Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080267137 | COMPUTER GENERATED SEQUENCES FOR DOWNLINK AND UPLINK SIGNALS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - The present disclosure provides a base station transmitter, a user equipment transmitter and methods of operating the base station and user equipment transmitters. In one embodiment, the base station transmitter is for use with a cellular communication system and includes a synchronization unit configured to provide a randomly-generated constant amplitude zero autocorrelation (random-CAZAC) sequence corresponding to a downlink synchronization signal. Additionally, the base station transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the downlink synchronization signal using the random-CAZAC sequence. In another embodiment, the user equipment transmitter is for use with a cellular communication system and includes a reference signal unit configured to provide a random-CAZAC sequence for an uplink reference signal corresponding to a one resource block allocation of the user equipment. The user equipment transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the uplink reference signal using the random-CAZAC sequence. | 10-30-2008 |
20080268885 | LOW-COMPLEXITY PRIMARY SYNCHRONIZATION SEQUENCES - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter is for use with a base station in a in a cellular communication system and includes a scheduling unit configured to provide a primary synchronization signal selected from a group of multiple sequences, wherein at least two of the sequences have complex conjugate symmetry in the time domain. The transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the primary synchronization signal. Additionally, the receiver includes a receive unit configured to receive a primary synchronization signal. The receiver also includes a detection unit configured to identify one of a plurality of primary synchronization signals corresponding to a communication cell location of the receiver, wherein at least two of a group of multiple sequences have complex conjugate symmetry in the time domain. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273497 | Handover for DVB-H - A method of wireless handover in a broadcast network (FIGS. | 11-06-2008 |
20080285691 | Wireless System With Hybrid Automatic Retransmission Request In Interference-Limited Communications - A wireless receiver ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080298326 | GUARD SUBCARRIER PLACEMENT IN AN OFDM SYMBOL USED FOR SYNCHRONIZATION - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter is for use with a base station in a cellular communication system and includes a partitioning unit configured to provide first and second groups of guard subcarriers that partition a synchronization portion from data portions in a downlink synchronization signal. The transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the downlink synchronization signal. Additionally, the receiver is for use with user equipment in a cellular communication system and includes a receive unit configured to receive a downlink synchronization signal. The receiver also includes a processing unit configured to provide a synchronization portion based on employing first and second groups of guard subcarriers that partition the synchronization portion from data portions of the downlink synchronization signal. | 12-04-2008 |
20090017769 | EFFICIENT RANK AND PRECODING MATRIX FEEDBACK FOR MIMO SYSTEMS - The present disclosure provides a receiver, a transmitter and methods of operating a receiver or a transmitter. In one embodiment, the receiver includes a receive unit configured to receive transmissions from multiple antennas. The receiver also includes a rank feedback unit configured to feed back a transmission rank selection, wherein the transmission rank selection corresponds to a transmission rank feedback reduction scheme. The receiver further includes a preceding feedback unit configured to feed back a preceding matrix selection, wherein the preceding matrix selection corresponds to a preceding matrix feedback reduction scheme. | 01-15-2009 |
20090080407 | SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION SIGNAL MAPPING - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter or a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter is for use with a base station and includes a primary module configured to provide a primary synchronization signal. The transmitter also includes a secondary mapping module configured to provide a secondary synchronization signal derived from two sequences taken from a same set of N sequences and indexed by an index pair (S | 03-26-2009 |
20090103590 | Code Division Multiple Access Wireless System With Closed Loop Mode Using Ninety Degree Phase Rotation And Beamformer Verification - A wireless communication system ( | 04-23-2009 |
20090180416 | Turbo HSDPA System - A method of power saving for a wireless transceiver (FIGS. | 07-16-2009 |
20090180563 | Turbo HSDPA System - A method of power saving for a wireless transceiver (FIGS. | 07-16-2009 |
20090238311 | Reverse serial list Viterbi decoding to improve frame error rate performance - A convolutionally encoded frame to be decoded includes a first portion of bits having additional error protection and another portion without additional error protection. The decoding of the frame involves reverse Viterbi decoding or Viterbi decoding on a reversed bit sequence followed by applying a serial list Viterbi algorithm to the first portion. The result is that the list of probable sequences have unique sets of bits in the first portion. | 09-24-2009 |
20090257523 | PSEUDORANDOM SEQUENCE GENERATION FOR OFDM CELLULAR SYSTEMS - In one embodiment, a transmitter includes a binary sequence generator unit configured to provide a sequence of reference signal bits, wherein the sequence is an inseparable function of a cell identification parameter, a cyclic prefix mode corresponding to the transmitter and one or more time indices of the sequence. The transmitter also include a mapping unit that transforms the sequence of reference signal bits into a complex reference signal, and a transmit unit configured to transmit the complex reference signal. In another embodiment, a receiver includes a receive unit configured to receive a complex reference signal and a reference signal decoder unit configured to detect a sequence of reference signal bits from the complex reference signal, wherein the sequence is an inseparable function of a cell identification parameter, a cyclic prefix mode corresponding to a transmitter and one or more time indices of the sequence. | 10-15-2009 |
20090262856 | HIGH DATA RATE UPLINK TRANSMISSION - A user equipment device has a control information decoder configured to receive and decode an uplink scheduling grant. A transmit module is configured to receive a rank indicator (RI) extracted by the decoder and adapt a transmission rank in response to the RI. At least two transmit antennas are configured to transmit according to the RI. | 10-22-2009 |
