U.S. patent application number 12/091518 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for method and apparatus for command processing in wireless communication systems.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUALCOMM INCORPORATED. Invention is credited to Rajat Prakash.
Application Number | 20090303890 12/091518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37716007 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090303890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prakash; Rajat |
December 10, 2009 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMMAND PROCESSING IN WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Abstract
A method and apparatus for command processing in a wireless
communication system, comprising receiving Activate or Deactivate
commands, determining commands and determining state of the access
terminal.
Inventors: |
Prakash; Rajat; (San Diego,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TUROCY & WATSON, LLP
127 Public Square, 57th Floor, Key Tower
Cleveland
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
San Diego
CA
|
Family ID: |
37716007 |
Appl. No.: |
12/091518 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
October 27, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US06/41870 |
371 Date: |
October 14, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60731126 |
Oct 27, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02D 30/32 20180101;
Y02D 70/162 20180101; H04L 1/0675 20130101; Y02D 70/1242 20180101;
Y02D 70/144 20180101; H04B 17/318 20150115; H04L 41/0869 20130101;
Y02D 70/142 20180101; Y02D 70/146 20180101; Y02D 30/70 20200801;
H04L 41/0803 20130101; H04L 1/0026 20130101; H04W 88/02 20130101;
Y02D 30/00 20180101; Y02D 70/1224 20180101; H04L 1/0003 20130101;
H04W 24/10 20130101; H04B 17/382 20150115; H04L 27/2647 20130101;
H04L 1/0028 20130101; H04W 52/0235 20130101; H04L 41/083
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/252 |
International
Class: |
H04J 1/16 20060101
H04J001/16 |
Claims
1. A method of command processing of Overhead Message Protocol, the
method characterized in that: monitoring whether Activate or
Deactivate commands are received; determining which of the commands
is received; and determining a state of the access terminal based
upon the command determined.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that,
transitioning to the Active State if the Overhead Message Protocol
receives an Activate command in the Inactive State, or ignoring the
command if the Overhead Message Protocol receives an Activate
command in Active State.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that,
transitioning to the Inactive State if Overhead Message Protocol
received the Deactivate command in the Active State; or ignoring
the command if the Overhead Message Protocol receives the
Deactivate command in an Inactive State.
4. A computer-readable medium including instructions stored
thereon, characterized in that: a set of instructions for
monitoring whether Activate or Deactivate commands are received; a
set of instructions for determining which of the commands is
received; and a set of instructions for determining a state of an
access terminal.
5. An apparatus operable in a wireless communication system, the
apparatus characterized in that: means for monitoring whether
Activate or Deactivate commands are received; means for determining
which of the commands is received; and means for determining a
state of the access terminal based upon the command determined.
6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that means
for transitioning to the Active State if the Overhead Message
Protocol receives an Activate command in the Inactive State, or
ignoring the command if Overhead Message Protocol receives an
Activate command in Active State.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that means
for transitioning to the Inactive State if Overhead Message
Protocol received the Deactivate command in the Active State; or
ignoring the command if Overhead Message Protocol receives the
Deactivate command in an Inactive State.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119
[0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/731,126 entitled "METHODS AND
APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING MOBILE BROADBAND WIRELESS LOWER MAC", filed
Oct. 27, 2005, assigned to the assignee hereof, and expressly
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless
communications, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for
Command Processing.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] Wireless communication systems have become a prevalent means
by which a majority of people worldwide have come to communicate.
Wireless communication devices have become smaller and more
powerful in order to meet consumer needs and to improve portability
and convenience. The increase in processing power in mobile devices
such as cellular telephones has lead to an increase in demands on
wireless network transmission systems. Such systems typically are
not as easily updated as the cellular devices that communicate
there over. As mobile device capabilities expand, it can be
difficult to maintain an older wireless network system in a manner
that facilitates fully exploiting new and improved wireless device
capabilities.
