Patents Assigned to Broadcom
  • Patent number: 7958525
    Abstract: A system and method for scheduling media for consumption via a demand broadcast channel based upon notifications received during user consumption of media. An embodiment of the present invention may employ notifications generated when users select media for consumption, to calculate one or more statistics. The statistics may be calculated and used by a media provider to schedule media into a demand broadcast channel in which the frequency of repetition or time of availability of the media is set according to a ranking of the relative frequency of requests for the media. The statistics may also be shared with a third party, to enable a third party media provider to arrange the scheduling of media availability according to the relative frequency of requests for the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7957339
    Abstract: Wireless local area network (WLAN) management. A novel approach is provided to associate various wireless stations (STAs) to the WLAN via appropriately selected Access Point (APs). In one implementation, a first AP services only those STAs that have functionality of a first user class (e.g., 802.11b functionality in one instance). In addition, a second AP services only those STAs that have functionality of a second user class (e.g., 802.11g functionality). The WLAN management ensures that STAs having similar characteristics (or similar functionality) are grouped together and associated with an AP that corresponds to those characteristics. For example, 802.11b STAs associate with the WLAN via an 802.11b AP. Analogously, 802.11g STAs associate with the WLAN via an 802.11g AP. When an 802.11g STA is unable to associate with the WLAN via an 802.11g AP, the STA may shift down its functionality set to 802.11b to successfully associate with the WLAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Thermond, Edward H. Frank
  • Patent number: 7956645
    Abstract: Low power high-speed output driver. An array of switches (some of which are inverting switches whose connectivity is governed oppositely as the control signal provided to it) is implemented such that an input signal governs the connectivity of those switches. A resistor is coupled between the nodes interposed between the switches of the array, and an output signal is taken from the nodes at ends of the resistor. The high voltage level of such an output driver is truly the level of the power supply energizing the circuit (e.g., VDD) while still consuming relatively low power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Afshin Momtaz
  • Patent number: 7957172
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for retaining M bits of state data of an integrated circuit during power down includes M serially coupled scan flip flops divided into M/N groups, where the M scan flip flops are able to save/restore the M bits of state data. Each group contains a merged scan flip flop coupled to a series of scan flip flops. The merged scan flip flop in each of the groups is coupled to a respective read port of a memory unit, and a final scan flip flop in each of the groups is coupled to a respective write port of the memory unit. The system enables the memory unit to save the M bits of state data in N clock cycles. Each merged scan flip flop has a read select input that enables restoring of the state data into the M scan flip flops in N clock cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Penzes
  • Patent number: 7958429
    Abstract: Distributed processing LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) decoder. A means is presented herein that includes an LDPC decoding architecture leveraging a distributed processing technique (e.g., daisy chain) to increase data throughput and reduce memory storage requirements. Routing congestion and critical path latency are also improved thereby. Each daisy chain includes a number of registers, and a number of localized MUXs (e.g., MUXs having merely 2 inputs each). The means presented herein also does not contain any barrel shifters, high fan-in multiplexers, or interconnection networks; therefore, the critical path is relatively short and it can also be pipelined to further increase data throughput. If desired, a communication device can include multiple configurations of such daisy chains to accommodate the decoding of various LDPC coded signals (e.g., such as for an application and/or communication device that must decoded LDPC codes using different low density parity check matrices).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alvin Lai Lin, Andrew J. Blanksby
  • Patent number: 7957415
    Abstract: A system for reducing the cost of network management by using a proxy agent and subchannel communications so fewer SNMP licenses and fewer protocol stacks are needed. Subchannel communication is achieved in a plurality of different embodiments. Embodiments having single subchannel transceivers, multiple transceivers, single multiplexer and multiple multiplexers are disclosed. An NMS process using routing table CRC to automatically detect when the NMS topology information is incorrect and automated topology discovery is disclosed. A process for automated discovery of redundant cables during automated topology discovery is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Kim K. Banker, Christopher Alan Del Signore, Gavin Bowlby, Richard Karl Feldman, Farivar Farzaneh, Michael Timothy Kauffman
  • Patent number: 7958015
