Abstract: A novel implementation of a partitioned Medium Access Control (MAC) is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment employs a shared bus that typically is already present in a wireless terminal for communication between an Upper MAC and a Lower MAC. The partitioned MAC implementation therefore does not require any additional communication means between the Upper MAC and Lower MAC, resulting in a lower-cost system. In addition, the Upper MAC and Lower MAC pass native data structures by reference over the shared bus, thereby eliminating the need for drivers to coordinate communication via interrupts, handshaking, etc. The partitioned MAC implementation results in a cost-effective distributed architecture in which the Upper MAC resides in the terminal's host processor and the Lower MAC resides in the terminal's wireless station.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for preventing data loss in a VoIP system. In particular, during a VoIP call, it is determined whether incoming ringing on a POTS line causes an unacceptable level of signal loss or errors. If so, for subsequent VoIP calls, the CO handling calls to the POTS line is instructed to either answer each call with a busy signal or automatically forward calls to the POTS line to the VoIP line or other selected telephone. Calling returns to normal upon ending of the VoIP call. In this manner, incoming ringing on the POTS line does not result in call dropping or lengthy retraining processes.

Abstract: A technique for dynamic bin allocation is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for dynamic bin allocation. The method may comprise obtaining link performance data based on a plurality of test transmissions between two network elements, wherein the plurality of test transmissions utilize at least one transmission mode in each of a plurality of frequency ranges. The method may also comprise determining a desired transmission scheme, wherein each of the plurality of frequency ranges is designated for at least one of the at least one transmission mode based at least in part on the link performance data. The desired transmission scheme may be determined by identifying a desired transmission mode for each of the plurality of frequency ranges, or the desired transmission scheme may be selected from a plurality of predetermined transmission schemes.

Abstract: A technique for enabling a secure, point-to-point wireless connection between a secondary computer (e.g., a personal digital assistant, etc.) and a primary computer (e.g., a notebook, a desktop, etc.) is disclosed. The primary computer is associated with an extended infrastructure through an access point. The present invention enables the secondary computer to communicate either with the associated primary computer or with an extended network indirectly through the access point.

Abstract: A mixed waveform configuration for wireless communications including a first portion that is modulated according to a single-carrier modulation scheme and a second portion that is modulated according to a multi-carrier modulation scheme. The waveform is specified so that a channel impulse response (CIR) estimate obtainable from the first portion is reusable for acquisition of the second portion. The first portion includes a preamble and header and the second portion typically incorporates the payload.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the transmission bit rate and fragmentation threshold of a wireless station in response to transmission errors is disclosed. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention is based on a wireless station that employs both an IEEE 802.11 radio and a Bluetooth radio, and determines whether transmission errors of the IEEE 802.11 radio are due to fading, or interference from the Bluetooth radio. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention for protocols other than IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth, as well as stations that employ wireline or non-RF-wireless transceivers.

Abstract: A wireless receiver that sorts packets including a packet detector, multiple correlators, and multiple packet processors. Each correlator correlates a received signal according to packet type. Each packet processor processes the received signal according to packet type. A signal power detector may be provided to initially qualify the received signal as containing a packet, and the correlators determine whether a packet is present. The correlators may be configured for sequential or simultaneous correlation. For the simultaneous correlator configuration, a correlation monitor is provided to monitor correlation results to determine if the received signal contains a packet, and if so, to determine packet type. A low SNR packet detector may be provided which correlates the received signal to detect weak packet signals.

Abstract: A system and method for multiple inputs, multiple outputs (MIMO) PSD allocation in a DSL system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may comprise monitoring system performance by performing a multi-ended line test (MELT), processing the MELT and allocating PSD based on at least one of system coupling power and system traffic.

Abstract: A novel implementation of a partitioned medium access control (MAC) is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment employs a shared bus that typically is already present in a wireless terminal for communication between an upper MAC and a lower MAC. The partitioned MAC implementation therefore does not require any additional communication means between the upper MAC and lower MAC, resulting in a lower-cost system. In addition, the upper MAC and lower MAC pass native data structures by reference over the shared bus, thereby eliminating the need for drivers to coordinate communication via interrupts, handshaking, etc. The partitioned MAC implementation results in a cost-effective distributed architecture in which the upper MAC resides in the terminal's host processor, and the lower MAC resides in the terminal's wireless station.

Abstract: A technique for enabling a secure, point-to-point wireless connection between a secondary computer (e.g., a personal digital assistant, etc.) and a primary computer (e.g., a notebook, a desktop, etc.) is disclosed. The primary computer is associated with an extended infrastructure through an access point. The present invention enables the secondary computer to communicate either with the associated primary computer or with an extended network indirectly through the access point.

