Abstract: One embodiment is an enhanced power supply including electronic power supply circuitry within a housing. The enhanced power supply further includes one or more sockets operatively associated with the housing providing for the connection of an external apparatus to the enhanced power supply such that the external apparatus may communicate data or another signal through the connection to an output cable. The output cable may to be connected to a device such that both power and at least one signal will be provided to the device through the output cable. Systems featuring an enhanced power supply and methods of providing power and one or more other signals to a device with a reduced number of cables are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system for increasing data rates and improving robustness in a wireless communication system. The method comprises identifying a set of guard tones for wireless Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals, encoding data for OFDM transmission, identifying a preferred puncture pattern to puncture the encoded data, puncturing the encoded data with the preferred puncture pattern, and transmitting the punctured encoded data, wherein a portion of the punctured encoded data is transmitted on a portion of the set of guard tones.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for encoding and decoding digital information over a channel is provided. Type Mapping is employed and is based on the partitioning of vectors over an alphabet into “types” and using enumeration for the encoding and decoding process. Type mapping allows for signal alphabets of arbitrary size and date rate flexible coding. Tradeoffs between optimal rate versus Signal to Noise Ratio are provided and works as a compliment to the Forward Error Control that may be employed in communications products.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for providing video calling solutions. In some such solutions, a video calling device resides functionally inline between a set-top box and a television set. Such solutions can provide, in some cases, high performance video calling, high video quality, simplified installation, configuration and/or use, and/or the ability to enjoy video calling in an inclusive, comfortable environment, such as a family room, den, or media room.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for detecting an interferer in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes receiving a signal having P tones, each of the P tones being associated with a frequency, determining a first signal quality of each of the P tones, determining a second signal quality of each of the P tones, and detecting the interferer that occupies the same frequency as one of the P tones based on the respective first signal quality and the respective second signal quality. The first signal quality and second signal quality behave differently when the interferer is present. The detecting the interferer includes determining a discrepancy in the behavior of the first signal quality and the second signal quality.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for minimizing the latency of video processing blocks via pipelining. Video calling is a latency sensitive application. When the latency between capture at the video source and display at the video sink is too large, the call does not appear interactive. Transmission of video over a network exacerbates the problem. It is highly desirable to minimize the capture/encode/transmit latency at the video source and the receive/decode/display latency at the video sink. Certain tools disclosed herein minimize these latencies via pipelining of processing blocks. For example, in some tools, each block begins processing before the previous block has finished its processing.

Abstract: Novel tools and techniques for providing video calling solutions. In some such solutions, a video calling device resides functionally inline between a set-top box and a television set. Such solutions can provide, in some cases, high performance video calling, high video quality, simplified installation, configuration and/or use, and/or the ability to enjoy video calling in an inclusive, comfortable environment, such as a family room, den, or media room.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system for increasing data rates and improving robustness in a wireless communication system. The method comprises identifying a set of guard tones for wireless Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signals, encoding data for OFDM transmission, identifying a preferred puncture pattern to puncture the encoded data, puncturing the encoded data with the preferred puncture pattern, and transmitting the punctured encoded data, wherein a portion of the punctured encoded data is transmitted on a portion of the set of guard tones.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for detecting an interferer in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes receiving a signal having P tones, each of the P tones being associated with a frequency, determining a first signal quality of each of the P tones, determining a second signal quality of each of the P tones, and detecting the interferer that occupies the same frequency as one of the P tones based on the respective first signal quality and the respective second signal quality. The first signal quality and second signal quality behave differently when the interferer is present. The detecting the interferer includes determining a discrepancy in the behavior of the first signal quality and the second signal quality.

Abstract: A communication method comprising characterizing a communications channel, determining a data rate and optionally a power allocation strategy that maximizes channel throughput, and configuring a transmitter to send a transmit signal with said data rate and said optional power allocation strategy.

