Abstract: A Viterbi decoding demapping scheme for a wireless communications device processor substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. By using log and antilog techniques, simplified multiplication and division operations in the branch metric calculation may be performed. A fully integrated receiver circuit with Viterbi decoder with branch metric computation consumes less circuit space and power than conventional solutions.

Abstract: A method for exploiting location information inherent in the location of points within a transmitted signal constellation. A common method for assigning weights to branch metrics in a Viterbi decoder is to assign Hamming weights which are summations of the number of places in which a received bit pattern differs from the bit pattern assigned to a branch metric. Signal strength information may be incorporated into the weight assigned to a branch metric in the Viterbi decoder. Additionally information-inherent in the location of the points within a constellation may be taken into account. Bit errors which require a larger deviation to occur are given higher weights, and bit errors which require less deviation to occur are given lower weights. By taking into account signal strength and location information up to 2 dB of coding gain can be realized.

Abstract: Classifier for IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers) 802.11g receiver. A communication device includes a classifier and a number of PHY (physical layer) receivers communicatively coupled thereto that enable the communication device to process various received signal types. Each of the PHY receivers is operable to perform pre-processing of a received frame (or packet) of data and to calculate a confidence level indicating whether the received frame is intended for that particular PHY receiver; this pre-processing does not involve processing (e.g., demodulation and/or decoding) of the received frame. Those PHY receivers having sufficiently high confidence levels assert claims to the classifier for the received frame. The classifier is operable to arbitrate between competing claims by 2 or more PHY receivers and to ensure that the received frame is provided to the PHY receiver for which it is intended.

Abstract: A method of transmitting and receiving data packets over a channel susceptible to random burst and/or white gaussian noise channel errors. Each data packet is encoded to form error correctable encoded data packets. Each error correctable encoded data packet is interleaved to form interleaved error correctable encoded data packets. Each interleaved error correctable encoded data packet is modulated to form modulated interleaved error correctable encoded data packets. Each modulated interleaved error correctable encoded data packet is transmitted over the channel. The channel can be a telephone line. The encoding includes performing Reed Solomon encoding on each data packet to form Reed Solomon error correctable encoded data packets. Each data packet is cyclic redundancy check encoded prior to performing Reed Solomon encoding. Modulated interleaved error correctable encoded data packets are received from the channel.

Abstract: A method for exploiting location information inherent in the location of points within a transmitted signal constellation. A common method for assigning weights to branch metrics in a Viterbi decoder is to assign Hamming weights which are summations of the number of places in which a received bit pattern differs from the bit pattern assigned to a branch metric. Signal strength information may be incorporated into the weight assigned to a branch metric in the Viterbi decoder. Additionally information-inherent in the location of the points within a constellation may be taken into account. Bit errors which require a larger deviation to occur are given higher weights, and bit errors which require less deviation to occur are given lower weights. By taking into account signal strength and location information up to 2 dB of coding gain can be realized.