Abstract: An echo canceller circuit for use in an echo canceller system is set forth. The echo canceller circuit comprises a first digital filter having non-adaptive tap coefficients to simulate an echo response occurring during a call. A second digital filter having adaptive tap coefficients to simulate an echo response occurring during the call is also used. The adaptive tap coefficients of the second digital filter are updated over the duration of the call. A coefficient transfer controller is disposed in the echo canceller circuit to transfer the adaptive tap coefficients of the second digital filter to replace the tap coefficients of the first digital filter when a value, {circumflex over (E)}, is greater than a value, {overscore (E)}, and, concurrently, when {circumflex over (E)} is greater than a value, Emax. The value of {overscore (E)} corresponds to the ratio between a signal-plus-echo signal and a first echo compensated signal using the first digital filter.

Abstract: A system and associated method for the synchronization and control of multiplexed payloads over a telecommunications network wherein the asynchronous timing relationships between multiplexed payloads having varied points of origin are retained subsequent to signal processing of the payloads for further transmission to a destination point. System modules 22 include a network interface section 30, a synchronization, multiplexing and control (SMC) section 50, and a processing section 110. The SMC section 50 includes network interface bus circuitry, payload segmentation and re-assembly circuitry, control and management memory and related circuitry, payload re-assembly circuitry, and processor bus interface circuitry. The processing section of module 22 provides device for data compression, echo cancellation, error correction coding, or voice and data encryption/decryption. The module 22 is dynamically configured through a software management and control interface.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system having an allocated total bandwidth is set forth. The system comprises a head end unit disposed at a primary site. The head end unit includes a receiver for receiving OFDM/DMT modulated data from a plurality of remote transceivers over a predetermined number of bins from a transmission medium. The receiver of the head end unit receives OFDM/DMT modulated data corresponding to a first data stream from a first one of the plurality of remote transceivers over one or more bins of a first subset of the predetermined number of bins and OFDM/DMT data corresponding to a second data stream from a second one of the plurality of remote transceivers over one or more bins of a second subset of the predetermined number of bins. The head end unit and each of the first and second transceivers can receive and/or transmit in at least a given X QAM mode or Y QAM mode.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a cell site base station configuration for a wireless communications system that makes use of a sectorized base station co-located with an omnidirectional base station. The sectorized base station has a sectorized antenna system and the omnidirectional base station has an omnidirectional antenna. The configuration may also include a controller that monitors the base station for communications links subject to adverse conditions and reassigns any such links to the omnidirectional base station. The adverse conditions monitored for may include multiple fade, equipment failure and a lack of available channels. The controller may also monitor the omnidirectional base station for links that can be moved to the sectorized base station and reassign any such links to the sectorized base station. The configuration may also include a network that interconnects the sectorized base station, the omnidirectional base station and the controller.

Abstract: An echo canceler is connected to an ISDN Primary Rate Interface. The echo canceler is provided with an activation processor for monitoring call control messages on the D-channel and for selectively enabling or disabling echo cancellation on any of the B-channels in response to information contained within the call control messages. In particular, the activation processor decides whether to enable cancellation depending upon the Information Transfer Capability and Protocol Identification fields of the Bearer Capability portion of a call SETUP message. Additionally, the Channel Identification field of the SETUP message is used to identify the B-channel or channels affected by the SETUP message. When a channel is released, the activation processor maintains enabled echo cancellation as the default condition of the released channel. Other signal processing functions can be controlled by the activation processor in a similar manner.

Abstract: A controller for a digital processor includes a random access memory, e.g., an instruction memory, that consumes significant power when operating. To reduce the power consumption when repetitive instructions, i.e. loops, are being performed, the instructions being executed are stored in a shift register and, when a jump-back instruction is executed, the instructions, including those in the loop, are then accessed from the shift register rather than from the random access memory without any additional special instructions that define the characteristics of the loop. A memory control includes a state tracking machine that monitors the execution of the program instructions and determines from the execution of a jump-back instruction that a loop may have been entered, whereupon it enables the shift register to produce the instructions stored therein and disables the instruction memory from producing instructions that are stored in the shift register.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system comprises a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are generated using at least one timing signal. At least one of the predetermined number of bins includes a pilot tone sub-symbol having a frequency corresponding to the clock signal. The communications system also includes a receiver for receiving the OFDM/DMT symbols from the transmission medium. The receiver demodulates the received symbols using at least one timing signal. The receiver has a first pilot tone search mode of operation in which the receiver adjusts its timing signal to scan the frequency range of the predetermined number of bins looking for the pilot tone sub-symbol and identifies the bin including the pilot tone sub-symbol.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system includes a receiver and transmitter disposed at a primary site for communication with a plurality of remote service units disposed at respective secondary sites. The receiver of the primary site receives OFDM/DMT signals over a number of transmission bins. A transmitter at the remote service unit includes an improved transmitter architecture. The transmitter comprises a first circuit for converting a signal into a first serial digital data stream and a second circuit for generating a second serial digital data stream from the first serial digital data stream of the first means. The second serial digital data stream is a digital representation of an OFDM/DMT signal that is to be transmitted to the receiver of the primary site and is generated from the first serial digital data stream through a modulated direct digital synthesis thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for registering (unsynchronized) remote units with a multipoint communications system. An upstream multi-access channel (UMAC) is defined, over which non-registered remote units may transmit registration requests and related data. Non-registered remote units may transmit over the UMAC channel at any time independent of upstream transmissions from other remote units already registered with the network. To effect registration, the non-registered remote unit transmits a standardized asynchronous transmission sequence (ATS) signal over the UMAC channel. The ATS signal is "standardized" as it contains a predefined leading segment, the format for which is known to the head end unit. The ATS signal also contains a data segment that may be unique to the remote unit (e.g., it may uniquely identify the remote unit and/or request registration).

