Abstract: A multi-protocol wireless communication baseband transceiver includes a baseband transmit processing module and a baseband receive processing module. The baseband transmit processing module includes an encoding module, an interleaving module, a plurality of symbol mapping modules, a plurality of domain conversion modules, a plurality of cyclic prefix modules, a plurality of compensation modules, and a control module that is operably coupled to produce preamble set up information and payload set up information based on a mode of a plurality of protocol modes.

Abstract: A method for detecting a symbol encoded in one or more received signals, wherein the detected symbol corresponds to a combination of values of n components, n>1, comprises (a) for each of a plurality of different combinations of values of the n components, generating a set of two or more sub-metric values based on the one or more received signals. Each sub-metric is a function of one or more of the n components, and at least one sub-metric is a function of fewer than all n components. The method further comprise (b) detecting the symbol based on the sets of sub-metric values. In another embodiment, an apparatus for detecting a symbol encoded in one or more received signals, wherein the detected symbol corresponds to a combination of values of n components, n>1, comprises (a) means for generating a set of two or more sub-metric values based on the one or more received signals for each of a plurality of different combinations of values of the n components.

Abstract: A wireless receiver detects signals generated with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter. The receiver applies maximum-likelihood detection (MLD) for soft-output signal detection, where an MLD exhaustive search across all candidate vectors is performed recursively by computing and accumulating the differences between, for example, the Euclidean metrics of consecutive candidate tests. Difference terms used for the accumulation are also calculated recursively. An ordering of candidates, such as by a triangular-waveform shaped ordering, is employed such that only one candidate variable is changed between any two consecutive candidate evaluations, leading to a reduced set of computations.

Abstract: A wireless receiver detects signals generated with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter. The receiver applies maximum-likelihood detection (MLD) for soft-output signal detection, where an MLD exhaustive search across all candidate vectors is performed recursively by computing and accumulating the differences between, for example, the Euclidean metrics of consecutive candidate tests. Difference terms used for the accumulation are also calculated recursively. An ordering of candidates, such as by a triangular-waveform shaped ordering, is employed such that only one candidate variable is changed between any two consecutive candidate evaluations, leading to a reduced set of computations.

Abstract: A station for a communications network. In one embodiment, the station includes a decoder, a check processor, and a transmitter. The decoder is adapted to decode a received encoded data unit. The check processor is adapted to determine whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received. The transmitter is adapted to initiate, prior to the check processor completing the determination whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received, the transmission of an acknowledgment message comprising a frame having a plurality of different fields of data. The transmitter is adapted to modify the transmission of the acknowledgment message if the check processor determines that the data unit has not been correctly received.

Abstract: A programmable transmitter generates a frame in a frame format according to one of a plurality of operating modes using a frame structure table storing a respective frame format for each of the operating modes. The transmitter includes a frame structure engine that receives a mode selection signal indicative of a select operating mode, and accesses the frame structure table to determine the frame format of the select operating mode. The frame structure engine produces a control signal to a frame generator to control the generation of a frame in the frame format of the select operating mode.

Abstract: Maximum likelihood detection of signals in a MIMO receiver. A system transformation is obtained by selecting a weighting matrix that when linearly transforming a channel utilized for wireless communication, results in a particular transformed triangular matrix. The weighting matrix is then used to provide a transformed vector for a received signal that allows a search in one constellation. In searching the constellation recursion values are used to calculate the Euclidean distances between set points of the constellation and the location on the constellation corresponding to the received signal for both bit values 0 and 1. Minimum Euclidean distances are determined for bit values 0 and 1 and the difference of the minimum Euclidean distances is used to compute the maximum likelihood value for bits contained in the received signal.

Abstract: A programmable transmitter generates a frame in a frame format according to one of a plurality of operating modes using a frame structure table storing a respective frame format for each of the operating modes. The transmitter includes a frame structure engine that receives a mode selection signal indicative of a select operating mode, and accesses the frame structure table to determine the frame format of the select operating mode. The frame structure engine produces a control signal to a frame generator to control the generation of a frame in the frame format of the select operating mode.

Abstract: An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor is operable to determine an antenna configuration for receive operations. More specifically, the system is operable to determine a receive antenna configuration in a network that includes a number of spatial streams, antenna configuration information, code rate, quadrature modulation type, and transmission protocol modulation scheme, etc. Generally, a selected antenna configuration for transmissions to a remote transceiver is used as an initial antenna configuration for receive operations.

Abstract: A method for processing a received encoded data unit comprises: decoding the received encoded data unit; determining whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received; prior to completing the determination of whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received, initiating the transmission of an acknowledgment message; and modifying the transmission of the acknowledgment message if it is determined that the data unit has not been correctly received. In another embodiment, a station for a communications network comprises: a decoder adapted to decode a received encoded data unit; a check processor adapted to determine whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received; and a transmitter adapted to initiate the transmission of an acknowledgment message prior to the check processor completing the determination whether the encoded data unit has been correctly received.