[0006] Wireless communication systems generally utilize different
approaches to generate transmission resources in the form of
channels. These systems may be code division multiplexing (CDM)
systems, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) systems, and time
division multiplexing (TDM) systems. One commonly utilized variant
of FDM is orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) that
effectively partitions the overall system bandwidth into multiple
orthogonal subcarriers. These subcarriers may also be referred to
as tones, bins, and frequency channels. Each subcarrier can be
modulated with data. With time division based techniques, a each
subcarrier can comprise a portion of sequential time slices or time
slots. Each user may be provided with a one or more time slot and
subcarrier combinations for transmitting and receiving information
in a defined burst period or frame. The hopping schemes may
generally be a symbol rate hopping scheme or a block hopping
scheme.
[0007] Code division based techniques typically transmit data over
a number of frequencies available at any time in a range. In
general, data is digitized and spread over available bandwidth,
wherein multiple users can be overlaid on the channel and
respective users can be assigned a unique sequence code. Users can
transmit in the same wide-band chunk of spectrum, wherein each
user's signal is spread over the entire bandwidth by its respective
unique spreading code. This technique can provide for sharing,
wherein one or more users can concurrently transmit and receive.
Such sharing can be achieved through spread spectrum digital
modulation, wherein a user's stream of bits is encoded and spread
across a very wide channel in a pseudo-random fashion. The receiver
is designed to recognize the associated unique sequence code and
undo the randomization in order to collect the bits for a
particular user in a coherent manner.
[0008] A typical wireless communication network (e.g., employing
frequency, time, and/or code division techniques) includes one or
more base stations that provide a coverage area and one or more
mobile (e.g., wireless) terminals that can transmit and receive
data within the coverage area. A typical base station can
simultaneously transmit multiple data streams for broadcast,
multicast, and/or unicast services, wherein a data stream is a
stream of data that can be of independent reception interest to a
mobile terminal. A mobile terminal within the coverage area of that
base station can be interested in receiving one, more than one or
all the data streams transmitted from the base station. Likewise, a
mobile terminal can transmit data to the base station or another
mobile terminal. In these systems the bandwidth and other system
resources are assigned utilizing a scheduler.
[0009] The signals, signal formats, signal exchanges, methods,
processes, and techniques disclosed herein provide several
advantages over known approaches. These include, for example,
reduced signaling overhead, improved system throughput, increased
signaling flexibility, reduced information processing, reduced
transmission bandwidth, reduced bit processing, increased
robustness, improved efficiency, and reduced transmission
power.
SUMMARY
[0010] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more
embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of such
embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all
contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key
or critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of
any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some
concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a
prelude to the more detailed description that is presented
later.
[0011] According to an embodiment, a method of command processing
of Overhead Message Protocol is provided, the method comprising
receiving commands, determining commands and determining state of
the access terminal.
[0012] According to another embodiment, a computer-readable medium
is described which comprises a first set of instructions for
receiving commands, a second set of instructions for determining
commands and a third set of instructions for determining state of
the access terminal.
[0013] According to yet another embodiment, an apparatus operable
in a wireless communication system is described which includes
means for receiving Activate or Deactivate commands, means for
determining commands and means for determining state of the access
terminal.
