Patents by Inventor Bruce J. Currivan

Bruce J. Currivan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090215403
    Abstract: Signal processing under attenuated transmission conditions. Within an orthogonal signal space, the number of orthogonal signals that are used to transmit information from a transmitter to a receiver is reduced and the transmitted power of each of the now remaining orthogonal signals is modified; this may involve increasing the power of all of the remaining orthogonal signals equally or alternatively modifying them individually. The same modulation used before the reduction may also be used afterwards; within communication systems having multiple transmitter-receiver paths, this will ensure that the communication system's throughput and efficiency will remain unchanged even when one (or more) transmitter-receiver paths are highly attenuated. In addition, robust mode operation is provided for ranging and registering of transmitter devices when entering the communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Daniel H. Howard, Gottfried Ungerboeck
  • Patent number: 7567638
    Abstract: A filter settings generation operation includes sampling a communication channel to produce a sampled signal. The sampled signal is spectrally characterized across a frequency band of interest to produce a spectral characterization of the sampled signal. This spectral characterization may not include a signal of interest. The spectral characterization is then modified to produce a modified spectral characterization. Filter settings are then generated based upon the modified spectral characterization. Finally, the communication channel is filtered using the filter settings when the signal of interest is present on the communication channel. In modifying the spectral characterization, pluralities of spectral characteristics of the spectral characterization are independently modified to produce the modified spectral characterization. Modifications to the spectral characterization may be performed in the frequency domain and/or the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan, Jonathan S. Min, Eric J. Ojard, James Chi Thi, Daniel Howard
  • Publication number: 20090161782
    Abstract: Characterizing channel response based on composite gain determination. Based on tracked amplitude modulation (e.g., which may be hum modulation), compensation for amplitude modulation is applied across all orthogonal signal components of a non-time based orthogonal coded signal. Some examples of such non-time based orthogonal coded signals include an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, a synchronous code division multiple access (S-CDMA) signal, or a code division multiple access (CDMA) signal, etc. The compensation may be applied to the signal across multiple frames, on a frame by frame basis, or intra-frame (i.e., changing and compensating differently within a frame). This compensation for amplitude modulation may be applied in conjunction with adaptive equalization in which different filter taps are applied to each respective orthogonal signal component of the signal. Also, automatic gain control (AGC) may be performed (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Publication number: 20090129484
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to map a sequence of data to Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) constellation symbols. The method and apparatus encodes only a portion of the sequence of data and leaves a remaining portion of the sequence of data unencoded. The encoded portion of the sequence of data and the remaining unencoded portion of the sequence of data are then mapped into modulation symbols of the QAM constellation. The encoded portion of the sequence of data selects subsets of the QAM constellation, and the remaining unencoded portion of the sequence of data determines a specific modulation symbol within each subset of the QAM constellation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Lin HE, Thomas J. Kolze, Ba-Zhong Shen, Gottfried Ungerboeck, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Publication number: 20090122846
    Abstract: Enhanced channel changing within multi-channel communication systems. A CMTS directs channel changing of a CM, sometimes between upstream data bursts. Logical channels, part of a single frequency channel, may be used, and the channel changing may be performed between those logical channels. Multiple upstream burst profiles and/or modulation densities may be used providing high degrees of robustness, fidelity, and throughput and allowing great channel flexibility. A CM may be switched between channels without losing transmitter capability. Even if some throughput rate may be sacrificed during the channel changing, the CM will still be able to continue data throughput. Then, the new channel may then undergo the initialization and ranging processes thereby enabling greater throughput on that new channel. After undergoing the initialization and ranging processes, the new channel will then be a fully equivalent member of the CM communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Patent number: 7529289
    Abstract: Signal processing under attenuated transmission conditions. Within an orthogonal signal space, the number of orthogonal signals that are used to transmit information from a transmitter to a receiver is reduced and the transmitted power of each of the now remaining orthogonal signals is modified; this may involve increasing the power of all of the remaining orthogonal signals equally or alternatively modifying them individually. The same modulation used before the reduction may also be used afterwards; within communication systems having multiple transmitter-receiver paths, this will ensure that the communication system's throughput and efficiency will remain unchanged even when one (or more) transmitter-receiver paths are highly attenuated. In addition, robust mode operation is provided for ranging and registering of transmitter devices when entering the communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Daniel H. Howard, Gottfried Ungerboeck
  • Publication number: 20090103669