Abstract: Embodiments of a wireless transceiver are provided. Embodiments can be used in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless transceivers. In an embodiment, radio control signal bundles are provided as direct parallel interconnects between digital signal processing modules and the radio module of the wireless transceiver to enable a precise low-latency control of radio functions. In another embodiment, a separate physical line is provided to control each radio setting of the radio module, thereby enabling simultaneous real-time control of any number of radio settings. In a further embodiment, the various digital and analog components of the wireless transceiver are integrated within a single chip of the same process technology.

Abstract: An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor is operable to determine a transmit scheme according to an ordered manner. More specifically, the system is operable to determine a transmit scheme that defines a signaling configuration that includes number of spatial streams, antenna configuration information, code rate, quadrature modulation type, and transmission protocol modulation scheme, transmitting a packet according to the transmit scheme and collecting packet error rate success and failure information of ongoing data transmissions.

Abstract: A channel estimation method for an OFDM transceiver. The OFDM transceiver is configured to derive channel state information (CSI) for a communication channel by processing the preamble of a received OFDM packet. The received packet could be, for example, an unsolicited data packet or a solicited service packet such as an acknowledgement packet. The derived CSI information can then applied to the generation of weighted OFDM packets for transmission over the communication channel. As a result, an improved effective communication channel may be established between this OFDM transceiver and another OFDM transceiver. A channel estimation method of the present invention may be implemented in an access point (AP) or a client terminal (CLT) of a WLAN system. In either case, the improved communication channel can be used, for example, to extend the range corresponding to a selected transmission bit rate and/or to increase the transmission bit rate between the AP and a CLT.

Abstract: A wireless receiver detects signals received at two or more antennas, with each antenna coupled to an input receive chain. A switch is employed to couple selected input receive chains to one or more corresponding output receive chains during listening, coarse-detection, and fine-adjustment modes. At least one channel selection filter (CSF) is employed in each output receive chain, and the receiver employs sub-ranging. During idle mode, one antenna's input receive chain is connected to two or more CSFs to detect the packet. When the packet is detected, during a coarse-adjustment mode, the CSFs are reconfigured to couple each antenna's input receive chain to a corresponding output receive chain using low-gain signals. During fine-adjustment mode, the various gains are adjusted to be either high- or low-gain to maintain signals within the dynamic range of the corresponding CSFs.

Abstract: A wireless receiver detects signals received at two or more antennas, with each antenna coupled to an input receive chain. A switch is employed to couple selected input receive chains to one or more corresponding output receive chains during listening, coarse-detection, and fine-adjustment modes. At least one channel selection filter (CSF) is employed in each output receive chain, and the receiver employs sub-ranging. During idle mode, one antenna's input receive chain is connected to two or more CSFs to detect the packet. When the packet is detected, during a coarse-adjustment mode, the CSFs are reconfigured to couple each antenna's input receive chain to a corresponding output receive chain using low-gain signals. During fine-adjustment mode, the various gains are adjusted to be either high- or low-gain to maintain signals within the dynamic range of the corresponding CSFs.

Abstract: A multi-branch transceiver of the present invention may have two antennas, two branches in the receive path, and two branches in the transmit path, in which the first branches in the receive and transmit paths are coupled to the first antenna and the second branches in the receive and transmit paths are coupled to the second antenna. The transceiver is configured to derive channel state information (CSI) for the communication sub-channels corresponding to the two antennas and apply this CSI information to (i) process OFDM packets received via the antennas and/or (ii) generate weighted OFDM packets for transmission via the antennas. As a result, an improved effective communication channel may be established between the multi-branch transceiver and another (e.g., single antenna) OFDM transceiver. A multi-branch transceiver of the present invention may be configured as an access point (AP) or a client terminal (CLT) of a WLAN system.

Abstract: A channel estimation method for an OFDM transceiver. The OFDM transceiver is configured to derive channel state information (CSI) for a communication channel by processing the preamble of a received OFDM packet. The received packet could be, for example, an unsolicited data packet or a solicited service packet such as an acknowledgement packet. The derived CSI information can then applied to the generation of weighted OFDM packets for transmission over the communication channel. As a result, an improved effective communication channel may be established between this OFDM transceiver and another OFDM transceiver. A channel estimation method of the present invention may be implemented in an access point (AP) or a client terminal (CLT) of a WLAN system. In either case, the improved communication channel can be used, for example, to extend the range corresponding to a selected transmission bit rate and/or to increase the transmission bit rate between the AP and a CLT.