Abstract: A guide system for use by a user who performs an operation in a defined three-dimensional region is disclosed, the system including a data processing apparatus for generating images of the subject of the operation in co-registration with the subject, a display for displaying the images to the user, a probe having a position which is visible to the user, and a tracking unit for tracking the location of the probe by the system and transmitting that location to the data processing apparatus, the data processing apparatus being arranged, upon the user moving the probe to a selection region outside and surrounding the defined region, to generate one or more virtual buttons, each of the buttons being associated with a corresponding instruction to the system, the data processing apparatus being arranged to register a selection by the user of any of the virtual buttons, the selection including positioning of the probe in relation to the apparent position of that virtual button, and to modify the computer-generated im

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium for encoding and decoding digital information over a channel is provided. Type Mapping is employed and is based on the partitioning of vectors over an alphabet into “types” and using enumeration for the encoding and decoding process. Type mapping allows for signal alphabets of arbitrary size and date rate flexible coding. Tradeoffs between optimal rate versus Signal to Noise Ratio are provided and works as a compliment to the Forward Error Control that may be employed in communications products.

Abstract: System and method for reducing interference to existing devices. A preferred embodiment comprises specifying a frequency range for a set of dummy signals, specifying a clipping function to ensure that the set of dummy signals do not exceed a maximum power constraint, incorporating a least squares solution for computing the set of dummy signals into the clipping function, and iterating the clipping function until a terminating condition is reached. The use of the clipping function limits the magnitude of the dummy signals, to ensure that dummy signals do not exceed a maximum power constraint.

Abstract: Crosstalk can be cancelled in a composite communication signal (ym) which includes a primary signal component associated with communication data and which also includes a crosstalk signal component produced by applying a crosstalk coupling function to crosstalk data. An estimate (R, RCb(0), RCb(?f)AVG) of a statistical characteristic of the crosstalk signal component is obtained from the composite communication signal. A cancellation signal (26, 46) is generated based on the statistical characteristic estimate, and an estimate (29) of the communication data is produced based on the composite communication signal and the cancellation signal.

Abstract: A method of optimally distributing signal power for multiple users over a xDSL or wireless channel considers uses computationally efficient tools to achieve improved crosstalk avoidance. The method chooses between EQPSD and FDS signaling in a fashion that maximizes overall data rate. Rather than choosing EQPSD signaling in regions where there is low self-NEXT, but where the echo is high (relative to signal power), the method selects FDS signaling since the communication system acts in a manner similar to self-NEXT in such regions.

Abstract: System and method for reducing interference to existing devices. A preferred embodiment comprises specifying a frequency range for a set of dummy signals, specifying a clipping function to ensure that the set of dummy signals do not exceed a maximum power constraint, incorporating a least squares solution for computing the set of dummy signals into the clipping function, and iterating the clipping function until a terminating condition is reached. The use of the clipping function limits the magnitude of the dummy signals, to ensure that dummy signals do not exceed a maximum power constraint.

Abstract: Crosstalk can be cancelled in a composite communication signal (ym) which includes a primary signal component associated with communication data and which also includes a crosstalk signal component produced by applying a crosstalk coupling function to crosstalk data. An estimate (R, RCb(0), RCb(&Dgr;f)AVG) of a statistical characteristic of the crosstalk signal component is obtained from the composite communication signal. A cancellation signal (26, 46) is generated based on the statistical characteristic estimate, and an estimate (29) of the communication data is produced based on the composite communication signal and the cancellation signal.

Abstract: An Integrated Voice/Data System on a Single RF Channel for broadcast applications such as Mobile Data Terminal (MDT), Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), and mobile facsimile (fax) in the frequency region range of 450 MHz to 800 MHz on 25 kHz radio frequency (RF) channels. The system utilizes a dynamic multiplexing technique referred to as Packetized Data/Voice Dedicated (PDVD) Burst Switching, and Lookahead (a digital signal process). PDVD allows transmission of data within silence gaps inherent in speech. Lookahead provides data sources with advanced knowledge of channel(s) where the silence gaps will occur The Integrated Voice/Data System may be retrofitted into existing 450 MHz-800 MHz public and private land mobile radio channels to provide users with full data services and triples voice capacity.

Abstract: A method of optimally distributing signal power for multiple users over a xDSL or wireless channel considers uses computationally efficient tools to achieve improved crosstalk avoidance. The method chooses between EQPSD and FDS signaling in a fashion that maximizes overall data rate. Rather than choosing EQPSD signaling in regions where there is low self-NEXT, but where the echo is high (relative to signal power), the method selects FDS signaling since the communication system acts in a manner similar to self-NEXT in such regions.