Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for delivering information over time-varying networks. In one embodiment, the method comprises, for each of a plurality of time intervals, determining a virtual network topology for use over each time interval; selecting for the time interval based on the virtual network topology, a fixed network code for use during the time interval; and coding information to be transmitted over the time-varying network topology using the fixed network code with necessary virtual buffering at each node.

Abstract: The present invention provides for adaptive and multimode decoding, in a data packet-based communication system, to provide improved received signal quality in the presence of burst erasures or random bit errors, with particular suitability for real-time, delay sensitive applications, such as voice over Internet Protocol. In the presence of burst erasures, the adaptive multimode decoder of the present invention provides burst erasure correction decoding, preferably utilizes a maximally short (MS) burst erasure correcting code, which has a comparatively short decoding delay. Depending upon the level of such burst erasures, different rate MS codes may be utilized, or other codes may be utilized, such as hybrid or multidescriptive codes. When no burst erasures are detected, the adaptive multimode decoder of the present invention provides random bit error correction decoding, in lieu of or in addition to corresponding burst erasure correction coding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coding and decoding a sequence of data packets with use of a novel class of forward error correcting codes having coding rates greater than 1/2 which nonetheless provide relatively high levels of channel protection against burst erasures with a relatively low decoding delay. In accordance with certain illustrative encoder embodiments of the present invention, the source information contained in each of a plurality of packets to be coded is similarly divided into a plurality of (similar) corresponding portions, and “checksums” are computed over multiple data packets, each such checksum being based on different (i.e., non-corresponding) portions of at least two of the multiple packets. These “checksums” are then advantageously appended to various subsequent data packets to be coded.

Abstract: The present invention provides for adaptive and multimode decoding, in a data packet-based communication system, to provide improved received signal quality in the presence of burst erasures or random bit errors, with particular suitability for real-time, delay sensitive applications, such as voice over Internet Protocol. In the presence of burst erasures, the adaptive multimode decoder of the present invention provides burst erasure correction decoding, preferably utilizes a maximally short (MS) burst erasure correcting code, which has a comparatively short decoding delay. Depending upon the level of such burst erasures, different rate MS codes may be utilized, or other codes may be utilized, such as hybrid or multidescriptive codes. When no burst erasures are detected, the adaptive multimode decoder of the present invention provides random bit error correction decoding, in lieu of or in addition to corresponding burst erasure correction coding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the runlength of dropped packets in multiple access cellular communication systems. The invention is particularly well suited for use in time-division multiple access (TDMA) systems such as, for example, shared time-division duplexing (STDD) systems, and TDMA/TDD systems with speech activity detection (SAD). Frame time or frequency slots for communicating information are allocated to a first set of active users. A second set of active users which are not allocated a slot in a given frame are identified. At least one of the users in the second set which remains active in a subsequent frame is provided with a priority in obtaining an allocated slot in the subsequent frame. In one embodiment, the slots allocated to particular active users in the given frame are shifted by at least one slot position if the same users are allocated slots in the subsequent frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing co-channel interference in multiple-access cellular communication systems in which frame time or frequency slots are allocated between uplink and downlink. An omnidirectional antenna or a set of directional antennas are used in each cell base station to communicate with users. The frame slots in which the antennas communicate uplink and downlink information are arranged in accordance with a predetermined frame organization to reduce mixed co-channel interference (CCI). Mixed CCI occurs when a downlink transmission from one base station antenna in a given cell interferes with uplink reception in another base station antenna in a frequency reuse (FR) cell. A potentially-interfering antenna in a given cell is therefore directed to transmit downlink information in a different portion of the frame than that in which a potentially-interfered-with antenna in the frequency reuse cell receives uplink information.

