Abstract: A transmission apparatus for a wireless device, comprising: an antenna for receiving an original signal and for backscattering a modulated signal containing information from the wireless device; a variable impedance coupled to the antenna, the variable impedance having an impedance value; a delta-sigma modulator coupled to the variable impedance for modulating the impedance value, and thereby a backscattering coefficient for the antenna, in accordance with the information to generate the modulated signal; and, a decoder coupled to the delta-sigma modulator for generating the impedance value from the information.

Abstract: In some aspects, a wireless-spectrum analysis system is described. In some examples, the wireless-spectrum analysis system includes wireless-spectrum analysis devices distributed at distinct locations over a geographic region. The wireless-spectrum analysis devices are configured to concurrently monitor wireless-spectrum usage at each distinct location. Each wireless-spectrum analysis device is configured to transmit, from the wireless-spectrum analysis device, spectral-usage parameters identified by the wireless-spectrum analysis device based on wireless signals detected by the wireless-spectrum analysis device at its distinct location. The wireless-spectrum analysis system further includes a data aggregation system configured to aggregate the spectral-usage parameters transmitted from the wireless-spectrum analysis devices.

Abstract: In some aspects, a method of displaying wireless-spectrum usage information is described. In some examples, a surface plot of a measure of wireless-spectrum usage for a geographic region is generated. The surface plot is based on analysis of physical layer signals detected at wireless-spectrum monitoring locations distributed over the geographic region. The surface plot is superimposed onto a view of the geographic region by operation of a display device. The superimposed surface plot visually indicates values for the measure of wireless-spectrum usage over the view of the geographic region.

Abstract: An inductive coupling apparatus for modifying an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal includes an inductive element for modifying the incoming RF signal in accordance with a coupled impedance characteristic of the inductive element. A variable impedance circuit includes an output electrically coupled to the inductive element. A low pass delta sigma modulator is coupled to the variable impedance circuit and digitally controls the output of the variable impedance circuit, the coupled impedance of the inductive element being adjusted based on the output of the variable impedance circuit.

Abstract: An inductive coupling apparatus for modifying an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal includes an inductive element. A variable impedance circuit includes an output electrically coupled to the inductive element. A band-pass delta sigma modulator is coupled to the variable impedance circuit and digitally controls the output of the variable impedance circuit. The incoming RF signal is modified as the coupled impedance of the inductive element is adjusted in accordance with the output of the variable impedance circuit.

Abstract: A method involving receiving a real time communication signal at a radio receiver involves measuring at least one performance value associated with the radio receiver with an installed set of state variables; at a processor forming a part of the radio receiver: iteratively changing at least one of the state variables within a prescribed range in order to identify an improved value of the state variable that provides an improvement to the at least one performance value; storing the improved value of the state variable; applying a statistical weighting to the improved value and storing the statistical weighting; and adjusting the prescribed range of the state variable based upon the statistical weighting to provide a revised prescribed range that is statistically likely to contain state variable that provides improvement in the at least one performance value. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.

Abstract: A method for locating wireless devices within a local region, comprising: determining respective global locations of two or more of the wireless devices; determining whether the wireless devices are within the local region by calculating respective distances between the global locations; determining respective ranges between the wireless devices within the local region; and, determining respective relative locations of the wireless devices within the local region by triangulation using the ranges.

Abstract: A method for identifying and ranging a wireless device, comprising: transmitting an original radar signal from a detecting system; in response to the original radar signal, receiving a modulated radar signal at the detecting system, the modulated radar signal being backscattered from an antenna of the wireless device and containing information pertaining to the wireless device, and the modulated radar signal being a frequency offset version of the original radar signal; and, using a processor at the detecting system, determining an identity and a range of the wireless device from the modulated radar signal.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device may include an antenna, LTE RF differential inputs, and a front end circuit. The front end circuit may include band pass filters coupled to the antenna, LNAs coupled respectively to the band pass filters, and RF switching circuits. Each RF switching circuit may be respectively coupled between each LNA and a pair of LTE RF differential inputs and configured to switch to one or both of the pair of LTE RF differential inputs.

Abstract: In a radio receiver, a method of reducing second order distortion components, involves at a first mixer, mixing an input signal with an oscillator signal to generate an I component of a received radio signal; at a second mixer, mixing the input signal with a phase shifted oscillator signal to generate a Q component of the received radio signal; where the I and Q components of the received signal have a receive bandwidth; computing an estimate of second order distortion components as a power output of the I and Q components between approximately the receive bandwidth and twice the receive bandwidth of the received radio signals; and adjusting an operational parameter of the radio receiver to reduce the estimated value of second order distortion components. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus for a wireless device, comprising: an antenna for receiving an original signal and for backscattering a modulated signal containing information from the wireless device; a variable impedance coupled to the antenna, the variable impedance having an impedance value; a delta-sigma modulator coupled to the variable impedance for modulating the impedance value, and thereby a backscattering coefficient for the antenna, in accordance with the information to generate the modulated signal; and, a decoder coupled to the delta-sigma modulator for generating the impedance value from the information.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus for backscattering an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal includes an antenna for backscattering the incoming RF signal in accordance with a reflection coefficient characteristic of the antenna. A variable impedance circuit includes an output electrically connected to the antenna. A band-pass delta sigma modulator is coupled to the variable impedance circuit and digitally controls the output of the variable impedance circuit, such that the reflection coefficient of the antenna is adjusted based on the digitally controlled output of the variable impedance circuit. In an RFID network, the apparatus and method reduces the effect of DC offset in the reader device and the effects of the reader device's phase noise, while allowing for complex modulations.

