Patents by Inventor George A. Vlantis

George A. Vlantis 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).

  • Publication number: 20120300866
    Abstract: An embodiment of a transmitter includes detection, generating, and transmission stages. The detection stage is configured to detect a first signal having a first component that includes a frequency, and the generating stage is configured to generate a data component that includes approximately the frequency in response to the detection of the first signal. The transmission stage is configured to transmit a second signal having the data component while the detection stage is detecting the first signal. For example, two or more such transmitters (e.g., two or more smart phones) may simultaneously transmit OFDM signals on the same subcarrier frequencies and over the same channel space. By allowing the simultaneous transmission of multiple signals on the same frequencies and over the same channel space, such a transmitter may increase the effective bandwidth of the channel space, and thus may allow more devices to simultaneously share the same channel space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE, LTD.
    Inventors: Karthik MURALIDHAR, George A. VLANTIS
  • Publication number: 20120287974
    Abstract: An embodiment of a receiver includes signal- and data-recovery units. The signal-recovery unit is configured to recover a first component of a first signal that is received simultaneously with a second signal having a second component, the first and second components including approximately a frequency. And the data-recovery unit is configured to recover data from the first signal in response to the recovered first component. For example, such a receiver may be able to receive simultaneously, and over the same channel space, multiple orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals that include one or more of the same subcarrier frequencies, and to recover data from one or more of the OFDM signals despite the frequency overlap. A receiver with this capability may allow an increase in the effective bandwidth of the channel space, and thus may allow more devices (e.g., smart phones) to simultaneously share the same channel space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE, LTD.
    Inventors: Karthik MURALIDHAR, George A. Vlantis
  • Patent number: 8285297
    Abstract: Fair usage of working channels in a wireless network is disclosed. A base station associated with a cell within a wireless community monitors the congestion of the working channel of neighboring communities. Upon determining that the congestion of the working channel of a neighboring community is less than that of its existing working channel, the base station initiates a switch to the neighboring community's working channel. Upon joining the new community, the frame structure and other networking parameters and attributes are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Patent number: 8284775
    Abstract: A six field address scheme identifies both the originating point and the endpoint of a data frame enabling multiple hop forwarding through a plurality of intermediate mesh points in a wireless mesh network. Data frames originating or ending at a point outside of the wireless mesh network access the wireless network at a mesh access point using a legacy address scheme. The legacy address schemes are converted to a six address scheme using a proxy address table at the access point. Each mesh access point includes not only a routing table but a proxy address table as well as enabling the mesh access point, and/or mesh portal points, to convert address schemes having less than six address fields to the six field format. Subsequent to the conversion, mesh points within the wireless mesh network need only the routing table to facilitate the forwarding of the data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Patent number: 8249033
    Abstract: A common control channel for base station (“BS”)/consumer premise equipment (“CPE”) communication in areas of overlapping coverage by wireless regional area network (“WRAN”) cells operating on different working channels is disclosed. A common control channel is selected from among the various working channels sensed in each of a plurality of overlapping WRAN cells so as to enable BS/CPE and BS/BS communication. Once chosen, each CPE within the overlapping area communicates with the controlling BS via an enhanced coexistence beacon protocol messages. These messages include timing and other synchronization information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, Wendong Hu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120163264
    Abstract: Multiple virtual MAC addresses may be added to WGA devices that may have different traffic streams to another device that requires different services, thus creating distinct MAC and device level implications. Beamforming training can be done at the device level for all virtual MAC addresses. Wakeup, doze, and ATIM power save can be done at the device level depending on the frames received. Authentication, deauthentication, association, and deassociation can be done variously at both levels. Further MSDUs can be aggregated for the multiple MAC addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120157151
    Abstract: Three alternative methods of controlling transmit power in a basic service set (BSS) including a plurality of stations that have successfully synchronized with an access point include providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is not more than the lowest one of the transmit power limits of all of its operating channels, providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data units (PPDU) with each channel bandwidth, or providing each BSS with one transmit power limit that is fixed for each 80 MHz channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120135776
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving power in a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving at least a portion of a PHY protocol data unit (PPDU) frame, where the PPDU frame includes an aggregate MAC protocol data unit (A-MPDU) field. The method also includes comparing a receiver address (RA) within the A-MPDU field to a stored address of the wireless communication device and, if the received RA does not match the stored address, causing power to be removed from one or more circuits of the wireless communication device for a calculated period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120134324
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for negotiating an idle subchannel set for a wireless data transmission. The method includes transmitting an indication of a first set of idle subchannels to a wireless station. The method also includes receiving an indication of a second set of idle subchannels from the wireless station. The method further includes determining a final set of idle subchannels based on the indication of the first set of idle subchannels and the indication of the second set of idle subchannels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120114053
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a channel estimator includes first and second stages. The first stage is configurable to generate an observation scalar for a communication path of a communication channel, and the second stage is configurable to generate channel-estimation coefficients in response to the first observation scalar. For example, such a channel estimator may use a recursive algorithm, such as a VSSO Kalman algorithm, to estimate the response of a channel over which propagates an OFDM signal that suffers from ICI due to Doppler spread. Such a channel estimator may estimate the channel response more accurately, more efficiently, with a less-complex algorithm, and with less-complex software or circuitry, than conventional channel estimators. Furthermore, such a channel estimator may be able to dynamically account for changes in the number of communication paths that compose the channel, changes in the delays of these paths, and changes in the signal-energy levels of these paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE, Ltd., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Muralidhar KARTHIK, George A. VLANTIS
