Abstract: Methods and apparatus for symbol timing recovery are provided. Both a coarse symbol timing recovery method and apparatus, and a fine symbol timing recovery method and apparatus are described which can be used jointly for symbol recovery, for example in phase shift keying receivers. The coarse method involves the use of differential correlations and finding the time difference in peak values of the correlation results. The fine method involves interpolation of a received digital signal, followed by filtering and timing error detection. The error detection signal is further filtered and used to control the interpolator. The methods provide for robust symbol timing synchronization.

Abstract: A method of detecting and correcting cycle slip in a data stream including sync symbol blocks and data symbol blocks prior to feedback carrier recovery is described. A phase ambiguity angle is computed upon detecting a last sync symbol of a sync symbol block in the data stream. A cycle slip corrector initiates cycle slip correction upon determining the computed phase ambiguity angle is different from a previous computed phase ambiguity angle to generate a corrected data stream. The corrected data stream is provided to a feedback carrier recovery circuit.

Abstract: A method of feedforward phase recovery on a data stream is described. Phase estimation base points are calculated, at a phase detector, for each block of the received data stream. A current phase, at a phase interpolator, between two phase estimation base points. Data stream delays within the phase detector are matched with delays within the phase interpolator.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for iterative timing recovery for FTN signaling are provided. The iterative timing recovery method and apparatus uses a feedback timing error signal from a forward error correction block with an additional equalizer prior to a maximum a posteriori (MAP) decoder which matches the equalized FTN signal to a truncated inter-symbol interference (ISI) target. A timing error is then generated using a modified M&M timing error detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying valid multipath energy peaks are described including locating an energy peak in a profile of energy peaks, categorizing the located energy peak based on a plurality of thresholds and processing energy peaks in at least one of the categories of located energy peaks. The method and apparatus further includes removing a direct current value component from each value in the profile of energy peaks, calculating a noise floor for a multipath searching window and determining a first threshold and a second threshold. The step and means for categorizing further includes determining if the located energy peak exceeds the first threshold, labeling the located energy peak as a false alarm, if the located energy peak does not exceed the first threshold, determining if the located energy peak exceeds the second threshold and labeling the located energy peak as confident, if the located energy peak exceeds the second threshold.

Abstract: In an electronic device having an acoustic echo canceller and being capable of implementing audio applications and at least one of a conferencing application and a telephony application, there is provided a background training method for the acoustic echo canceller. The method includes the step of utilizing (650) sound that corresponds to a non-training audio application to train the acoustic echo canceller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying valid multipath energy peaks are described including locating an energy peak in a profile of energy peaks, categorizing the located energy peak based on a plurality of thresholds and processing energy peaks in at least one of the categories of located energy peaks. The method and apparatus further includes removing a direct current value component from each value in the profile of energy peaks, calculating a noise floor for a multipath searching window and determining a first threshold and a second threshold. The step and means for categorizing further includes determining if the located energy peak exceeds the first threshold, labeling the located energy peak as a false alarm, if the located energy peak does not exceed the first threshold, determining if the located energy peak exceeds the second threshold and labeling the located energy peak as confident, if the located energy peak exceeds the second threshold.

Abstract: In an electronic device having an acoustic echo canceller and being capable of implementing audio applications and at least one of a conferencing application and a telephony application, there is provided a background training method for the acoustic echo canceller. The method includes the step of utilizing sound that corresponds to a non-training audio application to train the acoustic echo canceller.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a cable system comprises a port for receiving a downstream cable transmission; a demodulator for receiving an upstream signal for providing a demodulated signal; and a modulator for modulating the demodulated signal for providing a downstream signal for addition to the received downstream cable transmission.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus such as an audio apparatus, television signal receiver, or other apparatus provides an equalizer interface that enables equalizer settings to be adjusted via acoustic user feedback. According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic apparatus includes a sound generator for generating a first tone for a first frequency band. A processor enables a user to adjust a first volume level of the first tone. A memory stores the first volume level for the first frequency band. A volume controller applies the first volume level to output signals in the first frequency band.

Abstract: A Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) receiver comprises a transceiver for communicating with a wireless network over one of a number of channels, and an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signal detector for use in forming a supported channel list comprising those ones of the number of channels upon which an ATSC signal was not detected, wherein the ATSC signal detector includes a filter matched to a PN511 sequence of an ATSC signal for filtering a received signal on one of the number of channels for providing a filtered signal for use in determining if the received signal is an ATSC signal. The ATSC signal detector can be a coherent or a non-coherent ATSC signal detector.

