Abstract: A medium access contention protocol that is highly beneficial in wireless networks and particularly in wireless networks that employ a fixed minimum burst size such as OFDM wireless networks. In one embodiment, a MAC protocol is a demand-assigned protocol that maximizes utilization of the bus medium (the allocated frequency spectrum.) Each data communication device (DCD) in the network communicates with a central access point (AP). Multiple DCDs may request access from the AP in the same request access (RA) burst. Each of the multiple DCDs transmits its access request to the AP within a frequency domain channel in the RA burst that is orthogonal to the frequency domain channels used by the other DCDs requesting access. Each DCD includes channel training information in the access request burst to allow the AP and/or DCD to adapt to rapid variations in channel characteristics.

Abstract: A high performance system and method for trellis coded modulation are provided by virtue of the present invention. In one embodiment, the trellis coded modulation technique optimizes code performance for a given implementation cost. Also, this trellis coded modulation technique provides optimal performance in the context of periodic symbol deletion, whether this deletion is due to intentional puncturing, the use of interleaving in the presence of fading, or the use of interleaving in an OFDM system used to communicate across a frequency-selective channel.

Abstract: A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity.

Abstract: A wireless base station receiver receives weak signals from mobile units at a first position using a first receiver configuration and strong signals from mobile units at a second position using a second receiver configuration. The base station receiver includes an input terminal to receive an inbound signal from each mobile unit. A diplexer is coupled to the input terminal and configured to receive the inbound signal and to pass a first frequency band of the inbound signal as a first signal, and to pass a second frequency band of the inbound signal as a second signal. An attenuator is coupled to the diplexer and configured to attenuate the second signal to create a third signal. A downconverter is coupled to the diplexer and the attenuator and configured to downconvert the first signal and the third signal to provide a downconverted inbound signal. An analog to digital converter coupled to the downconverter and configured to convert the down converted inbound signal to a digital signal.

Abstract: A distributed microcellular communication system comprised of a plurality of subcells arranged within one or more conventional cells. The distributed microcellular communications system includes one or more remote site stations, each of which transmits and receives information signals over an assigned set of communications channels within an associated subcell. Each remote site station includes a wideband RF receiver network within which information signals received from mobile units are converted into reverse link digital information signals. Also disposed within each remote site station is a remote communications link transceiver for transmitting the reverse link digital information signals over a communications link to the central base station, as well as for receiving forward link digital information signals from the central base station.