Abstract: In order to enhance the quality of a communication signal derived from speech and noise, a filter divides the communication signal into a plurality of frequency band signals. A calculator generates a plurality of power band signals each having a power band value and corresponding to one of the frequency band signals. The power band values are based on estimating, over a time period, the power of one of the frequency band signals. The time period is different for different ones of the frequency band signals. The power band values are used to calculate weighting factors which are used to alter the frequency band signals that are combined to generate an improved communication signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing at least one voice signal in which a centralized voice processing unit controls operation of a plurality of voice processing block. In a first embodiment, the centralized voice processing unit comprises a centralized voice activity detector that provides at least one voice activity indication to the plurality of voice processing blocks. In a second embodiment, the centralized voice processing unit comprises a centralized noise estimator that provides at least one noise estimate to the plurality of voice processing blocks. In a third embodiment, the centralized voice processing unit comprises a centralized signal characteristic estimator that provides at least one signal characteristic estimate to the plurality of voice processing blocks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for compensating for the background noise modulation caused by the operation of a non-linear processor on an audio signal include a controller that receives operating status information from the non-linear processor and generates a noise reduction control signal. The methods and apparatus further include a noise reduction circuit that receives the noise reduction control signal from the controller. The noise reduction circuit reduces the background noise in the audio signal when a noise reduction control signal is generated by the controller and injects synthesized background noise into the audio signal when a noise reduction control signal is not generated by the controller.

Abstract: A multiple carrier communication system includes a primary impulse shortening filter that receives an output signal of an analog to digital converter and accepts coefficients. A secondary impulse shortening filter receives the output signal of the analog to digital converter, outputs an output signal, and passes coefficients to the primary impulse shortening filter. A reference signal generator outputs a reference signal. A comparator compares the: output signal and the reference signal and outputs a resulting error signal. An adaptive processor computes coefficients for the secondary impulse shortening filter based on the error signal.

Abstract: The spectral shape of a communication signal is preserved by filtering it into a selected number of frequency band signals representing a selected number of the frequency bands. A calculator generates a plurality of initial gain signals having initial gain values for altering the gain of the frequency band signals. Each initial gain signal corresponds to one of the frequency band signals. Each initial gain value is derived from a measurement of the power of at least a portion of one of the frequency band signals. The calculator also generates a plurality of modified gain signals having modified gain values. Each modified gain signal corresponds to at least one of the frequency band signals and each modified gain value is derived from one or more functions of at least two of the initial gain values. The frequency band signals are altered in response to the modified gain signals to generate weighted frequency band signals which are combined to generate an improved communication signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a transmitted voice signal include a centralized frame controller providing at least one boundary control signal to voice processing blocks and controlling the operation of the voice processing blocks on the transmitted voice signal based upon the boundary control signal.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system having an allocated total bandwidth is set forth. The system comprises a head end unit disposed at a primary site. The head end unit includes a receiver for receiving OFDM/DMT modulated data from a plurality of remote transceivers over a predetermined number of bins from a transmission medium. The receiver of the head end unit receives OFDM/DMT modulated data corresponding to a first data stream from a first one of the plurality of remote transceivers over one or more bins of a first subset of the predetermined number of bins and OFDM/DMT data corresponding to a second data stream from a second one of the plurality of remote transceivers over one or more bins of a second subset of the predetermined number of bins. The head end unit and each of the first and second transceivers can receive and/or transmit in at least a given X QAM mode or Y QAM mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interference suppression in wireless communication systems, especially Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) systems. The array apparatus includes a two-tier adaptive array system which provides for both spatial diversity and beamforming at the uplink. The adaptive array is comprised of sub-arrays spaced at a distance sufficient to provide spatial diversity, ideally 5 to 15 wavelengths at the frequency of operation. Each sub-array is composed of at least two antenna elements spaced in proximity sufficient to provide effective beamforming or scanning, ideally less then one-half of one wavelength at the frequency of operation. The Direction of Arrival (DOA) of signals impinging upon the array can be calculated by comparing signals from sub-array elements.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system comprises a head end unit disposed at a primary site and a plurality of receivers disposed at remote sites. The head end unit includes a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are transmitted in periodically occurring formatted symbol frames. The cyclic prefix includes a predetermined periodic signal superimposed thereon. The receivers receive the OFDM/DMT symbols over a subset of the predetermined number of bins from the transmission medium and use the superimposed signals to attain symbol alignment. Preferably, the superimposed signal is an impulse signal that varies in polarity throughout the transmission cycle and which is superimposed on one or more symbols occurring during a cyclic prefix of the formatted symbol frames.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system that comprises a head end unit disposed at a primary site and a plurality of receivers disposed at remote sites. The head end unit includes a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are transmitted in periodically occurring formatted symbol frames. The cyclic prefix includes a predetermined periodic signal superimposed thereon. The receivers receive the OFDM/DMT symbols over a subset of the predetermined number of bins from the transmission medium and use the superimposed signals to attain symbol alignment. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the receivers apply a predetermined incremental phase shift to received samples corresponding to the received OFDM/DMT symbols to thereby compensate for phase shifts. The multi-point communications system may include a similar system for aligning symbols transmissions from a remote service unit having a transmitter.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system having an allocated total bandwidth is set forth. The system comprises a head end unit disposed at a primary site. The head end unit includes a receiver for receiving OFDM/DMT modulated data from a plurality of remote transceivers over a predetermined number of bins from a transmission medium. The receiver of the head end unit receives OFDM/DMT modulated data corresponding to a first data stream from a first one of the plurality of remote transceivers over one or more bins of a first subset of the predetermined number of bins and OFDM/DMT data corresponding to a second data stream from a second one of the plurality of remote transceivers over one or more bins of a second subset of the predetermined number of bins. The head end unit and each of the first and second transceivers can receive and/or transmit in at least a given X QAM mode or Y QAM mode.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system comprises a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are generated using at least one timing signal. At least one of the predetermined number of bins includes a pilot tone sub-symbol having a frequency corresponding to the clock signal. The communications system also includes a receiver for receiving the OFDM/DMT symbols from the transmission medium. The receiver demodulates the received symbols using at least one timing signal. The receiver has a first pilot tone search mode of operation in which the receiver adjusts its timing signal to scan the frequency range of the predetermined number of bins looking for the pilot tone sub-symbol and identifies the bin including the pilot tone sub-symbol.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system includes a receiver and transmitter disposed at a primary site for communication with a plurality of remote service units disposed at respective secondary sites. The receiver of the primary site receives OFDM/DMT signals over a number of transmission bins. A transmitter at the remote service unit includes an improved transmitter architecture. The transmitter comprises a first circuit for converting a signal into a first serial digital data stream and a second circuit for generating a second serial digital data stream from the first serial digital data stream of the first means. The second serial digital data stream is a digital representation of an OFDM/DMT signal that is to be transmitted to the receiver of the primary site and is generated from the first serial digital data stream through a modulated direct digital synthesis thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for registering (unsynchronized) remote units with a multipoint communications system. An upstream multi-access channel (UMAC) is defined, over which non-registered remote units may transmit registration requests and related data. Non-registered remote units may transmit over the UMAC channel at any time independent of upstream transmissions from other remote units already registered with the network. To effect registration, the non-registered remote unit transmits a standardized asynchronous transmission sequence (ATS) signal over the UMAC channel. The ATS signal is "standardized" as it contains a predefined leading segment, the format for which is known to the head end unit. The ATS signal also contains a data segment that may be unique to the remote unit (e.g., it may uniquely identify the remote unit and/or request registration).

