Abstract: A method includes appending a preamble to a data packet and transmitting the preamble and data packet over a communication channel in the network. The preamble may be a Beacon, Admission, Broadcast, or High-Throughput Preamble. The Beacon Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CEBeacon, CEBeacon. The Admission Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The Broadcast Preamble includes the following symbols LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The high-throughput preamble includes the following symbols CP0, CE. The SS symbol includes 64 bits, the LS1, LS2, and CP0 symbols include 192 bits, the CE symbol includes 512 bits, and the CEBeacon symbol is a subset of CE.

Abstract: A particular overall architecture for transmission over a bonded channel system consisting of two interconnected MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) 2.0 SoCs (Systems on a Chip) and a method and apparatus for the case of a “bonded” channel network. With a bonded channel network, the data is divided into two segments, the first of which is transported over a primary channel and the second of which is transported over a secondary channel.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for probing a communication channel. These systems and methods transmit an error vector probe packet from a first transmitter while a second transmitter is active and transmitting. A network device may receive the error vector probe packet and measure an error vector magnitude based on the received error vector probe packet. Using the error vector magnitude, the network device estimates channel characteristics such as signal-to-noise ratio, data capacity, etc. The transmission can occur when more than one transmitter is active and transmitting. At least some of the other transmitters are active and transmit an analog zero signal, e.g., all digital zeros on the input to the digital-to-analog converter of a network device when an error vector probe packet is transmitted.

Abstract: A particular overall architecture for transmission over a bonded channel system consisting of two interconnected MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) 2.0 SoCs (“Systems on a Chip) and a method and apparatus for the case of a “bonded” channel network. With a bonded channel network, the data is divided into two segments, the first of which is transported over a primary channel and the second of which is transported over a secondary channel.

Abstract: A network controller receives data substantially simultaneously from multiple client nodes. The network controller assigns to each client node one or more sub-carriers of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access frequency spectrum. The client nodes transmit substantially simultaneously M LDPC codewords that are encoded in a parity check matrix so that the number of rows m? depend on the code rate and are mapped on its assigned sub-carriers. The network controller computes a bit log-likelihood ratio for each received bit of the codewords and arranges the bit LLR by codeword to align with an equivalent parity check matrix. The network controller decodes the codewords with the equivalent parity check matrix.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, systems and methods are provided that utilize extra payload capacity present in a symbol pad of a PHY payload to decrease the coding rate of an FEC coding scheme without increasing the symbol rate or decreasing the PHY rate of a corresponding data transmission. If a symbol pad length that would result from encoding a MAC frame using a default coding scheme would be at least as great as a parity length of the default coding scheme, and a new coding scheme maintaining the same parity length but having a reduced information bit length may be determined and used to encode the MAC frame. Owing the reduced information bit length, the new coding scheme has a reduced coding rate, but maintains the same number of OFDM symbols as the default coding scheme.

Abstract: According to various embodiments of the disclosure, systems, methods and apparatuses are provided for using ranging to improve network efficiency. In particular, various embodiments of the disclosure provide ranging to improve local clock time synchronization. According to one embodiment, a method for synchronizing a plurality of nodes on a communication network is provided, comprising: exchanging local clock times between a first node and a second node over the communication network; performing a ranging method between the first and second nodes based on the local clock times exchanged between the first and second nodes, wherein the ranging method results in an estimated propagation delay between the first and second nodes; and adjusting the local clock times of the first and second nodes based on the estimated propagation delay, thereby resulting in a synchronized local clock time at the first and second nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow multiple transmitting network devices to transmit under an orthogonal frequency divisional multiple access (OFDMA) mode to a receiving network device. The multiple transmitting network devices may be configured to perform constellation scrambling on the symbols they will be transmitting using a predetermined scrambling sequence. They may be further configured to synchronize their use of the sequence, for example, by advancing the sequence for each available subcarrier, such that the receiving device may view the payload as if it were sent by a single transmitter. Accordingly, these multiple transmissions may be descrambled using only one instance of a sequence generator.

Abstract: A method includes appending a preamble to a data packet and transmitting the preamble and data packet over a communication channel in the network. The preamble may be a Beacon, Admission, Broadcast, or High-Throughput Preamble. The Beacon Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CEBeacon, CEBeacon. The Admission Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The Broadcast Preamble includes the following symbols LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The high-throughput preamble includes the following symbols CP0, CE. The SS symbol includes 64 bits, the LS1, LS2, and CP0 symbols include 192 bits, the CE symbol includes 512 bits, and the CEBeacon symbol is a subset of CE.

Abstract: A particular overall architecture for transmission over a bonded channel system consisting of two interconnected MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) 2.0 SoCs (Systems on a Chip) and a method and apparatus for the case of a “bonded” channel network. With a bonded channel network, the data is divided into two segments, the first of which is transported over a primary channel and the second of which is transported over a secondary channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing channel equalization in a communication system are presented. More particularly, embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus are directed toward systems and methods for performing channel equalization in an OFDM system. One example of a method of negating the effects of IQ imbalance can include the operations of transmitting a channel estimation string across a channel. The channel estimation string comprises a plurality of known channel estimation symbols. The method further includes logically inverting predetermined symbols within the known channel estimation string; transmitting a second channel estimation string across the channel, the second channel estimation string including the logically inverted predetermined symbols; and estimating the IQ image noise based on received first and second channel estimation symbols.

