Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antenna arrangements. In particular, an arrangement can include at least three antennas. A first and second of the antennas can be positioned such that signals they emit cancel each other out at a physical space comprising a third of the antennas. Additionally or alternatively, an arrangement can include at least two antennas. A first of the antennas can comprise at least two signal-emitting portions positioned such that signals they emit cancel each other out at a physical space comprising a second of the antennas.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to antenna arrangements. In particular, an arrangement can include at least three antennas. A first and second of the antennas can be positioned such that signals they emit cancel each other out at a physical space comprising a third of the antennas. Additionally or alternatively, an arrangement can include at least two antennas. A first of the antennas can comprise at least two signal-emitting portions positioned such that signals they emit cancel each other out at a physical space comprising a second of the antennas.

Abstract: According to specific embodiments of the invention, a technique is described for providing constant bit rate (CBR) service over shared access channels in a computer network. The technique of the present invention provides a plurality of linked lists of grant allocation elements at the head end of the network for implementing CBR service to requesting nodes on each shared access channel. Each grant allocation element corresponds to a respective unsolicited CBR grant allocated to a particular node on a selected channel. A CBR service request sent by a particular node to the head end is handled by an admission control engine within the head end. If admission control admits the CBR service request, it inserts one or more unsolicited grant allocation elements relating to the admitted request in at least one of the plurality of linked lists. Each linked list of grant allocation elements is used to generate a CBR portion of a respective, fixed size, grant allocation MAP message.

Abstract: A system for reducing the bandwidth required to wirelessly transmit a packet via a wireless network is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a transmitting node configured to generate a packet to be transmitted via the wireless network, to select a suppression rule from a table of suppression rules based on the type of the packet to be transmitted, to apply the suppression rule to the packet to generate a suppressed packet, wherein the transmitter node applies the suppression rule by suppressing at least a portion of the header of the packet and by adding a descriptor associated with the header suppression rule to the packet, and to transmit the suppressed packet via the wireless network.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for synchronizing time between a centralized controller device and at least one subscriber device on a fiber access network. The control layer of a network device is expanded, and additional messaging control is added via the transmission of data frames. The expansion prevents reliance on a physical layer signal. The time synchronization also allows a time stamp to be incorporated into a message. Thus, bandwidth is not wasted by simply transmitting a time stamp by itself. In an embodiment, the centralized controller device measures the time difference between the time at which a particular ranging request is transmitted and the time at which the particular ranging request is received. The time difference represents the time adjustment value for the particular subscriber device and allows the device to synchronize its time with that of the centralized controller device.

Abstract: A method for reducing the bandwidth required to transmit a data packet via a wireless network is provided. In an embodiment, the method includes generating a packet to be transmitted via the wireless network. Once a packet is generated, a packet a packet type of the packet to be transmitted via the wireless network is determined. Based on the packet type, a suppression rule is selectively applied to the packet to generate a suppressed packet. Applying the suppression rule includes suppressing at least a portion of the header of the packet and adding a descriptor associated with the header suppression rule to the packet. The method concludes with the transmittal of the suppressed packet via the wireless network.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for scheduling transmissions from a plurality of services operating over a widely distributed communications network. A headend communications device (such as a cable modem termination system) arbitrates bandwidth among a plurality of cable modems configurable for bidirectional communications. The headend grants a bandwidth region to a specified cable modem or assigns contention regions for a group of cable modems. Each cable modem contains a local scheduler that sends requests for bandwidth according to local policies or rules. Upon receipt of a grant from the headend, the local scheduler selects packets to be transmitted to best serve the needs of the services associated with the cable modem. Accordingly, a service requesting bandwidth may not be the service utilizing the grant corresponding to bandwidth request.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The wireless communication system includes a first group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with a base station in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with the base station in accordance with a second protocol. The base station includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of subscriber stations and routes transmissions from the first group of subscriber stations to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and routes transmissions from the second group of subscriber stations to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.

Abstract: A wireless communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The wireless communication system includes a first group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with a base station in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more subscriber stations that interface with the base station in accordance with a second protocol. The base station includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of subscriber stations and routes transmissions from the first group of subscriber stations to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and routes transmissions from the second group of subscriber stations to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.

Abstract: A supervisory communications node monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote devices throughout a widely distributed network. A method is provided to convey and maintain information used to synchronize the packetization and burst operations within the network. During session setup, jitter constraints indirectly are used to explicitly communicate a synchronization timing reference. The timing reference is set at the beginning of a phase/period boundary used to service the session. In an embodiment, the announcement of the first grant is used as an explicit indication of the synchronization timing reference value. In another embodiment, the synchronization timing reference value is inferred if a remote device receives contiguous voice grants meeting certain conditions. In an embodiment implementing periodic scheduling, the actual arrival of the first grant is used to infer the synchronization timing reference value.

Abstract: A two way communication system is adapted for compatible inter-operation of a plurality of devices operating in accordance with a plurality of protocols. The communication system includes a first group of one or more remote devices that interface with a local host in accordance with a first protocol and a second group of one or more remote devices that interface with the local host in accordance with a second protocol. The local host includes a protocol processor that identifies transmissions from the first and second groups of remote devices and routes transmissions from the first group of remote devices to a first processor operating in accordance with the first protocol and also routes transmissions from the second group of remote devices to a second processor operating in accordance with the second protocol.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing the efficiency of providing bandwidth for voice traffic to a data provider via wireless communication mediums is provided. This is generally accomplished by not transmitting any data during the silence periods and playing out background noise (i.e., comfort noise) at the other end, to obtain significant bandwidth savings.

Abstract: A method and system for combining requests for data bandwidth by a data source for transmission of data over a wireless communication medium is provided. A central node receives one or more bandwidths requests from one or more data sources via wireless communication. A scheduler then combines one or more bandwidths requests from the same data source to create a single data burst bandwidth. The central node then grants the data burst bandwidth to the appropriate data source via wireless communication.

Abstract: A point-to-multipoint network interface is provided that is simpler and less costly to implement than conventional Ethernet switches. The interface includes a plurality of downstream transmitters for transmitting data packets to a plurality of end user devices, a plurality of downstream receivers for receiving data packets from the plurality of end user devices, an upstream transmitter and an upstream receiver. A multiplexer within the interface multiplexes data packets received from the end user devices into a stream of data packets for transmission to a higher level node regardless of the destination address of the data packets. Conversely, a demultiplexer within the interface demultiplexes a stream of data packets received from the higher level node into individual data packets for selective transmission to one of the plurality of end user devices. The interface can support asymmetrical transmission rates on the upstream and downstream channels between the interface and the end user devices.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing the efficiency of providing bandwidth for voice traffic to a data provider via asynchronous communication mediums is provided. This is generally accomplished by not transmitting any data during the silence periods and playing out background noise (i.e., comfort noise) at the other end, to obtain significant bandwidth savings.