Abstract: A system and method for securing communications over a low voltage power line are disclosed. At both a client and a bridge, an encrypted Ethernet communication from the low voltage power line is received. The encrypted Ethernet communication comprises a) an encryption key unique to one low voltage client and b) an Ethernet communication. Based upon the unique encryption key, the bridge decrypts the encrypted Ethernet communication to yield the Ethernet communication. At both a client and a bridge, an Ethernet communication is received. The Ethernet communication is encrypted using an encryption key that is unique to the client and sent as an encrypted Ethernet communication to the low voltage power line.

Abstract: A node within a communication system periodically broadcasts its interference status to neighboring nodes within the communication system. Additionally, the node receives an interference status from all neighboring nodes. If communication is desired with a neighboring node, the node accesses the stored table for the particular neighboring node and determines an optimal time for transmission to the neighboring node. This is accomplished by utilizing the table received from the neighboring node and determining the neighboring node's optimal times for reception.

Abstract: A radio communications system (10) having a mobile station (30) and at least two base stations (13, 14). ATM radio channels (31, 32) are provided between the remote station and the base stations. Each of the ATM channels supports communication though ATM cells over a common frequency band. When handoff conditions are met for a handoff from the first base station to the second base station, a second virtual path identifier and a second virtual connection identifier are selected for a connection between the second base station and the remote station.

Abstract: A radio communications system (10) having a mobile station (30) and at least two base stations (13, 14). ATM radio channels (31, 32) are provided between the remote station and base stations. Each of the ATM channels supports communication though ATM cells over a common frequency band. At least one ATM node (21) is coupled to the base stations. A base station controller (11) is coupled to the ATM node. The base station controller has a combiner (303) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations and an ATM signalling circuit (330) for sending ATM commands to the ATM node for dividing cell streams at the ATM node to the first and second base stations. The remote station (30) has a logic unit (520) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations during a handoff from the first base station to the second base station.

Abstract: A method of operation of a network (10) of radio stations (e.g. 11, 12 and 13) in which each radio station communicates with at least two other radio stations. A message (32) is sent and a corresponding reply (35) is received between first and second stations (11 and 12). Similar messages are sent between second and third stations (12 and 14) and the first and third stations (11 and 14). A time delay is measured between sending of each message and receiving the corresponding reply. Distances are calculated between each station and each other station and, from the distances, locations for the second and third stations relative to the first station are calculated.

Abstract: A radio communications system (10) having a remote or mobile station (30) and at least two base stations (13, 14). ATM radio channels (31, 32) are provided between the remote station and base stations. The remote station (30) has a logic unit (520) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations during a handoff from the first base station to the second base station. A receiver in the remote station (30) is powered up during first time periods corresponding to physical layer synchronization cells arriving from one base station (13) and second time periods corresponding to ATM cells arriving from the other base station. When handoff conditions are met, the receiver is powered up for a third time period longer than the first and second time periods.

Abstract: A radio communications system (10) having a mobile station (30) and at least two base stations (13, 14). ATM radio channels (31, 32) are provided between the remote station and base stations. Each of the ATM channels supports communication though ATM cells over a common frequency band. At least one ATM node (21) is coupled to the base stations. A base station controller (11) is coupled to the ATM node. The base station controller has a combiner (303) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations and an ATM signalling circuit (330) for sending ATM commands to the ATM node for dividing cell streams at the ATM node to the first and second base stations. The remote station (30) has a logic unit (520) for combining cell streams received from the first and second base stations during a handoff from the first base station to the second base station.

Abstract: A frequency-locked loop (100) employs a controllable oscillator (102) for generating an output signal having a frequency, optional sampler (104), coupled to oscillator (102), for sampling the frequency of the output signal, a divider (106), coupled to optional sampling circuit (104), for dividing the output signal frequency to generate a prescaled signal and a microprocessor (108), coupled between the divider 106 and oscillator (102), for comparing the prescaled signal to a reference signal and generating a control signal for correcting frequency shifts based upon the comparison. The control signal generated by microprocessor (108) is non-continuous. During that time when microprocessor (108) generates no control signals, power is removed from various frequency-locked loop circuitry.

Abstract: In a wireless TDMA network a control module (CM) sends a time stamp relative to the beginning of its frame in a synchronization packet allowing each of a plurality of user modules (UM) to maintain synchronization relative to the CM. The CM uses a plurality of directional antennas and transmits the synchronization packets over each antenna over a predetermined number of frames. The UMs use a receive time stamp to identify the beginning of a received synchronization packet. The difference between the time stamps combined with a delay constant is used by the UMs to adjust time synchronization to the CM frame.

Abstract: A communications system having a plurality of different radio-types (528, 530 and 532) when integrated into a single node or control module (500) provides communications with a plurality of different end users (502, 506 and 508) having different transmission protocols. The steps involved comprise coupling the plurality of communication devices (528, 530 and 532) together via a bus (526) and coupling at least one processing unit (517) to the bus (526). Signals received by RF devices (528, 530 and 532) are communicated onto the bus (526) and processed by the processing unit (517) into processed signals. Processed signals comprise data and control information which are stored in memory (522). Thereafter, the processed signals stored in memory (522) are returned back onto the bus (526) for use by at least one of the plurality of communication devices (528, 530 and 532).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling data traffic throughout a communication network includes a plurality of network interface devices in each subsystem. The interface devices are substantially identical throughout the network and each autonomously controls all data traffic thereacross.