. The voice exchange is capable of exchanging voice signals between a switched circuit network and a packet based network. The signal processing system also includes a data exchange capable of exchanging data signals modulated by a voiceband carrier on the switched circuit network with unmodulated data signal packets on the packet based network. The data exchange is performed by demodulating data signals from the switched circuit network for transmission on the packet based network, and modulating data signal packets from the packet based network for transmission on the switched circuit network. The call discriminator is used to selectively enable the voice exchange and data exchange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Li, David M. Enns, Jordan J. Nicol, Kenny C. Kwan, Ross Mitchell, Wilf LeBlanc, Ken Unger, John Payton, Shawn Stevenson, Bill Boora, Onur Tackin
  • Publication number: 20120236766
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolaos Haralabidis, Ioannis Kokolakis, Nikolaos Kanakaris, Konstantinos Vavelidis
  • Publication number: 20120236777
    Abstract: Aspects of multicast retry in a communication network includes a terminal device serving as an originator station device within a multicast group configured to provide transmission of one or more protocol data units via a network utilizing a multicast address. Subsequent to transmission of the one or more protocol data units, the terminal device may receive an acknowledgment protocol data unit via one of many destination terminal devices configured to serve as a responder. The received acknowledgment protocol data unit provides a basis to determine whether the transmitted protocol data units were successfully received by one or more destination terminal devices. One or more of the protocol data units may be retransmitted based on the determination. Also, following retransmission, a supplemental acknowledgment protocol data unit may be provided via a destination terminal device of the destination terminal devices exclusive of the responder destination terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Matthew J. Fischer
  • Publication number: 20120237032
    Abstract: A two-stage block synchronization and scrambling module includes a synchronization PRNG module, a scramble PRNG module, a summing module, and a storage module. The synchronization PRNG module is clocked once per N+1 bit PCS frame (N arbitrary) to produce a synchronization bit and a pseudo-random starting state for the scramble PRNG. The scramble PRNG module is clocked N times per PCS frame to produce a cipher stream starting with a pseudo-random state from the synchronization PRNG. The summing module is operably coupled to sum the cipher stream and a PCS frame payload to produce scrambled payload. The storage module is operably coupled to store the scrambled payload with the synchronization bit. Synchronization bits from successive frames are a running bit-serial representation of the synchronization PRNG state and are used by the receiver to synchronize with the transmit scrambler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gottfried Ungerboeck, Scott Richard Powell, Ba-Zhong Shen
  • Publication number: 20120236757
    Abstract: Convergent network topology discovery and mapping. A topology discovery protocol allows for the discovery of the different respective communication links within a convergent network that may become composed of any of a number of different respective network types (e.g., a local area network (LAN), wireless LAN (WLAN/WiFi), a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network, a HomePlug network, and a wireless point to point (P2P) system, etc.). Such a topology discovery protocol may be implemented as a Layer 2 peer-to-peer link layer discovery protocol (LLDP). Topology discovery may be limited to neighboring nodes only (e.g., reporting information corresponding only to those nodes directly connected to a given node). Any desired device within the overall convergent network may serve as a mapper operative communication device (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Philippe Klein
  • Publication number: 20120236939
    Abstract: Sub-band video coding architecture for packet based transmission. Video processing includes converting of a frame or picture of a video signal into a number of respective sub-bands or sub-frames (e.g., such that each respective one is a respective subsampled version of an original frame or picture) and subsequent assembly thereof into a reconstructed frame or picture. The reconstructed frame or picture then undergoes video encoding to generate an output bitstream that may subsequently undergo appropriate processing (e.g., packetization, continuous time signal generation, etc.) to generate a signal for transmission via one or more communication the links. Characteristics associated with each respective sub-band or sub-frame may be similar (e.g., similar characteristics) or different (e.g., two or more sub-bands or sub-frames have different characteristics, such as different respective number of pixels, aspect ratios, etc.). Respective sub-frames may undergo video encoding and transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianluca Filippini, James F. Dougherty, III, William S. Bunch
  • Publication number: 20120238229
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to process a received single stream communication signal and/or a multiple stream communication. A communications receiver is configured to receive the received communication signal. A communications receiver determines whether the received communication signal includes a single stream communication signal or a multiple stream communication signal. The communications receiver determines whether a received communication signal complies with a known single stream communications standard. The communications receiver determines whether the received communication signal complies with a known multiple stream communications standard. The communications receiver decodes the received communication signal according to the known single stream communications standard upon determining the received communication includes the signal single stream communication signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Rohit V. GAIKWAD
  • Publication number: 20120237010
    Abstract: A system and method for processing a communication signal from a wireline is provided. The system comprises a coupling unit and signal processing circuitry. The coupling unit comprises a transformer and is configured to receive the communication signal from the wireline. The coupling unit is also configured to generate a first signal based on amplifying or attenuating the communication signal according to a first winding ratio of the transformer and a second signal based on amplifying or attenuating the communication signal according to a second winding ratio of the transformer. The signal processing circuitry is configured to process the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventor: Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz
  • Publication number: 20120235841
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to compensate for impairments within a data converter such that its output is a more accurate representation of its input. The data converter includes a main data converter, a reference data converter, and a correction module. The main data converter may be characterized as having the impairments. As a result, the output of the main data converter is not the most accurate representation of its input. The reference data converter is designed such that the impairments are not present. The correction module estimates the impairments present within the main data converter using its output and the reference data converter to generate corrections coefficients. The correction module adjusts the output of the main data converter using the corrections coefficients to improve the performance of the data converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Ramon Alejandro Gomez, Loke Kun Tan, Bruce J. Currivan, Steven T. Jaffe, Thomas Joseph Kolze, Lin He
  • Publication number: 20120239846
    Abstract: A multi-port SERDES transceiver includes multiple parallel ports and serial ports, and includes the flexibility to connect any one of the parallel ports to another parallel port or to a serial port, or both. Furthermore, the multi-port transceiver chip can connect any one of serial ports to another serial port or to one of the parallel ports. The substrate layout of the multi-port SERDES transceiver chip is configured so that the parallel ports and the serial ports are on the outer perimeter of the substrate. A logic core is at the center of the substrate, where the logic core operates the serial and parallel data ports, and the bus that connects the data ports. The bus can be described as a “ring” structure (or donut “structure”) around the logic core, and is configured between the logic core and the data ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Howard A. BAUMER
  • Publication number: 20120240169
    Abstract: Certain aspects of a method and system for satellite communication are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a receiver that handles digital broadcasting. The receiver may be enabled to dynamically vary spacing between two or more pilots and/or the size of one or more pilots within at least one frame based on a determined symbol rate. The size of each of a plurality of received programs may be determined and the spacing between two or more pilots may be dynamically varied based on the determined size of each of the plurality of received programs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tommy Yu