Abstract: Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; and a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter, the processor programmed to multiplex upstream information onto an allocated number of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals based on an allocation instruction received be the receiver.

Abstract: Systems for contention-based bandwidth requests in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems are provided. In one embodiment, a bidirectional communication system comprises: a multipoint-to-point host; and a plurality of remotes communicatively coupled to the multipoint-to-point host through an OFDM waveform; wherein the multipoint-to-point host is configured to receive the OFDM waveform, the OFDM waveform comprising a plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remotes, wherein the plurality of tones are simultaneously received at the host from at least two of the plurality of remotes; wherein a first remote is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention based; and wherein the multipoint-to-point host transmits information on at least one tone based on whether the host successfully receives the request for bandwidth from the first remote of the plurality of remotes.

Abstract: Methods for multiple use subchannels are provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multipoint-to-point communications system comprises: establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration; transmitting up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM; adjusting a carrier frequency of the up to a plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from a first remote unit and a least one other remote unit, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved; and transmitting both control data and payload data on at least one of the up to a plurality of tones from the first remote unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bidirectional communication are provided. In one embodiment, a multipoint-to-point, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication system comprises: a plurality of remote units, a host unit; wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to a remote instructing the remote to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform received at the host, wherein the host sends an adjustment signal to a remote instructing the remote to adjust the frequency of transmissions from the remote to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform received at the host, wherein payload data is transmitted between a remote and the host over a first orthogonal tone within the OFDM communication system during a first time interval, and wherein control data is transmitted between a remote and the host over the first orthogonal tone within the OFDM communication system during a second time interval.

Abstract: Systems for tone allocation are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises: a plurality of remote units and a host including a demodulator. Each remote transmits an upstream OFDM signal using a multiple access scheme to the host using an OFDM waveform. The host receives the upstream OFDM signals, the tones of the upstream signals substantially orthogonal when received at the host. Portions of upstream OFDM signals from at least two remotes arrive at the host at the same time. The host demodulates said portions. At least one remote transmits to the host using a first tone allocated by the host. The host sends an adjustment signal to the remote to adjust the timing of transmissions to improve orthogonality of the OFDM waveform. After the remote has begun transmission using the first tone but before the remote has completed its transmission, the host allocates to the remote a different tone.

Abstract: A lubricant metering device comprised of a housing having an opening formed therein. The housing has an inlet port communicating with the opening and a plurality of outlet ports communicating with the opening. An insert is disposed within the opening. A plurality of valve spools is provided within the insert, each valve spool being reciprocally movable within a bore in the insert. Fluid passages are formed in the insert. The fluid passage connects the inlet port in the housing to each bore in the insert, connects each bore to the other bore in the insert, and connects each bore to at least one outlet port in the housing, wherein each spool will move in sequence to dispense a metered quantity of lubricant to an outlet port, as long as lubricant under pressure is applied to the inlet port.

Abstract: A method of non-real-time two-way wireless data communications using a synchronous time division multiplexed architecture (TDMA) protocol in a communications system having a plurality of fixed base stations (BS) and a plurality of receiver/transmitters (RTs), wherein a BS controller dynamically changes a plurality of data blocks in both an uplink and a downlink data frame, a plurality of data rates, a plurality of signal modulation techniques, and a plurality of frequencies according to a computer analysis of received signals in order to provide optimization of the system. The method further includes overhead data reduction techniques using abbreviations for identification character strings and concatenations of downlink data messages. Embodiment of a novel emergency alarm resolution techniques and a plurality of message collision avoidance techniques improves response times for remote transmissions.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of service units in a telecommunications system with a multi-carrier transmission scheme is provided. Specifically, in one embodiment, the method includes broadcasting control signals for the service units over a plurality of control channels distributed in a number of subbands of a frequency bandwidth. The method further includes identifying the service unit to use the control signal with an identifier.

Abstract: A apparatus for providing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and an inverse FFT is provided. The apparatus comprises a radix-N core. The radix-N core includes at least N multipliers. The radix-N core also includes a twiddle-factor lookup table that stores complex twiddle-factors. The twiddle-factor lookup table is coupled to one input of each of the multipliers. The radix-N core also includes a conversion random access memory (RAM) that stores transform points. The conversion RAM is coupled to another input of each of the multipliers. The radix-N core also includes an array of at least N-times-N adder-subtracter-accumulators.

Abstract: A method of computer data transmission over a telecommunications network having a head end connected to a plurality of service units is provided. The method includes receiving a request for transmitting computer data over the network from a service unit, retrieving provisioning information for the service unit, and selectively assigning one or more data channels based on the provisioning information to transmit the computer data over the network to provide a data path with substantially constant data transfer bandwidth between a head end and the service unit.

Abstract: A multicarrier transmitting modem is described.

Abstract: The communication system includes a hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. A head end provides for downstream transmission of telephony and control data in a first frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network and reception of upstream telephony and control data in a second frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The head end includes a head end multicarrier modem for modulating at least downstream telephony information on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the first frequency bandwidth and demodulating at least upstream telephony information modulated on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the second frequency bandwidth The head end further includes a controller operatively connected to the head end multicarrier modem for controlling transmission of the downstream telephony information and downstream control data and for controlling receipt of the upstream control data and upstream telephony information.

Abstract: A method of staggering the arrival of frames of data at a head end in a communication system. The method includes receiving at a first service unit upstream telephony data is described. The telephony data includes a first payload message. The method includes receiving at a second service unit upstream telephony data, wherein the telephony data includes a second payload message. The method further includes formatting the first payload message at the first service unit as a first sequence of frames and formatting the second payload message at the second service unit as a second sequence of frames. In addition, the method includes transmitting the first sequence of frames on a first carrier so as to arrive at the head end at a first time and transmitting the second sequence of frames on a second carrier so as to arrive at the head end at a second time.

Abstract: A method for monitoring at least one telephony communication n-bit channel, wherein one of the bits is a parity bit, includes sampling the parity bit of the n-bit channel. A probable bit error rate is derived from the sampling of the parity bit. The probable bit error rate can be compared to a pre-determined bit error rate value to determine if the at least one telephony communication n-bit channel is corrupted. If the at least one telephony communication n-bit channel is corrupted, the at least one telephony communication n-bit channel is re-allocated to an uncorrupted and unallocated telephony communication n-bit channel. Further, at least one unallocated telephony communication channel can be periodically monitored and error data accumulated to indicate the quality thereof.

Abstract: The communication system includes a hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. A head end provides for downstream transmission of telephony and control data in a first frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network and reception of upstream telephony and control data in a second frequency bandwidth over the hybrid fiber/coax distribution network. The head end includes a head end multicarrier modem for modulating at least downstream telephony information on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the first frequency bandwidth and demodulating at least upstream telephony information modulated on a plurality of orthogonal carriers in the second frequency bandwidth. The head end further includes a controller operatively connected to the head end multicarrier modem for controlling transmission of the downstream telephony information and downstream control data and for controlling receipt of the upstream control data and upstream telephony information.

Abstract: A touch switch (10) having multiple states, wherein an individual's body capacitance and/or body resistance is used to change the state of the switch.