Abstract: A speech intelligibility enhancement (SIE) system and method is described that improves the intelligibility of a speech signal to be played back by an audio device when the audio device is located in an environment with loud acoustic background noise. In an embodiment, the audio device comprises a near-end telephony terminal and the speech signal comprises a speech signal received over a communication network from a far-end telephony terminal for playback at the near-end telephony terminal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for improved multi-microphone source tracking and noise suppression. In multi-microphone devices and systems, frequency domain acoustic echo cancellation is performed on each microphone input, and microphone levels and sensitivity are normalized. Methods, systems, and apparatuses are also described for improved acoustic scene analysis and source tracking using steered null error transforms, on-line adaptive acoustic scene modeling, and speaker-dependent information. Switched super-directive beamforming reinforces desired audio sources and closed-form blocking matrices suppress desired audio sources based on spatial information derived from microphone pairings. Underlying statistics are tracked and used to updated filters and models. Automatic detection of single-user and multi-user scenarios, and single-channel suppression using spatial information, non-spatial information, and residual echo are also described.

Abstract: Scheduled clear to send (CTS) for multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Before sending transmissions, a request to send (RTS)/clear to send (CTS) exchange takes place between a transmitting wireless communication device and multiple receiving wireless communication devices may take place therein. The transmitting wireless communication device (e.g., an AP) may generate and transmit a multi-user request to send (mRTS) frame to a number of receiving wireless communication devices (e.g., STAs). The mRTS frame can include information and instructions therein to direct the manner by which all or a subset of the receiving wireless communication devices are to provide CTS responses back to the transmitting wireless communication device. The mRTS frame may be an OFDMA frame, a MU-MIMO frame, or a combination thereof. The CTS responses may be received in accordance with any one or combination of OFDM signaling, OFDMA signaling, and MU-MIMO signaling.

Abstract: Magnetic field distribution and mutual capacitance control for transmission lines are provided. A first circuit board is fabricated by attaching a reference plane layer to a dielectric material layer, and attaching a first trace to the second surface of the dielectric material. A surface profile of the reference plane layer is modified to decrease a resistance of a return current signal path through the reference plane layer, to reduce a magnetic field coupling between the first trace and a second trace. A second circuit board is fabricated by attaching a reference plane layer to a dielectric material layer, attaching a trace to the dielectric material, and forming a solder mask layer on the dielectric material layer over the trace. An effective dielectric constant of the solder mask layer is modified to reduce or increase a mutual capacitance between the first trace and a second trace on the dielectric material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing revocation denial of service attacks are disclosed and may include receiving and decrypting a command for revoking a secure key utilizing a hidden key, and revoking the secure key upon successful verification of a signature. The command may comprise a key ID that is unique to a specific set-top box. A key corresponding to the command for revoking the secure key may be stored in a one-time programmable memory, compared to a reference, and the security key may be revoked based on the comparison. The command for revoking the secure key may be parsed from a transport stream utilizing a hardware parser. The method and system may also comprise generating a command for revoking a secure key. The command may be encrypted and signed utilizing a hidden key and may comprise a key ID that is unique to a specific set-top box.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for wireless control of home media sources that utilizes a home digital network to transport packetized IR transmitter data to a remote location. The system allows for flexible control of multiple devices that accept IR commands without requiring additional wiring, and is independent of any particular IR protocol.

Abstract: A set top box or like device incorporating an untrusted software framework as a client of a secure operating system kernel. The software framework may comprise, for example, an Android framework supported by an underlying Linux operating system environment having a secure kernel. The software framework can be executed using a variety of process isolation techniques depending on performance and isolation requirements. A secure access client/server interface may also be provided to support interactions between the untrusted software framework (and applications utilizing the untrusted software framework) and secure or trusted portions of the device. The secure access interface can be configured to perform operations such as handle validation, heap pointer validation, non-pointer parameter validation, heap isolation, and resource release relating to terminated processes.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a channel learning entity is configured to receive a priori network data via a transceiver. The channel learning entity generates at least one measurement of the communication environment based on the a priori network data, and generates first report data for transmission via the transceiver based on the at least one measurement of the communication environment. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A capacitor structure in a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, an isolation region having a top surface and a bottom surface, opposite the top surface, the bottom surface of the isolation region being disposed on the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The capacitor structure also includes a gate terminal structure disposed on the top surface of the isolation region and a diffusion contact structure disposed on the top surface of the isolation region and arranged parallel to the gate terminal structure. In some aspects, the gate terminal structure is connected to a first contact node and the diffusion contact structure is connected to a second contact node, in which the first and second contact nodes form opposing nodes of the capacitor structure.

