Abstract: A connector for connecting together a welding torch power cable including a threaded connector, a coolant line and a shielding gas line to a welding power and/or coolant source including a connector receptacle includes an electrically conductive tubular body having a front end and a back end. The tubular body front end is adapted to receive and connect to the power cable threaded connector. The tubular body back end is adapted to connect to the connector receptacle. The tubular body also includes a passageway therein to communicate shielding gas or coolant between the source and the torch. A hose connector is attached at an end of the passageway. A casing including a longitudinally extending tubular side wall terminates in front and back ends. A twist cap is releasably connectable to the back end of the casing. A cable cover adapter is releasably connectable to the front end of the casing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering both PMP communications, for example standard cellular communications via a base station, and also delivering P2P communications, for example, communications between two mobile stations, using the same spectral resources for both types of communication.

Abstract: A relay station is provided for use in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations communicatively coupled to a backhaul network and at least one mobile station. The relay station is shared by at least a first base station and a second base station. The relay station includes a transceiver, a controller and relay circuitry. The transceiver transmits signals to and receives signals both base stations and a mobile station. Signals transmitted to the base stations include a single preamble, MAP and FCH. The controller is electrically connected to the transceiver and is operable to measure a signal quality of the mobile station while connected to the first base station. The relay circuitry is electrically connected to the controller and is operable to conduct a phased handoff from the first base station to the second base station based on the signal quality.

Abstract: A method and system for wireless communication in which a plurality of media access control (“MAC”) packet data units (“PDUs”) corresponding to a plurality of wireless communication connections are received. The plurality of MAC PDUs is grouped into a relay packet and the relay packet is transmitted. Such grouping and transmission of the relay packet is performed by one or more relay nodes. The traffic control for the transmission can also be based on centralized or decentralized routing control and/or centralized or decentralized QoS control.

Abstract: Various welding systems including a welding torch assembly are provided. The welding torch assemblies may include a welding torch adapted to be utilized in a welding operation to establish a welding arc between the welding torch and a workpiece. The welding torch assemblies may also include a temperature sensing system integral with the welding torch and adapted to sense a temperature of the workpiece.

Abstract: Security in wireless communication networks that employ relay stations to facilitate communications between base stations and mobile stations is enhanced. In one embodiment, resource information provided to one or more relay stations from a base station or another relay station is encrypted prior to being delivered to the one or more relay stations. Only authorized relay stations are allocated an appropriate key necessary to decrypt the resource information. As such, only appropriate relay stations are able to access and use the resource information to effect communications directly or indirectly between the base stations and the mobile stations. In certain embodiments, the resource information is delivered between the various base and relay stations using either unicast or multicast delivery techniques.

Abstract: A method dynamically changes a relay zone offset in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes a base station, at least one relay station, and at least one mobile station. Each relay station is located a hop distance from the base station. A notification of a change in relay zone offset is transmitted to a relay station. Implementation of the change in relay zone offset is delayed for a predetermined amount of frames. Relay zone information is transmitted using the changed relay zone offset.

Abstract: A method selects a path for forwarding a data packet in a wireless communication system. A system capacity versus delay impact curve is calculated for a direct path to mobile station. The direct path has a capacity cost based on communication quality of a direct link between a base station and the mobile station. This curve is shifted by a predetermined time corresponding to an additional delay over a relay path to produce a projected capacity curve for the relay path having a second capacity cost determined according to a combined measure of signal quality of multiple links in the relay path. The second capacity cost is multiplied by a capacity cost ratio to produce a relay capacity curve. The direct path or the relay path is selected based on a comparison of the system capacity versus delay impact curve and the relay capacity curve according to a QoS requirement.

Abstract: A scheduler performs per sub-band prioritization allocation of sub-bands to user terminals to generate a pre-allocation schedule. The prioritization is performed independently for each sub-band. The resulting pre-allocation schedule indicates the relative priorities of the user terminals for each sub-band taking into account the channel conditions and specific needs of the user terminals. Based on the pre-allocation schedule, the scheduler can more efficiently allocate the radio resources to the user terminals based on the channel conditions and the specific needs of the user terminals. The scheduling approach is suitable for parallel computing architectures. The use of a parallel computing architecture increases MIPS (million instructions per second) capacity and allows faster scheduling in order to meet stringent real-time constraints.

Abstract: Security in wireless communication networks that employ relay stations to facilitate communications between base stations and mobile stations is enhanced. In one embodiment, resource information provided to one or more relay stations from a base station or another relay station is encrypted prior to being delivered to the one or more relay stations. Only authorized relay stations are allocated an appropriate key necessary to decrypt the resource information. As such, only appropriate relay stations are able to access and use the resource information to effect communications directly or indirectly between the base stations and the mobile stations. In certain embodiments, the resource information is delivered between the various base and relay stations using either unicast or multicast delivery techniques.