Abstract: A mixed waveform configuration for wireless communications including a first portion that is modulated according to a single-carrier modulation scheme and a second portion that is modulated according to a multi-carrier modulation scheme. The waveform is specified so that a channel impulse response (CIR) estimate obtainable from the first portion is reusable for acquisition of the second portion. The first portion includes a preamble and header and the second portion typically incorporates the payload.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the transmission bit rate and fragmentation threshold of a wireless station in response to transmission errors is disclosed. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention is based on a wireless station that employs both an IEEE 802.11 radio and a Bluetooth radio, and determines whether transmission errors of the IEEE 802.11 radio are due to fading, or interference from the Bluetooth radio. It will be clear to those skilled in the art how to make and use alternative embodiments of the present invention for protocols other than IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth, as well as stations that employ wireline or non-RF-wireless transceivers.

Abstract: An interface between radios supporting different air interfaces is disclosed that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages associated with inter-radio interfaces in the prior art. The present invention enables the needed coordination across multiple wireless protocols, such as 802.11 and Bluetooth, by providing a communication link spanning different integrated circuits when each radio is on a separate integrated circuit. This low cost, low complexity link can be added to standard integrated circuits produced by individual companies without adding appreciably to the overall cost of the integrated circuits.

Abstract: A wireless receiver that sorts packets including a packet detector, multiple correlators, and multiple packet processors. Each correlator correlates a received signal according to packet type. Each packet processor processes the received signal according to packet type. A signal power detector may be provided to initially qualify the received signal as containing a packet, and the correlators determine whether a packet is present. The correlators may be configured for sequential or simultaneous correlation. For the simultaneous correlator configuration, a correlation monitor is provided to monitor correlation results to determine if the received signal contains a packet, and if so, to determine packet type. A low SNR packet detector may be provided which correlates the received signal to detect weak packet signals.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing reach-performance of a multi-carrier VDSL System estimates loop length, estimates maximum available bandwidth that can be utilized at that particular loop length, optimally selects an FFT size and sampling rate, and decides whether to apply a time domain equalization to its receiver and if so, selects a cyclic extension size. To minimize the implementation complexity, the sampling frequencies at receiver and transmitter are lowered to match the actual usable bandwidth. The FFT/IFFT sizes in the implementation are also required to set appropriately accordingly.

Abstract: A security mechanism suitable for wireless local area networks is disclosed that exhibits a reasonable trade-off between computation speed and resistance to attack. The illustrative embodiment can be implemented with operations that are quickly performed on most processors, and, therefore be in many cases reasonably implemented in software. The illustrative embodiment comprises modulo 2 additions, modulo 2B additions, bit rotations, and byte transpositions.

Abstract: A carrier tracking circuit includes a first phase adjustment circuit coupled to an input of a delay element and a second phase adjustment circuit coupled to an output of the delay element. A phase correction circuit is coupled to output of the delay element is operable to generate a phase adjustment value based upon a data symbol output from the delay element. The phase correction circuit includes a double phase correction circuit to prevent double application of the same phase adjustment value to a symbol by both the first and second phase adjustment circuits. The carrier tracking circuit may be used in OFDM communications systems with each data symbol being an OFDM symbol and with the delay element being an FFT. The carrier tracker circuit also may include a feed forward circuit for correcting the phase error of a given data symbol using a phase error generated from that symbol.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed that improves the efficiency of transmitting data over multiple shared-communications channels without some of the costs and disadvantages associated with techniques in the prior art. In particular, and in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a data frame is simultaneously transmitted across a plurality of channels, but the acknowledgment frame to the data frame is not. Instead, a plurality of redundant acknowledgment frames are generated and each one is transmitted independently and within each of the channels used to transmit the data frame.

Abstract: A dual packet configuration for wireless communications including a first portion that is modulated according to a serial modulation and a second portion that is modulated according to a parallel modulation. The serial modulation may be DSSS whereas the parallel modulation may be OFDM. The first portion may include a header, which may further include an OFDM mode bit and a length field indicating the duration the second portion. The first portion may be in accordance with 802.11b to enable dual mode devices to coexist and communicate in the same area as standard 802.11b devices. The dual mode devices can communicate at different or higher data rates without interruption from the 802.11b devices. The packet configuration may include an OFDM signal symbol which further includes a data rate section and a data count section. In this manner, data rates the same as or similar to the 802.11a data rates may be specified between dual mode devices.

Abstract: A spread spectrum radio transceiver includes a high data rate baseband processor and a radio circuit connected thereto. The baseband processor preferably includes a modulator for spread spectrum phase shift keying (PSK) modulating information for transmission via the radio circuit. The modulator may include at least one modified Walsh code function encoder for encoding information according to a modified Walsh code for substantially reducing an average DC signal component to thereby enhance overall system performance when AC-coupling the received signal through at least one analog-to-digital converter to the demodulator. The demodulator is for spread spectrum PSK demodulating information received from the radio circuit. The modulator and demodulator are each preferably operable in one of a bi-phase PSK (BPSK) mode at a first data rate and a quadrature PSK (QPSK) mode at a second data rate. These formats may also be switched on-the-fly in the demodulator. Method aspects are also disclosed.