Abstract: A Single Carrier Block Transmission (SCBT) system employs an inherently parallel approach to error correction processing. At the transmission system (200), an incoming data stream is split (210) into P parallel data streams, each having a data rate equal to a fraction of the incoming data stream's data rate. The parallel data streams are then each separately encoded (220) in P parallel encoding processes (beneficially, using P parallel encoders (222)). The P separately encoded data streams are then merged (330), interleaved (320), and mapped (310) into a single stream of encoded symbols, which are transmitted to the receiver using an arbitrary modulation (240) and transmission scheme. At the receiver (255), the received data stream is de-interleaved (350) and split into P encoded data streams, which are then decoded (285) using P parallel decoders. Then, the decoded data streams are combined or multiplexed (295) into a single data stream.

Abstract: In a wireless communication channel, the time per a service interval is distributed among multiple data services. The data services have been allocated airtime quotas in order to comply with their QoS requirements. These airtime quotas are scaled by a factor that is the ratio between, on the one hand, the time available per service interval for accommodating data of these services and, on the other hand, the total of the airtime quotas. This allows the services to use more airtime in case not the entire service interval has been allocated.

Abstract: An antenna (740) listens in each of a plurality of steerable sectors to determine if a primary beacon is present; transmits a primary device beacon in each of the plurality of steerable sectors if the primary beacon is not present; and transmits a secondary device beacon in a first one of the plurality of steerable sectors if a primary beacon is discovered. The antenna (740) may transmit the primary and secondary beacons on a different communication channel than a data communication channel or may transmit the primary and secondary beacons on a same communication channel as a data communication channel. The antenna (740) may divide the same communication channel into time slices wherein different time slices of a super-frame are utilized for the primary beacon, the secondary beacon, and the data communication. The secondary device (C, D) sends additional beacons in additional sectors if it receives non-primary beacon from the additional sectors.

Abstract: A device, system and method in which data in a write cache, that must at some point be written to non-volatile memory, is written to non-volatile memory after expiration of a threshold time period during which no new host commands are received. If either the last dirty entry is written back or a host command is received during the write-back process, the time threshold time period and auto-flush process is restarted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the performance and reliability of flash memory solid state drive devices are described herein. A flash memory array component stores data. A memory hierarchy component transfers data between the host and the flash memory array component. The memory hierarchy component includes a level one (“L1”) cache coupled to a merge buffer, the flash memory array component, and the host. The merge buffer is coupled to the flash memory array component. The L1 cache and merge buffer include volatile memory, and the host is coupled to the merge buffer and flash memory array component. The memory hierarchy component includes a write component and a read component. The write component writes data to at least one of the L1 cache, merge buffer, or flash memory array component. The read component reads data from at least one of the L1 cache, merge buffer, or flash memory array component.

Abstract: An electronic component package includes a substrate and an electronic component mounted to the substrate, the electronic component including a bond pad. A first antenna terminal is electrically connected to the bond pad, the first antenna terminal being electrically connected to a second antenna terminal of the substrate. A package body encloses the electronic component, the package body having a principal surface. An antenna is formed on the principal surface by applying an electrically conductive coating. An embedded interconnect extends through the package body between the substrate and the principal surface and electrically connects the second antenna terminal to the antenna. Applying an electrically conductive coating to form the antenna is relatively simple thus minimizing the overall package manufacturing cost. Further, the antenna is relatively thin thus minimizing the overall package size.

Abstract: A reflector assembly is disclosed that may include a housing; a fiber stud disposed within the housing; a filter lens having an OTDR reflective layer, the filter lens located downstream from the fiber stud and receiving light energy from the fiber stud, and configured to be transparent for light within a communication wavelength band and reflective within a diagnostic wavelength band.

Abstract: A wireless device (A) in a first antenna sector (40) is discovered using a directional antenna (322), which sends and receives signals in multiple antenna sectors. Multiple primary beacons are transmitted in corresponding primary beacon time slots (1P-4P), which correspond to the antenna sectors (10-40) and have associated secondary beacon time slots (1s-4s). A secondary beacon is received from the wireless device in a first secondary beacon time slot (4sA) associated with a first primary beacon time slot (4P) corresponding to the first sector, the secondary beacon being responsive to a first primary beacon included in the first primary beacon time slot. An additional first secondary beacon time slot (4s) is added in association with the first primary beacon time slot. The additional first secondary beacon time slot enables an additional wireless device in the first sector to send an additional secondary beacon in response to a subsequent first primary beacon included in the first primary beacon time slot.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a differential varactor circuit for a voltage controlled oscillator having two differential outputs includes a first varactor having first and second terminals and a second varactor having first and second terminals. In the differential varactor circuit, each of the first and second terminals of the first varactor and each of the first and second terminals of the second varactor are coupled to one of the two differential outputs of the voltage controlled oscillator, thereby allowing a size of each of the first and second varactors to be reduced so as to increase varactor quality factor. Each of the first and second terminals of the first varactor can be coupled to one of the two differential outputs by a capacitor, and each of the first and second terminals of the second varactor can be coupled to one of the two differential outputs by a capacitor.

Abstract: A gastric balloon includes a scaffold structure, one or more internal inflatable compartments within the scaffold structure, and one or more inflatable bladders formed over the space-filling compartment. The gastric balloon may be deployed transesophageally using a gastroscope and is inflated in situ, preferably using a combination of liquid and gas inflation media.