[0014] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
one or more embodiments comprise the features hereinafter fully
described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following
description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain
illustrative embodiments of the one or more embodiments. These
embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various
ways in which the principles of various embodiments may be employed
and the described embodiments are intended to include all such
embodiments and their equivalents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates embodiments of a multiple access wireless
communication system;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates embodiments of a transmitter and receiver
in a multiple access wireless communication system;
[0017] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate embodiments of superframe
structures for a multiple access wireless communication system;
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates embodiment of the communication between
an access terminal and access network;
[0019] FIG. 5A illustrates a flow diagram of a process used by
access terminal; and
[0020] FIG. 5B illustrates a module for the process of Command
Processing of Overhead Messages Protocol.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Various embodiments are now described with reference to the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like
elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of one or more embodiments. It may
be evident, however, that such embodiment(s) may be practiced
without these specific details. In other instances, well-known
structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to
facilitate describing one or more embodiments.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, a multiple access wireless
communication system according to one embodiment is illustrated. A
multiple access wireless communication system 100 includes multiple
cells, e.g. cells 102, 104, and 106. In the embodiment of FIG. 1,
each cell 102, 104, and 106 may include an access network 150 that
includes multiple sectors. The multiple sectors are formed by
groups of antennas each responsible for communication with access
terminals in a portion of the cell. In cell 102, antenna groups
112, 114, and 116 each correspond to a different sector. In cell
104, antenna groups 118, 120, and 122 each correspond to a
different sector. In cell 106, antenna groups 124, 126, and 128
each correspond to a different sector.
[0023] Each cell includes several access terminals which are in
communication with one or more sectors of each access network. For
example, access terminals 130 and 132 are in communication base
142, access terminals 134 and 136 are in communication with access
network 144, and access terminals 138 and 140 are in communication
with access network 146.
[0024] Controller 130 is coupled to each of the cells 102, 104, and
106. Controller 130 may contain one or more connections to multiple
networks, e.g. the Internet, other packet based networks, or
circuit switched voice networks that provide information to, and
from, the access terminals in communication with the cells of the
multiple access wireless communication system 100. The controller
130 includes, or is coupled with, a scheduler that schedules
transmission from and to access terminals. In other embodiments,
the scheduler may reside in each individual cell, each sector of a
cell, or a combination thereof.
[0025] As used herein, an access network may be a fixed station
used for communicating with the terminals and may also be referred
to as, and include some or all the functionality of, a base
station, a Node B, or some other terminology. An access terminal
may also be referred to as, and include some or all the
functionality of, a user equipment (UE), a wireless communication
device, terminal, a mobile station or some other terminology.
[0026] It should be noted that while FIG. 1, depicts physical
sectors, i.e. having different antenna groups for different
sectors, other approaches may be utilized. For example, utilizing
multiple fixed "beams" that each cover different areas of the cell
in frequency space may be utilized in lieu of, or in combination
with physical sectors. Such an approach is depicted and disclosed
in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/260,895, entitled
"Adaptive Sectorization In Cellular System."
[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an embodiment of a
transmitter system 210 and a receiver system 250 in a MIMO system
200 is illustrated. At transmitter system 210, traffic data for a
number of data streams is provided from a data source 212 to
transmit (TX) data processor 214. In an embodiment, each data
stream is transmitted over a respective transmit antenna. TX data
processor 214 formats, codes, and interleaves the traffic data for
each data stream based on a particular coding scheme selected for
that data stream to provide coded data.
[0028] The coded data for each data stream may be multiplexed with
pilot data using OFDM, or other orthogonalization or
non-orthogonalization techniques. The pilot data is typically a
known data pattern that is processed in a known manner and may be
used at the receiver system to estimate the channel response. The
multiplexed pilot and coded data for each data stream is then
modulated (i.e., symbol mapped) based on one or more particular
modulation schemes (e.g., BPSK, QSPK, M-PSK, or M-QAM) selected for
that data stream to provide modulation symbols. The data rate,
coding, and modulation for each data stream may be determined by
instructions performed on provided by processor 230.
[0029] The modulation symbols for all data streams are then
provided to a TX processor 220, which may further process the
modulation symbols (e.g., for OFDM). TX processor 220 then provides
NT modulation symbol streams to NT transmitters (TMTR) 222a through
222t. Each transmitter 222 receives and processes a respective
symbol stream to provide one or more analog signals, and further
conditions (e.g., amplifies, filters, and upconverts) the analog
signals to provide a modulated signal suitable for transmission
over the MIMO channel. N.sub.T modulated signals from transmitters
222a through 222t are then transmitted from N.sub.T antennas 224a
through 224t, respectively.
