Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency offset estimation are provided. A channel impulse response and multi-user signal parameter are jointly estimated. Based on the multi-user signal parameter, a determination is made as to whether the signal contains a single-user signal or a multi-user signal. Then, frequency offset estimation is performed based on this determination. For example, noiseless sample estimates are generated depending on whether the signal is a single-user signal or a multi-user signal.

Abstract: Strain-gated logic devices are important for the development of advanced flexible electronics. Using a dual-monolayer-promoted film-transfer technique, a flexible multilayer structure capable of undergoing large compressive deformation was prepared. Formation of a crease in the gap between electrodes at a geometrically tunable strain leads to formation of an electrical connection in a reversible and reproducible fashion. A strain-gated electrical switch includes at least two conductive electrodes disposed on a surface of an elastomer substrate, the at least two conductive electrodes forming a gap between the at least two electrodes in an off-state of the strain-gated electrical switch, the gap diminishing under compressive strain to form a crease, the compressive strain pressing the at least two electrodes into contact with each other in an on-state of the strain-gated electrical switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods for frequency offset estimation are provided. A channel impulse response and multi-user signal parameter are jointly estimated. Based on the multi-user signal parameter, a determination is made as to whether the signal contains a single-user signal or a multi-user signal. Then, frequency offset estimation is performed based on this determination. For example, noiseless sample estimates are generated depending on whether the signal is a single-user signal or a multi-user signal.

Abstract: A demodulator is provided that functions as a reduced-state equalizer and produces reliable soft bit values. According to an embodiment, soft bit values are generated for a sequence of transmitted symbols using a demodulator by updating an M-state trellis managed by the demodulator responsive to a transition from symbol time n?1 to symbol time n, where M is a function of the number of bits per symbol in the sequence of transmitted symbols. Survivor metrics associated with the M states of the trellis are saved each symbol time so that the demodulator can calculate soft bit values with regard to transitions from symbol time n+D?1 to symbol time n+D. The trellis is traced back through to calculate soft bit values for a symbol detected at symbol time n?D based on survivor metrics saved for the M states at symbol time n?D.

Abstract: A demodulator is provided that functions as a reduced-state equalizer and produces reliable soft bit values. According to an embodiment, soft bit values are generated for a sequence of transmitted symbols using a demodulator by updating an M-state trellis managed by the demodulator responsive to a transition from symbol time n?1 to symbol time n, where M is a function of the number of bits per symbol in the sequence of transmitted symbols. Survivor metrics associated with the M states of the trellis are saved each symbol time so that the demodulator can calculate soft bit values with regard to transitions from symbol time n+D?1 to symbol time n+D. The trellis is traced back through to calculate soft bit values for a symbol detected at symbol time n?D based on survivor metrics saved for the M states at symbol time n?D.

Abstract: A demodulator is provided that functions as a reduced-state equalizer and produces reliable soft bit values. According to an embodiment, soft bit values are generated for a sequence of transmitted symbols using a demodulator by updating an M-state trellis managed by the demodulator responsive to a transition from symbol time n?1 to symbol time n, where M is a function of the number of bits per symbol in the sequence of transmitted symbols. Survivor metrics associated with the M states of the trellis are saved each symbol time so that the demodulator can calculate soft bit values with regard to transitions from symbol time n+D?1 to symbol time n+D. The survivor metrics indicate the probability that each respective state represents the transmitted symbol associated with symbol time n+D?1. The trellis is traced back through to calculate soft bit values for a symbol detected at symbol time n?D based on survivor metrics saved for the M states at symbol time n?D.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a base station for jointly controlling sub-channel transmission power and assigned codec modes for a first and second mobile station utilizing Voice services over Adaptive Multi-user channel on One Slot (VAMOS). The base station receives signal quality information reports from the mobile stations every 480 ms using the Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH), and receives codec mode requests from the mobile stations every 40 ms using Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) in-band signaling. The base station associates the requested codec modes with estimated levels of speech quality currently being experienced by the first and second mobile stations. The base station then allocates sub-channel transmission power and assigns codec modes to the first and second mobile stations based on the estimated levels of speech quality associated with the requested codec modes and the signal quality reports.

Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein, a network node includes a receiver circuit that determines soft values for received packets corresponding to the information bit groups associated with network coding operations, where the soft values are determined for each information bit group based on joint probabilities of the information bits within the information bit group. For example, first soft values are determined for the information bit groups in a first (received) constituent packet and second soft values are likewise determined for the information bit groups in a network-coded (received) packet that depends on the first constituent packet and a second constituent packet. Third soft values are generated for the information bit groups of the second constituent packet based on jointly evaluating the first and second soft values.

Abstract: A hybrid channel estimator for a wireless communication system receiver includes both correlation based and least squares based channel estimators. The correlation estimator is used when signal quality is low or noise is colored. The least squares estimator is used when signal quality is high or noise is white. An interference suppression filter improves signal quality by suppressing interference in a received signal. Generally, correlation channel estimation is performed initially, when signal quality is low and noise is colored, and interference suppression filtering is performed to increase signal quality by removing certain portion of interference and whitening the overall impairment spectrum. These may be done iteratively. When the signal quality improves, least squares channel estimation is performed, which may also be iterative.

Abstract: A method and apparatus blindly detects a received signal's modulation type characterizing an impairment component of the received signal for each postulated modulation type by determining spatial correlations between In-phase and Quadrature components of the received signal. The blind detection circuit then detects the modulation type based on the characterized impairment component. A metric generator generates a postulation metric for each postulated modulation type based on the characterized impairment component. After evaluating the postulation metrics, an evaluation circuit identifies the postulated modulation type having the best postulation metric as the modulation type of the received signal. According to an exemplary embodiment, the blind detection circuit determines a whitened noise estimate for each postulated modulation type and generates the postulation metrics based on the whitened noise estimate to reduce interference effects in the postulation metrics.

Abstract: In a wireless communication network using point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communications, this disclosure teaches the use of combined packets for retransmission and corresponding soft value processing at a receiver, wherein combined packets are formed as the logical combination of two or more previously transmitted packets and allow the receiver to use a single combined packet to correct one or more failed packets. For example, with the combined packet retransmission and corresponding soft value receiver processing as taught herein, a given receiver can use a given combined packet to correct bit errors in all (failed) packets comprising the combined packet as long as the bit errors in a failed packet do not overlap (or align) with bit errors in the other failed packets comprising the combined packet.

Abstract: A hybrid channel estimator for a wireless communication system receiver includes both correlation based and least squares based channel estimators. The correlation estimator is used when signal quality is low or noise is colored. The least squares estimator is used when signal quality is high or noise is white. An interference suppression filter improves signal quality by suppressing interference in a received signal. Generally, correlation channel estimation is performed initially, when signal quality is low and noise is colored, and interference suppression filtering is performed to increase signal quality by removing certain portion of interference and whitening the overall impairment spectrum. These may be done iteratively. When the signal quality improves, least squares channel estimation is performed, which may also be iterative.

Abstract: An image forming device including a printer having a plurality of operation modes sets beforehand the number of pages printed by the printer to be counted in a division counter or a division undefined counter for each operation mode of the printer. The image forming device counts, in the division counter corresponding to the division to which the user belongs who has requested the printing, the number of the pages printed in the operation mode in which the number of the pages is set to be counted in the division counter, and counts, in the division undefined counter, the number of the pages printed in the operation mode in which the number of the pages is set to be counted in the division undefined counter.