    Abstract: A system and method for marketing and/or providing integrated circuits. Various aspects of the present invention may provide a computer system adapted to receive and process a request for information regarding an integrated circuit. A database may comprise information of a first set of the integrated circuits that meet performance requirements at nominal power supply characteristics, and information of a second set of the integrated circuits that do not meet the performance requirements at the nominal power supply characteristics and meet the performance requirements at non-nominal power supply characteristics. A processor module may, upon receipt of a request for information regarding the integrated circuit, process information in the database to determine whether the second set of integrated circuits is available. A communication interface module may electronically communicate information of the second set of the integrated circuits (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Y. Kim, Pieter Vorenkamp
  • Patent number: 7956929
    Abstract: A video processing system includes at least one video source, a region selecting unit, a subtracting unit and a display unit. The region-selecting unit selects the user-defined region of interest from the video source. The subtracting unit subtracts the required region, selected by the region selecting unit. The output of the subtracting unit is provided to the display unit, which displays the required output. In one embodiment, when video data is received from a plurality of video sources, the selecting of user defined regions of interest from the video sources is supported. The region subtracting unit can be used to subtract the required region of interest from video data and it is displayed on the display unit. In other embodiments of invention, the display unit displays on overlay of two unrelated video streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep Kumar Relan, Brajabandhu Mishra, Rajendra Kumar Khare
  • Patent number: 7956616
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring a cable resistance in a power over Ethernet (PoE) application. A short circuit module in a powered device is designed to produce a short circuit effect upon receipt of a cable resistance detection voltage. The cable resistance detection voltage can be designed to be greater than a voltage for detection or classification and less than a voltage for powering of the powered device. The measurement of the current at a time when a short circuit effect is produced at the powered device enables a calculation of the actual resistance of the cable on a given PoE port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: James Yu
  • Patent number: 7957606
    Abstract: Presented herein are a system and method for sharpening edges in a region. In one embodiment, there is presented a method for sharpening edges. The method comprises measuring differences between at least a value associated with a first pixel and a value associated with a second pixel of a plurality of pixels; and applying a sharpening mask to the plurality of pixels, wherein the sharpening mask is a function of at least one of the measured differences, a first value associated with any one of the plurality of pixels, and a second value associated with any other of the pixels, thereby resulting in sharpened pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Schoner
  • Patent number: 7957411
    Abstract: A method for collision avoidance in multiple protocol networks using a shared communication medium begins by determining a first protocol probable active time period. The method continues by determining a first protocol probable inactive time period. The method continues by generating a transmit blocking indication based on the first protocol probable active time period and the first protocol probable inactive time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Gonikberg, Matthew James Fischer, Manoj Mathew George
  • Patent number: 7956687
    Abstract: The performance of an AGC loop typically depends on several factors, including gain linearity of the VGA and variation in the VGA bandwidth over the range of available gain settings. Although a resistively degenerated VGA provides for excellent gain linearity and immunity to process variations, the conventional architecture for a resistively degenerated VGA suffers from bandwidth variation over the range of available gain settings. Embodiments are provided herein of a constant-bandwidth VGA that utilizes resistive degeneration. To maintain a constant bandwidth over the range of available gain settings, degeneration resistors are coupled in parallel with compensation capacitors. In an embodiment, a compensation capacitor is determined to have a capacitance substantially equal to the decrease in total degeneration resistance that occurs as a result of an associated degeneration resistor being placed in parallel with the total degeneration resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Kambiz Vakilian
  • Patent number: 7957960
    Abstract: A high-quality, low-complexity audio time scale modification (TSM) algorithm useful in speeding up or slowing down the playback of an encoded audio signal without changing the pitch or timbre of the audio signal. The TSM algorithm uses a modified synchronized overlap-add (SOLA) algorithm that maintains a roughly constant computational complexity regardless of the TSM speed factor and that performs most of the required SOLA computation using decimated signals, thereby reducing computational complexity by approximately two orders of magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Juin-Hwey Chen
  • Patent number: 7957767
