Abstract: A method of providing for synchronizing one or more synchronous terminals with one or more synchronous endpoints, each synchronous terminal and each synchronous endpoint having an asynchronous communications network coupled between at least one synchronous terminal and at least one synchronous endpoint. A synchronization protocol is established between a synchronous terminal and a synchronous end point by providing a gateway between the asynchronous communications network and the synchronous end point, the gateway communicating with the synchronous terminal over the asynchronous communications network in accordance with the synchronization protocol. The synchronization protocol includes sending a message from the gateway to the synchronous terminal, the message containing a timestamp identifying a clock associated with the synchronous end point.

Abstract: A method of providing for synchronizing one or more synchronous terminals with one or more synchronous endpoints, each synchronous terminal and each synchronous endpoint having an asynchronous communications network coupled between at least one synchronous terminal and at least one synchronous endpoint. A synchronization protocol is established between a synchronous terminal and a synchronous end point by providing a gateway between the asynchronous communications network and the synchronous end point, the gateway communicating with the synchronous terminal over the asynchronous communications network in accordance with the synchronization protocol. The synchronization protocol includes sending a message from the gateway to the synchronous terminal, the message containing a timestamp identifying a clock associated with the synchronous end point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a voiceband modem circuit to a common phoneline connector, the common phoneline connection having a ring line connection and a tip line connection which couples a ring/tip line pair to a subscriber loop circuit, the voiceband modem circuit operating in a voiceband modem operating frequency band and having a voiceband modem interface ring line and a voiceband modem interface tip line. The voiceband modem interface ring line is coupled to the ring line and the voiceband modem interface tip line is coupled to the tip line connection by inserting, between the ring line connection and the voiceband modem interface ring line and between the tip line connection and the voiceband modem interface tip line, a series pair of inductors. A first inductor of the series pair has a low inductance and a high self-resonant frequency and a second inductor of the series pair has a high inductance and low self-resonant frequency.

Abstract: A method of determining a start of a transmitted frame at a receiver on a frame-based communications network. A preamble format for the transmitted frame is provided wherein a plurality of identical copies of a preamble symbol sequence are transmitted sequentially. A received transmitted frame is filtered using filter coefficients matched to the preamble symbol sequence to provide a correlation sequence. A squared-magnitude of the correlation sequence is computed. The squared-magnitude of the correlation sequence is low-pass filtered to provide a low-pass filtered correlation signal low-pass filtered signal. The low-pass filtered correlation signal is delayed to provide a delayed low-pass filtered correlation signal. The delayed low-pass filtered correlation signal is multiplied by a first fixed predetermined threshold to provide a multiplied correlation signal. The multiplied correlation signal is compared with the low-pass filtered correlation signal to provide a correlation difference indicator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a voiceband modem circuit to a common phoneline connector, the common phoneline connection having a ring line connection and a tip line connection which couples a ring/tip line pair to a subscriber loop circuit, the voiceband modem circuit operating in a voiceband modem operating frequency band and having a voiceband modem interface ring line and a voiceband modem interface tip line. The voiceband modem interface ring line is coupled to the ring line and the voiceband modem interface tip line is coupled to the tip line connection by inserting, between the ring line connection and the voiceband modem interface ring line and between the tip line connection and the voiceband modem interface tip line, a series pair of inductors. A first inductor of the series pair has a low inductance and a high self-resonant frequency and a second inductor of the series pair has a high inductance and low self-resonant frequency.

Abstract: Signature apparatus and techniques that make home networking devices, e.g., in-Home Phoneline Network (herein referred to as “HPN”) devices, isolation filters, network interface devices, etc., detectable by commercially available metallic loop termination (MLT) test equipment. The invention also provides a method of testing a telephone line for the existence of a signature circuit identifying a home network. The home network signature circuit includes a series combination of a voltage breakdown device (e.g., Zener diodes) and an impedance (e.g., 200K ohm resistor). In operation, the home network signature circuit shunts the tested subscriber line loop with a voltage-dependent impedance in the presence of an appropriate test voltage exceeding 80 volts. Different high voltage thresholds of the voltage breakdown portion and/or different resistance values of the shunt impedance can be implemented in the home network signature device to produce uniquely detectable signatures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a system propagating home networking communications signals over telephone lines to a system propagating television signals over a coaxial cable system to a television device. A three port adapter has a phone line port, a first coaxial cable port and a second coaxial cable port. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the phone line port through a low pass filter and wideband balun adapted to pass home networking communications signals while being adapted to reject television signals. The first coaxial cable port is also coupled to the second coaxial port through a high pass filter while being adapted to reject home networking communications signals. The phone line port is coupled to the system propagating home networking communications signals. The first coaxial cable port is coupled to the system propagating television signals over coaxial cable. The second coaxial cable port to the television device.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for optimizing signal transformation from a twisted pair transmission line to a combination transmitter and receiver for a frame-based communications network, the transmitter having a transmit output pair port for transmitting signals onto the frame-based communications network over the twisted pair transmission line, the receiver having a receive input pair port for receiving signals from the frame-based communications network over the twisted pair transmission line. A transformer is coupled between the twisted pair transmission line and each of the transmit output pair port and the receive input pair port. The transformer has a coil across the twisted pair, a transmit coil across the transmit output pair port, and a receive coil across the receive input pair port. A transfer ratio between the transmit coil and the coil across the twisted pair is optimized for transmitting signals.

