Abstract: Communications signal transcoder. A solution is provided to transcode a signal from a first signal type to a second signal type to ensure proper interfacing between devices that may operate using different signal types. For example, within a communication system, a first signal type (having a first modulation type, e.g., 8 PSK) may be received. The transcoder then ensures that this signal, after it has undergone any initial processing (such as tuning, down-converting, decoding, and so on), is encoded into a second signal type (having a second modulation type, e.g., QPSK) such that it can interface properly with a device for which the received signal is intended. This transcoder functionality may be implemented within discrete components, or it may alternatively be integrated within a functional block of an integrated circuit. This functionality may be implemented in a variety of communication systems including satellite, cable television, Internet, and others.

Abstract: Sparse channel equalization may be achieved by receiving a signal via a multi-path communication channel. The equalization then continues by extracting sparse information regarding the multiple path communication channel from the signal. Such sparse information generally indicates the position of the signals received via each of the multiple paths. The equalization then continues by estimating a channel response of the multiple path communication channel based on the sparse information. The equalization then continues by generating equalization taps (or coefficients) based on the channel response. The equalization then continues by equalizing the signal based on the equalization taps.

Abstract: Communications signal transcoder. A solution is provided to transcode a signal from a first signal type to a second signal type to ensure proper interfacing between devices that may operate using different signal types. For example, within a communication system, a first signal type (having a first modulation type, e.g., 8 PSK) may be received. The transcoder then ensures that this signal, after it has undergone any initial processing (such as tuning, down-converting, decoding, and so on), is encoded into a second signal type (having a second modulation type, e.g., QPSK) such that it can interface properly with a device for which the received signal is intended. This transcoder functionality may be implemented within discrete components, or it may alternatively be integrated within a functional block of an integrated circuit. This functionality may be implemented in a variety of communication systems including satellite, cable television, Internet, and others.

Abstract: Communications signal transcoder. A solution is provided to transcode a signal from a first signal type to a second signal type to ensure proper interfacing between devices that may operate using different signal types. For example, within a communication system, a first signal type (having a first modulation type, e.g., 8 PSK) may be received. The transcoder then ensures that this signal, after it has undergone any initial processing (such as tuning, down-converting, decoding, and so on), is encoded into a second signal type (having a second modulation type, e.g., QPSK) such that it can interface properly with a device for which the received signal is intended. This transcoder functionality may be implemented within discrete components, or it may alternatively be integrated within a functional block of an integrated circuit. This functionality may be implemented in a variety of communication systems including satellite, cable television, Internet, and others.

Abstract: Determination of equalizer coefficients from a sparse channel estimate begins by determining location of significant taps based on the sparse channel estimate of a multiple path communication channel. The sparse channel estimate indicates the positioning of signals received via the various multiple paths of the channel. The method then continues by determining feed-forward equalization coefficients based on the location of the significant taps. The method then continues by determining feedback equalization coefficients based on the feed-forward equalization coefficients and the sparse channel estimate.

Abstract: Determination of equalizer coefficients from a sparse channel estimate begins by determining location of significant taps based on the sparse channel estimate of a multiple path communication channel. The sparse channel estimate indicates the positioning of signals received via the various multiple paths of the channel. The method then continues by determining feed-forward equalization coefficients based on the location of the significant taps. The method then continues by determining feedback equalization coefficients based on the feed-forward equalization coefficients and the sparse channel estimate.

Abstract: Sparse channel equalization may be achieved by receiving a signal via a multi-path communication channel. The equalization then continues by extracting sparse information regarding the multiple path communication channel from the signal. Such sparse information generally indicates the position of the signals received via each of the multiple paths. The equalization then continues by estimating a channel response of the multiple path communication channel based on the sparse information. The equalization then continues by generating equalization taps (or coefficients) based on the channel response. The equalization then continues by equalizing the signal based on the equalization taps.

Abstract: Communications signal transcoder. A solution is provided to transcode a signal from a first signal type to a second signal type to ensure proper interfacing between devices that may operate using different signal types. For example, within a communication system, a first signal type (having a first modulation type, e.g., 8 PSK) may be received. The transcoder then ensures that this signal, after it has undergone any initial processing (such as tuning, down-converting, decoding, and so on), is encoded into a second signal type (having a second modulation type, e.g., QPSK) such that it can interface properly with a device for which the received signal is intended. This transcoder functionality may be implemented within discrete components, or it may alternatively be integrated within a functional block of an integrated circuit. This functionality may be implemented in a variety of communication systems including satellite, cable television, Internet, and others.

Abstract: In a digital television signal processing system, a special codeword, a Packet Alignment Flag (PAF), is inserted into an MPEG codeword bitstream to signify the presence of a Group of Pictures (GOP). The PAF immediately precedes a Picture Start codeword for an "I" frame, which initiates a GOP. A data packet under construction when a PAF appears is terminated since a GOP is intended to begin at a packet boundary. Such termination may result in an abbreviated packet of MPEG codewords less than a prescribed number of bits needed to complete a data packet. The last word of each packet is designated as such to facilitate the subsequent combining of data packets with respective headers. An incomplete data packet is filled with null (zeroed bits) words to make up a complete data packet with a prescribed number of bits.

Abstract: In a digital television signal processing system, a special codeword, a Packet Alignment Flag (PAF), is inserted into an MPEG codeword bitstream to signify the presence of a Group of Pictures (GOP). The PAF immediately precedes a Picture Start codeword for an "I" frame, which initiates a GOP. A data packet under construction when a PAF appears is terminated since a GOP is intended to begin at a packet boundary. Such termination may result in an abbreviated packet of less than a prescribed number of codewords needed to complete a data packet. The last word of each packet is designated as such to facilitate the subsequent combining of data packets with respective headers. An incomplete data packet is filled with null (zeroed bits) words to make up a complete data packet with a prescribed number of words.