Abstract: An image forming device including a printer having a plurality of operation modes sets beforehand the number of pages printed by the printer to be counted in a division counter or a division undefined counter for each operation mode of the printer. The image forming device counts, in the division counter corresponding to the division to which the user belongs who has requested the printing, the number of the pages printed in the operation mode in which the number of the pages is set to be counted in the division counter, and counts, in the division undefined counter, the number of the pages printed in the operation mode in which the number of the pages is set to be counted in the division undefined counter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a base station for jointly controlling sub-channel transmission power and assigned codec modes for a first and second mobile station utilizing Voice services over Adaptive Multi-user channel on One Slot (VAMOS). The base station receives signal quality information reports from the mobile stations every 480 ms using the Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH), and receives codec mode requests from the mobile stations every 40 ms using Adaptive Multi-Rate (AMR) in-band signaling. The base station associates the requested codec modes with estimated levels of speech quality currently being experienced by the first and second mobile stations. The base station then allocates sub-channel transmission power and assigns codec modes to the first and second mobile stations based on the estimated levels of speech quality associated with the requested codec modes and the signal quality reports.

Abstract: A demodulator is provided that functions as a reduced-state equalizer and produces reliable soft bit values. According to an embodiment, soft bit values are generated for a sequence of transmitted symbols using a demodulator by updating an M-state trellis managed by the demodulator responsive to a transition from symbol time n?1 to symbol time n, where M is a function of the number of bits per symbol in the sequence of transmitted symbols. Survivor metrics associated with the M states of the trellis are saved each symbol time so that the demodulator can calculate soft bit values with regard to transitions from symbol time n+D?1 to symbol time n+D. The survivor metrics indicate the probability that each respective state represents the transmitted symbol associated with symbol time n+D?1. The trellis is traced back through to calculate soft bit values for a symbol detected at symbol time n?D based on survivor metrics saved for the M states at symbol time n?D.

Abstract: A received information signal is decoded to obtain the received information and to produce at least one feature of the received information signal. The received information signal is preliminarily classified as containing a normal burst or a truncated burst based upon the at least one feature, to obtain a preliminary classification. Cyclic redundancy checking of the received information that is decoded is performed. The received information signal is then further classified as containing a normal burst or a truncated burst based upon the preliminary classification and whether the cyclic redundancy checking is valid, to obtain a further classification. The received information signal may be still further classified as containing a normal burst or a truncated burst based upon the further classification and at least one transition rule for normal bursts and truncated bursts between the received information signal and a previously received information signal.

Abstract: A method of mapping input bit positions in an input sequence to output bit positions in an output sequence uses compressed mapping sequences stored in memory derived from a predetermined mapping function. The mapping function is decompressed into periodic component functions that are used to generate the compressed mapping sequences. Each compressed mapping sequence comprises a plurality of partial mapping values that represent one period of a corresponding component function or group of component functions. Partial mapping values are selected from each compressed mapping sequence based on a bit index of the current input bit and summed or otherwise combined to get an output index.

Abstract: The invention involves selection of modulation scheme for a mobile unit (100) having access to a link quality enhancing algorithm (130) operable only on data modulated using a subset of the available modulation schemes. The mobile unit (100) performs signal quality measurements on a communications link (410), over which data modulated with a first modulation scheme is communicated. A link quality measure is then determined for this first modulation. A quality enhancement due to operation of the algorithm (130) is also determined. This quality measure and the quality enhancement are used for generating decision information, which is reported to the network (200). There the information is used for estimating link quality measure(s) of currently non-employed modulation(s) for the mobile unit (100). The selection of a modulation scheme for the communications link is then performed based on the decision information and the estimated quality measure(s).

Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein, a network node includes a receiver circuit that determines soft values for received packets corresponding to the information bit groups associated with network coding operations, where the soft values are determined for each information bit group based on joint probabilities of the information bits within the information bit group. For example, first soft values are determined for the information bit groups in a first (received) constituent packet and second soft values are likewise determined for the information bit groups in a network-coded (received) packet that depends on the first constituent packet and a second constituent packet. Third soft values are generated for the information bit groups of the second constituent packet based on jointly evaluating the first and second soft values.