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed to compensate for interference and/or distortion impressed onto a transmitted communication signal in the presence of one or more time-varying noise and/or interference conditions. A communications receiver includes a noise analyzer to characterize the composition of the interference and/or the distortion impressed onto a transmitted communication signal in the presence of one or more time-varying noise and/or interference conditions. The noise analyzer produces a selection signal indicating the composition of the interference and/or the distortion impressed onto a transmitted communication signal in the presence of one or more time-varying noise and/or interference conditions to be used by the communications receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Publication number: 20080298437
    Abstract: A communication system performs burst noise cancellation. A transmitter produces and transmits a spread signal that comprises at least one known-value symbol spread by a plurality of non data-carrying orthogonal codes and data symbols spread by at least one data-carrying orthogonal code. The transmitter transmits the spread signal across a communication link that introduces burst noise. A burst noise detector determines burst noise affected chips of the orthogonal codes. A weight computation functional block calculates a plurality of complex-valued combining weights based upon the burst noise affected chips. A vector de-spreader and a linear combiner operate in combination to use the plurality of non data-carrying orthogonal codes, the at least one data-carrying orthogonal code, and the plurality of complex-valued combining weights to de-spread the received spread signal to produce the data symbols with the burst noise substantially removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: BROADCOM CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRUCE J. CURRIVAN, NABIL R. YOUSEF, THOMAS J. KOLZE, GOTTFRIED UNGERBOECK
  • Publication number: 20080291980
    Abstract: Cancellation of interference in a communication system with application to S-CDMA. A relatively straight-forward implemented and computationally efficient approach of selecting a predetermined number of unused codes is used to perform weighted linear combination selectively with each of the input spread signals in a multiple access communication system. If desired, the predetermined number of unused codes is always the same in each implementation. Alternatively, the predetermined number of unused codes is selected from within a reordered code matrix using knowledge that is shared between the two ends of a communication system, such as between the CMs and a CMTS. While the context of an S-CDMA communication system having CMs and a CMTS is used, the solution is generally applicable to any communication system that seeks to cancel narrowband interference. Several embodiments are also described that show the generic applicability of the solution across a wide variety of systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation, a California Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Gottfried Ungerboeck, Nabil R. Yousef
  • Patent number: 7457351
    Abstract: Cancellation of interference in a communication system with application to S-CDMA. A relatively straight-forward implemented and computationally efficient approach of selecting a predetermined number of unused codes is used to perform weighted linear combination selectively with each of the input spread signals in a multiple access communication system. If desired, the predetermined number of unused codes is always the same in each implementation. Alternatively, the predetermined number of unused codes is selected from within a reordered code matrix using knowledge that is shared between the two ends of a communication system, such as between the CMs and a CMTS. While the context of an S-CDMA communication system having CMs and a CMTS is used, the solution is generally applicable to any communication system that seeks to cancel narrowband interference. Several embodiments are also described that show the generic applicability of the solution across a wide variety of systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Gottfried Ungerboeck, Nabil R. Yousef
  • Patent number: 7457352
    Abstract: Cancellation of interference in a communication system with application to S-CDMA. A relatively straight-forward implemented and computationally efficient approach of selecting a predetermined number of unused codes is used to perform weighted linear combination selectively with each of the input spread signals in a multiple access communication system. If desired, the predetermined number of unused codes is always the same in each implementation. Alternatively, the predetermined number of unused codes is selected from within a reordered code matrix using knowledge that is shared between the two ends of a communication system, such as between the CMs and a CMTS. While the context of an S-CDMA communication system having CMs and a CMTS is used, the solution is generally applicable to any communication system that seeks to cancel narrowband interference. Several embodiments are also described that show the generic applicability of the solution across a wide variety of systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Gottfried Ungerboeck, Nabil R. Yousef
  • Patent number: 7415061
    Abstract: A communication system performs burst noise cancellation. A transmitter produces and transmits a spread signal that comprises at least one known-value symbol spread by a plurality of non data-carrying orthogonal codes and data symbols spread by at least one data-carrying orthogonal code. The transmitter transmits the spread signal across a communication link that introduces burst noise. A burst noise detector determines burst noise affected chips of the orthogonal codes. A weight computation functional block calculates a plurality of complex-valued combining weights based upon the burst noise affected chips. A vector de-spreader and a linear combiner operate in combination to use the plurality of non data-carrying orthogonal codes, the at least one data-carrying orthogonal code, and the plurality of complex-valued combining weights to de-spread the received spread signal to produce the data symbols with the burst noise substantially removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Nabil R. Yousef, Thomas J. Kolze, Gottfried Ungerboeck
  • Publication number: 20080187038
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to compensate for non-linear effects resulting from the transmitter, the receiver, and/or the communication channel in a communication system. A receiver of the communication system contains an image cancellation module that compensates for images generated during the modulation and/or demodulation process. The image cancellation module includes a fine carrier correction loop to correct for frequency offsets between the transmitter and receiver. The image cancellation module includes a coarse acquisition mode and a decision directed mode. The decision directed mode allows for a larger signal-to-noise ratio for the receiver when compared against the coarse acquisition mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Loke Kun Tan, Thomas Joseph Kolze, Hanli Zou, Lin He