20090310782 | MAPPING SCHEMES FOR SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION SIGNAL SCRAMBLING - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a synchronization unit configured to provide a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal having first and second segments. The transmitter also includes a secondary scrambling unit configured to provide a scrambled secondary synchronization signal, wherein scrambling agents for the first and second segments are derived from a primary synchronization sequence of the primary synchronization signal. The secondary scrambling unit is further configured to provide an additional scrambling of one of the first and second segments, wherein a second scrambling agent is derived from the remaining segment of a secondary synchronization sequence of the secondary synchronization signal. The transmitter further includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the primary synchronization signal and the scrambled secondary synchronization signal. | 12-17-2009 |
20100014619 | SPACE TIME BLOCK CODED TRANSMIT ANTENNA DIVERSITY FOR WCDMA - A mobile communication system is designed with an input circuit coupled to receive a first plurality of signals (r | 01-21-2010 |
20100020684 | Multi-Band OFDM Communications System - System and method for providing multiple access in a multi-band, orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (multi-band-OFDM) communications system. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a transmission bandwidth to support a performance requirement and configuring transmission bands in the multi-band-OFDM communications system based upon the transmission bandwidth, wherein the transmission bands may be made up of smaller transmission bands bonded together. Further comprising initializing communications with the configured transmission bands. The use of bonded transmission bands can provide increased data rates and/or increased range performance. | 01-28-2010 |
20100027456 | NETWORK MIMO REPORTING, CONTROL SIGNALING AND TRANSMISSION - A coordinated multipoint transmitter is for use with a network MIMO super-cell and includes a coordination unit configured to provide joint link processing to coordinate a multipoint transmission corresponding to a set of transmission points. Additionally, the coordinated multipoint transmitter also includes a transmission unit configured to transmit the multipoint transmission using the set of transmission points. Additionally, a coordinated transmission receiver is for use with a network MIMO super-cell and includes a reception unit configured to receive a multipoint transmission corresponding to a set of transmission points. The coordinated transmission receiver also includes a processing unit configured to process the multipoint transmission from the set of transmission points. | 02-04-2010 |
20100040172 | HIGH DATA RATE CLOSED LOOP MIMO SCHEME COMBINING TRANSMIT DIVERSITY AND DATA MULTIPLEXING - Closed loop multiple-antenna wireless communications system with antenna weights determined by maximizing a composite channel signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio minimum. Multiplexed symbol streams over subsets of antennas enhance throughout. | 02-18-2010 |
20100046412 | REFERENCE SIGNAL STRUCTURES FOR MORE THAN FOUR ANTENNAS - A transmitter, for use with a cellular communication network, includes a reference signal generation unit configured to provide a reference signal corresponding to a reference signal structure for more than four transmit antennas. The transmitter also includes a system information signal generation unit configured to provide a system information signal corresponding to the reference signal structure for the more than four transmit antennas. The transmitter additionally includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the reference signal and the system information signal. | 02-25-2010 |
20100061360 | DEDICATED REFERENCE SIGNAL STRUCTURES FOR SPATIAL MULTIPLEXING BEAMFORMING - A transmitter is for use with a cellular communication network and includes a beamforming generation unit configured to generate a downlink beamforming transmission corresponding to multiple-layer spatial multiplexing and based on a dedicated reference signal pattern. Additionally, the transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the downlink beamforming transmission. A receiver is for use with a cellular communication network and includes a receive unit configured to receive a downlink beamforming transmission, and a beamforming processing unit configured to process the downlink beamforming transmission corresponding to multiple-layer spatial multiplexing and based on a dedicated reference signal pattern. | 03-11-2010 |
20100067604 | NETWORK MULTIPLE ANTENNA TRANSMISSION EMPLOYING AN X2 INTERFACE - A coordinated multipoint transmitter is for use with a multiple antenna super-cell and includes primary and secondary base stations jointly connected via an X2 interface link, wherein the primary base station provides a transmission directive corresponding to an X2 interface protocol over the X2 interface link to the secondary base station for a joint transmission from the primary and secondary base stations. | 03-18-2010 |
20100091821 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE BASED ON VALUES IN PRIMARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE - A wireless communication system. The system comprises transmitter circuitry (BST | 04-15-2010 |
20100165949 | SPACE TIME TRANSMIT DIVERSITY FOR TDD/WCDMA SYSTEMS - A circuit is designed with a matched filter circuit including a plurality of fingers ( | 07-01-2010 |
20100215077 | Multi-Band OFDM Communications System - A method for providing communication in a wireless network comprising one or more simultaneously operating pico networks includes dividing UWB spectrum into a plurality of frequency bands. These bands are formed into band groups. At least one band group is assigned to each one of the pico networks. At least pne time frequency code is assigned to symbols associated with each one of the pico networks on a transmission-by-transmission basis. A system for channelization of the spectrum includes a frequency-synthesized oscillator and a time frequency code generator configured to assign time-frequency codes to successive transmissions of a pico network such that the successive transmissions are transmitted in all frequency bands of a band group assigned to the pico network. | 08-26-2010 |
