Abstract: An alternate multi-thread pipeline structure and method are provided. A deep pipeline is provided in which two threads of two separate pipeline stages are alternatively presented to the various logic and latch circuits for execution. The execution and latching of the threads alternates from one thread to the other within a single clock cycle. Thus, each thread is executed once per clock cycle and two threads are executed in a single clock cycle.

Abstract: A fast train protocol for use by a high-speed point of sale (POS) modem is disclosed. In one aspect, the fast train protocol may include he following exemplary steps: receiving an instruction to connect to a remote modem; transmitting a tonal signal to the remote modem for a pre-determined period of time in response to receiving the instruction, where the tonal signal identifies the POS modem as being capable of supporting the fast train protocol; receiving an S signal from the remote modem in response to transmitting the tonal signal; receiving an S\ signal from the remote modem following receiving the S signal; receiving one or more remote PP signals from the remote modem following receiving the S\ signal; and receiving a remote parameter sequence from the remote modem following receiving the one or more remote PP signals.

Abstract: A system and method for performing pilot tone based timing recovery in a communication system using the discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulation. In DMT modulation, interference is introduced to the phase of the pilot tone in the transmitter due to the cyclic prefix. Broadly, a receiver is configured to detect and apply a phase offset to the pilot tone in a phase locked-loop upon recognition of far-end signal segments during transceiver initialization. The output of the phase locked-loop is then used to control the timing of the analog-to-digital (A/D) and digital-to-analog (D/A) conversions. In alternative embodiments, the receiver is configured to detect and remove the cyclic prefix from the far-end signal either prior to, or after, time-domain equalization. In a similar manner, the resulting signal stream is applied to the input of the timing recovery phase locked-loop (PLL). The output of the PLL is used to control the timing of the A/D and D/A converters.

Abstract: A system for wireless communications is provided. The system includes a hand-held wireless communications device, such as a cell phone. An antenna is connected to the cell phone. The antenna radiates radio waves over an area of less than 360 degrees of arc, such as in a cardioid or hemisphere. The antenna is oriented such that hemisphere is in the direction away from a head of a user of the cell phone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to integrated circuits having symmetric inducting devices with a ground shield. In one embodiment, a symmetric inducting device for an integrated circuit comprises a substrate, a main metal layer and a shield. The substrate has a working surface. The main metal layer has at least one pair of current path regions. Each of the current path region pairs is formed in generally a regular polygonal shape that is generally symmetric about a plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the working surface of the substrate. The shield is patterned into segments that are generally symmetric about the plane of symmetry. Medial portions of at least some segments of the shield are formed generally perpendicular to the plane of symmetry as the medial portions cross the plane of symmetry.

Abstract: In a modulation system an efficient modulation at a master station and allows great flexibility in clients, from simple 2 bit/symbol single-channel modulation and demodulation to multi-channel multiple-bit modulation. The present invention also permits selection of the frequency band to use for transmission, thus dealing effectively with channel nulls and no channel equalization is required. The present invention is a useful technique for short-distance moderate-rate multi-drop networking, such as multi-channel home-telephone for Voice over IP(VoIP).

Abstract: Systems and related methods are described for (1) determining one or more state probabilities for one or more states in a trellis representation; (2) determining an estimate of or extrinsic output for a bit using a trellis representation; (3) performing a MAX* 2?>1 operation; and (4) computing forward state probabilities in a forward mode of operation and computing backward state probabilities in a backward mode of operation. Combinations of the foregoing are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of cyclic diversity systems and methods are disclosed. One system embodiment, among others, comprises a logic configured to cyclically advance, or perform the periodic equivalent of the same, one or more sections of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) packet relative to the OFDM packet to be transmitted on a first transmit antenna, the packet having the one or more cyclically advanced sections to be transmitted on a second transmit antenna, the duration of the cyclic advance having a duration less than a guard interval.

Abstract: A system and method for designing a broadband tuner such that VCO pulling is minimized and gaps in frequency coverage are avoided, while total power consumption is reduced, is disclosed. A broadband spectrum is divided into sub-bands and various multipliers to a local oscillator output are introduced. In this fashion, the present invention allows a local oscillator within the broadband tuner to always generate signals that lie outside of the broadband spectrum for a particular broadband application. Additionally, a modulus ratio for a dual modulus prescaler with the local oscillator is maximized, thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: An improved echo cancellation technique may be employed by a server modem in a digital communication system. The disclosed echo cancellation technique provides not only for the cancellation of echo signals imparted on the received signals of a modem but also for the cancellation of various non-linearities that are present in a transmit circuitry. The echo canceler resident in the server modem may be initially trained to account for the echo signals imparted by an echo channel present in the communication system. In the preferred embodiment, the echo canceler samples an analog output signal of the transmit circuitry and produces an output signal representative of the echo signals and the non-linearities. In the context of the echo cancellation, a compensated digital signal is produced by subtracting the output signal of the echo canceler from an impaired digital signal to be received by the server modem, wherein the echo signals and non-linearities are substantially eliminated from the impaired digital signal.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting a stream of data are provided. A stream of data to be transmitted is identified. The stream of data is divided into a plurality of data segments for transmission on a corresponding plurality of transmission channels. The plurality of segments are transmitted on the corresponding plurality of transmission channels, wherein each segment is transmitted at substantially the same time as the other segments and for substantially the same duration of time.