Abstract: We have invented methods of and devices for introducing unequal error protection into spread spectrum communication systems. One embodiment of the invention addresses certain inefficiencies of the standard known as IS-95 used, for example, in some mobile direct sequence code division multiple access ("DS-CDMA") phone systems. The invention allows for increased system capacity and/or improved quality. More specifically, spread spectrum multiple access ("SSMA") coding may be combined with the concept of unequal error protection ("UEP"), resulting in an UEP SSMA coding process. IS-95, in order to make significant portions of a signal highly immune to errors, has imposed the same high degree of error immunity on less significant portions of the signal (when, in fact, a lower degree would suffice) and, thus, wastes bandwidth. The present invention's coding process (i.e., UEP SSMA) utilizes bandwidth in a closer to optimal manner than known methods.

Abstract: A family of extended Generalized Viterbi Algorithm (GVA) and Soft Output Viterbi Algorithm (SOVA) decoders is disclosed. In one embodiment structural aspects of a SOVA are used to develop a new implementation for a serial GVA. Another aspect of the invention provides a low complexity SOVA that generates a reliability measure for decoded information using a list output of the GVA. In a further aspect, reliability information from a SOVA is used to develop a low complexity GVA.

Abstract: A method of tailored error protection coding is disclosed. An illustrative coding method according to the present invention concerns encoding a first signal and a second signal to provide error protection for the signals, wherein the first signal requires greater error protection than the second signal. According to the method, the first signal is encoded with a first error protection code. The encoded first signal is then combined with the second signal. The combination of the encoded first signal and the second signal is further encoded with a second error protection code to generate a combined error protected signal, wherein the first signal is coded with both the first and second error protection codes. A second embodiment concerns the use of separate coders which apply different error protection codes to two signals. The two encoded signals are then combined into a single signal.

Abstract: A low delay multiple access scheme called Shared Time-Division Duplexing (STDD), allows both uplink and downlink voice traffic to share a common channel. The scheme contains separate uplink and downlink control channels and a common voice information channel. The control channels comprise means for signalling voice requirements and acknowledgements of the time slot allocation. Using speech activity detection only, talk spurt speech packets are generated for transmission. STDD dynamically allocates time slots in the common information channel taking advantage of coordinated two-way conversations to achieve high statistical multiplexing gain and more efficient realization of the common information channel.

Abstract: Branchwood signals are generated by a tailbiting convolutional coder. The receiver stores received branchword signals in memory such that the branchword signals are accessible in a logically circular sequence. The receiver then performs Viterbi updates on the logically circular sequence of branchwords, the sequence comprising more than N branchwords. The receiver stops performing Viterbi updates in response to an indication that update decisions have become repetitive. A set of generated decision vectors resulting from the Viterbi updates is then modified in response to the indication. A decoded signal is generated by performing a Viterbi traceback procedure using the modified set of decision vectors. The indication that Viterbi update decisions have become repetitive may be provided by a predetermined fixed number of Viterbi updates, the number reflecting an estimate of when said update decisions will likely become repetitive.

Abstract: Information is transmitted in digital form over fading channels using DPSK coded modulation incorporating multi-level coding in order to provide unequal error protection for different classes of data such as generated by CELP or other speech encoders.

Abstract: A data transmission system and method for processing speech, image and other data disclosed which embodies parallel- and serial-generalized Viterbi decoding algorithms (GVA) that produce a rank ordered list of the L best candidates after a trellis search. Error detection is performed by identifying unreliable sequences through comparison of the likelihood metrics of the two or more most likely sequences. Unreliable sequences are re-estimated using inter-frame redundancy or retransmission.

Abstract: An apparatus for smoothing transmission errors in a receiver in order to compensate for digital errors occurring in a transmitted signal. The apparatus includes a device to generate an output signal, which corresponds to the signal transmitted by the transmitter with a high degree of probability. The device includes a device in which a predetermined number of bits are detected and an evaluation is made whether each received bit exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold value. For each bit or group of bits which is detected and falls below said threshold value, the redundancy of bits in the signal is used to determine the correct value of the detected low value bit. From this, a bit signal is generated which more closely corresponds to the value of the bit transmitted by the transmitter than to the received value.