Method and apparatus for time dependent data transmission

• US 5,696,790 A
• Filed: 10/04/1995
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tut Systems, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Mark, Braun, Kevin, Graham, Martin H., Taylor, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US08/538,847
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 375/238, 375/239, 332/109, 332/112, 329/312, 329/313, 340/825.63, 340/825.64, 370/212
• US Class Current: 375/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/025 for functions having two-valued amplitude, e.g. Walsh functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 25/493 by transition coding, i.e. the time-position or direction of a transition being encoded before transmission

Abstract

An encoding and decoding mechanism for communicating digital data where the binary states are represented by a duration of time between transitions of a signal. For instance, the time between zero crossings of a signal are used to represent binary states. These times can be selected so as to avoid ambiguities between the binary state being detected even where the transmission medium is irregular. A typical application is the creation of a LAN in a home using twisted pair telephone lines. The LAN can be made to be transparent and independent of telephone service received over lines shared with the LAN.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data where the data is represented by at least two states comprising the steps of:

providing a first signal having a first duration to represent one of the two states;

providing a second signal having a second duration different than the first duration to represent the other of the two states; and

,

transitioning the signals through a predetermined electrical condition for each transmitted data state without a time delay between the signals;

wherein the first signal has a first amplitude and the second signal has a second amplitude different than the first amplitude and wherein a first product of the first duration and first amplitude approximately equals a second product of the second duration and second amplitude.

2. The method defined by claim 1 wherein the transitioning step comprises changing the signal from one polarity to another polarity.

3. The methods defined by claims 1 or 2 wherein the first duration and second duration are pseudorandomly dithered.

4. A method for transmitting data where the data is represented by at least two states comprising the steps of:

providing a first signal having a first duration to represent one of the two states;

providing a second signal having a second duration different than the first duration to represent the other of the two states; and

,

transitioning the signals through a predetermined electrical condition for each transmitted data state without a time delay between the signal wherein the first duration and second duration are pseudorandomly dithered.

5. A method for detecting data where the data is represented by at least two states comprising the steps of:

recognizing one of the two states from a first signal having a first duration;

recognizing the other of the two states from a second signal having a second duration;

detecting a predetermined electrical condition occurring without a time delay between the signals for each transmitted data state; and

wherein the first signal has a first amplitude and the second signal has a second amplitude different than the first amplitude and wherein a first product of the first duration and first amplitude approximately equals a second product of the second duration and second amplitude.

6. A method for transmitting data comprising:

selecting a plurality N of time intervals each different from the other;

selecting a bit packet for each of the N time intervals;

generating a signal which transitions between at least two states with intervals between the transitions being selected from the N time intervals which are pseudorandomly dithered so as to correspond to bit packets which are to be transmitted.