20110026621 | OFDM TRANSMISSION METHODS IN THREE PHASE MODES - Systems and methods for power line transmission are disclosed in which transmitters and receivers are connected to one or more phases of the power line. At least one symbol stream to be transmitted on the power line network is generated. The at least one symbol stream is scaled using a weight vector to generate a plurality of scaled symbol streams. The weight vector comprises a plurality of weights, each corresponding to a phase of the power line network. Each of the scaled symbol streams are transmitted on a corresponding phase of the power line network. A zero crossing detector identifies phase information for a receiver. A concentrator adapts signals to be sent to the receiver based upon the phase associated with the receiver. | 02-03-2011 |
20110043340 | Concatenated Repetition Code with Convolutional Code - A system and method for modulating and coding a signal is disclosed. Data from a Media Access Control (MAC) layer is convolutionally encoded. Robust coding of the data from the MAC layer is performed either before or after the convolutional encoding. The coded data is differentially modulating and then Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed to create an OFDM output signal adapted to be transmitted on a power line network. The robust coding may be a repetition | 02-24-2011 |
20110064029 | DOWNLINK SIGNALING FOR A MULTI-CARRIER COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM - System and method for signaling control information in a multi-carrier communications system to transmit data. A preferred embodiment comprises demodulating a first carrier that is used for transmitting a control channel transmission, determining a second carrier that is used for transmitting a data channel transmission based upon the demodulated control channel transmission, and demodulating the second carrier to obtain the data channel transmission. Additionally, designs for multi-carrier receivers are provided. | 03-17-2011 |
20110080976 | HIGH DATA RATE CLOSED LOOP MIMO SCHEME COMBINING TRANSMIT DIVERSITY AND DATA MULTIPLEXING - Closed loop multiple-antenna wireless communications system with antenna weights determined by maximizing a composite channel signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio minimum. Multiplexed symbol streams over subsets of antennas enhance throughout. | 04-07-2011 |
20110252293 | Concatenated Coding Architecture for G.hnem PHY - Embodiments provide a method for determining the number of parity bytes that are added by a Reed-Solomon encoder. The number of parity bytes are equivalent to the error correcting capability of the Reed-Solomon code. The number of parity bytes is based on the payload length or the information block size used in the Reed-Solomon encoder. Other factors may also be used to make this choice. | 10-13-2011 |
20110255557 | Coexistence of Prime, S-FSK and G3 Devices in Powerline Communications - Communication devices, such as base nodes and modems, that comply with two or more different standards operate on a shared communication channel. To avoid mutual interference, a base node operating under a first standard reserves time using a contention free period designation. The base node allows devices operating under a second standard to communicate during the reserved time by not assigning the contention free period to another device operating under the first standard. Alternatively, a device using the first standard may avoid interference from transmissions generated under the second standard by modifying data packets prior to transmission. A prefix corresponding to a preamble in the second standard is added to the beginning of the data packet created under the first standard. Devices operating under the second standard observe the prefix and recognize that the channel is active. The second-standard devices backoff from transmission thereby minimizing interference. | 10-20-2011 |
20110267177 | Effective Low Voltage to Medium Voltage Transmission on PRIME Band - Coupling and interface circuits for powerline modems are disclosed. A powerline modem may be coupled to a low voltage (LV) line or a medium voltage (MV) line using a circuit that is designed to compensate for signal attenuation and loss that is created by the a LV/MV transformer and/or a MV coupler. In one embodiment, separate coupling transformers may be used by the modem for reception and transmission. In other embodiments, a capacitance is switched on the transmission line before the modem transmits to lower the line impedance. | 11-03-2011 |
20120008710 | Mapping Schemes for Secondary Synchronization Signal Scrambling - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a synchronization unit configured to provide a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal having first and second segments. The transmitter also includes a secondary scrambling unit configured to provide a scrambled secondary synchronization signal, wherein scrambling agents for the first and second segments are derived from a primary synchronization sequence of the primary synchronization signal. The secondary scrambling unit is further configured to provide an additional scrambling of one of the first and second segments, wherein a second scrambling agent is derived from the remaining segment of a secondary synchronization sequence of the secondary synchronization signal. The transmitter further includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the primary synchronization signal and the scrambled secondary synchronization signal. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008718 | Wireless Precoding Methods - Various wireless precoding systems and methods are presented. In some embodiments, a wireless transmitter comprises an antenna precoding block, a transform block, and multiple transmit antennas. The antenna precoding block receives frequency coefficients from multiple data streams and distributes the frequency coefficients across multiple transmit signals in accordance with frequency-dependent matrices. The transform block transforms the precoded frequency coefficients into multiple time domain transmit signals to be transmitted by the multiple antennas. The frequency coefficients from multiple data streams may be partitioned into tone groups, and all the frequency coefficients from a given tone group may be redistributed in accordance with a single matrix for that tone group. In some implementations, the frequency coefficients within a tone group for a given data stream may also be precoded. In some alternative embodiments, tone group precoding may be employed in a single channel system. | 01-12-2012 |