Abstract: In a radio receiver, a method of reducing second order distortion components, involves at a first mixer, mixing an input signal with an oscillator signal to generate an I component of a received radio signal; at a second mixer, mixing the input signal with a phase shifted oscillator signal to generate a Q component of the received radio signal; where the I and Q components of the received signal have a receive bandwidth; computing an estimate of second order distortion components as a power output of the I and Q components between approximately the receive bandwidth and twice the receive bandwidth of the received radio signals; and adjusting an operational parameter of the radio receiver to reduce the estimated value of second order distortion components. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.

Abstract: A method involving receiving a real time communication signal at a radio receiver involves measuring at least one performance value associated with the radio receiver with an installed set of state variables; at a processor forming a part of the radio receiver: iteratively changing at least one of the state variables within a prescribed range in order to identify an improved value of the state variable that provides an improvement to the at least one performance value; storing the improved value of the state variable; applying a statistical weighting to the improved value and storing the statistical weighting; and adjusting the prescribed range of the state variable based upon the statistical weighting to provide a revised prescribed range that is statistically likely to contain state variable that provides improvement in the at least one performance value. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.

Abstract: A radio receiver method of reducing second order distortion components involves at a first mixer, mixing an input signal with an oscillator signal to generate an I component of a received radio communication signal; at a second mixer, mixing the input signal with a phase shifted oscillator signal to generate a Q component of the received radio communication signal; computing an estimate of second order distortion as a function of the I and Q components of the received radio communication signal; and adjusting an operational parameter of the radio receiver to reduce the estimated value of second order distortion components. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In a radio receiver having first and second mixers that mix a received communication signal to produce quadrature I and Q signals, measuring an output value of the I and Q signals. At a programmed processor: evaluating symmetry in the I and Q signals by calculating a symmetry test value; iteratively testing gain and phase shift correction values by applying the gain and phase shift correction values to the I and Q signals to identify a pair of gain and phase shift correction values that produces an improved symmetry test value; selecting the pair of gain and phase shift correction values; and applying the selected pair of gain and phase shift correction values to the I and Q signals from the first and second mixers. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.

Abstract: A method involving receiving a real time communication signal at a radio receiver involves measuring at least one performance value associated with the radio receiver with an installed set of state variables; at a processor forming a part of the radio receiver: iteratively changing at least one of the state variables within a prescribed range in order to identify an improved value of the state variable that provides an improvement to the at least one performance value; storing the improved value of the state variable; applying a statistical weighting to the improved value and storing the statistical weighting; and adjusting the prescribed range of the state variable based upon the statistical weighting to provide a revised prescribed range that is statistically likely to contain state variable that provides improvement in the at least one performance value. This abstract is not to be considered limiting.

Abstract: A radio transceiver including a transmitter and a receiver. A filter coupled to an output of the transmitter, the filter has one or more inductors and one or more capacitors, where the filter is tuned by varying one or more capacitance values of the one or more capacitors in the filter to tune the filter. The one or more capacitors are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) ceramic integrated capacitors that are each tuned by application of a bias voltage thereto. A filter tuner circuit is configured to apply the bias voltage to the one or more capacitors, where the bias voltage is initially established as a stored initial value, and where the bias voltage is refined by a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller configured to optimize a power within the transceiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting since various implementations may incorporate more, fewer or different elements.

Abstract: A transmitter architecture having a single signal path or hardware to cover WCDMA/EDGE/GSM applications, and requires no SAW at the transmitter outputs. The transmitter architecture allows for a transmit convergence feature. A passive mixer with unique driver and furthermore using native devices available from the CMOS process for the mixer cores enables low voltage and low power design, low output noise and high linearity. A digital variable gain amplifier has the capability to cover wide output dynamic range operated from low supply voltage and interfaced digitally with the baseband circuit without DAC. A single transformer is used to combine the outputs from the WCDMA/EDGE and GSM drivers and subsequently convert the differential signal paths into a single-ended signal. RF switches are used to divert the output from the transformer to different bands and applications.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data between a client and a server is provided. The method comprising the following steps. The data is segmented into a plurality of data packets, which are scheduled to be transmitted via different ones of a plurality of access points. Each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the client using a different protocol and communicate with the server using a different network path. Each of the plurality of data packets is transmitted between the client and the server via the scheduled access point. A client device and proxy server configured to implement the method are also provided, as is a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for implementing the method.