Abstract: A system and method for transmitting a UWB or WB signal over a wireless network using a CP-FSK modulated carrier waveform. The system and method comprises selecting a wireless communication channel that is free of at least one of interference and multipath distortion and transmitting a CP-FSK modulated signal over the selected channel having a modulation index of ?0.707, a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz, a power spectral density of ??41.3 dBm/MHz, and a frequency range of 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz.

Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) formed upon a substrate with a first inductor being offset from a second inductor in one of three dimensions and forming a common area that may contain at least one of a varactor, capacitor, oscillator, or switch.

Abstract: A method and system provides a way to achieve very high data rate expanded bandwidth (wide band) WLAN operations reusing existing single channel radio designs. The system provides a dual-channel form of operation for greater flexibility and performance across multiple platforms. Further, the system provides adaptive anti-aliasing techniques for eliminating aliasing due to adjacent channel waveform effects. These techniques mesh with existing systems cleanly.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit includes a field effect transistor device configured such that current flowing through a hot spot filament formed in a gate region must flow in a non-linear path from a drain contact to a source contact. Source diffusion areas are segmented and staggered relative to drain diffusion areas in order to provide the non-linear current path.

Abstract: A system and method for routing power between circuit blocks in an integrated circuit, such as macros and standard cells. A macro is wrapped in a relatively narrow power interface ring and placed in the integrated circuit such that the lower metal layers of the power interface ring are aligned and in direct contact with the power rails of a standard cell block. A power grid is formed above the macro and the upper metal layers of the power interface ring are coupled to the power grid. The upper power grid is tied either to an outer power bus or directly to power pins in the surrounding I/O ring. Data signals may be routed in the I/O ring space.

Abstract: The startup, retrain, renegotiation quick connect or other processes of handshaking between communication systems involve the exchange of certain modulation, constellation, precoder, prefilter and other communication related information. The communication systems exchange one long information sequence including all the necessary communication information. Subsequently, the communication systems start transmitting short sequences, including an acknowledgement information portion. If one of the communication systems does not receive an acknowledgement within a predetermined time or event, that communication system may retransmit another long information sequence. After such retransmission, the retransmitting communication system may continue transmitting the long information sequences or may start transmitting the short sequences once again. Eventually, each of the communication systems should receive a long information sequence and acknowledge their receipt of such sequence.

Abstract: A system for MPSK symbol hypothesis testing. A received symbol having in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components is input to the system. Multipliers for each of the components are determined corresponding to the MPSK symbol hypothesis s being tested. The symbol s is a quadrature symbol having in-phase and quadrature components, sI and sQ, respectively. The multipliers are each derived from fractions which approximate to a desired level of resolution either ±sI or ±sQ. The system multiplies the I and Q components by their respective multipliers through a discrete series of add, shift, and twos complement operations. It then derives a metric for testing the hypothesis from the resulting products.

Abstract: A technique for real-time formation of optimal power spectral density masks is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for real- time formation of optimal power spectral density masks. The method may comprise sensing line conditions in a communication medium, wherein the communication medium is capable of carrying signals in a plurality of tones. The method may also comprise determining, in real-time, one or more power spectral density masks that substantially optimize transmissions of the signals in the plurality of tones. The method may further comprise transmitting the signals in the plurality of tones based on the one or more power spectral masks.

Abstract: A modem to modem communication system supports call waiting services by exchanging hold request and acknowledge signals before relinquishing the line servicing incoming calls. Thereafter, the modem to modem session is reestablished without having to redial. The hold request may be denied or accepted, and may define the duration a modem will hold before hanging up. The holding modem maintains the session by fooling the higher protocol layers, making them believe that the modem is not on hold. Three-way calling services are also used to free up the shared line for outgoing calls while maintaining the session with holding modems. A table may be employed to screen incoming calls through a comparison of the caller ID information with that in the table. The table may be within the modem or the host computer.