Abstract: A system, network and associated equipment are provided to facilitate the use of short range wireless communication (e.g., near field communication) to facilitate the use of short range wireless communication (e.g., near field communication) to facilitate the collection of money (e.g., donations, tips, change, etc.).

Abstract: A communication system is dynamically configured to use some or all of the communication channel bandwidth. Regions of the communication channel are prioritized, and bandwidth is allocated in accordance with priorities and requested data rate.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a remote terminal (20) and a central office (30) as part of and ADSL system (10). Once a communication channel is open between the remote terminal (20) and the central office (30), the remote terminal (20) transmits channel specific information, application specific information, or both to the central office (30). Once the central office (30) receives the information, the central office (30) can select data rate options optimized for the downstream receiver (the remote terminal (20)). Based on the application specific and/or channel specific information, the central office (30) can use a combination of calculations and look-up tables to formulate new options. When the remote terminal (20) sends channel specific information, the central office (30) can perform calculations which determine performance margins at various data rates.

Abstract: A method of monitoring carriers in a multi-carrier communication system (10) enables unused carriers to periodically transmit data during real-time operation so that the carrier characteristics such as Signal-to-Noise Ratio values and equalizers may be updated regularly. Based on the updated information, bit swapping, dynamic rate adaption, and other features may be readily implemented.

Abstract: In the present invention, an ADSL system (10) identifies good bin as a bin capable of successfully transmitting data to a destination. A bad bin is identified as a carrier that is not capable of successfully transmitting data to the destination. A marginal bin is identified as a carrier that may be capable of transmitting data to the destination. The power to a bad bin is reduced and allocated to the marginal or good bin(s) to allow an increased bit rate. In another embodiment, the power to marginal bin is reduced and allocated to the good bin(s).

Abstract: In the present invention, carriers associated with a discrete multi-tone (DMT) communications system (10) are sorted according to bit allocation capacity. The number of bits needed to attain a specified bit rate are then allocated beginning with the carrier having the greatest bit allocation capacity and proceeding toward the carrier having the least bit allocation capacity until all bits to are allocated. Once allocated, the power to any unused bins is reduced. Different subsets of the carriers between line cards can be specified in order to reduce crosstalk between adjacent lines.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a remote terminal (20) and a central office (30) as part of and ADSL system (10). Once a communication channel is open between the remote terminal (20) and the central office (30), the remote terminal (20) transmits channel specific information, application specific information, or both to the central office (30). Once the central office (30) receives the information, the central office (30) can select data rate options optimized for the downstream receiver (the remote terminal (20)). Based on the application specific and/or channel specific information, the central office (30) can use a combination of calculations and look-up tables to formulate new options. When the remote terminal (20) sends channel specific information, the central office (30) can perform calculations which determine performance margins at various data rates.

Abstract: In the present invention, an ADSL system (10) determines if a bit swap is to occur based upon a projected margin of a best carrier and a current margin of a worst carrier. If a proposed swap is not beneficial (320, 512, 604, 612) no swap occurs. In addition, the present invention determines the effects of a bit swap on an error correction scheme (510, 611). If the swap effects the scheme, adjustments to system parameters are made to assure continued error correction. In addition, the present invention allows for bit swapping to and from bins containing zero or two bits respectively (331, 332, 403).

Abstract: A communications system 10 having an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) transceiver (24) is provided which may be configured either as a central office or a remote terminal in a system. The transceiver (24) operates in a listen/report idle state to report line activity to a host processor (22) prior to being configured as a central office or remote terminal. The host processor configures the transceiver (24) as a central office, remote terminal, or as otherwise specified based on the line activity.

Abstract: A transceiver (5) for an asymmetric communication system such as asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) includes a configuration register (71) defining operation at either a central office (CO) or a remote terminal (RT). The configuration register (71) includes a control bit (72) for selecting either CO or RT mode. The transceiver (5) includes a signal processing module (70) configured according to the state of the control bit (72). For example, a digital interface (70) converts transmit data into transmit symbols and converts received symbols into receive data. The digital interface (70) uses a large memory (158) as a buffer in the transmit path and a small memory (160) as a buffer in the receive path in CO mode. In RT mode, the digital interface (70) uses the small memory (160) in the transmit path and the large memory (158) in the receive path. The selective configuration allows a single integrated circuit to be used in both CO and RT equipment.

