Abstract: A system and method, associated with a receiver, for increasing the range or bandwidth of a wireless digital communication network and a receiver incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a service class detector configured to determine a service class of a PDU received by the receiver from the wireless digital communication network and (2) a frame check sequence checker coupled to the service class detector and configured to disregard error-checking information in the PDU when the service class indicates that the PDU is a streaming media PDU.

Abstract: For use in a system having a received signal path therein, the signal path including a mixer that modifies a carrier frequency of an information signal propagating through the signal path, an apparatus for, and method of, reducing an overall power consumption of the system and a radio device employing the same. The apparatus includes: (1) a received signal strength indicator ("RSSI") circuit, in communication with the signal path, that provides an RSSI signal that is a function of a power of the information signal and (2) a power reduction circuit, coupled to the RSSI circuit, that reduces a current draw of the mixer when the RSSI signal exceeds an upper threshold level, the overall power consumption of the receiver thereby reduced.

Abstract: For use in a system capable of communicating in either analog or digital wireless infrastructures, an intermediate frequency ("IF") amplifier and method that allows the system to process both analog and digital input signals in a common amplifier stage. The system includes: (1) first and second amplifiers, having parallel-coupled signal inputs and gains that combine to equal a constant total value, that receive an input signal and produce therefrom first and second output signals that are each a function of an applied gain signal, (2) a combinatorial circuit, coupled to the first and second amplifiers, that derives from the first and second output signals a combined signal that is a function of a power of the input signal and substantially immune to changes in the applied gain signal and (3) a gain control circuit, coupled to the first and second amplifiers, that holds the gain signal constant when the input signal is analog and varies the gain signal when the input signal is digital.