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth herein. The communications system includes a transmitter for transmitting OFDM/DMT symbols over a predetermined number of bins across a transmission medium. The OFDM/DMT symbols are generated using at least one timing signal. At least one of the predetermined number of bins includes pilot tone sub-symbols generated from a pilot tone having a frequency corresponding to the at least one timing signal. The communications system also includes a receiver for receiving the OFDM/DMT symbols from the transmission medium. At least one frequency multiplexer is disposed along the transmission medium that frequency multiplexers the OFDM/DMT symbols and a transmission from at least one other transmission source. A mixer is disposed along the transmission medium between the frequency multiplexer and the receiver for mixing the OFDM/DMT symbols for receipt within a passband of the receiver.

Abstract: A communications system is set forth comprising a plurality of remote receivers numbering M for receiving and demodulating respective PSK symbols received from a transmission medium. A central transmitter transmits periodically occurring frames of data to the plurality of receivers over the transmission medium. Each frame of data contains L total symbols including a subset of X.sub.m symbols designated for each one of the M plurality of remote receivers. The transmitter interleaves the X.sub.m symbols in a given frame into a plurality of periodic, non-consecutive groups of R symbols per group, wherein R<X.sub.m. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, each of the remote receivers includes an equalizer implemented as a digital filter having N taps. In such instances, the transmitter interleaves the X.sub.m symbols in a given frame into a plurality of periodic, non-consecutive groups of R symbols per group, wherein R.ltoreq.N.

Abstract: A multi-point communications system is set forth. The communications system comprises a primary transmitter disposed at a primary site and a plurality of receivers respectively disposed at a plurality of secondary sites. The primary transmitter generates OFDM/DMT transmissions over a first number of transmission bins to transmit communication data in those bins. A transmission medium is used for transmitting the OFDM/DMT transmissions from the primary transmitter at the primary site to the plurality of receivers disposed at a plurality of secondary sites. Each of the plurality of receivers employs a unique receiver architecture that digitally processes exclusively a reduced subset of the first number of bins transmitted by the primary transmitter to recover communication data that is transmitted in the reduced subset of the first number of bins.