Network device for handling digital data over a TV channel

• US 5,946,048 A
• Filed: 03/12/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hybrid Patents Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hybrid Networks, Inc. (Iowave, Inc.)
• Inventors: Levan, William C
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/820,348
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 348/473, 348/476, 348/429, 348/475, 348/484, 348/486, 348/436, 348/432, 348/724, 348/726, 370/11
• US Class Current: 348/473
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/027 extracting the synchronising or clock signal from the received signal spectrum, e.g. by using a resonant or bandpass circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/455 Demodulation-circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/035 Circuits for the digital non-picture data signal, e.g. for slicing of the data signal, for regeneration of the data-clock signal, for error detection or correction of the data signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0803 using frequency interleaving, e.g. with precision offset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/081 the additional information signals being transmitted by means of a subcarrier

Abstract

A network terminal device utilizes a unique modulation scheme that enables the transmission of digital data over a wireless, cable or direct broadcast satellite TV channel without disturbing quality of television signals. A digital data stream of the network, for example, is transparently transmitted in the television channel in a superfluous sideband segment of the frequency spectrum using a technique, herein called vestigial quadrature modulation (VQM), that entails substituting the vestigial sideband of a conventional television signal with a sideband of a data-encoded signal, preferably being QAM-modulated. A sufficient portion of the television sideband spectrum displaced by the substituted data signal, e.g., to at least the 7^th harmonic, is preserved for deriving sync information that is used both for clocking the digital data from the modulated data signal and for driving vertical and horizontal sync circuits of the television. A receiver in a network terminal device utilizes an interface that includes a channel splitter and SAW filters in each of respective data and video channels for separately processing the video and digital data signals. The sync signal clocks data from the data channel and an integer multiple thereof drives the horizontal sync circuits of a television set.

Claims

1. A method of receiving digital data from a television signal that has been modified to carry digital data along with a conventional composite video signal, said method comprising:

regenerating a signal that carries digital data in a first portion of a vestigial sideband,

extracting synchronizing signals from a second portion of said vestigial sideband,

utilizing said extracted synchronizing signal to clock said digital data from said television signal,

providing said extracted synchronizing signal for producing horizontal and vertical sync signals for said composite video signal, and

detecting a video signal carried in said television signal that is phase-shifted from the carrier of said modulated data signal.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said video signal and modulated data signal are phase-shifted by 90 degrees.

3. A terminal device for communicating with a digital data network, said terminal including a wireless interface that receives digital data transmitted over a television channel wherein said interface includes a receiver that receives a modified television signal including both a video signal and a modulated data signal, a channel divider that separates the video and modulated data signals into respective video and data channels, a sync detector that extracts a sync signal from at least one of said channels, and a data channel demodulator that demodulates said modulated data signal and supplies digital data to said network terminal in accordance with said sync signal,

wherein said data channel includes a data channel SAW filter for bandpassing a sideband carrying said modulated data signal and said data channel demodulator includes a two-dimensional demodulator for demodulating a signal modulated by two of amplitude, phase and frequency,

wherein said data channel demodulator comprises a QAM demodulator, and

wherein said video channel also includes a video channel SAW filter for bandpassing a sideband of said television signal carrying said video signal and a phase-shifter that phase-shifts the output of said data channel SAW filter relative to the output of said video channel SAW filter.

4. A data processing device including an interface for receiving digital data transparently transmitted over a television channel, said interface including a tuner for receiving a modified television signal that includes a digital data signal and a television signal, a circuit connected with said tuner that regenerates a signal that carries digital data in a first portion of a vestigial sideband, that extracts synchronizing signals from a second portion of said vestigial sideband, that utilizes said extracted synchronizing signal to clock said digital data, and that supplies said clocked digital data signal to said data processing device,

wherein said modified television signal is transmitted in one of a cable television network, an over-the-air wireless network and direct broadcast satellite network,

wherein said circuit includes a data channel SAW filter for bandpassing a sideband carrying said modulated data signal and a two-dimensional demodulator for demodulating a signal modulated by two of amplitude, phase and frequency,

wherein said circuit includes a QAM demodulator, and wherein said circuit also includes a video SAW filter for bandpassing a sideband of said modified television signal and a phase-shifter that phase-shifts the output of said data channel SAW filter relative to the output of said video SAW filter.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said circuit further provides vertical and horizontal sync signals for displaying a composite video signal in a television.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein said circuit provides a sync signal for said data channel that is an integer divisor of said horizontal sync signal.