20120063497 | Systems And Methods for Implementing Application Profiles and Device Classes in Power Line Communication (PLC) Environments - Systems and methods for application profiles and device classes in power line communications (PLCs) are described. In some embodiments, a PLC device may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may be configured to store program instructions, which may be executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to communicate with a higher-level PLC apparatus over a power line using a frequency band. The frequency band may be selected based upon an application profile and/or a device class associated with the PLC device. In some implementations, the higher-level PLC apparatus may include a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and the PLC device may include a PLC modem or the like. Examples of application profiles include access communications, in-premises connectivity, AC charging, and/or DC charging. Device classes may represent a minimum communication data rate and/or an operating frequency band restriction of the PLC device. | 03-15-2012 |
20120076211 | Systems and Methods for Facilitating Power Line Communications - Systems and methods for facilitating power line communications are described. In some embodiments, a PLC device may detect the availability of a first frequency band as well the availability of a combination of a second frequency band with a third frequency band. The PLC device may then communicate with another PLC device using a frequency band selected as (a) at least a portion of a combination of the first, second, and third frequency bands, (b) at least a portion of the first frequency band, or (c) at least a portion of the combination of the second with third frequency bands. The PLC device may further transmit a message to a higher-level PLC apparatus (e.g., a domain master) over the power line using a device-based access mode, receive an instruction to switch to a domain-based access mode, and thereafter communicate with another PLC device using the domain-based access mode. | 03-29-2012 |
20120093198 | Building, Transmitting, and Receiving Frame Structures in Power Line Communications - Systems and methods for building, transmitting, and receiving frame structures in power line communications (PLC) are described. Various techniques described herein provide a preamble design using one or more symbols based on a chirp signal that yields a low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). According to some techniques, the preamble may be constructed with one or more different types and/or number of symbols configured to identify a PLC domain operating in close physical proximity to another PLC domain. According to other techniques, one or more preamble symbols may be interspersed within a header portion of a PLC frame to facilitate estimation of a frame boundary and/or sampling frequency offset, for example, in the presence of impulsive noise. According to yet other techniques, a PLC detector may be capable of receiving and decoding two or more types of PLC frames (e.g., using different PLC standards). | 04-19-2012 |
20120099628 | Symbol-Level Repetition Coding in Power Line Communications - Systems and methods for implementing symbol-level repetition coding in power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, these systems and methods may provide reliable communication in severe channel environments of PLC networks, at least in part, by changing the forward error correction (FEC) used by various devices operating within current PLC systems. For example, a method may include receiving a PLC signal and applying convolutional encoding to the received signal, the convolutional encoding producing an encoded signal. The method may also include performing a subcarrier modulation operation upon the encoded signal, the subcarrier modulation operation producing a modulated signal. The method may further include applying symbol-level repetition coding to the modulated signal, the symbol-level repetition coding producing a repetitious signal. In some cases, one or more distinct repetition patterns may be applied to different symbols or portions thereof. The repetitious signal may then be transmitted over a power line. | 04-26-2012 |
20120134395 | Power Line Communications (PLC) Across Different Voltage Domains Using Multiple Frequency Subbands - Systems and methods for implementing power line communications (PLC) across different voltage domains using multiple frequency subbands are described. From an end node's perspective (e.g., a PLC device), a method may include scanning a plurality of downlink subbands usable by a base node (e.g., a PLC router, etc.) to communicate with one or more PLC devices (e.g., other end nodes) from a medium voltage (MV) to a low voltage (LV) power line, and transmitting association request(s) to the base node that select and/or allow the base node to select one or more downlink subbands for use in subsequent communications. From the base node's perspective, the method may include selecting one or more of a plurality of uplink subbands for use in subsequent communications based on the received association request(s). In various implementations, the selection of downlink and/or uplink subbands may be based on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values and/or congestion indicators. | 05-31-2012 |
20120147730 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE BASED ON VALUES IN PRIMARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE - A wireless communication system. The system comprises transmitter circuitry (BST | 06-14-2012 |
20120147877 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE BASED ON VALUES IN PRIMARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE - A wireless communication system. The system comprises transmitter circuitry (BST | 06-14-2012 |
20120154184 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WITH SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE BASED ON VALUES IN PRIMARY SYNCHRONIZATION CODE - A wireless communication system. The system comprises transmitter circuitry (BST | 06-21-2012 |
20120189042 | Building, Transmitting, and Receiving Robust Protocol Data Units in Power Line Communications - Systems and methods for building, transmitting, and receiving robust protocol data units (PDUs) in power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving a PDU, applying bit-level repetition to at least a portion of the PDU to create a repeated portion, block interleaving two or more symbols corresponding to the repeated portion to create a block interleaved portion, inserting pilot tones in the block interleaved portion, and modulating each tone in the block interleaved portion with respect to a nearest one of the inserted pilot tones to create a robust PDU. In some implementations, the robust PDU may include a first header portion carrying information encoded using a first version of a PLC protocol (e.g., a legacy standard) and a second header portion carrying information encoded using a second version of the PLC protocol (e.g., a newer version of the same standard). | 07-26-2012 |
