Abstract: A wireless broadcast system that collects content for distribution over a wireless communication network. Multiple content streams are received and interleaved into an aggregate content stream. The aggregate content stream is encapsulated into a stream of transport packets that are ruggedized for broadcast over the wireless communication link. One connection identification is associated with the entire aggregate content stream. The aggregate content stream is packetized into multiple service data units. An identical signal that includes the service data units and one connection identifier is broadcast by multiple synchronized transmitters in a single frequency network. The content can include multimedia data, such as audio/video data, movies, game, audio broadcasts, television network programs, or other types of multimedia content.

Abstract: A wireless broadcast system that collects content for distribution over a wireless communication network. At least one content stream is received and encapsulated into a stream of transport packets that are ruggedized for broadcast over the wireless communication link. The stream of transport packets are simultaneously broadcast as part of an identical signal from a plurality of synchronized transmitters in a single frequency network. The content can include multimedia data, such as audio/video data, movies, game, audio broadcasts, television network programs, or other types of multimedia content.

Abstract: A wireless broadcast system includes receiving a data a stream by a convergence module. The convergence module partitions and encapsulates the transport packets into MAC protocol data units such that a size dimension of the encapsulated transport packets matches a size dimension of the MAC protocol data units. The MAC protocol data units are then provided to a transmitter that is synchronized to a plurality of transmitters in a single frequency network so that each transmitter in the network broadcast an identical signal that includes the MAC protocol data unit.

Abstract: A wireless broadcast system that collects content for distribution over a wireless communication network. The content stream is encapsulated into a stream of transport packets for broadcast over the wireless communication link. The stream of transport packets are simultaneously broadcast as part of an identical signal from a plurality of synchronized transmitters in a single frequency network. A receiver acquires the broadcast signal and synchronizes to the signal. Once the receiver is synchronized to one of the transmitters in the single frequency network, the receiver can receive signals from any, or multiple, of the transmitters in the network without re-synchronizing.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for communicating data from a first node to a second node has been described. The method comprises the steps of receiving input data at the first node, transmitting a resource request having a resource metric from the first node to an allocating agent, receiving an allocation of resource units according to the resource metric, the resource units comprising at least one DAMA channel resource metric and at least one RA channel resource unit, queuing the input data into the DAMA channel buffer, dequeuing input data from the DAMA channel buffer into the RA channel buffer according to a comparison between a predicted transmission delay and a delay threshold, and transmitting the dequeued input data in the RA channel buffer via the RA resource units. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform the method steps described above.

Abstract: A rate and power control algorithm for a communication system, the algorithm including the steps of: assigning a target channel condition metric to be met at a first terminal for signaling received from each of one or more remote terminals of the system, each terminal supporting a plurality of rates and a plurality of transmit power levels, each target channel condition metric based upon the type of service supported by each remote terminal; receiving a signal at the first terminal from each remote terminal; and adjusting a respective target channel condition metric assigned for a respective remote terminal in response to signal information generated from the received signal. In variations, the algorithm is performed in a distributed manner by different cells of a communication system and at least two of the remote terminals support traffic of different types of service.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for distributing communication scheduling. The method and apparatus schedule communication across a plurality of links through a link scheduler and schedule flows to be communicated across the plurality of links through a flow scheduler. Typically, the link scheduler is positioned a distance from the flow scheduler. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus utilize a plurality of flow schedulers where each schedules flows across one of the plurality of links.

Abstract: The present invention advantageously addresses the needs above as well as other needs through a method and apparatus for providing distributed admission control for a communication network. The method and apparatus are configured to receive new flows at a terminal and determine at the terminal the amount of resources available to the terminal. The terminals accept new flows if there are sufficient available resources and deny new flows if there is insufficient available resources. The method and apparatus further manage the bandwidth for flows of the communication network from an access point. The access point includes a bandwidth manager which reserves bandwidth for flows if there is available time within communication frames.

Abstract: A dynamic channel selection algorithm for a communication system including the steps of determining a channel metric indicative of a level of interference for a plurality of available channels; sorting the plurality of available channels according to their channel metrics; determining whether co-channel signaling is present on a available channel having a lowest channel metric; and selecting one of the available channels based upon whether the co-channel signaling is present on the available channel having the lowest channel metric. In variations, selection of an available channel is based upon whether co-channel signaling is present on available channels other than the available channel having a lower channel metric, and a difference between channel metrics of the available channel having the lowest channel metric and available channels having higher channel metrics.

