Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for scheduling resources in Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communication networks for “direct link” or peer-to-peer communications among stations operating therein so that OFDMA resources can be allocated to a transmitter station for a peer-to-peer communication session with a receiver station such that near-far issues caused by peer-to-peer communication are reduced/avoided. The disclosed technologies can prevent peer-to-peer communication links using different sub-channels within the same time slot from creating near-far issues for other receiver stations that are within communication range.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for scheduling resources in Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) communication networks for “direct link” or peer-to-peer communications among stations operating therein so that OFDMA resources can be allocated to a transmitter station for a peer-to-peer communication session with a receiver station such that near-far issues caused by peer-to-peer communication are reduced/avoided. The disclosed technologies can prevent peer-to-peer communication links using different sub-channels within the same time slot from creating near-far issues for other receiver stations that are within communication range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quieting multiple channels is provided herein. During operation, transmission activity on each channel is analyzed and a best band is identified. Once the band is chosen, a wideband transmitter is utilized to transmit simultaneous reservation messages on consecutive channels simultaneously. Because a wideband transmitter is used to transmit simultaneous reservation messages on multiple consecutive channels, the above procedure quickly quiets multiple channels while minimizing the reservation duration of all channels as a result of quieting the channels.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell (5) comprises a layer (4) of cholesteric liquid crystal material; and a retarder (3) disposed in an optical path through the layer (4) of cholesteric liquid crystal material. The cholesteric liquid crystal material is switchable between a first state in which it cooperates with the retarder (3) to provide a first viewing angle range and a second state in which it cooperates with the retarder (3) to provide a second viewing angle range which is smaller than the first viewing angle range. The pitch of the cholesteric liquid crystal material is greater than an intended wavelength of operation of the liquid crystal cell divided by the average refractive index of the liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal cell may be used as a Viewing Angle Restriction (VAR) element, to enable another component, such as a display panel (6), to be operated in either a wide viewing mode or a narrow viewing mode.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating channel measurements in a communication network is disclosed. The method includes contending for a control channel to reserve a logical subchannel of a data channel. The control channel operates in a first frequency band and the data channel operates in a second frequency band. Further, the method includes sending an announce message on the control channel for announcing a reservation at a particular time period of the logical subchannel of the data channel when the contention for the control channel is successful, sending a channel sense message on the logical subchannel of the data channel at the particular time period to facilitate at least one other node to perform channel measurements based on the channel sense message, and monitoring the data channel and performing channel measurements based on at least one other channel sense message received from the at least one other node.

Abstract: A method for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network is provided. The method includes communicating at least one message among the plurality of nodes, wherein the at least one message comprises: an ad hoc zone, wherein the ad hoc zone comprises at least one channel selected from a group of channels comprising: at least one synchronization channel for synchronizing out of coverage nodes, at least one access channel for peer-to-peer communications, and at least one ad hoc relay data/traffic channel for exchanging data during data sessions between one or more nodes.

Abstract: A system and method of resource allocation within a communication system is provided. A communication system comprises a plurality of nodes operating in a first architecture network mode, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are reconfigured to operate in a second architecture network mode in response to a change in one or more network performance requirements. When the plurality of nodes are operating in a distributed architecture network mode, at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are reconfigured to operate in a clustered architecture network mode in response to an increase in one or more network performance requirements. When the plurality of nodes are operating in a clustered architecture network mode, at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are reconfigured to operate in a distributed architecture network mode in response to a decrease in one or more network performance requirements.

Abstract: Sensor circuitry which detects the presence or absence of material and activates a motor responsive thereto, having a capacitor which emits electric signal responsive to the presence of the material, a signal processing unit receives the capacitor's signal and shapes it into a usable signal, wherein the usable signal is received by a timer which is held in reset thereby. When the material's presence is no longer detected, the timer counts a delay during which a control signal is output to a control transistor which responsively actuates a relay which is connected to and forms a link of a power circuit that supplies energy to the motor. A transformer is connected to the power circuit and selected windings of the transformer are connected to the relay. When the transistor is off and relay is inactive, there is a large voltage drop across the transformer thereby deactivating the motor.