20120189126 | MAPPING SCHEMES FOR SECONDARY SYNCHRONIZATION SIGNAL SCRAMBLING - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a transmitter, a receiver and methods of operating a transmitter and a receiver. In one embodiment, the transmitter includes a synchronization unit configured to provide a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal having first and second segments. The transmitter also includes a secondary scrambling unit configured to provide a scrambled secondary synchronization signal, wherein scrambling agents for the first and second segments are derived from a primary synchronization sequence of the primary synchronization signal. The secondary scrambling unit is further configured to provide an additional scrambling of one of the first and second segments, wherein a second scrambling agent is derived from the remaining segment of a secondary synchronization sequence of the secondary synchronization signal. The transmitter further includes a transmit unit configured to transmit the primary synchronization signal and the scrambled secondary synchronization signal. | 07-26-2012 |
20120201155 | Channel Selection in Power Line Communications - Systems and methods for channel selection in power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, a method may include defining a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of time slots. The method may also include assembling a pair of beacon and bandscan packets within each of time slot of each frame. The method may further include sequentially transmitting each of the frames over a corresponding one of a plurality of different frequency bands. In some implementations, each bandscan packet may include a slot index indicating a position of its time slot within its respective frame and/or a band index indicating one of the plurality of different frequency bands. In response to having transmitted the plurality of frames, the method may include receiving one or more packets indicating a selection of one or more of the plurality of different frequency bands to be used in subsequent communications. | 08-09-2012 |
20120236875 | Slotted Channel Access Techniques in Network Communications - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing slotted channel access techniques in network communications are described. In some embodiments, a method may include selecting one of a plurality of time slots within a contention access period (CAP), each of the plurality of time slots having a predetermined duration, and transmitting a packet during the selected time slot. For example, the time slot may be selected randomly or based on a round-robin algorithm. In some implementations, the duration of each of the plurality of time slots may correspond and/or be equal to: (a) a duration of a data packet of maximum size, (b) a sum of durations of a request-to-send packet, an interframe space, and a clear-to-send packet, and/or (c) a duration of a guaranteed time slot (GTS) or contention free period (CFP) request packet, as prescribed by a given communication protocol or standard. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236876 | MAC PROTOCOLS WITH SUBBANDING - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing media access control (MAC) protocols with subbanding are described. In some embodiments, a method may include receiving a beacon packet during one of a plurality of beacon slots of a superframe, each beacon slot corresponding to one of a plurality of different downlink subbands. The method may also include identifying, based on the received beacon packet, contention access periods following the beacon slots, each of the contention access periods corresponding to one of a plurality of different uplink subbands. The method may further include transmitting an information packet over each of the plurality of uplink subbands during the contention access periods. Then, the method may include receiving, during a guaranteed time slot following the contention access periods, an indication of a selected one of the plurality of uplink subbands to be used in a subsequent communications. | 09-20-2012 |
20120257682 | POWER LINE COMMUNICATIONS DURING SELECTED TIME INTERVALS - A method of power line communications includes obtaining timing information for an AC mains signal transmitted on a power line in a power line communication (PLC) system that includes at least one receiver and at least one other device connected on the power line which provides variable loading during cycles of the AC mains signal. A first loading interval within at least a first cycle of the cycles having lower loading and at least a second loading interval within said first cycle having higher loading are identified using the timing information. At least one data packet is transmitted only during the first loading interval over the power line to the receiver. | 10-11-2012 |
20120263189 | Beacon-Enabled Communications for Variable Payload Transfers - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing beacon-enabled communications for variable payload transfers are described. In various embodiments, these systems and methods may be applicable to power line communications (PLC). For example, a method may include implementing a superframe having a plurality of beacon slots, a plurality of intermediate slots following the beacon slots, and a poll-based Contention Free Period (CFP) slot following the intermediate slots. Each of the beacon slots and each of the intermediate slots may correspond to a respective one of a plurality of frequency subbands, and the poll-based CFP slot may correspond to a combination of the plurality of frequency subbands. The method may also include receiving a poll request over a first of the plurality of frequency subbands during the poll-based CFP slot, and then transmitting a data packet over a second of the plurality of frequency subbands during the poll-based CFP slot. | 10-18-2012 |
20120275326 | Non-Beacon Network Communications Using Frequency Subbands - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing non-beacon network communications using frequency subbands are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include transmitting a beacon request message over a given one of a plurality of frequency subbands, receiving a plurality of beacons in response to having transmitted the beacon request message, each of the plurality of beacons received over a respective one of the plurality of frequency subbands, and calculating a downlink quality report based, at least in part, upon the received beacons. The method may also include transmitting the downlink quality report over each of the plurality of frequency subbands and receiving a subband allocation command in response to having transmitted the downlink quality report, the subband allocation command indicating a downlink subband assignment and an uplink subband assignment. | 11-01-2012 |
