Abstract: A fence system can determine positions and orientations of objects. The fence system may include fence associated with a fence network that has a plurality of fence nodes. The locations of the fence nodes and fence are defined in a fence coordinate system. A tracked object has a plurality of transient nodes. The fence network may determine the position and orientation of the tracked object based on estimated distances between at least two of the plurality transient nodes and at least two of the plurality of fence nodes. The system may also include a second fence associated fenced object that also has a plurality of transient nodes.

Abstract: A method, network device and computer program product schedule packets received from a higher layer packet source for transmission from a network device onto a medium shared with at least one contending network device where access to the medium is controlled by a medium access protocol. Medium history information associated with the medium is obtained. A transmission schedule that provides for periodic opportunities to transmit a packet from the network device is determined in the network device. The transmission schedule minimizes contention with transmission from the at least one contending network device by taking into account the medium history information associated with the medium. At least some of the packets are provided to a medium access controller in the network device that operates in accordance with the medium access protocol, based on the determined transmission schedule. Packets output from the medium access controller are transmitted from the network device.

Abstract: A fence system can determine positions and orientations of objects. The fence system may include fence associated with a fence network that has a plurality of fence nodes. The locations of the fence nodes and fence are defined in a fence coordinate system. A tracked object has a plurality of transient nodes. The fence network may determine the position and orientation of the tracked object based on estimated distances between at least two of the plurality transient nodes and at least two of the plurality of fence nodes. The system may also include a second fence associated fenced object that also has a plurality of transient nodes.

Abstract: A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.

Abstract: A method, network device and computer program product schedule packets received from a higher layer packet source for transmission from a network device onto a medium shared with at least one contending network device where access to the medium is controlled by a medium access protocol. Medium history information associated with the medium is obtained. A transmission schedule that provides for periodic opportunities to transmit a packet from the network device is determined in the network device. The transmission schedule minimizes contention with transmission from the at least one contending network device by taking into account the medium history information associated with the medium. At least some of the packets are provided to a medium access controller in the network device that operates in accordance with the medium access protocol, based on the determined transmission schedule. Packets output from the medium access controller are transmitted from the network device.

Abstract: Practical methods and apparatuses are provided for determining network clusters in wireless backhaul networks comprising a plurality of hubs (102) and Remote Backhaul Modules (RBM) (104) based on link quality value (LQV) metrics. From an input LQV table of LQV values for each hub-RBM link (110), the link quality values are first ranked. Clusters are then identified from all the possible links based on the order of the highest link quality value to the lowest link quality value, any constraints on the number of RBMs per cluster, and clustering each RBM only once. Links with strong link quality values are chosen to optimize the LQV metric. LQV based clustering achieves a higher average LQV, e.g., average spectrum efficiency or weighted sum spectrum efficiency, for the entire backhaul network compared to the geographic location based clustering. The method is straightforward to implement and has low computational complexity.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for scheduling resources in a wireless backhaul network comprising a plurality of N Hubs, each Hub serving a plurality of K Remote Backhaul Modules (RBMs), using a coordinated power zone assignment across the backhaul network. For each Hub, a one-to-one power zone assignment, of each of the K RBM to one of the K power zones, is computed by maximizing a selected network utility across the backhaul network. Coordinated power zone assignment according to preferred embodiments based on the auction approach offers a close-to-global-optimal solution. Coordinated scheduling based on first assigning RBMs to hubs heuristically, and then optimally scheduling RBMs within each hub also offers significant performance improvement as compared to non-coordinated systems. Preferred embodiments offer a significant performance improvement as compared to conventional systems.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for scheduling resources in a wireless backhaul network comprising a plurality of N Hubs, each Hub serving a plurality of K Remote Backhaul Modules (RBMs), using a coordinated power zone assignment across the backhaul network. For each Hub, a one-to-one power zone assignment, of each of the K RBM to one of the K power zones, is computed by maximizing a selected network utility across the backhaul network. Coordinated power zone assignment according to preferred embodiments based on the auction approach offers a close-to-global-optimal solution. Coordinated scheduling based on first assigning RBMs to hubs heuristically, and then optimally scheduling RBMs within each hub also offers significant performance improvement as compared to non-coordinated systems. Preferred embodiments offer a significant performance improvement as compared to conventional systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for managing interference in a wireless backhaul network comprising a plurality of hubs, each hub serving a plurality of remote backhaul modules (RBM), using power control with a one-power-zone (OPZ) constraint. Each hub uses a transmit frame structure comprising a plurality of zones, each RBM is scheduled on a different zone, and the same power level is maintained across all zones within a transmit frame. Under the OPZ constraint, and for scheduling policies under which the number of zones assigned to each RBM is fixed, the power and scheduling sub-problems are decoupled. This enables power control independent of scheduling, using methods having lower computational complexity. Methods are disclosed comprising iterative function evaluation or Newton's method approaches based on a weighted sum-rate maximization across the network, which can be implemented in a distributed fashion. Some of the methods can be implemented asynchronously at each hub.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for allowing neighboring nodes to dynamically discover the existence of each other and establish transit links therebetween. The discovery process includes providing a channel assessment among a number of communication channels based on channel traffic or characteristics of the channel traffic. Based on the channel assessment, a candidate channel is selected and the mesh node will begin transmitting discovery messages and listening for responses to the discovery messages from neighboring mesh nodes. Upon receipt of a response, the mesh node can determine whether a transit link can and should be established with the neighboring node. During establishment of a transit link, a lower layer communication link is established with the neighboring mesh node for scheduling and authentication of the respective mesh nodes with respect to each other, prior to activation of the transit link itself. The transit link will be used for forwarding data.