[0030] At receiver system 250, the transmitted modulated signals
are received by N.sub.R antennas 252a through 252r and the received
signal from each antenna 252 is provided to a respective receiver
(RCVR) 254. Each receiver 254 conditions (e.g., filters, amplifies,
and downconverts) a respective received signal, digitizes the
conditioned signal to provide samples, and further processes the
samples to provide a corresponding "received" symbol stream.
[0031] An RX data processor 260 then receives and processes the
N.sub.R received symbol streams from N.sub.R receivers 254 based on
a particular receiver processing technique to provide N.sub.T
"detected" symbol streams. The processing by RX data processor 260
is described in further detail below. Each detected symbol stream
includes symbols that are estimates of the modulation symbols
transmitted for the corresponding data stream. RX data processor
260 then demodulates, deinterleaves, and decodes each detected
symbol stream to recover the traffic data for the data stream. The
processing by RX data processor 218 is complementary to that
performed by TX processor 220 and TX data processor 214 at
transmitter system 210.
[0032] RX data processor 260 may be limited in the number of
subcarriers that it may simultaneously demodulate, e.g. 512
subcarriers or 5 MHz, and such a receiver should be scheduled on a
single carrier. This limitation may be a function of its FFT range,
e.g. sample rates at which the processor 260 may operate, the
memory available for FFT, or other functions available for
demodulation. Further, the greater the number of subcarriers
utilized, the greater the expense of the access terminal.
[0033] The channel response estimate generated by RX processor 260
may be used to perform space, space/time processing at the
receiver, adjust power levels, change modulation rates or schemes,
or other actions. RX processor 260 may further estimate the
signal-to-noise-and-interference ratios (SNRS) of the detected
symbol streams, and possibly other channel characteristics, and
provides these quantities to a processor 270. RX data processor 260
or processor 270 may further derive an estimate of the "operating"
SNR for the system. Processor 270 then provides channel state
information (CSI), which may comprise various types of information
regarding the communication link and/or the received data stream.
For example, the CSI may comprise only the operating SNR. In other
embodiments, the CSI may comprise a channel quality indicator
(CQI), which may be a numerical value indicative of one or more
channel conditions. The CSI is then processed by a TX data
processor 278, modulated by a modulator 280, conditioned by
transmitters 254a through 254r, and transmitted back to transmitter
system 210.
[0034] At transmitter system 210, the modulated signals from
receiver system 250 are received by antennas 224, conditioned by
receivers 222, demodulated by a demodulator 240, and processed by a
RX data processor 242 to recover the CSI reported by the receiver
system. The reported CSI is then provided to processor 230 and used
to (1) determine the data rates and coding and modulation schemes
to be used for the data streams and (2) generate various controls
for TX data processor 214 and TX processor 220. Alternatively, the
CSI may be utilized by processor 270 to determine modulation
schemes and/or coding rates for transmission, along with other
information. This may then be provided to the transmitter which
uses this information, which may be quantized, to provide later
transmissions to the receiver.
[0035] Processors 230 and 270 direct the operation at the
transmitter and receiver systems, respectively. Memories 232 and
272 provide storage for program codes and data used by processors
230 and 270, respectively.
[0036] At the receiver, various processing techniques may be used
to process the N.sub.R received signals to detect the N.sub.T
transmitted symbol streams. These receiver processing techniques
may be grouped into two primary categories (i) spatial and
space-time receiver processing techniques (which are also referred
to as equalization techniques); and (ii) "successive
nulling/equalization and interference cancellation" receiver
processing technique (which is also referred to as "successive
interference cancellation" or "successive cancellation" receiver
processing technique).
[0037] While FIG. 2 discusses a MIMO system, the same system may be
applied to a multi-input single-output system where multiple
transmit antennas, e.g. those on a base station, transmit one or
more symbol streams to a single antenna device, e.g. a mobile
station. Also, a single output to single input antenna system may
be utilized in the same manner as described with respect to FIG.
