Abstract: It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting different packet type. The method comprises, determining whether the rate of a received packet corresponds to a predetermined rate, derotating the bits of a symbol in the received packet, obtaining an energy different of the symbol at different axes, and determining the type of the received packet according to the energy difference.

Abstract: A method and system in accordance with the present invention presents a new packet structure and an improved method for detecting the packet. The method and system comprise adding an additional field to the packet structure to allow for a sufficient time to process a very high throughput (VHT) signal field; and enabling the detection of the VHT signal field of the packet structure. The VHT signal field is distinguishable from other signal fields and the VHT signal field allows for a backward compatibility with other devices.

Abstract: Varying embodiments of the present invention describes a method and apparatus for beamforming in a wireless communication system. A first embodiment is a method for beamforming in a wireless communication system, the system comprising a transmitter and a receiver. The method comprises initiating beamforming on a communication channel between the transmitter and the receiver wherein the communication channel comprises at least two transmit chains, controlling the beamforming by mapping the data stream(s) to the at least two transmit chains and controlling the scaling of the at least two transmit chains within a transmit power constraint.

Abstract: A method and system utilized in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The communication system includes a transmitter and one or more of stations in communication therewith. The method and system comprise encoding a data assignment of each of the data streams associated with a packet into a plurality of bits, wherein the plurality of bits are within a header of the packet within the transmitter. The method and system also includes decoding the plurality of bits by the one or more stations to allow the one or more stations to obtain the appropriate data stream.

Abstract: A method and system utilized in a wireless communication system transmitting and receiving a multi-user packet is disclosed. The communication system includes a transmitter and a plurality of users in communication therewith. The method and system comprise determining a lowest coding scheme for transmitting the packet; and deriving a coding rate for the efficient transmission of the packet from a standard coding rate by de-puncturing bits in the packet. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides for an efficient utilization of packet length, and improves the reliability by improving SNR, by lowering the MCS, un-puncturing, and/or repetition. More efficient packed data rates are also provided and both Tx and Rx compute parameters independently.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for grouping the multiple stations connected to an access point (AP). The system and method comprise sending a sounding packet to a plurality of stations, wherein the stations may be all or part of the stations that are located within the range of the AP. The stations that receive the sounding packets respond to the AP, and the AP determines the channel state information (CSI) from the responses. According to the CSI, the AP divides the multiple stations into several groups. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a confirmation step is performed to each group of stations, respectively. The AP sends a second sounding packet to each group of stations, and verifies the CSI between each station group by group. Therefore, the method and system provides for monitoring the validation of each group by periodically sending sounding packets to each group.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for grouping the multiple stations connected to an access point (AP). The system and method comprise sending a sounding packet to a plurality of stations, wherein the stations may be all or part of the stations that are located within the range of the AP. The stations that receive the sounding packets respond to the AP, and the AP determines the channel state information (CSI) from the responses. According to the CSI, the AP divides the multiple stations into several groups. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a confirmation step is performed to each group of stations, respectively. The AP sends a second sounding packet to each group of stations, and verifies the CSI between each station group by group. Therefore, the method and system provides for monitoring the validation of each group by periodically sending sounding packets to each group.

Abstract: A front end receiver is disclosed. The front end receiver comprises a plurality of transmissive signal paths originating from one signal input, a plurality of switching mechanisms; and at least one path of the plurality of transmissive signal paths including a first amplifier coupled to a first input port of each of the plurality of switching mechanisms. The front end receiver also comprises at least another path of the plurality of transmissive signal paths including a second amplifier coupled to a second input port of each of the plurality of switching mechanisms. The receiving subsystem coupled to the output port of each switching mechanism. Each of the receiving subsystems controls a switching mechanism to select the path that is optimal for radio reception depending on the strength of signal being received.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the inductance on an integrated circuit. The method and system comprises providing a first differential line, including a first input and a first output, the first differential line including at least two bondwire traces which are coupled in parallel. The method and system also comprises providing a second differential line including a second input and a second output, the second differential line including at least two bondwire traces which are coupled in parallel, the first differential line being of opposite polarity to the second differential line. The method and system further comprises cross-coupling of the first input with the second input and the first output with the second output to reduce the inductance caused by bondwire traces. A technique in accordance with the invention uses the coupling factor K to help to further reduce the inductance.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a transceiver for use in a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The transceiver decodes and remodulates certain signal fields and uses the same to update the coefficients of a frequency equalizer thereby improving channel estimation and extending training.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes a transceiver for use in a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) Orthogonal Frequency Domain Multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The transceiver decodes and remodulates certain signal fields and uses the same to update the coefficients of a frequency equalizer thereby improving channel estimation and extending training.