20120281716 | Hybrid Communication Networks - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing hybrid communication networks are described. In various embodiments, these systems and methods may be applicable to power line communications (PLC). For example, one or more of the techniques disclosed herein may include methods to coordinate medium-to-low voltage (MV-LV) and low-to-low voltage (LV-LV) PLC networks when the MV-LV network operates in a frequency subband mode and the LV-LV network operates in wideband mode (i.e., hybrid communications). In some cases, MV routers and LV routers may have different profiles. For instance, MV-LV communications may be performed using MAC superframe structures, and first-level LV to lower-level LV communications may take place using a beacon mode. Lower layer LV nodes may communicate using non-beacon modes. Also, initial scanning procedures may encourage first-to-second -level LV device communications rather than MV-to-first-level LV connections. | 11-08-2012 |
20120281717 | Superframe Coordination in Beacon-Enabled Networks - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing superframe coordination in beacon-enabled networks are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include implementing a Media Access Control (MAC) superframe using a communication device. The MAC superframe may include a plurality of beacon slots, a plurality of Contention Access Period (CAP) slots following the plurality of beacon slots, a Contention Free Period (CFP) poll access slot following the plurality of CAP slots, a CFP slot following the CFP poll access slot, an inactivity period following the CFP slot, a beacon region following the inactivity period, and a communication slot following the beacon region. The method may also include communicating with another communication device using the MAC superframe. | 11-08-2012 |
20120314744 | PHY PAYLOAD OVER MULTIPLE TONE MASKS USING SINGLE TONE MASK PHY HEADER INFORMATION - A method of powerline communications (PLC) includes compiling a data frame for physical layer (PHY) by a first communications device at a first communications node on a powerline of a PLC network. The data frame includes a single tone PHY header portion and a data payload portion in a set of tones including at least one tone having a frequency different from a frequency of the single tone. The PHY header portion includes tone mask identification information identifying the set of tones. The first communications device transmits the data frame over the powerline to a second communications device at a second communications node on the powerline. The second communications device receives the data frame, and decodes the data payload using the tone mask identification information in the PHY header portion. | 12-13-2012 |
20120320931 | DYNAMIC SELECTION OF MAC INTERFRAME PARAMETERS IN PLC NETWORKS - A method of powerline communications (PLC) in a PLC network having a plurality of nodes including a first node and a second node. A first node receives a PLC signal from the second node. The first node decodes a media access control (MAC) frame of the PLC signal to determine a frame size of the MAC frame. Based on the frame size, dynamic selection of a Response Inter-Frame Space (RIFS) value from at least two candidate RIFS values and a Contention Inter-frame Space (CIFS) value from at least two candidate CIFS values is provided. | 12-20-2012 |
20120320932 | DATA FRAME FOR PLC HAVING DESTINATION ADDRESS IN THE PHY HEADER - A method of powerline communications including a first node and at least a second node on a PLC channel in a PLC network. The first node sends a physical layer (PHY) data frame on the PLC channel including a preamble, PHY header, a MAC header and a MAC payload. The PHY header includes a destination address field having a destination address therein. The second node receives the data frame. The second node compares its network address to the destination address before decoding the MAC header and MAC payload, providing power savings by allowing the second node to not decode the MAC header or MAC payload if its network address does not match the destination address in the PHY header of the data frame. | 12-20-2012 |
20120320995 | CO-EXISTENCE OF MULTI-CARRIER AND SINGLE CARRIER COMMUNICATION STANDARDS ON SHARED PLC CHANNEL - A method for reducing interference on a shared powerline communications (PLC) channel in a PLC network including a first node using a multi-carrier modulation communication standard operating at a first and second carrier frequency and a second node using a single-carrier modulation communication standard operating based on a single-carrier frequency. (i) Non-overlapping transmission times are determined for transmissions by the first node relative to second node transmission times for transmissions from the second node or (ii) non-overlapping frequencies are selected for the first carrier frequency and second carrier frequency which do not overlap with the single-carrier frequency or frequencies based on the single-carrier frequency. The second node transmits using the single-carrier modulation communication standard at the second node transmission times. The first node transmits using the multi-carrier modulation communication standard at the non-overlapping transmission times or non-overlapping frequencies. | 12-20-2012 |
20120320996 | PREAMBLE SEQUENCE EXTENSION - A method of powerline communications between a plurality of nodes on a powerline communications (PLC) channel including a first node and a second node. At least one communication quality measure is determined for the PLC channel. Based on the communication quality measure, a preamble of a data frame is dynamically switched between a reference preamble having a reference symbol length including a reference number of syncP symbols and a reference number of syncM symbols and at least a first extended preamble having an extended symbol length that is greater than (>) the reference symbol length. The data frame is then transmitted on the PLC channel. | 12-20-2012 |
20120324322 | POWERLINE COMMUNICATION FRAMES HAVING CRC WITHIN HEADER - A method of powerline communications including a first node and at least a second node on a powerline communications (PLC) channel in a PLC network. The first node sends a physical layer (PHY) data frame on the PLC channel including a preamble, a PHY header, a MAC header and a MAC payload. The MAC header includes a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) field (MH-CRC field). The second node receives the data frame, parses the MAC header to reach the MH-CRC field, and performs CRC verification using the MH-CRC field to verify the MAC header. If the CRC verification is successful, (i) the second node parses another portion of the MAC header to identify a destination address of the data frame and (ii) to determine whether the data frame is intended for the second node from the destination address. | 12-20-2012 |