Abstract: A ring communication network including N nodes and comprising links between the nodes for carrying data in W channels. The network is configured by providing nodes and channels such that N.gtoreq.2 log.sub.2 W-1 where W is a power of 2. No more than W channels are assigned to the transmission of data along any of the links. The nodes are configured such that each channel of a first one of the links adjacent any one of the nodes can be switched to no more than W-1 channels of a second one of the links adjacent any one node.

Abstract: A signal shaping circuit for shaping amplitude shift keyed digital pulses of a digital data stream is set forth. The digital data stream is comprised of a plurality of symbols from which the signal shaping circuit generates an output signal having sinusoidally shaped transition regions between logic level transitions of the digital data stream. The signal shaping circuit comprises an input lead receiving each of the digital pulses of the digital data stream. A delay circuit receives each of the digital pulses of the digital data stream at the input lead and, after a predefined time delay, outputs delayed digital pulses corresponding to each of the digital pulses received at the input lead. A ringing filter circuit having a linear response receives each of the digital pulses of the digital data stream provided from the input lead and each of the digital pulses provided at the output of the delay circuit.

Abstract: In a full duplex audio telecommunication system, it is desirable to determine whether a transmitted signal contains a signal component generated exclusively at one end of the communication path. A removal filter is connected to receive a Far-End signal and to remove a signal component therefrom. A detection filter is connected to receive a Near-End signal and to detect the presence of a signal component corresponding to the component removed from the Far-End signal. A decision stage connected with the detection filter responds to the detection filter by actuating a control signal when signal activity in the selected signal component is detected. The control signal is used to control adaption of an AFIR filter of an echo canceler to prevent adaption during intervals of Near-End speech activity. The selected signal component preferably comprises a predetermined frequency range.

Abstract: An echo canceller circuit for use in an echo canceller system is set forth that provides sensitive double-talk detection. The echo canceller circuit comprises a second digital filter having adaptive tap coefficients to simulate an echo response occurring during the call. The adaptive tap coefficients of the second digital filter are updated over the duration of the call using a Least Mean Squares process having an adaptive gain a. A channel condition detector is used to detect channel conditions during the call. The channel condition detector is responsive to detected channel conditions for changing the adaptive gain a during the call. For example, the channel condition detector may detect the presence of a double-talk condition and set the adaptive gain a to zero. Similarly, the channel condition detector may detect the occurrence of a high background noise condition and set the adaptive gain a to a level less than 1 that is dependent on the detected level of the background noise.

Abstract: An echo canceller circuit for use in an echo canceller system is set forth that provides sensitive non-linear echo path response detection. The echo canceller circuit comprises a first digital filter having non-adaptive tap coefficients to simulate an echo response occurring during a call. A second digital filter having adaptive tap coefficients to simulate an echo response occurring during the call is also used. The adaptive tap coefficients of the second digital filter are updated over the duration of the call. A coefficient transfer controller is disposed in the echo canceller circuit to transfer the adaptive tap coefficients of the second digital filter to replace the tap coefficients of the first digital filter when a set of one or more transfer conditions is met. A non-linear echo path response detector is provided. The non-linear echo path detector is responsive to one or more parameters of the first and second digital filters to detect a non-linear echo path condition.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system includes a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are generated using at least one timing signal. At least one of the predetermined number of bins includes pilot tone sub-symbols generated from a pilot tone having a frequency corresponding to the at least one timing signal. The communications system also includes a receiver for receiving the OFDM/DMT symbols from the transmission medium. At least one frequency multiplexer is disposed along the transmission medium that frequency multiplexers the OFDM/DMT symbols and a transmission from at least one other transmission source. A mixer is disposed along the transmission medium between the frequency multiplexer and the receiver for mixing the OFDM/DMT symbols for receipt within a passband of the receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing a modular and easily upgradable optical network node using the technique of wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM). According to the present invention, a WDM point-to-point link end node can be modularly upgraded in the number of wavelength channels or upgraded to a ring network node; both without requiring equipment internal rewiring.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth. The communications system comprises a primary transmitter disposed at a primary site and a plurality of receivers respectively disposed at a plurality of secondary sites. The primary transmitter generates OFDM/DMT transmissions over a first number of transmission bins to transmit communication data in those bins. A transmission medium is used for transmitting the OFDM/DMT transmissions from the primary transmitter at the primary site to the plurality of receivers disposed at a plurality of secondary sites. Each of the plurality of receivers employs a unique receiver architecture that digitally processes exclusively a reduced subset of the first number of bins transmitted by the primary transmitter to recover communication data that is transmitted in the reduced subset of the first number of bins.

Abstract: Efficient methods for rerouting failed channels on to spare channels in a multichannel transmission system are described. One method uses a minimal amount of rerouting to reroute all the channels if one or two line cards fail.Another set of methods reroute up to two failed channels on to spare channels in the event of channel failures. With this method only the failed channels are rerouted. However the failed channels may have to be routed through a slightly larger, but minimal, number of additional hops than with the first method.

Abstract: A data communication system is provided including a multicarrier transmitter which encodes and modulates input data into a plurality of carriers, a channel which distorts signals input to it by the transmitter, an echo path which also distorts signals, and a multicarrier receiver which receives signals from the channel and minimizes the distortions through the use of a SIRF.