    Abstract: A device includes an on-chip gyrating circuit that generates a motion parameter based on motion of the device. An RF transceiver generates an outbound RF signal from an outbound symbol stream, transmits the outbound RF signal to a remote station of a wireless network, and generates an inbound symbol stream from an inbound RF signal received from the at least one remote station. A processing module is coupled to process the motion parameter to produce motion data, to convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream, and to convert the inbound symbol stream into inbound data, wherein the outbound data includes the motion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza Reza Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7958431
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for interleaving data in a communication device. The system includes a memory that stores blocks of data to be interleaved. In addition to the memory, the system includes a write module and a read module, each of which is coupled to the memory. The write module is configured to receive a burst of data and write blocks of data from the burst into the memory. The write module is also configured to provide control information to the read logic. The control information includes a rolling burst counter and a burst profile bank identifier for each block. If interleaving is activated, the control information also includes information pertaining to how the read module should interleave the block. If interleaving is not activated, the control information also includes the byte length size of the burst. The read module reads blocks of data from memory in either an interleaved fashion or a non-interleaved fashion in accordance with the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Scott Hollums
  • Patent number: 7957704
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing AM/PM distortion in a polar amplifier are disclosed and may comprise adding an offset signal to an amplitude signal in the digital domain and removing the offset signal in the analog domain during polar modulation. A sum of an amplitude signal and an offset signal may be mixed with a phase signal in a first differential amplifier to generate a first voltage signal, and the offset signal may be mixed with the phase signal in a second differential amplifier to generate a second voltage signal, which may be subtracted from the first voltage signal. The amplitude and offset signals may be mixed with the phase signal by modulating a current in the differential amplifiers, which may comprise cascode differential amplifiers. The modulated current may be generated using a current source and a current mirror circuit, which may comprise a cascode current mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Alireza Zolfaghari
  • Patent number: 7957741
    Abstract: A token-based receiver diversity processing is described. In one embodiment, a receiver diversity comprises repeaters receiving wirelessly transmitted packets from a mobile station, and one of the repeaters forwarding packets of the wirelessly transmitted packets to a switch if the one repeater is currently assigned to forward packets from the mobile station based on an indicator assigned prior to the wirelessly transmitted packets being sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Harry Bims
  • Patent number: 7957392
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for receiving and resequencing a plurality of data segments received on a plurality of channels of a bonding channel set, comprising deter mining if a sequence number of a received segment matches an expected sequence number. If so, the process includes forwarding the segment for further processing, incrementing the expected sequence number; and forwarding any queued packets corresponding to the expected sequence number and immediately succeeding sequence numbers less than a sequence number of annexed missing segment. If the sequence number of the received segment does not match the expected sequence number, the received segment is queued at a memory location. The address of this location is converted to a segment index. The segment index is stored in a sparse array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: David Pullen, Niki Pantelias, Dannie Gay
  • Patent number: 7957711
    Abstract: A transmitter includes a detection element to determine when a current power requirement of a communication link is less than the standard transmit power. The current power requirement may be determined by a current operation condition of the communication link, for instance. The transmit power of the transmitter may be set to be less than the standard power in any of a variety of ways. For example, a center tap voltage of the transmitter may be reduced. In another example, a class of operation of the transmitter may be changed. In yet another example, the transmitter may include a current mirror having a plurality of diode-connected transistors coupled in parallel, thereby reducing the current at output terminals of the transmitter. Reducing the current at the output terminals decreases the output power of the transmitter, which may reduce the power consumed by the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin T. Chan
  • Patent number: 7958536
    Abstract: A video transmission system includes a network module that receives network global positioning system (GPS) signals and that transmits a video signal to a remote device that includes time stamps that are based on the network GPS data. A remote device receives the video signal and that plays the video signal based on local timing generated from local GPS signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen E. Gordon, Jeyhan Karaoguz, Sherman (Xuemin) Chen, Michael Dove, David Rosmann, Thomas J. Quigley