Video transmission and control system utilizing internal telephone lines

• US 20050117720A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1989
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Access Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: David D. Goodman, Robert H. Domnitz
• Inventors: Goodman, David D., Domnitz, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,224,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/90.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/81 combined with telephone network over which the broadcast is continuously available
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A video transmission system for facilitating transmission of video and control signals, particularly infrared remote control signals, between different locations in a residence using existing telephone wiring. Simultaneous transmission of signals of both types over active telephone lines is possible without interference with telephone communications. Transmission succeeds without requiring special treatement of the video signals beyond RF conversion, despite signal attenuation inherent in transmission over the telephone line media. Two or more video sources may be tied into the system, and selected as desired. Remote control signals generated in one room may be utilized without requiring a clear line of sight between the remote control device and the receiver.

Claims

1. A system for communicating information over a conductive path comprising:

a transceiver operable to;

receive a first information set from an information source and transmit a first signal that encodes the first information set; and

receive a second signal and substantially recover a second information set from the second signal;

and wherein;

the power spectrum of the first signal is substantially confined within a plurality of frequency bands, wherein the frequency bands of the plurality of frequency bands are non-overlapping frequency bands;

at least part of the first information set is substantially recoverable from the portion of the first signal in any one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

a first frequency band extends between a lowest frequency in the plurality of frequency bands and a highest frequency in the plurality of frequency bands;

the power spectrum of the second signal is substantially confined within a second frequency band; and

wherein the first signal and the second signal are electrical signals; and

wherein the conductive path is a two-wire conductive path.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to allow passage of the first signal.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to allow passage of the second signal.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to block, from the transceiver, voiceband signals on the conductive path.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to present a high impedance to voiceband signals on the conductive path to substantially prevent attenuation of voiceband signals on the conductive path.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first information set is substantially recoverable from any portion of the first signal that is created by excluding the part of the first signal that is within any one of the frequency bands in the plurality of frequency bands.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein a lowest frequency of the second frequency band is above voiceband frequencies and below a lowest frequency of the first frequency band, and a highest frequency of the second frequency band is below a highest frequency of the first frequency band.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a lowest frequency of the first frequency band is above voiceband frequencies and below a lowest frequency of the second frequency band, and a highest frequency of the first frequency band is below a highest frequency of the second frequency band.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal is created by encoding a non-empty subset of the first information set in each frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

10. A system for communicating information over a conductive path comprising:

a transceiver operable to;

receive a first signal that encodes a first information set from a source of information;

substantially recover the first information set from the first signal; and

receive a second information set and transmit a second signal that encodes the second information set; and

wherein;

the power spectrum of the first signal is substantially confined within a plurality of frequency bands, wherein the frequency bands of the plurality of frequency bands are non-overlapping frequency bands;

at least part of the first information set is substantially recoverable from the portion of the first signal in any one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

a first frequency band extends between a lowest frequency in the plurality of frequency bands and a highest frequency in the plurality of frequency bands;

the power spectrum of the second signal is substantially confined within a second frequency band; and

wherein the first signal and the second signal are electrical signals; and

wherein the conductive path is a two-wire conductive path.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to allow passage of the first signal.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to allow passage of the second signal.

13. The system of claim 10 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to block, from the transceiver, voiceband signals on the conductive path.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising a high pass filter coupling the transceiver to the conductive path, the high pass filter operable to present a high impedance to voiceband signals conducted on the path to substantially prevent attenuation of voiceband signals on the path

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the first information set is substantially recoverable from any portion of the first signal that is created by excluding the part of the first signal that is within any one of the frequency bands in the plurality of frequency bands.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein a lowest frequency of the second frequency band is above voiceband frequencies and below a lowest frequency of the first frequency band, and a highest frequency of the second frequency band is below a highest frequency of the first frequency band.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein a lowest frequency of the first frequency band is above voiceband frequencies and below a lowest frequency of the second frequency band, and a highest frequency of the first frequency band is below a highest frequency of the second frequency band.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the first signal is created by encoding a non-empty subset of the first information set in each frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.