Patents by Inventor Steve Allpress

Steve Allpress has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20090110048
    Abstract: Techniques are described for optimizing the processing facilities of a receiver in a wireless communication environment, taking into account processing performance set against the computing resources and/or power consumption required to obtain that processing performance. A radio receiver for a wireless communications system can include channel equalization means arranged to receive samples of an incoming signal and to generate an equalized output, said channel equalization means including means for processing said digital samples in accordance with an equalizer algorithm. The receiver includes means for estimating parameters of a channel over which the incoming signal has been transmitted. The receiver can also include means for selecting from a plurality of equalizer algorithms an equalizer algorithm for execution by the processing means based on at least one said estimated channel parameter. Related methods and algorithms are described. Related computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Carlo Luschi, Simon Walker, Steve Allpress, Philip Jones
  • Publication number: 20090111413
    Abstract: Methods are described of processing a signal transmitted over a channel in a wireless communication system. A method includes estimating at intervals at least one parameter of a time varying communication environment of said system. At least one processor-related signal processing criterion can be monitored for implementing a signal processing activity. Based on said at least one parameter and said at least one processor-related criterion, a signal processing function can be selected from a plurality of signal processing functions implementable by a processor. Each signal processing function includes a plurality of code blocks having a sequence of instructions for execution on a processor platform, the processor platform including a set of configurable operators having a plurality of predetermined configurations, each sequence of instructions including at least one configuration instruction, which selects one of the plurality of predefined configurations for executing that code block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Carlo Luschi, Steve Allpress
  • Publication number: 20080159377
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which (1) combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) (2) performs equalization in a time-forward or time-reversed manner based on the channel being minimum-phase or maximum-phase to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Publication number: 20070140330
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which (1) combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) (2) performs equalization in a time-forward or time-reversed manner based on the channel being minimum-phase or maximum-phase to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Steve Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Patent number: 7230982
    Abstract: This invention describes an apparatus and method to improve the performance of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for time-varying multi-path channels. For minimum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-forward manner. For maximum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-reversed manner. More specifically, for maximum-phase channels, the filter coefficients are computed based on the channel estimates reversed in time, and the filtering and equalization operations are performed with the received block of symbols in a time-reversed order. In the context of this invention, the term “minimum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is greater than the energy of the trailing part. The term “maximum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is less than the energy of the trailing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Patent number: 7151796
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which (1) combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) (2) performs equalization in a time-forward or time-reversed manner based on the channel being minimum-phase or maximum-phase to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Publication number: 20060120446
    Abstract: This invention describes an apparatus and method to improve the performance of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for time-varying multi-path channels. For minimum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-forward manner. For maximum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-reversed manner. More specifically, for maximum-phase channels, the filter coefficients are computed based on the channel estimates reversed in time, and the filtering and equalization operations are performed with the received block of symbols in a time-reversed order. In the context of this invention, the term “minimum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is greater than the energy of the trailing part. The term “maximum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is less than the energy of the trailing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Steve Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Publication number: 20060104378
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a method and system is disclosed for determining log-likelihood ratios for a coded set of individual bits (40) of a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) codeword. In the method at most two constant values (33,35) may be determined to perform a set of predetermined functions, the output of each of function is based on the constant values and at least one received component corresponding to the codeword, to determine log-likelihood ratios (37) for each individual bit of the set of individual bits of the codeword. The QAM codeword may correspond to at least a portion of a signal of a wireless device, such as a mobile third-generation device operating according to a Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) standard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Steve Allpress, Steven Felix, Carlo Luschi
  • Patent number: 7006563
    Abstract: This invention describes an apparatus and method to improve the performance of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for time-varying multi-path channels. For minimum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-forward manner. For maximum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-reversed manner. More specifically, for maximum-phase channels, the filter coefficients are computed based on the channel estimates reversed in time, and the filtering and equalization operations are performed with the received block of symbols in a time-reversed order. In the context of this invention, the term “minimum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is greater than the energy of the trailing part. The term “maximum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is less than the energy of the trailing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Publication number: 20020131488
    Abstract: This invention describes an apparatus and method to improve the performance of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) for time-varying multi-path channels. For minimum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-forward manner. For maximum-phase channels, the equalization is performed in a time-reversed manner. More specifically, for maximum-phase channels, the filter coefficients are computed based on the channel estimates reversed in time, and the filtering and equalization operations are performed with the received block of symbols in a time-reversed order. In the context of this invention, the term “minimum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is greater than the energy of the trailing part. The term “maximum-phase channel” implies that the energy of the leading part of the channel profile is less than the energy of the trailing part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Publication number: 20020131489
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Publication number: 20020131490
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which (1) combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) (2) performs equalization in a time-forward or time-reversed manner based on the channel being minimum-phase or maximum-phase to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Patent number: 6349217
    Abstract: A base station with a defined geographic coverage area in a wireless communication system includes a base receiver, a base transmitter, and a base antenna array. The base antenna array has a base station beamformer arranged to produce (a) a broad antenna beam so that the base station can receive random access signals from subscriber stations at different locations within the coverage area and transmit beacon or acknowledgment signals to the subscriber stations at the different locations, and (b) a narrow antenna beam directed to an acknowledged subscriber station for receiving or transmitting data or traffic signals from or to the subscriber station. A subscriber station includes a subscriber receiver, a subscriber transmitter and a subscriber antenna. The subscriber transmitter is arranged to transmit signals to a system base station on one or more of a number of carriers having a defined frequency spacing within a given spectrum allotment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Honcharenko, Steve Allpress, David Y. Lee