20120327770 | FLOW CONTROL FOR POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS - A method of powerline communications in a powerline communications (PLC) network including a first node and at least a second node. The first node transmits a data frame to the second node over a PLC channel. The second node has a data buffer for storing received information. The second node runs a flow control algorithm which determines a current congestion condition or a projected congestion condition of the data buffer based on at least one congestion parameter. The current congestion condition and projected congestion condition include nearly congested and fully congested. When the current or projected congestion condition is either nearly congested or fully congested, the second node transmits a BUSY including frame over the PLC channel to at least the first node. The first node defers transmitting of any frames to the second node for a congestion clearing wait time. | 12-27-2012 |
20120327987 | EXTENDED DURATION PHY HEADER FOR PLC - A method of powerline communications (PLC) over a PLC channel including a first node and at least a second node utilizes an algorithm that compiles frames having extended duration physical layer (PHY) headers. A duration or estimated duration of a null of the PLC channel is provided. An extended duration PHY header is compiled including a plurality of symbols and bits having a time duration of the PHY header of at least fifty percent (50%) more than the duration or estimated duration of the null. The compiling includes symbol repetition of at least a portion of the plurality of symbols or bit repetition of at least a portion of the plurality of bits. The first node transmits a frame including a preamble and the extended duration PHY header over the PLC channel to at least the second node. | 12-27-2012 |
20130010845 | CLOSED LOOP MULTIPLE TRANSMIT, MULTIPLE RECEIVE ANTENNA WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A wireless receiver ( | 01-10-2013 |
20130034110 | BROADCAST TRANSMISSION FOR MULTI-TONE MASK MODE OPERATION - A method of Multi-Tone Mask (MTM) mode communications in a PLC network including a first router associated with a plurality of nodes. A super-frame spanning a time period is received within the subnetwork. The super-frame includes beacon frames in beacon slots within a beacon period, with each beacon frame in one of N TMs, a contention access period (CAP) including a plurality of CAP slots provided for each TM, and a poll-based contention-free period (CFP). The beacon frames provide time assignments within the super-frame including time assignments for the CAP slots and for the CFP, and TM assignments for the TMs in the CAP slots. One of nodes, another router in the subnetwork, or a router in another subnetwork transmits a broadcast frame on the PLC channel. The first router forwards the broadcast frame on the PLC channel in each of the N TMs within the time period. | 02-07-2013 |
20130089124 | ADAPTIVE TONE POWER CONTROL IN PLC NETWORKS - In a powerline communications (PLC) network having a first node and at least a second node on a PLC channel utilizing a band including a plurality of tones, based on at least one channel quality indicator (CQI), the first node allocates for a tone map response payload only a single (1) power control bit for each of a plurality of subbands having two or more tones. The power control bit indicates a first power state or a second power state. The first node transmits a frame including the tone map response payload to the second node. The second node transmits a frame having boosted signal power for the tones in the subbands which have the first power state compared to a lower signal power for the tones in the subbands which have the second power state. | 04-11-2013 |
20130121425 | Coexistence Method by Requesting Access to the Channel - Systems and methods for implementing coexistence by requesting access to a channel in power line communications (PLC) are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a method performed by a PLC device, such as a PLC meter, may include detecting a communication from foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device, determining whether a threshold back-off duration has been reached, and transmitting a channel access request in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has been reached. | 05-16-2013 |
20130170437 | NETWORK MIMO REPORTING, CONTROL SIGNALING AND TRANSMISSION - A coordinated multipoint transmitter is for use with a network MIMO super-cell and includes a coordination unit configured to provide joint link processing to coordinate a multipoint transmission corresponding to a set of transmission points. Additionally, the coordinated multipoint transmitter also includes a transmission unit configured to transmit the multipoint transmission using the set of transmission points. Additionally, a coordinated transmission receiver is for use with a network MIMO super-cell and includes a reception unit configured to receive a multipoint transmission corresponding to a set of transmission points. The coordinated transmission receiver also includes a processing unit configured to process the multipoint transmission from the set of transmission points. | 07-04-2013 |
20130223457 | Multi-Length Cyclic Prefix for OFDM Transmission in PLC Channels - Embodiments of the invention provide multiple cyclic prefix lengths for either both the data-payload and frame control header or only the data payload. Frame control header (FCH) and data symbols have an associated cyclic prefix. A table is transmitted in the FCH symbols, which includes a cyclic prefix field to identify the cyclic prefix length used in the data payload. A receiver may know the cyclic prefix length used in the FCH symbols in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the receiver does not know the FCH cyclic prefix length and, therefore, attempts to decode the FCH symbols using different possible cyclic prefix lengths until the FCH symbols are successfully decoded. | 08-29-2013 |
20130290765 | CHARGING A PROVIDER/CONSUMER WITH A DEAD BATTERY VIA USB POWER DELIVERY - A method and apparatus are provided. The VBUS conductor is checked to determine whether the voltage on the VBUS conductor is greater than a vSafe0V voltage within a dead battery detect time interval, and the device policy manager is instructed to apply a vSafeDB voltage to the VBUS conductor if the voltage on the VBUS conductor is greater than the vSafe0V voltage. The policy engine waits for a bit stream to be detected within a bit stream detect timer interval. If the bit stream is not detected within the bit stream detect timer interval, then the device policy manager is instructed to apply the vSafe0V voltage to the VBUS conductor. The device policy manager is instructed to apply a vSafe5V voltage to the VBUS conductor if the bit stream is detected, and the policy engine waits for the bit stream to stop within a device ready timer interval. If the bit stream has stopped within the device ready timer interval, then the policy engine sends capabilities as a source port. | 10-31-2013 |