Abstract: A method includes appending a preamble to a data packet and transmitting the preamble and data packet over a communication channel in the network. The preamble may be a Beacon, Admission, Broadcast, or High-Throughput Preamble. The Beacon Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CEBeacon, CEBeacon. The Admission Preamble includes the following symbols SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, SS, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The Broadcast Preamble includes the following symbols LS1, LS1, LS1, LS1, CP0, CE, CE. The high-throughput preamble includes the following symbols CP0, CE. The SS symbol includes 64 bits, the LS1, LS2, and CP0 symbols include 192 bits, the CE symbol includes 512 bits, and the CEBeacon symbol is a subset of CE.

Abstract: A particular overall architecture for transmission over a bonded channel system consisting of two interconnected MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) 2.0 SoCs (“Systems on a Chip) and a method and apparatus for the case of a “bonded” channel network. With a bonded channel network, the data is divided into two segments, the first of which is transported over a primary channel and the second of which is transported over a secondary channel.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a predetermined length of information, the information including a first MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) being of variable length and including at least one Sub-MPDU; independently decoding the first Sub-MPDU and a plurality of additional portions of the received information, each portion having a length equal to the length of one Sub-MPDU; processing data from the first Sub-MPDU; and determining from the processed data how many of the other decoded portions constitute Sub-MPDUs of the received MPDU.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for channel estimation. These systems and methods (a) determine a coherence bandwidth for the channel, (b) adapt the channel estimation based on the coherence bandwidth, and (c) perform channel estimation by transmitting a channel estimation symbol over a channel. In some embodiments, the channel estimation is adapted based on the coherence bandwidth. This may include selecting a number of channel estimation symbols to transmit in a packet. Additionally, the number of channel estimation symbols transmitted in a packet can be selected by increasing the number of channel estimation symbols when the coherence bandwidth of the channel is high or decreasing the number of channel estimation symbols when the coherence bandwidth of the channel is low.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for probing a communication channel. These systems and methods transmit an error vector probe packet from a first transmitter while a second transmitter is active and transmitting. A network device may receive the error vector probe packet and measure an error vector magnitude based on the received error vector probe packet. Using the error vector magnitude, the network device estimates channel characteristics such as signal-to-noise ratio, data capacity, etc. The transmission can occur when more than one transmitter is active and transmitting. At least some of the other transmitters are active and transmit an analog zero signal, e.g., all digital zeros on the input to the digital-to-analog converter of a network device when an error vector probe packet is transmitted.

Abstract: A network controller receives data substantially simultaneously from multiple client nodes. The network controller assigns to each client node one or more sub-carriers of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access frequency spectrum. The client nodes transmit substantially simultaneously M LDPC codewords that are encoded in a parity check matrix so that the number of rows m? depend on the code rate and are mapped on its assigned sub-carriers. The network controller computes a bit log-likelihood ratio for each received bit of the codewords and arranges the bit LLR by codeword to align with an equivalent parity check matrix. The network controller decodes the codewords with the equivalent parity check matrix.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the disclosed method and apparatus, systems and methods are provided that utilize extra payload capacity present in a symbol pad of a PHY payload to decrease the coding rate of an FEC coding scheme without increasing the symbol rate or decreasing the PHY rate of a corresponding data transmission. If a symbol pad length that would result from encoding a MAC frame using a default coding scheme would be at least as great as a parity length of the default coding scheme, and a new coding scheme maintaining the same parity length but having a reduced information bit length may be determined and used to encode the MAC frame. Owing the reduced information bit length, the new coding scheme has a reduced coding rate, but maintains the same number of OFDM symbols as the default coding scheme.

Abstract: According to various embodiments of the disclosure, systems, methods and apparatuses are provided for using ranging to improve network efficiency. In particular, various embodiments of the disclosure provide ranging to improve local clock time synchronization. According to one embodiment, a method for synchronizing a plurality of nodes on a communication network is provided, comprising: exchanging local clock times between a first node and a second node over the communication network; performing a ranging method between the first and second nodes based on the local clock times exchanged between the first and second nodes, wherein the ranging method results in an estimated propagation delay between the first and second nodes; and adjusting the local clock times of the first and second nodes based on the estimated propagation delay, thereby resulting in a synchronized local clock time at the first and second nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow multiple transmitting network devices to transmit under an orthogonal frequency divisional multiple access (OFDMA) mode to a receiving network device. The multiple transmitting network devices may be configured to perform constellation scrambling on the symbols they will be transmitting using a predetermined scrambling sequence. They may be further configured to synchronize their use of the sequence, for example, by advancing the sequence for each available subcarrier, such that the receiving device may view the payload as if it were sent by a single transmitter. Accordingly, these multiple transmissions may be descrambled using only one instance of a sequence generator.