2.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, embodiments of superframe
structures for a multiple access wireless communication system are
illustrated. FIG. 3A illustrates embodiments of superframe
structures for a frequency division duplexed (FDD) multiple access
wireless communication system, while FIG. 3B illustrates
embodiments of superframe structures for a time division duplexed
(TDD) multiple access wireless communication system. The superframe
preamble may be transmitted separately for each carrier or may span
all of the carriers of the sector.
[0039] In both FIGS. 3A and 3B, the forward link transmission is
divided into units of superframes. A superframe may consist of a
superframe preamble followed by a series of frames. In an FDD
system, the reverse link and the forward link transmission may
occupy different frequency bandwidths so that transmissions on the
links do not, or for the most part do not, overlap on any frequency
subcarriers. In a TDD system, N forward link frames and M reverse
link frames define the number of sequential forward link and
reverse link frames that may be continuously transmitted prior to
allowing transmission of the opposite type of frame. It should be
noted that the number of N and M may be vary within a given
superframe or between superframes.
[0040] In both FDD and TDD systems each superframe may comprise a
superframe preamble. In certain embodiments, the superframe
preamble includes a pilot channel that includes pilots that may be
used for channel estimation by access terminals, a broadcast
channel that includes configuration information that the access
terminal may utilize to demodulate the information contained in the
forward link frame. Further acquisition information such as timing
and other information sufficient for an access terminal to
communicate on one of the carriers and basic power control or
offset information may also be included in the superframe preamble.
In other cases, only some of the above and/or other information may
be included in this superframe preamble.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the superframe preamble is
followed by a sequence of frames. Each frame may consist of a same
or a different number of OFDM symbols, which may constitute a
number of subcarriers that may simultaneously utilized for
transmission over some defined period. Further, each frame may
operate according to a symbol rate hopping mode, where one or more
non-contiguous OFDM symbols are assigned to a user on a forward
link or reverse link, or a block hopping mode, where users hop
within a block of OFDM symbols. The actual blocks or OFDM symbols
may or may not hop between frames.
[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates communication between an access terminal
(for example the transmitter system 250 of FIG. 2) 402 and an
access network (for example the transmitter system 210 of FIG. 2)
404 and the different messages issued by access network 404
according to an embodiment. Using a communication link 406 and
based upon predetermined timing, system conditions, or other
decision criteria, various messages are communicated between the
access terminal 402 and the access network 404 using the
communication link 406. The communication link 406 may be
implemented using communication protocols/standards such as World
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), infrared protocols
such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA), short-range wireless
protocols/technologies, Bluetooth.RTM. technology, ZigBee.RTM.
protocol, ultra wide band (UWB) protocol, home radio frequency
(HomeRF), shared wireless access protocol (SWAP), wideband
technology such as a wireless Ethernet compatibility alliance
(WECA), wireless fidelity alliance (Wi-Fi Alliance), 802.11 network
technology, public switched telephone network technology, public
heterogeneous communications network technology such as the
Internet, private wireless communications network, land mobile
radio network, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code
division multiple access (WCDMA), universal mobile
telecommunications system (UMTS), advanced mobile phone service
(AMPS), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division
multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple
(OFDM), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA),
orthogonal frequency division multiple FLASH (OFDM-FLASH), global
system for mobile communications (GSM), single carrier (1X) radio
transmission technology (RTT), evolution data only (EV-DO)
technology, general packet radio service (GPRS), enhanced data GSM
environment (EDGE), high speed downlink data packet access (HSPDA),
analog and digital satellite systems, and any other
technologies/protocols that may be used in at least one of a
wireless communications network and a data communications
network.