Abstract: Allocation of contiguous blocks of airtime for data or airtime transmission can lead to large maximum service intervals for an application stream. This may result in a large delay bound where large blocks of contiguous MAS blocks other applications from meeting their low-latency requirements. A method and network that overcomes at least the shortcomings of known methods includes transmitting information over a wireless network. This includes the steps of: organizing the superframe into allocation zones; organizing the allocation zones into iso-zones; generating an allocation map; determining a periodic service interval and medium time based on a TSPEC, a delay requirement, and local resource of an application stream; searching for transmission opportunity that accommodates the periodic service interval and the medium time required based on the allocation map; transmitting information in the superframe upon finding transmission opportunity in the searching step.

Abstract: A method (400) for coordinating access to a wireless medium among multiple co-located body area networks (BANs). The method comprises detecting, by a master device of a first BAN, at least one alien BAN using beacons received from at least one co-located BAN, wherein an alien BAN is a BAN having its round start time (RST) misaligned with a RST of the first BAN (S410); recording a RST offset between the first BAN and the at least one alien BAN (S420); based on the RST offset determining which of the first BAN and the at least one alien BAN is an initiator BAN and which is a target BAN (S430); and realigning the RST of the initiator BAN with the RST of the target BAN (S460).

Abstract: Allocation of contiguous blocks of airtime for data or airtime transmission can lead to large maximum service intervals for an application stream. This may result in a large delay bound where large blocks of contiguous MAS blocks other applications from meeting their low-latency requirements. A method and network that overcomes at least the shortcomings of known methods includes transmitting information over a wireless network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a passive optical network is provided that includes: an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to transmit a plurality of downstream signals into a corresponding plurality of passive optical networks and to receive a corresponding plurality of upstream signals from the plurality of passive optical networks, wherein each downstream signal is separated in wavelength from the remaining wavelength signals, and wherein each upstream signal is separated in wavelength from the remaining upstream signal; a Mux/Demux configured to multiplex the downstream signals from the OLT into a optical fiber and to demultiplex upstream signals from the optical fibers to the OLT; and a splitter configured to split the downstream signals from the OLT to a plurality of optical network units such that each optical network unit receives the plurality of downstream signals.

Abstract: A method (600) for controlling access to a wireless medium in a network. The method comprises dividing an access time to the wireless medium into fixed and repeated time rounds (300), wherein each time round includes a plurality of superframes (310) and each superframe includes a fixed number of time slots (420) (S610); allocating a global beacon period (530) within a time round (S620); and re-serving subframes (410) within each superframe (300), wherein master devices can access the wireless medium at least during the reserved subframes (S630).

Abstract: A method for transferring data among devices in a body area network (BAN). The method comprises dividing an access time to a wireless medium of the BAN into at least a contention-based period (510) and a contention-free reservation period (520); allowing devices to transfer data during the contention-based period using a local prioritized contention access (LPCA) mechanism; and allowing only devices having reserved time slots to transfer data during the contention-free reservation period (520).

Abstract: A method (400) for scheduling transmissions of global beacons in a body area network (BAN). The BAN includes master nodes and slave nodes where master nodes are arranged in a tree topology. The method comprises propagating ascending global beacons (AGBs) from leaf nodes to a root node of the tree during an ascending period (S420), wherein an AGB includes at least reservations of time slots during a time round; processing AGBs by the root node to determine time slot occupancy information (S430); propagating descending global beacons (DGBs) from the root node to leaf nodes during a descending period (S440), wherein a DGB includes at least reservations of time slots during the time round; and processing DGBs by master nodes other than the root node to update at least the slot occupancy information included in the DGBs (S450).

Abstract: A method (200) for enabling compatibility of wireless devices having different regulation settings. The method comprises upon initialization of a wireless device, scanning a predefined common channel (S220); forming a WiNet service set (WSS) by wireless devices communicating over the predefined common channel (S230); upon switching of the wireless devices in the WSS to a channel other than the predefined common channel, checking if a new wireless device attempts to join the WSS (S240, S250); and adding the new wireless device to the WSS if such attempt was detected (S290).

Abstract: Techniques for dynamically switching between synchronous and asynchronous operation modes in body area networks (BANs). One embodiment includes a method (400) for transitioning from an asynchronous mode to a synchronous mode in a medium access control (MAC) of a BAN. A device receiving a switch mode command (S410) performs the acts comprising: setting a timer to a time period specified in the switch mode command (S430); propagating the received switch mode command to other devices in the BAN (S440); upon expiration of the time period, tuning to a channel selected from a set of channels reserved for the synchronous mode (S460); and initializing a device to operate as either a master device or a slave device in the synchronous mode of operation (S470). Another embodiment includes a method (300) for transitioning from a synchronous mode to an asynchronous mode in a MAC of a body area networks (BAN).

Abstract: A method and system for communication device discovery and coordination of data channel selection between a first device and a second device in a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). The method includes transmitting a set of discovery beacon blocks (101) by the first and second devices in a discovery channel (100) using an asynchronous contention based medium access mechanism; scanning the discovery channel (100) by the first and second devices; and coordinating between the first and second devices to select a data channel by exchanging channel selection command frames (600) in the discovery channel using the asynchronous contention based medium access mechanism.