Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals to produce a receiver output; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; the processor coupled to the receiver, wherein the processor applies a Fourier transform to the receiver output; and a controller programmed to instruct the transmitter to transmit at least one symbol representing a request for bandwidth allocation on a first carrier; wherein the controller is further programmed to determine when a collision has occurred on the first carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for course and fine synchronization are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises establishing communication between a first remote of a plurality of remote units and a host, the plurality of remote units coupled to the host in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote, the tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM); making a first adjustment in a manner in which transmissions are transmitted from the first remote on at least one of the tones, the first adjustment varying the alignment of the transmissions received at the host; and making a second adjustment in the manner in which transmissions are transmitted from the first remote on the at least one of the tones, the second adjustment varying the alignment of the transmissions received at the host, wherein the second adjustment is finer the first adjustment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for round-trip-delay adjustment in a multipoint-to-point orthogonal frequency division multiplexing () system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a remote unit to request bandwidth in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing () multi-point to point system comprises: transmitting a signal from a remote unit having a request for bandwidth to a host unit on a first tone, the signal from the remote unit configured to combine with a signal from at least one other remote unit on a different tone to form a coherent waveform; determining when a collision has occurred on the first tone between the signal transmitted by the remote unit and a signal from at least one other remote unit; and when a collision occurs, re-transmitting the request for bandwidth on the first tone.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system comprises establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; and adjusting a round trip path delay associated with the first remote unit.

Abstract: A method for maintaining the quality of transmission from a head end to a service unit in a telecommunications system that uses a multi-carrier transmission scheme with dynamic bandwidth allocation is disclosed. The method involves allocating a first payload channel to a service unit in a subband of a transmission channel of the telecommunications system and monitoring the quality of the first payload channel. When the quality of the first payload channel drops below a threshold, the method allocates a second, different payload channel to the channel unit.

Abstract: Method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration, transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, and adjusting the up to a plurality of tones transmitted from the first remote unit to maintain the up to a plurality of tones substantially orthogonal with respect to any tones transmitted from at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units as received at the host unit.

Abstract: Method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration, transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, and adjusting the up to a plurality of tones transmitted from the first remote unit to maintain the up to a plurality of tones substantially orthogonal with respect to any tones transmitted from at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units as received at the host unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; receiving an address code assignment from the host unit, the address code to be used in communicating with the host unit, wherein the address code is unique among the plurality of remote units; and transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for selecting modulation in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a remote unit of an OFDM multipoint-to-point communications system comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit and a host unit, the first remote unit and a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting a plurality of tones from the first remote unit such that tones from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit are simultaneously received at the host unit, the plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM; modulating up to a plurality of tones using a first modulation scheme when transmitting a first type of upstream information; and modulating up to a plurality of tones using a second modulation scheme when transmitting a second type of upstream information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for OFDM tone allocation are provided. In one embodiment, an end-user communication device comprises: a first remote unit for communicating with a host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the host unit communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration, wherein OFDM waveform from distinct remote units of the plurality of remote units combine to a unified OFDM waveform at the host unit. The first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM. The first remote unit is configured to determine when bandwidth is needed for upstream transmission to the host unit. The first remote unit is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host unit on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention-based.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ranging adjustments are provided. In one embodiment, a remote service unit comprises: a transceiver communicatively coupled with a host in a multi-point to point configuration, the transceiver configured to communicate with the host via an OFDM waveform; and a multi-carrier modem coupled to the transceiver and configured to demodulate downstream information data from the OFDM waveform, the multi-carrier modem further configured to modulate upstream information data onto the OFDM waveform. The multi-carrier modem modulates upstream information data onto distinct subcarriers of the OFDM waveform, the multi-carrier modem synchronized with the host so that upstream OFDM signals transmitted by the transceiver and other upstream OFDM signals received at the host unit combine to a unified OFDM waveform. The multi-carrier modem adjusts a round trip path delay between the remote service unit and the host based on a path delay correction received from the host unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronization techniques in multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a method for multipoint-to-point communication comprises: receiving at a host a plurality of upstream symbols transmitted from a plurality of remote units, the upstream symbols transmitted on a plurality of orthogonal carriers modulated using an inverse Fourier transform; and determining respective round trip path delay values associated with each of at least two of the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: Systems for multiple use subchannels are provided. In one embodiment, a bidirectional communication system comprises: a first remote unit for communicating with a host using OFDM, the host communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration. The first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM, the first remote unit including a modulator for modulating the up to a plurality of tones using OFDM. The modulator is configured to adjust a carrier frequency and timing of the plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved. Both control data and payload data are transmitted on a first tone of the plurality of tones.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host and a plurality of remote units, wherein a plurality of tones is shared among the plurality of remote units in order to communicate with the host using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, wherein the plurality of tones is shared in a manner that permits at least two of the remote units to transmit to the host at any one time using the plurality of tones. The host causes at least one remote unit to adjust a timing of symbols transmitted on at least one of the plurality of orthogonal tones in order to improve an alignment of multiframes received at the host.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host unit to communicate with a plurality of remote units using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; the host unit receiving an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform comprising a plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remote units; and wherein the host unit is configured to transmit adjustment information to a first remote unit of the plurality of remote units to maintain the plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remote units substantially orthogonal as received at the host unit, the information directing the first remote unit to adjust tones transmitted by the first remote unit.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system comprises establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; and adjusting a round trip path delay associated with the first remote unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a method for ranging comprises: receiving at a host a plurality of upstream symbols transmitted from a plurality of remote units, the upstream symbols transmitted on a plurality of orthogonal carriers modulated using an inverse Fourier transform; comparing a phase of at least one ranging symbol received from at least one of the plurality of remote units with a phase of a symbol transmitted by the host; and transmitting an adjustment instruction instructing the at least one of the plurality of remote units to vary a phase of transmissions transmitted from the at least one of the plurality of remote units based on a difference in phase between the at least one ranging symbol and the symbol transmitted by the host unit.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host unit to communicate with a plurality of remote units using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; and wherein the host unit is configured to adjust a round trip path delay associated with at least one of the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: Systems for control modulation in multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host; a plurality of remote units using a multiple access scheme to communicate at the same time with the host using OFDM; wherein the host allocates orthogonal tones within the system to the plurality of remote units; wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to at least one of the remote units instructing the at least one remote unit to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote unit to improve orthogonality of OFDM transmissions received at the host from the plurality of remote units; and wherein control data is sent between the host and at least one remote unit using a more robust modulation scheme than the modulation scheme used to send payload data between the host and the at least one remote unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scanning by remotes in multipoint-to-point communication using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a host unit; and a plurality of remote units using a multiple access scheme to communicate at the same time with the host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM); wherein at least one remote unit scans a band of frequencies for a downstream signal from the host unit; wherein the host unit sends an adjustment signal to the at least one remote unit instructing the at least one remote unit to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote unit to improve orthogonality of an OFDM waveform received at the host unit; and wherein the host unit allocates orthogonal tones within the OFDM waveform to the plurality of remote units.