Abstract: Conditional activation and deactivation of a microprocessor. A hardware portion of an apparatus performs packet processing on received data, where the hardware portion selectively decodes the received data. A microprocessor performs data processing on decoded data, where the microprocessor is conditionally activated for performing the data processing and is conditionally deactivated when not performing the data processing. An output portion receives processed data and audibly renders the processed data without requiring the microprocessor.

Abstract: A battery-powered WLAN communication device has an activity sensor operable to identify an available packet. A PHY module is awakened to begin receiving the packet. The PHY module decodes a full MAC address from a MAC portion of a header of the packet. A MAC address parser receives the MAC address and determines whether the packet is to be received by comparing the full MAC address to a MAC address of the WLAN communication device. The MAC address parser is awakened to perform the comparing and shutdown after. Packets to be received include beacon packets. A hardware centric MAC separate from the MAC address parser has a beacon processor capable of being awakened from a shutdown state to process a beacon packet. The PHY module, the MAC address parser, and the beacon processor module are operable to be awakened and shutdown independently of each other and of a microprocessor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a network physical layer and an activity sensor for sensing a packet and activating the network physical layer from shutdown. The network physical layer decodes a PHY header portion and a media access control header portion of a packet header. A MAC has a fixed hardware media access plane implementing IEEE 802.11 series MAC functionality and couples to a microprocessor. A MAC address parser receives the MAC header portion of the packet, for processing the MAC header portion of the packet, and for activating the MAC from a shutdown in response to recognizing a MAC address within the MAC header portion of the packet, such that the MAC is not activated if the MAC parser does not recognize the MAC address, wherein the MAC is operable, after activation, to perform MAC functionality without the microprocessor and to provide data from the packet to the microprocessor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a network physical layer and an activity sensor for sensing a packet and activating the network physical layer from shutdown. The network physical layer decodes a PHY header portion and a media access control header portion of a packet header. A MAC has a fixed hardware media access plane implementing IEEE 802.11 series MAC functionality and couples to a microprocessor. A MAC address parser receives the MAC header portion of the packet, for processing the MAC header portion of the packet, and for activating the MAC from a shutdown in response to recognizing a MAC address within the MAC header portion of the packet, such that the MAC is not activated if the MAC parser does not recognize the MAC address, wherein the MAC is operable, after activation, to perform MAC functionality without the microprocessor and to provide data from the packet to the microprocessor.

Abstract: A battery-powered WLAN communication device has an activity sensor operable to identify an available packet. A PHY module is awakened to begin receiving the packet. The PHY module decodes a full MAC address from a MAC portion of a header of the packet. A MAC address parser receives the MAC address and determines whether the packet is to be received by comparing the full MAC address to a MAC address of the WLAN communication device. The MAC address parser is awakened to perform the comparing and shutdown after. Packets to be received include beacon packets. A hardware centric MAC separate from the MAC address parser has a beacon processor capable of being awakened from a shutdown state to process a beacon packet. The PHY module, the MAC address parser, and the beacon processor module are operable to be awakened and shutdown independently of each other and of a microprocessor.

Abstract: Passive listening in wireless communication. An activity sensor device senses a packet. A medium access control (MAC) address parser receives the packet, processes a header of the packet, and activates a MAC device in response to recognizing a MAC address within the header, such that the MAC device is not activated if the MAC address parser does not recognize the MAC address.

Abstract: Hardware-based beacon processing. A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device includes a packet receiver and a beacon processor. The packet receiver receives a plurality of packets comprising at least one beacon packet. The beacon processor receives packets of the plurality of packets and filters out unwanted packets of the plurality of packets without requiring the use of other components of the hardware-centric MAC device and without requiring the use of a microprocessor.

Abstract: A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device comprises a control plane module and a hardware media access planed module. The control plane module is configured for providing control functions of the hardware-centric MAC device. The hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to the control plane module is configured for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.

Abstract: A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device comprises a control plane module and a hardware media access planed module. The control plane module is configured for providing control functions of the hardware-centric MAC device. The hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to the control plane module is configured for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.

Abstract: A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device comprises a control plane module and a hardware media access planed module. The control plane module is for providing control functions of the hardware-centric MAC device. The hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to the control plane module is for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.