20140016675 | INVERTED SPREADING DSSS FOR SMART UTILLITY NETWORKS - A method of operating a transmitter (FIGS. | 01-16-2014 |
20140146900 | Building, Transmitting, and Receiving Frame Structures in Power Line Communications - Systems and methods for building, transmitting, and receiving frame structures in power line communications (PLC) are described. Various techniques described herein provide a preamble design using one or more symbols based on a chirp signal that yields a low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). According to some techniques, the preamble may be constructed with one or more different types and/or number of symbols configured to identify a PLC domain operating in close physical proximity to another PLC domain. According to other techniques, one or more preamble symbols may be interspersed within a header portion of a PLC frame to facilitate estimation of a frame boundary and/or sampling frequency offset, for example, in the presence of impulsive noise. According to yet other techniques, a PLC detector may be capable of receiving and decoding two or more types of PLC frames (e.g., using different PLC standards). | 05-29-2014 |
20140355474 | Channel Selection in Power Line Communications - A power line communication (PLC) device comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to cause the PLC device perform operations. One or more time slots are sequentially scan in each of a plurality of frequency bands. A packet transmitted by a second PLC device to the PLC device over one of the plurality of frequency bands is detected. Additional packets received from the second PLC device across the plurality of frequency bands based, at least in part, upon the detected packet are synchronized. The additional packets are organized in a plurality of frames, each of the plurality of frames having been transmitted by the second PLC device to the PLC device over a respective one of the plurality of frequency bands. Each frame has a plurality of time slots, and each time slot has a pair of beacon and bandscan packets, Each bandscan packet includes information indicating a frequency band distinct from any of the plurality of different frequency bands to be used by the second PLC device to communicate with the first PLC device in a direction from the second PLC device to the first PLC device. | 12-04-2014 |
20140362818 | BACKWARD COMPATIBLE BANDWIDTH EXTENSION - A transmitter includes a bandwidth configuration unit configured to provide an increased system bandwidth corresponding to a bandwidth extension over multiple component carriers Additionally, the transmitter also includes a transmit unit configured to employ the bandwidth extension. | 12-11-2014 |
20150040671 | STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method includes: transmitting, via a signal generator, an electrical driving signal, the electrical driving signal having a mean square error; transmitting, via a wave generating component, a Lamb wave, the Lamb wave having many different modes; estimating, via an estimating component, a propagation parameter associated with the Lamb wave; and estimating, via an estimating component, a thickness of a material. | 02-12-2015 |
20150063285 | Non-Beacon Network Communications Using Frequency Subbands - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing non-beacon network communications using frequency subbands are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include transmitting a beacon request message over a given one of a plurality of frequency subbands, receiving a plurality of beacons in response to having transmitted the beacon request message, each of the plurality of beacons received over a respective one of the plurality of frequency subbands, and calculating a downlink quality report based, at least in part, upon the received beacons. The method may also include transmitting the downlink quality report over each of the plurality of frequency subbands and receiving a subband allocation command in response to having transmitted the downlink quality report, the subband allocation command indicating a downlink subband assignment and an uplink subband assignment. | 03-05-2015 |
20150071077 | FLOW CONTROL FOR POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS - A method of powerline communications in a powerline communications (PLC) network including a first PLC device and at least a second PLC device. The first PLC device transmits a data frame to the second node over a PLC channel. The second PLC device has a data buffer for storing received information. The second PLC device runs a flow control algorithm which determines a current congestion condition or a projected congestion condition of the data buffer based on at least one congestion parameter. The current congestion condition and projected congestion condition include nearly congested and fully congested. When the current or projected congestion condition is either nearly congested or fully congested, the second PLC device transmits a BUSY including frame over the PLC channel to at least the first PLC device. The first PLC device defers transmitting of any frames to the second PLC device for a congestion clearing wait time. | 03-12-2015 |
20150085881 | DATA FRAME FOR PLC HAVING DESTINATION ADDRESS IN THE PHY HEADER - A physical layer (PHY) data frame for use in conjunction with processor in a node, processor coupled to a program memory for storing a sequence of operating instructions. The frame has a preamble, PHY header, a MAC header and a MAC payload. The PHY header includes a destination address field having a destination address therein. The destination address is used by the processor to determine match with the node address. | 03-26-2015 |
20150085883 | Hybrid Communication Networks - Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing hybrid communication networks are described. In various embodiments, these systems and methods may be applicable to power line communications (PLC). For example, one or more of the techniques disclosed herein may include methods to coordinate medium-to-low voltage (MV-LV) and low-to-low voltage (LV-LV) PLC networks when the MV-LV network operates in a frequency subband mode and the LV-LV network operates in wideband mode (i.e., hybrid communications). In some cases, MV routers and LV routers may have different profiles. For instance, MV-LV communications may be performed using MAC superframe structures, and first-level LV to lower-level LV communications may take place using a beacon mode. Lower layer LV nodes may communicate using non-beacon modes. Also, initial scanning procedures may encourage first-to-second-level LV device communications rather than MV-to-first-level LV connections. | 03-26-2015 |