  • Publication number: 20120114080
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a channel estimator includes first, second, and third stages. The first stage is configurable to generate a first observation scalar for a first communication path of a first communication channel, and the second stage is configurable to generate a second observation scalar for a first communication path of a second communication channel. And the third stage is configurable to generate channel-estimation coefficients in response to the first and second observation scalars. For example, such a channel estimator may use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of channels over which propagate simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) that suffer from inter-carrier interference (ICI) due to Doppler spread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE, LTD., STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Muralidhar KARTHIK, George A. VLANTIS
  • Publication number: 20120114069
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second transmission paths. The first transmission path is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position, and the second transmission path is configurable to generate second pilot clusters each including a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to use a recursive algorithm, such as a Vector State Scalar Observation (VSSO) Kalman algorithm, to estimate the responses of these channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicants: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE, LTD., STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Muralidhar Karthik, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120063446
    Abstract: In a 60 Hz WGA wireless network, not all frames with the duration field are received by a STA in a WGA network because of directional antennas. Therefore, a NAV Timer cannot account for the reserved duration of the channel by only updating with the longest duration field received. A STA can receive two frames each with a source and destination addresses and update the NAV Timer by comparing the received addresses to overcome such problem. Further, a STA can receive one frame with a source and destination addresses and update the NAV Timer by comparing the received addresses with the NAVSRC and NAVDST values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120045008
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a transmitter includes a transmission path that is configurable to generate first pilot clusters each including a respective first pilot subsymbol in a first cluster position and a respective second pilot subsymbol in a second cluster position such that a vector formed by the first pilot subsymbols is orthogonal to a vector formed by the second pilot subsymbols. For example, where such a transmitter transmits simultaneous orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexed (OFDM) signals (e.g., MIMO-OFDM signals) over respective channels that may impart inter-carrier interference (ICI) to the signals due to Doppler spread, the pattern of the pilot symbols that compose the pilot clusters may allow a receiver of these signals to estimate the responses of these channels more accurately than conventional receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific PTE, Ltd., STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Muralidhar KARTHIK, George A. VLANTIS
  • Publication number: 20120026883
    Abstract: Fair usage of working channels in a wireless network is disclosed. A base station associated with a cell within a wireless community monitors the congestion of the working channel of neighboring communities. Upon determining that the congestion of the working channel of a neighboring community is less than that of its existing working channel, the base station initiates a switch to the neighboring community's working channel. Upon joining the new community, the frame structure and other networking parameters and attributes are adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120028573
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of stations capable of communicating with each other. A station of the system may comprise multiple antenna subassemblies and a receiver coupled to the subassemblies. The station is operable to activate one or more of the subassemblies to determine a direction of a first incoming signal, and to then activate another one or more of the subassemblies to receive a second incoming signal from substantially the same direction. Alternatively, the station may comprise multiple antenna subassemblies and a receiver coupled to the subassemblies and operable to activate each of the subassemblies for a respective interval to service at least one respective transmitting station covered by the activated subassembly during the interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Liwen CHU, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20120008603
    Abstract: Contention based period beamforming includes the establishment of synchronized communications between a beamforming initiator and a beamforming responder to precisely define a start time for beamforming training. Synchronization between the beamforming initiator and beamforming responder begins with the sending of control information to the responder so that the start of the beamforming process will be synchronized. With beamforming training synchronized, beamforming is initiated using the sector sweep process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics Srl, STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Liwen Chu, George A. Vlantis, Vincenzo Scarpa
  • Publication number: 20110294424
    Abstract: For enhanced interoperability of safety and non-safety communications, a dual-radio type T RSU for improving services includes a first radio dedicated to the control channel and a second radio dedicated to the safety channel. The control channel is divided into a number of synchronous intervals, each about 100 milliseconds in duration. The safety channel is also divided into a number of synchronous intervals, each about 100 milliseconds in duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendong Hu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20110294434
    Abstract: For enhanced interoperability of safety and non-safety communications, a synchronous interval is divided into a safety channel interval and an open interval instead of a CCH (control channel) interval and SCH (service channel) interval. For a single-radio device, a control interval, in place of an open interval should be scheduled at least once every maximum service scheduling period. Such a control interval is dedicated for CCH (and SCH) operation. For a multi-radio device, a control interval is scheduled at least once every maximum control interval on one of the radios support non-safety services (e.g. tolling).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendong Hu, George A. Vlantis
  • Publication number: 20110294447
    Abstract: Discovery of safety and non-safety capable single-radio devices in vehicular wireless environments is made possible through the use a two-bit indicator. A first indicator is associated with a type C device. A second indicator is associated with a non-type C device within one hop of a type C device. A third indicator is associated with a non-type C device within two hops of a type C device. A fourth indicator is associated with a non-type C device within three hops or more (out of range) of a type C device. Discovery of safety and non-safety capable single-radio vehicular devices within a protection range in multiple-channel based wireless vehicular environments is thus made possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendong Hu, George A. Vlantis