Abstract: A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for scheduling resources in a wireless backhaul network comprising a plurality of N Hubs, each Hub serving a plurality of K Remote Backhaul Modules (RBMs), using a coordinated power zone assignment across the backhaul network. For each Hub, a one-to-one power zone assignment, of each of the K RBM to one of the K power zones, is computed by maximizing a selected network utility across the backhaul network. Coordinated power zone assignment according to preferred embodiments based on the auction approach offers a close-to-global-optimal solution. Coordinated scheduling based on first assigning RBMs to hubs heuristically, and then optimally scheduling RBMs within each hub also offers significant performance improvement as compared to non-coordinated systems. Preferred embodiments offer a significant performance improvement as compared to conventional systems.

Abstract: Practical methods and apparatuses are provided for determining network clusters in wireless backhaul networks comprising a plurality of hubs and Remote Backhaul Modules (RBM) (104) based on link quality value (LQV) metrics. From an input LQV table of LQV values for each hub-RBM link (110), the link quality values are first ranked. Clusters are then identified from all the possible links based on the order of the highest link quality value to the lowest link quality value, any constraints on the number of RBMs per cluster, and clustering each RBM only once. Links with strong link quality values are chosen to optimize the LQV metric. LQV based clustering achieves a higher average LQV, e.g., average spectrum efficiency or weighted sum spectrum efficiency, for the entire backhaul network compared to the geographic location based clustering. The method is straightforward to implement and has low computational complexity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for managing interference in a wireless backhaul network comprising a plurality of hubs, each hub serving a plurality of remote backhaul modules (RBM), using power control with a one-power-zone (OPZ) constraint. Each hub uses a transmit frame structure comprising a plurality of zones, each RBM is scheduled on a different zone, and the same power level is maintained across all zones within a transmit frame. Under the OPZ constraint, and for scheduling policies under which the number of zones assigned to each RBM is fixed, the power and scheduling sub-problems are decoupled. This enables power control independent of scheduling, using methods having lower computational complexity. Methods are disclosed comprising iterative function evaluation or Newton's method approaches based on a weighted sum-rate maximization across the network, which can be implemented in a distributed fashion. Some of the methods can be implemented asynchronously at each hub.

Abstract: A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for performing a mobile station handover while continuing a multicast and broadcast service (MCBCS). The system includes a transceiver module transmitting from the mobile station multicast and broadcast service (MBS) zone criteria, including a list of one or more potential target base stations, to a serving base station, if a target base station is not in the same MBS zone as the serving base station. A handover request is made to one or more of the potential target base stations from the serving base station, determined based on the MBS zone criteria, where the MBS zone criteria includes an MCBCS continuity policy of the mobile station. A target base station is then selected, from the list of one or more potential target base stations, that satisfies the MBS zone criteria, and a handover process is performed to the target base station.

Abstract: A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.

Abstract: A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.

Abstract: A flexible OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM frame structure technology comprises a configurable-length frame which contains a variable length subframe structure to effectively utilize OFDM bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure facilitates spectrum sharing between multiple communication systems.

Abstract: A broadcast management message includes MBS Zone Neighbor information to associate different MBS Zones which transmit the same MBS contents over a single frequency or a different frequency. An MBS Zone Service Group contains a group of MBS Zones that transmit the same MBS content over the same frequency or at different frequencies. All the MBS Zones that belong to the same MBS Zone Service Group may have the same MBS Zone Service Group Identifier (ID).