Abstract: A Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) receiver includes a tuner for tuning to one of a number of channels, and a broadcast ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) signal detector. The tuner is calibrated as a function of a received ATSC signal. The broadcast ATSC signal detector can be a coherent or a non-coherent ATSC signal detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a cable system comprises a first port for use in coupling to a portion of a cable network for receiving an upstream signal having a frequency spectrum including a first frequency band; and a reflector for reflecting the received upstream signal back downstream via the first port; wherein the first frequency band is different from those frequency bands used by a head-end of the cable network for Internet communications.

Abstract: A cable network tap comprises a first port for coupling to an upstream portion of a cable network and for receiving a downstream signal; a second port for coupling to a downstream portion of the cable network and receiving an upstream signal; and a filter for filtering at least one of the downstream signal and the upstream signal. The filter has a bandwidth that is adjustable in accordance with a plurality of cable network bandwidth configurations, each cable network bandwidth configuration allocating bandwidth differently between upstream communications and downstream communications over at least a portion of the cable network.

Abstract: An implementation provides a transmitter that separates sequential portions of data in a first set of data by time intervals allowing a power saving mode (1005). The transmitter transmits the sequential portions of data separated by respective time intervals having lengths configured to allow a receiver to enter and exit a power saving mode between receiving sequentially transmitted portions of data from the first set of data (1010). The transmitter separates sequential portions of data in a second set by time intervals that are not of sufficient length to allow a receiver to enter and exit a power saving mode during the time intervals (1015). The second set of data is then transmitted (1020).

Abstract: A Wireless Regional Area Network (WRAN) receiver comprises a transceiver for communicating with a wireless network over one of a number of channels, and an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) signal detector for use in forming a supported channel list comprising those ones of the number of channels upon which an ATSC signal was not detected, wherein the ATSC signal detector includes a filter matched to a PN63 sequence of an ATSC signal for filtering a received signal on one of the number of channels for providing a filtered signal for use in determining if the received signal is an ATSC signal. The ATSC signal detector can be a coherent or a non-coherent ATSC signal detector.

Abstract: A multipath searcher and method includes a programmable decimation filter configured to adjust a sample rate of a received pilot signal. A plurality of correlators is configured to compare the received pilot signal to a reference code in a first mode and in a second mode. The first mode includes a low resolution search of a search window performed such that the plurality of correlators encompass an entire search window concurrently and the plurality of correlators receives a delayed reference code delayed to correspond with a portion of the search window in which a corresponding correlator performs correlation to identify peaks in the received pilot signal. The second mode includes a high resolution search of a refined search window only at or near identified peaks discovered in the first mode. The high resolution search is focused at the peak location by adjusting delays in the plurality of correlators.

Abstract: A satellite television ground system, particularly for a make or break satellite television signal system, includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that are in communication with each other via a single coaxial cable and an optional separate single conductor for power. The satellite television ground system is operative to measure and reverse frequency conversion errors utilizing DSP techniques, allowing for more precise generation and transmission of uplink signals from the satellite television ground system. Control data for the system is sent via a low data rate connection on a power cable thereof, or by a narrowband signaling channel via a coax cable. The system also utilizes a single reference oscillator to drive the various frequency synthesizers and the like. The satellite television ground system utilizes related oscillators for the uplink and downlink sections.

Abstract: A satellite television ground system, particularly for a make or break satellite television signal system, includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that are in communication with each other via a single coaxial cable and an optional separate single conductor for power. The satellite television ground system is operative to measure and reverse frequency conversion errors utilizing DSP techniques, allowing for more precise generation and transmission of uplink signals from the satellite television ground system. Control data for the system is sent via a low data rate connection on a power cable thereof, or by a narrowband signaling channel via a coax cable. The system also utilizes a single reference oscillator to drive the various frequency synthesizers and the like. The satellite television ground system utilizes related oscillators for the uplink and downlink sections. Carrier frequency offset in the downlink is measured in a carrier tracking loop part of a television signal demodulator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes an automatic gain control apparatus for a spread-spectrum receiver, including a received signal strength indicator, an analog amplifier in signal communication with the received signal strength indicator, an analog-to-digital converter in signal communication with the analog amplifier, a digital automatic gain control loop in signal communication with the analog-to-digital converter, and a digital-to-analog converter in signal communication with the digital automatic gain control loop for providing a signal indicative of a digital gain to the analog amplifier; where the corresponding method for automatic gain control in spread-spectrum communications includes receiving an analog signal, measuring the strength of the received analog signal, deriving a first analog gain in correspondence with the measured strength, applying the derived first analog gain to an analog amplifier, deriving a second analog gain from a pilot