Abstract: A method of managing fingers for multipath signals in a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the present invention recites receiving multipath signals at a wireless communication device. The present embodiment then acquires one of the multipath signals in a searcher portion of the wireless communication device and determines a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level of the one multipath signal. Next, the present embodiment evaluates the multipath signal for categorization into one of a plurality of states and then generates a finger assignment by selectively providing the multipath signal for a demodulation operation based upon its state. The present embodiment then receives the finger assignment from the searcher portion of the communication device and determines a signal-strength for the finger assignment. The present embodiment then enables the finger assignment for a combine operation if the signal-strength for the finger assignment satiates a first signal-strength threshold.

Abstract: Hardware-based beacon processing. A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device includes a packet receiver and a beacon processor. The packet receiver receives a plurality of packets comprising at least one beacon packet. The beacon processor receives packets of the plurality of packets and filters out unwanted packets of the plurality of packets without requiring the use of other components of the hardware-centric MAC device and without requiring the use of a microprocessor.

Abstract: A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device. A control plane module is for providing control functions of the hardware-centric MAC device. A hardware media access plane module communicatively coupled to the control plane module is for performing real-time data communication functions without requiring a microprocessor.

Abstract: Conditional activation and deactivation of a microprocessor. A hardware portion of an apparatus performs packet processing on received data, where the hardware portion selectively decodes the received data. A microprocessor performs data processing on decoded data, where the microprocessor is conditionally activated for performing the data processing and is conditionally deactivated when not performing the data processing. An output portion receives processed data and audibly renders the processed data without requiring the microprocessor.

Abstract: Passive listening in wireless communication. An activity sensor device senses a packet. A medium access control (MAC) address parser receives the packet, processes a header of the packet, and activates a MAC device in response to recognizing a MAC address within the header, such that the MAC device is not activated if the MAC address parser does not recognize the MAC address.

Abstract: A voice communication device for providing cellular and voice over wireless local area network (VoWLAN) communication using a single microprocessor. A wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver is configured for receiving and transmitting voice traffic over a WLAN. A cellular transceiver is configured for receiving and transmitting voice traffic over a wireless connection to a cellular network. A microprocessor is configured to perform signal processing of the voice traffic and to provide control functions of the voice communication device, without requiring the use of an additional microprocessor.

Abstract: A voice communication device for providing voice over wireless local area network (VoWLAN) communication using a single microprocessor. A wireless transceiver is configured for receiving and transmitting voice traffic over a wireless connection. A microprocessor is configured to perform signal processing of the voice traffic and to provide control functions of the voice communication device, without requiring the use of an additional microprocessor.

Abstract: Managing assigned fingers in wireless telecommunication, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), using a finger lock mechanism. The method includes a series of steps, including a first step of receiving a finger assignment from a searcher portion of a communication device. Next, the signal-strength of the finger assignment is determined, and a time period over which the signal-strength exists is determined. The finger assignment is then compared to multiple signal-strength thresholds and to a time threshold. In the next step, the finger assignment is evaluated for a combing operation based upon which of the aforementioned thresholds it satiates. In particular, the finger assignment is enabled for a combining operation if it is a new finger assignment or if it continues to satiate a combine signal-strength threshold. Alternatively, the finger assignment is not enabled for combining but neither is it deassigned (e.g.

Abstract: A method of selecting a soft symbol for a subsequent operation in a communication device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a signal is received at the communication device. Next, the signal is demodulated. Then, a strength level such as a signal to noise ration Eb/Nt is determined. Based upon the strength level determined for the signal, a location of bits of the signal is determined for a subsequent operation. The strength level and the location of bits is adaptively updated for the signal over time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing dropped calls in a wireless communication device. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a method including the step of determining a characteristic of a first finger. Next, the present embodiment compares a characteristic of the first finger to a characteristic threshold. In this embodiment, provided the characteristic of the first finger does not meet the characteristic threshold, the present invention then determines if a second finger is present. Provided it is determined that a second finger is not present, the present invention prevents the first finger from being deassigned such that the first finger is not deassigned when only the first finger is present. In so doing, the present embodiment ensures that first finger is utilized (i.e. not dropped) even when the first finger does not meet a given characteristic threshold.