Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Nicol

Christopher J. Nicol 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).

  • Patent number: 7127664
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a single unified decoder for performing both convolutional decoding and turbo decoding in the one architecture. The unified decoder can be partitioned dynamically to perform required decoding operations on varying numbers of data streams at different throughput rates. It also supports simultaneous decoding of voice (convolutional decoding) and data (turbo decoding) streams. This invention forms the basis of a decoder that can decode all of the standards for TDMA, IS-95, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and CDMA2000. Processors are stacked together and interconnected so that they can perform separately as separate decoders or in harmony as a single high speed decoder. The unified decoder architecture can support multiple data streams and multiple voice streams simultaneously. Furthermore, the decoder can be dynamically partitioned as required to decode voice streams for different standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nicol, Mark Andrew Bickerstaff, Bing Xu, Ran-Hong Yan
  • Patent number: 7069290
    Abstract: In the multiplier, a partial product circuit generates a partial product based on a multiplicand operand and outputs of a Booth recoder circuit, which operates on a multiplier operand. The partial product circuit ANDs the multiplicand with a zero Booth recoded output, which indicates whether to zero out the multiplicand. An enable circuit selectively enables the multiplier circuit, and more particularly, disables the multiplier circuit by making the zero Booth recoded output indicate to zero out the multiplicand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David Garrett, Geoff Knagge, Christopher J. Nicol
  • Patent number: 6865710
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a butterfly processor capable of performing convolutional decoding and LogMAP decoding in telecommunications systems. First and second add-compare-select modules are provided for receiving input path metrics. A branch metric calculator is also provided for receiving input data and extrinsic data. The branch metric calculator generates output branch metrics to each of the first and second add-compare-select modules. Each of the add-compare-select modules includes a log-sum correction means coupled to compare and select components. A controllable switch selectively couples outputs of the select components and the log-sum corrections means to enable either one of convolutional or LogMAP decoding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Bickerstaff, Bing Xu, Christopher J. Nicol
  • Publication number: 20030208519
    Abstract: In the multiplier, a partial product circuit generates a partial product based on a multiplicand operand and outputs of a Booth recoder circuit, which operates on a multiplier operand. The partial product circuit ANDs the multiplicand with a zero Booth recoded output, which indicates whether to zero out the multiplicand. An enable circuit selectively enables the multiplier circuit, and more particularly, disables the multiplier circuit by making the zero Booth recoded output indicate to zero out the multiplicand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: David Garrett, Geoff Knagge, Christopher J. Nicol
  • Publication number: 20020129320
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a butterfly processor capable of performing convolutional decoding and LogMAP decoding in telecommunications systems. First and second add-compare-select modules are provided for receiving input path metrics. A branch metric calculator is also provided for receiving input data and extrinsic data. The branch metric calculator generates output branch metrics to each of the first and second add-compare-select modules. Each of the add-compare-select modules includes a log-sum correction means coupled to compare and select components. A controllable switch selectively couples outputs of the select components and the log-sum corrections means to enable either one of convolutional or LogMAP decoding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Bickerstaff, Bing Xu, Christopher J. Nicol
  • Publication number: 20020129317
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a single unified decoder for performing both convolutional decoding and turbo decoding in the one architecture. The unified decoder can be partitioned dynamically to perform required decoding operations on varying numbers of data streams at different throughput rates. It also supports simultaneous decoding of voice (convolutional decoding) and data (turbo decoding) streams. This invention forms the basis of a decoder that can decode all of the standards for TDMA, IS-95, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and CDMA2000. Processors are stacked together and interconnected so that they can perform separately as separate decoders or in harmony as a single high speed decoder. The unified decoder architecture can support multiple data streams and multiple voice streams simultaneously. Furthermore, the decoder can be dynamically partitioned as required to decode voice streams for different standards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nicol, Mark Andrew Bickerstaff, Bing Xu, Ran-Hong Yan
  • Patent number: 6141762
    Abstract: Improved operation of multi-processor chips is achieved by dynamically controlling processing load of chips and controlling, significantly greater than on/off granularity, the operating voltages of those chips so as to minimize overall power consumption. A controller in a multi-processor chip allocates tasks to the individual processors to equalize processing load among the chips, then the controller lowers the clock frequency on the chip to as low a level as possible while assuring proper operation, and finally reduces the supply voltage. Further improvement is possible by controlling the supply voltage of individual processing elements within the multi-processor chip, as well as controlling the supply voltage of other elements in the system within which the multi-processor chip operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nicol, Kanwar Jit Singh
  • Patent number: 5355345
    Abstract: A memory is partitioned into rows and columns of memory blocks comprised of latches, sense amplifiers, and logic circuitry that form independent pipelines through which flow a) input addresses for memory access requests and b) data to be written into a specific memory cell within a memory block. The memory allows multiple data access requests in consecutive clock cycles to be pipelined in the rows and columns of memory blocks such that the memory clock speed is equal to the clock speed of a single memory block, independently of the memory size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: Alexander G. Dickinson, Christopher J. Nicol