  • Patent number: 7403578
    Abstract: A method of parameter estimation in a shared channel communications system includes the steps of receiving a preamble including a first sequence corresponding to a sequence having zero autocorrelation, a second sequence having zero autocorrelation, and a third sequence having zero autocorrelation, performing a coarse carrier frequency estimate based on the first sequence, and performing a fine carrier frequency estimate based on the second and third sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Min, Fang Lu, Bruce J. Currivan, Tom Kwon
  • Patent number: 7359332
    Abstract: Enhanced DOCSIS upstream channel changes. A CMTS directs channel changing of a CM, sometimes between upstream data bursts. Logical channels, part of a single frequency channel, may be used, and the channel changing may be performed between those logical channels. Multiple upstream burst profiles and/or modulation densities may be used providing high degrees of robustness, fidelity, and throughput and allowing great channel flexibility. A CM may be switched between channels without losing transmitter capability. Even if some throughput rate may be sacrificed during the channel changing, the CM will still be able to continue data throughput. Then, the new channel may then undergo the initialization and ranging processes thereby enabling greater throughput on that new channel. After undergoing the initialization and ranging processes, the new channel will then be a fully equivalent member of the CM communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Patent number: 7327809
    Abstract: The present invention relates a system and method for mitigating impairment in a communication system. In one embodiment, the system includes a transmitter adapted to transmit at least one signal and a receiver adapted to receive the at least one signal and mitigate inter code interference in the signal using at least one inter code interference coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Patent number: 7313122
    Abstract: “Multiple approaches are presented herein to perform CFO correction within CDMA systems having multiple users. Any communication receiver may be adapted to perform the CFO correction in this manner CDM. One approach assumes a diagonal CFO matrix to decouple the different codes' soft symbol decisions, and each soft symbol decision is independently corrected to obtain hard decisions. Another approach employs direct CFO matrix inversion and multiplies it by a despread soft symbol decision vector to obtain corrected soft symbol decisions. Another approach first performs a single-user correction on the despread soft symbol decisions so, which are then sliced to obtain initial hard decisions. In the next step of this particular approach the initial hard decisions are multiplied by the CFO coefficients to obtain an estimate for the undesired ICI, which is then subtracted from the despread soft symbol decisions to obtain cleaner soft symbol decisions, which then can undergo slicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Nabil R. Yousef, Jonathan S. Min, Bruce J. Currivan
  • Publication number: 20070263754
    Abstract: Hardware allocation techniques are described for use in a multi-channel communication environment. The techniques may be used to reduce the number of gates needed for processing and/or to improve the efficiency and/or speed of a communication system. For example, resources that are under-utilized may be removed or allocated to another operation or user. In an exemplary implementation, a receiver includes a plurality of signal processing modules corresponding to respective channels and a hardware allocation module. The hardware allocation module allocates resources in the signal processing modules based on utilization of at least one of the resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: November 15, 2007
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Loke K. Tan, Hanli Zou, Johnathan S. Min
  • Patent number: 7218694
    Abstract: A filter settings generation operation includes sampling a communication channel to produce a sampled signal. The sampled signal is spectrally characterized across a frequency band of interest to produce a spectral characterization of the sampled signal. This spectral characterization may not include a signal of interest. The spectral characterization is then modified to produce a modified spectral characterization. Filter settings are then generated based upon the modified spectral characterization. Finally, the communication channel is filtered using the filter settings when the signal of interest is present on the communication channel. In modifying the spectral characterization, pluralities of spectral characteristics of the spectral characterization are independently modified to produce the modified spectral characterization. Modifications to the spectral characterization may be performed in the frequency domain and/or the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kolze, Bruce J. Currivan, Jonathan S. Min, Eric Ojard, James Chi Thi, Daniel Howard
  • Patent number: 7215700
    Abstract: Cancellation of interference in a communication system with application to S-CDMA. A relatively straight-forward implemented and computationally efficient approach of selecting a predetermined number of unused codes is used to perform weighted linear combination selectively with each of the input spread signals in a multiple access communication system. If desired, the predetermined number of unused codes is always the same in each implementation. Alternatively, the predetermined number of unused codes is selected from within a reordered code matrix using knowledge that is shared between the two ends of a communication system, such as between the CMs and a CMTS. While the context of an S-CDMA communication system having CMs and a CMTS is used, the solution is generally applicable to any communication system that seeks to cancel narrowband interference. Several embodiments are also described that show the generic applicability of the solution across a wide variety of systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce J. Currivan, Thomas J. Kolze, Gottfried Ungerboeck, Nabil R. Yousef