Abstract: A host processor (22) in a communication system (10) identifies a level of program visibility for reporting predetermined activation state changes, and signals a communications transceiver (24) to begin an initialization process. The communications transceiver (24) begins executing a series of states (51-55, 61-64) for initializing the communication system (10). A determination is made by the transceiver (24) whether a state change has occurred. A state change is identified and reported to a host processor (22) based on the program visibility select level.

Abstract: A communications system (30) includes a transceiver (42) for transmitting data from a plurality of bins. Specifically, the BER of the bins is substantially equalized by allocating data by determining a projected margin. The projected margin is calculated for each bin by subtracting a reference signal-to-noise value from an estimated bin signal-to-noise value. The reference signal-to-noise value is predetermined by theoretical calculation or empirical data and stored in a look-up table. Bits are allocated to the bin having the maximum projected margin. This provides the best BER without changing the transmit power.

Abstract: A communications system (30) includes a transceiver (42) for transmitting a plurality of bins. Individual bin BERs (bit-error-rates) are iteratively equalized. This is accomplished by applying a fine gains adjustment to the transmit power of the transceiver (42). Specifically, the BER of the bins is equalized by calculating an adjustment gain and subtracting the adjustment gain from the bin currently having the maximum margin and adding the same adjustment gain to the bin currently having the minimum margin. The iterations continue until all of the bin margins are within a predetermined threshold. This changes the individual bin transmit power levels without substantially changing the aggregate transmit power level. The BER is substantially equalized, without causing the individual transmit power levels to exceed a predetermined range, such as that required by ANSI T1E1.4.

Abstract: A system for and a method of providing an expandable home automation controller is disclosed which supports multiple numbers and multiple different types of data communications with both appliances and subsystems within the home as well as systems external to the home. The system is based upon a central processor, such as a microprocessor-based computer, and is connected by means of a data bus to control the various products and subsystems within a home or commercial building, such as lighting systems, security systems, various sensors, multiple external terminals, as well as to allow for the input of commands by a variety of means such as touchscreens, voice recognition systems, telephones, custom switches or any device capable of providing an input to a computer system. The system functions can be readily controlled by the user utilizing a high resolution graphics display and associated touchscreen interface.

Abstract: A two piece combination boat and luggage carrier having essentially identical half-sections and a plurality of removable seats is releasably joined along abutting sides to form a boat. In one embodiment, the halves are pivotally joined by hinges and the bottom of the boat is provided with raised ribs that mate with grooves formed in the bottom of the seats, the top of the seats being adapted to conform to the roof of an automobile, for transporting the luggage carrier. A third central section having inside dimensions greater than the external dimensions of the half-sections is secured between the two half-sections to provide a boat of larger capacity; the third, central section is adapted for nesting over the top of the closed carrier. In another embodiment, each half section is provided with a single male and female member in the abutting end which are adapted to receiving a pair of vertical blades to connect and secure the halves together to form the boat.

Abstract: A combination two-section boat and cargo carrier comprises first and second substantially identical sections. Each section has a substantially horizontal bottom surface, at least two generally vertical sidewalls, and a generally vertical connecting wall. The connecting wall is configured with a male connector which protrudes from the surface of the connecting wall in a direction generally normal to the plane of the connecting wall, and a complementary female connector which is recessed into the connecting wall in a direction generally normal to the plane of the connecting wall. The male and female connectors are symmetrically disposed from a vertical center line of the connecting wall, and adapted to mate with each other when the connecting walls of the first and second identical sections are placed in abutting relation to one another. A removable assembly blade connector is provided in order to join the male and female connectors, so as to form a boat.

Abstract: A first wall construction for a tokamak reactor is disclosed, comprising a series of hollow lobes, each having a pair of side wall portions with a curved end wall portion extending therebetween. Each lobe is adapted to withstand substantial pressure on the concave side of the curved end wall portion while withstanding substantial heat flux on the convex side. The curved end wall portion has a shape which is approximately cylindrical in curvature but differs from being circular in curvature by a substantial deviation, in that such curved end wall portion is flatter in curvature than a truly circular curvature by the amount of such deviation, such that the thermal stresses generated in the curved end wall portion by such heat flux are at least approximately balance or neutralized by the bending stresses generated in such curved end wall portion by such pressure. The curvature may correspond generally in shape to the flatter half of an ellipse.