Abstract: A method of determining an end of a transmitted frame at a receiver on a frame-based communications network. An end of frame format for the transmitted frame is provided having an end of frame plurality of symbols. A received transmitted frame is filtered using filter coefficients matched to the end of frame plurality of symbols to provide a correlation sequence low-pass filtered signal. A squared magnitude of the correlation sequence is computed. The squared magnitude of the correlation sequence is low-pass filtered to provide a low-pass filtered correlation signal. The low-pass filtered correlation signal is delayed to provide a delayed low-pass filtered correlation signal. The delayed low-pass filtered correlation signal is multiplied by a fixed predetermined threshold to provide a multiplied correlation signal. The multiplied correlation signal is compared with the low-pass filtered correlation signal to provide a match/no match comparison indicative of the possible end of a transmitted frame.

Abstract: A method for selecting frame encoding parameters to improve transmission performance for a transmitting frame being transmitted from a transmitting station to a receiving station over a transmission medium of a frame-based communications network is provided, the transmitting frame having a header segment and a payload segment, the header segment being transmitted using a fixed set of encoding parameters such that the header segment can be received and decoded by all stations on the network, the payload segment being transmitted using a variable set of payload encoding parameters, the transmitting station sending the transmitting frame using one set of the variable set of payload encoding parameters at a time. The receiving station receives and decodes the header and payload segments of each transmitting frame. The decoding includes computing frame statistics. A plurality of sets from the variable set of payload encoding parameters are selected to form a possible set of payload encoding parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a voiceband modem circuit to a common phoneline connector, the common phoneline connection having a ring line connection and a tip line connection which couples a ring/tip line pair to a subscriber loop circuit, the voiceband modem circuit operating in a voiceband modem operating frequency band and having a voiceband modem interface ring line and a voiceband modem interface tip line. The voiceband modem interface ring line is coupled to the ring line and the voiceband modem interface tip line is coupled to the tip line connection by inserting, between the ring line connection and the voiceband modem interface ring line and between the tip line connection and the voiceband modem interface tip line, a series pair of inductors. A first inductor of the series pair has a low inductance and a high self-resonant frequency and a second inductor of the series pair has a high inductance and low self-resonant frequency.

Abstract: A method for selecting frame encoding parameters to improve transmission performance for a transmitting frame being transmitted from a transmitting station to a receiving station over a transmission medium of a frame-based communications network, the transmitting frame having a header segment and a payload segment, the header segment being transmitted using a fixed set of encoding parameters such that the header segment can be received and decoded by all stations on the network, the payload segment being transmitted using a variable set of payload encoding parameters, the transmitting station sending the transmitting frame using one set of the variable set of payload encoding parameters at a time. The receiving station receives and decodes the header and payload segments of each transmitting frame. The decoding includes computing frame statistics. A plurality of sets are selected from the variable set of payload encoding parameters to form a possible set of payload encoding parameters.

Abstract: A method for providing dynamic adjustment of frame encoding parameters to improve transmission performance for a transmitting frame being transmitted from a transmitting station to a receiving station over a transmission medium on a frame-based communications network, the transmitting frame having a header segment and a payload segment, the header segment being transmitted using a fixed set of encoding parameters, the payload segment being transmitted using a variable set of payload encoding parameters. The transmitting station sends the transmitting frame using one set of the variable set of payload encoding parameters at a time.

Abstract: A method and signal therfor embodied in a carrier wave for sending information from transmit stations to receive stations over a transmission medium of a frame-based communications network. The information is sent in transmit frames having a frame format comprising a fixed rate header, followed by a variable rate payload, followed by a fixed rate trailer. The fixed rate header includes a preamble. The preamble has a repetition of four symbol sequences for facilitating power estimation, gain control, baud frequency offset estimation, equalizer training, carrier sensing and collision detection. The preamble also includes a frame control field.

Abstract: A method of determining a collision between two or more transmitting stations at one of the transmitting stations on a frame-based communications network. A transmitted frame header includes a cyclic preamble wherein identical copies of a preamble symbol sequence are transmitted sequentially. A collision is declared if an estimate of error power in second and third copies of the preamble minus an estimate of error power in third and fourth copies of the preamble exceeds a first threshold, or a maximum value of the norm of each term of a source field error vector minus a greater of the estimate of the error power in the second and third copies of the cyclic preamble and the estimate of the error power in the third and fourth copies of the preamble exceeds a second threshold.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for noise reduction for a transceiver transmitting frames over a transmission medium in a frame-based communications network. A transceiver transmit path and a transceiver receive path is provided. A blocking switch is located in the transceiver transmit path, the blocking switch allowing transmit signal propagation when enabled, while preventing both transmit signal propagation and circuit device noise coupling from the transceiver transmit path to the transceiver receive path when the blocking switch is disabled. The blocking switch is disabled when the transceiver transmit path is not transmitting frames over the frame-based communications network.

Abstract: A method of providing for synchronizing one or more synchronous terminals with one or more synchronous endpoints, each synchronous terminal and each synchronous endpoint having an asynchronous communications network coupled between at least one synchronous terminal and at least one synchronous endpoint. A synchronization protocol is established between a synchronous terminal and a synchronous end point by providing a gateway between the asynchronous communications network and the synchronous end point, the gateway communicating with the synchronous terminal over the asynchronous communications network in accordance with the synchronization protocol. The synchronization protocol includes sending a message from the gateway to the synchronous terminal, the message containing a timestamp identifying a clock associated with the synchronous end point.