Abstract: A mobile relay system for supporting communications between a fixed station and mobile terminals comprising a plurality of mobile relay stations that are associated with each other and provided on a moving platform, wherein each of the plurality of mobile relay stations is capable of facilitating communications with mobile terminals within communication range and at least one of the plurality of mobile relay stations is further capable of facilitating communications with a fixed station within communication g range of the at least one of the plurality of mobile relay stations.

Abstract: In methods of operating a relay station in a multi-hop wireless relay network, the relay station in communication with a superordinate station and a subordinate station, a downlink transmission to/from the superordinate station is transmitted/received at a first frequency. An uplink transmission to/from the subordinate station is transmitted/received at a second frequency. Communications between the relay station and the superordinate station may be scheduled using frames, each frame including a downlink portion at the first frequency, and an uplink portion at the second frequency. The downlink portion includes first and second downlink subframes for communication between the superordinate station and first and second pluralities of stations, respectively. The uplink portion includes first and second uplink subframes for communication between the superordinate station and the first and second pluralities of stations, respectively.

Abstract: A wireless network includes a relay station (RS) for extending wireless coverage of a base station. Data is sent by the base station and relayed through the RS to a mobile station (MS), where the data is associated with a preamble that is sent directly from the base station to the MS. A transmit power of the RS is adjusted for transmitting the data from the RS to the MS to reduce a difference between a first power level of the preamble received at the MS and a second power level of the data received at the MS. The uplink transmit power of the MS for the data sent to the RS is adjusted to compensate for the difference in path loss from MS to base station and MS to RS and to compensate for the difference in noise_plus_interference level at RS compared to that of the base station.

Abstract: A method and system for wireless communication in which a plurality of media access control (“MAC”) packet data units (“PDUs”) corresponding to a plurality of wireless communication connections are received. The plurality of MAC PDUs is grouped into a relay packet and the relay packet is transmitted. Such grouping and transmission of the relay packet is performed by one or more relay nodes. The traffic control for the transmission can also be based on centralized or decentralized routing control and/or centralized or decentralized QoS control.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method for a network having a tree topology. An initial path from a base station to an end relay node is selected. The path selection includes an active communication path and a redundant communication path. The path selection is based on at least one policy factor. The at least one policy factor is monitored and the path is updated based on a change to the monitored at least one policy factor.

Abstract: A wireless network includes a base station and a relay station for extending wireless coverage of the base station. Downlink data is sent by the base station and relayed through the relay station to a mobile station, where the downlink data is associated with a preamble that is sent directly from the base station to the mobile station. A transmit power of the relay station is adjusted for transmitting the downlink data from the relay station to the mobile station to reduce a difference between a first power level of the preamble received at the mobile station and a second power level of the downlink data received at the mobile station. The uplink transmit power of the mobile station t for the data sent to the relay station is adjusted to compensate for the difference in path loss from mobile station to base station and mobile station to relay station and to compensate for the difference in noise_plus_interference level at relay station compared to that of the base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication system and method for wireless communication in a multi-hop network. A first preamble is transmitted using a first repetition cycle. Monitoring for a second preamble is done in a second repetition cycle. The first repetition cycle is different than the second repetition cycle.

Abstract: A method selects a path for forwarding a data packet in a wireless communication system. A system capacity versus delay impact curve is calculated for a direct path to mobile station. The direct path has a capacity cost based on communication quality of a direct link between a base station and the mobile station. This curve is shifted by a predetermined time corresponding to an additional delay over a relay path to produce a projected capacity curve for the relay path having a second capacity cost determined according to a combined measure of signal quality of multiple links in the relay path. The second capacity cost is multiplied by a capacity cost ratio to produce a relay capacity curve. The direct path or the relay path is selected based on a comparison of the system capacity versus delay impact curve and the relay capacity curve according to a QoS requirement.

Abstract: A wireless network includes a base station and a relay station for extending wireless coverage of the base station. Downlink data is sent by the base station and relayed through the relay station to a mobile station, where the downlink data is associated with a preamble that is sent directly from the base station to the mobile station. A transmit power of the relay station is adjusted for transmitting the downlink data from the relay station to the mobile station to reduce a difference between a first power level of the preamble received at the mobile station and a second power level of the downlink data received at the mobile station. The uplink transmit power of the mobile station for the data sent to the relay station is adjusted to compensate for the difference in path loss from mobile station to base station and mobile station to relay station and to compensate for the difference in noise_plus_interference level at relay station compared to that of the base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering both PMP communications, for example standard cellular communications via a base station, and also delivering P2P communications, for example, communications between two mobile stations, using the same spectral resources for both types of communication.