Abstract: Various configurations and arrangements of various communication devices and antenna solutions are disclosed. Antenna solutions disclosed herein include a single inductive coupling element configured to resonate at a variety of resonant frequencies suitable for WPT and/or NFC communications. Resonant circuits can be provided for tuning the inductive coupling element to resonant at specific resonant frequency. The antenna solutions can be employed in WPT/NFC enabled communication devices capable of WPT and NFC communication.

Abstract: A short reach communication system includes a plurality of communication SERDES that communicate data over a short reach channel medium such as a backplane connection (e.g., PCB trace) between, for example, chips located on a common PCB. A multi-level modulated data signal is generated to transmit/receive data over the short reach channel medium. Multi-level modulated data signals, such as four-level PAM, reduce the data signal rate therefore reducing insertion loss, power, complexity of the circuits and required chip real estate.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method that includes configurable Carrier Aggregation (CA) and/or Multiple-input Multiple-output (MIMO) operational modes. In CA, multiple carriers (i.e., channel bundling) are aggregated and jointly used for transmission to/from a single terminal. Downlink inter-band carrier aggregation increases the downlink data rates by routing two signals, received in different frequency bands, simultaneously to two active receivers in the RF transceiver. MIMO utilizes two additional receivers as diversity paths and the frequency generation can be shared between main and diversity path for each carriers.

Abstract: Systems and methods allow LAA LTE equipment to coexist with other services in the unlicensed band such as WIFI or WLAN services. Systems and methods use LTE reference signals in the unlicensed spectrum that are not continuous and can be interrupted by a WIFI signal or other services in the unlicensed band or use a dynamic LAA ON burst or window to provide the LTE reference signals in some embodiments. The systems and methods can detect the presence of LTE signals using a one or more of a number of techniques.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, at an access point configured to transmit data over an unlicensed band, a message to user equipment. The user equipment transmits to the access point an acknowledgement message indicating whether data provided within the message was successfully received in response to the message. The method further includes determining, at the access point, whether a buffer associated with the user equipment is empty. The method further includes retransmitting, from the access point to the user equipment, the message in response to determining the buffer of the user equipment is empty.

Abstract: A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that detects an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The NFC device includes a peak detector that determines the envelope of the RF signal. The peak detector compares a first differential signal voltage to a second differential signal voltage. The peak detector delays a rising edge of a first differential signal and provides the first differential signal voltage to the peak detector output when the first differential signal voltage is greater than the second differential signal voltage. The peak detector delays a falling edge of a second differential signal and provides the second differential signal voltage to the peak detector output when the second differential signal voltage is greater than the first differential signal voltage.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, at an access point configured to transmit data over an unlicensed band, a single message prior to transmitting data over a channel of the unlicensed band. The method further includes receiving, at the access point, a plurality of responses from a plurality of user equipment acknowledging the single message in response to the single message.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided in order to enhance network notification of secondary cell activation. In a first embodiment, the method includes receiving a secondary cell activation command, activating a secondary cell, and transmitting a PHR indicating activation of the secondary cell. In a second embodiment, the method includes receiving a secondary cell activation command, activating a secondary cell, and transmitting a signal indicating an expected time period until activation of the secondary cell. In a third embodiment, the method may optimize implicit SCell deactivation by receiving a secondary cell activation command, activating a secondary cell, receiving a PDCCH order for an uplink grant or a downlink assignment, and starting a secondary cell deactivation timer associated with the secondary cell in response to receiving the PDCCH order. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, at an LTE device configured to transmit data over an unlicensed band, first synchronization data over a first frequency channel of the unlicensed band during a timeframe. The method further includes transmitting, at one of the first LTE device or a second LTE device, second synchronization data over a second frequency channel of the unlicensed band during the same timeframe. The data transmissions of at least one of the first LTE device or the second LTE device are coordinated based on the synchronization data.

Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for transporting multimedia data, such as ultra-high definition (UHD) video data or other video data, via a standard high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), without requiring an increase in the link bit rate or increasing the number of signaling pairs. Display stream compression is utilized to compress a stream, and a transition minimized differential signal (TMDS) clock channel may be replaced by an ANSI 8b/10b encoded stream carrying additional data with a clock signal embedded within the stream. As this additional channel increases bandwidth by one-third, the systems and methods discussed herein provide four times more effective bandwidth than prior HDMI schemes, allowing UHD video to be transmitted via a signal HDMI link.

Abstract: A switch device can identify when a loss of signal event occurs on a communication link connecting a local link partner and a remote link partner. The switch device may automatically perform a link restart process to restore communication with the remote link partner without performing a speed negotiation with the remote link partner. The link restart process may include disabling a transmitter for a recovery duration and configuring a transmitter and a receiver to an initial configuration state. The link restart process may also synchronize the start of a training protocol communication between the local link partner and remote link partner. The switch device may also perform the link restart process when traffic received from the remote link partner fails a link criteria.