[0043] The protocol of access network 404 is configured to transmit
ActiveSetAssignment message 410 to the access terminal 402 using
the communication link 406. In an embodiment the
ActiveSetAssignment message 410 may be incorporated in a data
packet or may be generated at the access terminal. In another
embodiment the ActiveSetAssignment message 410 may not be
incorporated in a data packet. Various methods may be used to
extract the commands from the forward link. For example, once the
access terminal 402 has extracted a data packet from one of the
channels of the forward link, the access terminal 402 may check the
header information of the data packet to determine if the data
packet comprises the ActiveSetAssignment message 410. If so, then
the access terminal 402 extracts the designated ActiveSetAssignment
message 410 and stores the values in memory (such as memory 272 in
FIG. 2).
[0044] FIG. 5A illustrates a flow diagram of the process 500,
according to an embodiment. At 502, the access terminal (such as
access terminal 402 of FIG. 4) monitors to determine whether
commands are received from the access point (such as access point
404 of FIG. 4) or are generated in response to information
transmitted from the access point. At 504, the access terminal 402
determines whether the command received is an Activate ro
Deactivate command. According to one embodiment, in case of
Activate command, the access terminal 402 determines the state of
the access terminal 402, at 506a. According to yet another
embodiment, if the received command is Activate command and the
access terminal 402 is in Inactivate State, the access terminal 402
transits to Active State, at 508a. According to yet another
embodiment, if, however, Activate command is received in Active
State, the access terminal shall ignore the Activate command, at
510a. In yet another embodiment, if the received command is
Deactivate command and the access terminal 402 is in Active State,
the access terminal 402 will transit to Inactive State, at 508b. In
yet another embodiment, if, however, Inactivate command is received
by the access terminal 402 in Inactivate state, the access terminal
402 shall ignore the Inactivate command at 510b. Determining a
state of the access terminal based upon the command determined,
increases access terminal's efficiency such that one or more of the
embodiments need not occur.
[0045] FIG. 5B illustrates a processor 550 for processing Command
Processing of Overhead Messages Protocol . . . The processor
referred to may be electronic devices and may comprise one or more
processors configured to receive the block. A processor 552 is
configured to receive commands from the access network (such as
access network 404 of FIG. 4)._A processor 554 is configured to
determine the command received as Activate or Deactivate command.
According to one embodiment, in case of Activate command, a
processor 556 is configured to determine a State. According to
another embodiment, if the received command is Activate command and
the processor is in Inactivate State, a processor 558a transits to
Active state. In yet another embodiment if, however, Activate
command is received in Active State, a processor 560a is configured
to ignore the Activate command. According to yet another
embodiment, if the received command is Deactivate command and a
processor 558b is in Active State, the processor is configured to
transit to Inactive State. According to yet another embodiment, if
Inactivate command is received in Inactivate state, a processor
560b is configure to ignore the Inactivate command at 560b.
Determining a state based upon the command determined increases the
processing efficiency such that one or more of the embodiments may
not occur. The functionality of the discrete processors 552 to 560b
depicted in the figure may be combined into a single processor 562.
A memory 564 is also coupled to the processor 562.
[0046] In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises means for
monitoring to determine whether commands are received, determining
whether the command is Activate or Deactivate command and for
determining the state of access terminal. The apparatus also
comprising means for transition from one state to another. The
apparatus having means for transition from Active State to Inactive
state and from Inactive State to Active State. The apparatus also
comprising means for ignoring the received Activate and Deactivate
commands. The means described herein may comprise one or more
processors.
[0047] Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware,
software, firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination
thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware or
microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the
necessary tasks may be stored in a machine readable medium such as
a separate storage(s) not shown. A processor may perform the
necessary tasks. A code segment may represent a procedure, a
function, a subprogram, a program, a routine, a subroutine, a
module, a software package, a class, or any combination of
instructions, data structures, or program statements. A code
segment may be coupled to another code segment or a hardware
circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments,
parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters,
data, etc. may be passed, forwarded, or transmitted via any
suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token
passing, network transmission, etc.
[0048] Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles
defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the
description is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown
herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the
principles and novel features disclosed herein.
* * * * *