Abstract: Techniques are described to calibrate the downlink and uplink channels to account for differences in the frequency responses of the transmit and receive chains at an access point and a user terminal. In one method, pilots are transmitted on the downlink and uplink channels and used to derive estimates of the downlink and uplink channel responses, respectively. Correction factors for the access point and correction factors for the user terminal are determined based on (e.g., by performing matrix-ratio computation or minimum mean square error (MMSE) computation on) the downlink and uplink channel response estimates. The correction factors for the access point and the correction factors for the user terminal are used to obtain a calibrated downlink channel and a calibrated uplink channel, which are transpose of one another. The calibration may be performed in real time based on over-the-air transmission.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method is provided in which a control channel used for transmitting control information is partitioned into a plurality of subchannels each of which is operated at a specific data rate. For each of one or more user terminals, one of the subchannels is selected based on one or more selection criteria for transmitting control information from an access point to the respective user terminal. Control information is transmitted from the access point to a user terminal on a particular subchannel selected for the respective user terminal. At the user terminal, one or more subchannels are decoded to obtain control information designated for the user terminal.

Abstract: An uplink channel response matrix is obtained for each terminal and decomposed to obtain a steering vector used by the terminal to transmit on the uplink. An “effective” uplink channel response vector is formed for each terminal based on its steering vector and its channel response matrix. Multiple sets of terminals are evaluated based on their effective channel response vectors to determine the best set (e.g., with highest overall throughput) for uplink transmission. Each selected terminal performs spatial processing on its data symbol stream with its steering vector and transmits its spatially processed data symbol stream to an access point. The multiple selected terminals simultaneously transmit their data symbol streams via their respective MIMO channels to the access point. The access point performs receiver spatial processing on its received symbol streams in accordance with a receiver spatial processing technique to recover the data symbol streams transmitted by the selected terminals.

Abstract: For eigenmode transmission with minimum mean square error (MMSE) receiver spatial processing, a transmitter performs spatial processing on NS data symbol streams with steering vectors to transmit the streams on NS spatial channels of a MIMO channel. The steering vectors are estimates of transmitter steering vectors required to orthogonalize the spatial channels. A receiver derives a spatial filter based on an MMSE criterion and with an estimate of the MIMO channel response and the steering vectors. The receiver (1) obtains NR received symbol streams from NR receive antennas, (2) performs spatial processing on the received symbol streams with the spatial filter to obtain NS filtered symbol streams, (3) performs signal scaling on the filtered symbol streams with a scaling matrix to obtain NS recovered symbol streams, and (4) processes the NS recovered symbol streams to obtain NS decoded data streams for the NS data streams sent by the transmitter.

Abstract: Frequency-independent eigensteering in MISO and MIMO systems are described. For principal mode and multi-mode eigensteering, a correlation matrix is computed for a MIMO channel based on channel response matrices and decomposed to obtain NS frequency-independent steering vectors for NS spatial channels of the MIMO channel. ND data symbol streams are transmitted on ND best spatial channels using ND steering vectors, where ND=1 for principal mode eigensteering and ND>1 for multi-mode eigensteering. For main path eigensteering, a data symbol stream is transmitted on the best spatial channel for the main propagation path (e.g., with the highest energy) of the MIMO channel. For receiver eigensteering, a data symbol stream is steered toward a receive antenna based on a steering vector obtained for that receive antenna. For all eigensteering schemes, a matched filter is derived for each receive antenna based on the steering vector(s) and channel response vectors for the receive antenna.

Abstract: A mobile station accesses a base station by randomly selecting a first reverse link common control channel from a set of random access channels. The mobile station transmits a request portion of an access probe over the first reverse link common control channel. The request portion is subject to collision with other signals. The request portion comprises a hash identification which is derived from a uniquely identifying number using a hash function. The hash identification quasi-uniquely identifies the mobile station. The mobile station receives a channel assignment message from the base station designating the hash identification and a reserved access channel. The reserved access channel provides communication with a low probability of contention. The mobile station transmits a message portion of the access probe over the reserved access channel.

Abstract: A mobile station accesses a base station by randomly selecting a first reverse link common control channel from a set of random access channels. The mobile station transmits a request portion of an access probe over the first reverse link common control channel. The request portion is subject to collision with other signals. The request portion comprises a hash identification which is derived from a uniquely identifying number using a hash function. The hash identification quasi-uniquely identifies the mobile station. The mobile station receives a channel assignment message from the base station designating the hash identification and a reserved access channel. The reserved access channel provides communication with a low probability of contention. The mobile station transmits a message portion of the access probe over the reserved access channel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for associating a supplement compartment with a liquid container, wherein the supplement may be a vitamin, mineral, analgesic, antibiotic or other medicine, flavor or color additive or nutritional in nature, and may be readily accessible and retrievable for use with the liquid such as water or other beverage. The compartment may be nested atop a cap that covers the dispenser of the container or may be otherwise associated with the container in a secure but temporary and accessible manner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for associating a supplement compartment with a liquid container, wherein the supplement may be a vitamin, mineral, analgesic, antibiotic or other medicine, flavor or color additive or nutritional in nature, and may be readily accessible and retrievable for use with the liquid such as water or other beverage. The compartment may be nested atop a cap that covers the dispenser of the container or may be otherwise associated with the container in a secure but temporary and accessible manner.

Abstract: A floor protector for a garage floor or the like is formed as a unitary, monolithic sheet for placement in the parking area of a motor vehicle. The protector includes left and right inwardly sloping lateral surfaces, with a longitudinal channel or trough extending down the center of the device. The trough slopes rearwardly, to collect runoff from the lateral slopes and guide the runoff to the rear center of the device where it is removed from the protector and garage by a retractably extendable channel. The remainder of the rearward edge of the protector includes a raised, rounded dam with a central gap for the retractable channel, to preclude runoff from the device at any other point than the location of the central channel. The protector includes flat, level wheel or tire rest points inset in the lateral slopes, for assisting a driver in accurately positioning a vehicle on the device.

Abstract: An article of wearing apparel for covering the breasts. A neck strap extends behind the neck of the wearer and extends downwardly at opposite ends so that a void is present between the ends on the front of the wearer. A cover is suspended from the neck strap and provides covering for the breasts of the wearer, while exposing the portion of the body between the breasts. A back strap connects the ends of the neck strap and is positioned around the back of the wearer.

Abstract: A system for providing a simple, easy to learn and flexible means of creating user interfaces to products under development without the need of a programming language or the need to learn a large set of complicated commands. The Visual Software Engineering ("VSE") system of the invention uses a simple concept of defining both input to and output from graphical objects in an object-oriented system by providing examples of what the user desires the graphical object to do. This technique is referred to herein as "animation by example". In accordance with this process, the user creates a user interface by drawing the user interface with a graphics editor and then defining the output behavior (i.e., graphics manipulation) of the user interface components by showing each state or frame as an animation. This is accomplished by changing the object using a graphic editor function such as move or rotate and storing each of the frames with the object as a behavior state.

Abstract: For synchronising the operation of first and second video devices referenced by respective timecodes and operable at different video rates in response to first and second timing references where the first video rate is a m/n times the second video rate, a predetermined phase relationship is established between the first timecodes from the first video device and second reference signals for the second video device and then target timecodes for synchronising the second video device are derived from the first timecodes and the second reference signals. In a first embodiment second timing reference signals are generated with a fixed, repeatable phase relationship with respect to the first timecodes by resetting the timing of the second timing reference signals in response to a first timecode which, when divided by m, gives a predetermined remainder.