System for controlling signal level at both ends of a transmission link based on a detected valve
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
- control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level;
said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level;
said first and second signal level changing means respectively comprising first and second outputs and means for changing the level of the transmit signal present at said first and second outputs; and
said control means comprising means for controlling said first and second signal level changing means so that;
the transmit signal level is decreased at the first output and increased at the second output when the detected transmit signal level increases, andthe transmit signal level is increased at the first output and decreased at the second output when the detected transmit signal level decreases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a dynamic range enhancing system for increasing the dynamic range of a transmission link, and also to a process for increasing the dynamic range of a transmission link. An instruction setting process is also provided for defining a set of instructions, for a control device of the system, which detects, at an initial position along the transmission link, the level of a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over the transmission link. The control device controls a first signal level changing device and a second signal level changing device in response to the detected level. The first and second signal level changing devices, respectively, process the transmit signal level before and after transmission over the link.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said first and second signal level changing means respectively comprising first and second outputs and means for changing the level of the transmit signal present at said first and second outputs; and said control means comprising means for controlling said first and second signal level changing means so that; the transmit signal level is decreased at the first output and increased at the second output when the detected transmit signal level increases, and the transmit signal level is increased at the first output and decreased at the second output when the detected transmit signal level decreases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19)
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16. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said first and second signal level changing means respectively comprising first and second outputs and means for changing the level of the transmit signal present at said first and second outputs; and said first and second signal level changing means each comprising means for changing the level of the transmit signal, at said first and second outputs, within defined signal level changing ranges and respective means for setting said first and second signal level changing means to be at an end of said defined signal level changing ranges, whereby each of said first and second signal level changing means increases or decreases the level of the transmit signal at respective first and second outputs by a maximum change in value when set at an end of said defined signal level changing range. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said control means comprising means for producing first and second control signals to respectively control said first and second signal level changing means; said system further comprising a modulator for modulating said second control signal to produce a modulated version of said second control signal and a demodulator for demodulating said modulated version of said second control signal to produce a demodulated version of said second control signal, said demodulator further comprising bias control means for performing an operation on said demodulated version of said second control signal and, based on said operation, outputting a bias control signal which is proportional to said detected level of said transmit signal. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said control means comprising means for producing first and second control signals to respectively control said first and second signal level changing means; said system further comprising a modulator for modulating said second control signal to produce a modulated version of said second control signal and a demodulator for demodulating said modulated version of said second control signal to produce a demodulated version of said second control signal, said demodulator further comprising bias control means for determining if said demodulated version of said second control signal is below or above a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said control means comprising means for producing first and second control signals to respectively control said first and second signal level changing means;
said control means further comprising means, including a variable attenuator, for remotely verifying the proper operation of the system and determining the dynamic range of the system.
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36. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said control means comprising means for producing first and second control signals to respectively control said first and second signal level changing means;
said second control signal which is transmitted over said transmission link comprising a PM/PSK modulated control signal.
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37. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said control means comprising means for producing first and second control signals to respectively control said first and second signal level changing means, said second control signal which is transmitted over said transmission link comprising an AM/ASK modulated control signal.
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38. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level, said transmit signal being an RF signal and comprising a variable number of input signals.
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39. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said control means comprising means for controlling said first and second signal level changing means in order to enhance a usable RF input signal level range of the transmission link.
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40. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; and said control means comprising means for measuring the instantaneous composite power level of said transmit signal before transmission over said transmission link. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level, said control means comprising means for measuring the total average RF signal level of said transmit signal before transmission over said transmission link.
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43. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level, said control means comprising means for approximating the number of high level signals present in said transmit signal and measuring the resulting second-order intermodulating products.
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44. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level, said first signal level changing means comprising a variable attenuator.
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45. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level;
said second signal level changing means comprising a variable attenuator.
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46. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said system further comprising a tandem combination of at least one amplifier and at least one attenuator coupled to a first input location of said transmission link, said tandem combination comprising said first signal level changing means. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48)
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49. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; said system further comprising a downward frequency converter for converting said transmit signal to a lower frequency before transmission over said link. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system for controlling the amount of noise introduced into a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over a transmission link within a communication path, the transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said system comprising:
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control means for detecting, at an initial position along the communication path, the level of the transmit signal, and for controlling first signal level changing means and second signal level changing means in response to the detected level; said first signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal before transmission over said link, and said second signal level changing means comprising means for changing the level of said transmit signal after transmission over said link, said control means controlling said first and second signal level changing means to change the level of said transmit signal in a coordinated fashion based on the detected level; and said control means being connected directly to said first and second signal level changing means.
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56. A process for increasing the dynamic range of a transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said process comprising:
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detecting the level of a transmit signal adapted to be transmitted over said transmission link; based on said detected level of said transmit signal and within parameters set forth by a set of control instructions, modifying said transmit signal at the first and second locations; creating a table of values having a plurality of signal level codes representing the detected level of said transmit signal, said table also having a plurality of signal level modification codes, respectively corresponding to said signal level codes; and defining said set of control instructions to set forth certain parameters, said set of control instructions being established as a function of said detected level of said transmit signal. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A process for increasing the dynamic range of a transmission link extending from a first location to a second location remote from the first location, said process comprising:
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monitoring, at an initial position along said transmission link, the level of a transmit signal which is adapted to be transmitted over said transmission link, and based upon said monitored level, independently controlling the level of said transmit signal at a first location before the transmission link and at a second location after the transmission link; and decreasing the level of the transmit signal at said first location by an amount approximately equal to the amount by which said monitored level exceeds a threshold value, when said monitored level is above said threshold vale. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
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Specification