Abstract: A method of rate control between a first and second communication terminal supporting a plurality of data rates, the method including the steps of: receiving, at the second terminal, a signal transmitted at one of the rates from the first terminal via a forward channel; and determining an optimal one of the rates to be used by the first terminal for a subsequent signal to be transmitted to the second terminal based upon a maximization of the throughput to the second terminal given a channel state of the forward channel and a cost associated with a change in rate. In some variations, the method may be performed in the downlink of a system including the first terminal and multiple remote terminals. In some variations, the method is performed at the remote terminals in a distributed fashion.

Abstract: A rate and power control algorithm for a communication system, the algorithm including the steps of: assigning a target channel condition metric to be met at a first terminal for signaling received from each of one or more remote terminals of the system, each terminal supporting a plurality of rates and a plurality of transmit power levels, each target channel condition metric based upon the type of service supported by each remote terminal; receiving a signal at the first terminal from each remote terminal; and adjusting a respective target channel condition metric assigned for a respective remote terminal in response to signal information generated from the received signal. In variations, the algorithm is performed in a distributed manner by different cells of a communication system and at least two of the remote terminals support traffic of different types of service.

Abstract: A method of automatic repeat request (ARQ) for a plurality of packets to be transmitted to a receiver, and a means for accomplishing the method, the method includes the step of: performing automatic repeat request for packets belonging to respective ones of a plurality of packet flows independent from and without affecting the transmission of packets of others of the plurality of packet flows, wherein each of the plurality of packet flows corresponds to a specified type of service. The packets belonging to the different flows are transmitted within the same transmit frame. In some variations, the method is implemented as a selective repeat ARQ method and may be used between any generic transmitter and receiver within a point to point system or a network topology, such as a wireless indoor local area network.

Abstract: A closed form solution is provided in a receiver, such as an OFDM receiver, including the step of determining an uncoded bit error rate (BER) at an output of a demodulator of a receiver based upon at least a target BER to be achieved after the completion of forward error correction at the receiver. In a variation, the solution is used to provide an optimum bit loading algorithm designed to meet the target BER and including the steps of: measuring a channel condition metric corresponding to a signal received from a transmitter at a receiver via a communication channel; and determining an optimum number of bits/symbol supportable by the communication channel based upon at least the measured channel condition metric and the target BER. In some variations, these closed form solutions may be performed offline and stored in the receiver as a lookup table.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for communicating data from a first node to a second node has been described. The method comprises the steps of receiving input data at the first node, transmitting a resource request having a resource metric from the first node to an allocating agent, receiving an allocation of resource units according to the resource metric, the resource units comprising at least one DAMA channel resource metric and at least one RA channel resource unit, queuing the input data into the DAMA channel buffer, dequeuing input data from the DAMA channel buffer into the RA channel buffer according to a comparison between a predicted transmission delay and a delay threshold, and transmitting the dequeued input data in the RA channel buffer via the RA resource units. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform the method steps described above.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for communicating data from a first node to a second node has been described. The method comprises the steps of receiving input data at the first node, transmitting a resource request having a resource metric from the first node to an allocating agent, receiving an allocation of resource units according to the resource metric, the resource units comprising at least one DAMA channel resource metric and at least one RA channel resource unit, queuing the input data into the DAMA channel buffer, dequeuing input data from the DAMA channel buffer into the RA channel buffer according to a comparison between a predicted transmission delay and a delay threshold, and transmitting the dequeued input data in the RA channel buffer via the RA resource units. The article of manufacture comprises a data storage device tangibly embodying instructions to perform the method steps described above.

Abstract: An improved twin hull vessel of the catamaran type, having a central bridgedeck and a pair of side hulls interconnected by lateral suspension arms. The suspension arms are pivotally connected with offset spaced connections to the bridgedeck and to each of the hulls for moving said hulls from a substantially horizontally locked position to a vertical position beneath the bridgedeck, while holding the hulls in the vertical orientation relative to the water surface, thus changing the vessel from a catamaran to a single hull vessel for moving the vessel into pier locations, or for trailering the vessel.