Abstract: A first embodiment is a method of calibrating an implicit beamforming wireless system wherein the implicit wireless system comprises a beamformer and a beamformee. The method comprises associating the beamformer with the beamformee, sending a sounding packet from the beamformer to the beamformee, receiving a sounding response at the beamformer wherein the sounding response contains explicit channel state information as estimated by beamformee, computing implicit channel state information at the beamformer based on transmissions from the beamformee, passing explicit and implicit channel state information into the beamformer, computing a set of compensation parameters and loading the set of compensation parameters into the beamformer thereby enabling the beamformer to implicitly beamform to a device that does not support explicit beamforming.

Abstract: A radio transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit comprises a transmit path; a first switch coupled in series with the output of the transmit path; a receive path; and a second switch coupled as a shunt with the input of the receive path. The transceiver further comprises a plurality of external matching networks coupled to the transmit and receive paths of the integrated circuit to ensure minimal loading from one path to the other. The transceiver also comprises a shared balun for converting differential signals from the plurality of external matching networks to single ended signals; and an antenna to interface with the single ended signals. A method and system in accordance with an embodiment enables tying together the transmit path and the receive paths of a radio transceiver without the need for an external T/R switch.

Abstract: An autonomous wireless system is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of devices. Each of the plurality of devices includes a wireless interface. At least two devices directly communicate with each other through a direct link between the wireless interfaces of the at least two devices. Methods and apparatus for two or more devices equipped with wireless local area network (WLAN) interface to communicate and exchange selected information are disclosed. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention enables a handheld, laptop, smart phone or the like, which is equipped with a WLAN interface, to communicate and exchange business contact, sales brochures, event announcements, presentation materials, alert messages, etc., to other devices that include a WLAN interface.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop charge pump driven by low voltage input is disclosed. In one aspect, a charge pump for a phase-locked loop circuit includes a sourcing current source providing a sourcing current, wherein the sourcing current source is coupled to a high-voltage operating voltage supply. A sourcing control circuit uses low-voltage sourcing control signals to selectively cause the charge pump to source the sourcing current to an output of the charge pump. A sinking control circuit uses low-voltage sinking control signals at a low voltage and utilizes a low-swing current mechanism to sink the sinking current from the output of the charge pump. In another aspect, the sourcing control circuit is cascode and the sinking circuit is non-cascode. In another aspect the sourcing current source and the sinking current source are both cascode. In another aspect, the sourcing current source is non-cascode and the sinking current source is cascode.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the inductance on an integrated circuit. The method and system comprises providing a first differential line, including a first input and a first output, the first differential line including at least two bondwire traces which are coupled in parallel. The method and system also comprises providing a second differential line including a second input and a second output, the second differential line including at least two bondwire traces which are coupled in parallel, the first differential line being of opposite polarity to the second differential line. The method and system further comprises cross-coupling of the first input with the second input and the first output with the second output to reduce the inductance caused by bondwire traces. A technique in accordance with the invention uses the coupling factor K to help to further reduce the inductance.

Abstract: A method and system for calibrating the mismatch between I data and Q data of a receiver is disclosed. The receiver includes an amplifier, first and second mixers coupled to the amplifier, an oscillator for driving the first and second mixers; and first and second filters coupled to the first and second mixers. The method comprises turning off the amplifier; and injecting a signal into the first and second mixers. The method also requires measuring the amplitude and phase information of the I and Q data from the first and second mixers based upon the injected signal to provide mismatch information and utilizing the mismatch information to compensate the I data and the Q data during normal operating mode. In a method and system in accordance with an embodiment, the IQ mismatch of a receiver can be measured and compensated. This allows direct-conversion architecture, which is known to have IQ mismatch problem, to be used.

Abstract: Varying embodiments of the present invention provide a MIMO apparatus, such as a transceiver and a method of operation thereof. In an embodiment, the transceiver employs a parallelized., two-stage pipeline architecture that reduces the overall latency of the system. This reduction in latency translates to cost savings and higher data rates for the same hardware clock speed.

Abstract: Varying embodiments of the present invention provide a MIMO apparatus, such as a transceiver and a method of operation thereof. In an embodiment, the transceiver employs a parallelized, two-stage pipeline architecture that reduces the overall latency of the system. This reduction in latency translates to cost savings and higher data rates for the same hardware clock speed.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop charge pump driven by low voltage input is disclosed. In one aspect, a charge pump for a phase-locked loop circuit includes a sourcing current source providing a sourcing current, wherein the sourcing current source is coupled to a high-voltage operating voltage supply. A sourcing control circuit uses low-voltage sourcing control signals to selectively cause the charge pump to source the sourcing current to an output of the charge pump. A sinking control circuit uses low-voltage sinking control signals at a low voltage and utilizes a low-swing current mechanism to sink the sinking current from the output of the charge pump. In another aspect, the sourcing control circuit is cascode and the sinking circuit is non-cascode. In another aspect the sourcing current source and the sinking current source are both cascode. In another aspect, the sourcing current source is non-cascode and the sinking current source is cascode.