Intelligent adaptive modulation system

• US 6,236,676 B1
• Filed: 04/17/1998
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Beyda, William Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Shuwang
• Application Number:
  US09/062,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 375/222, 375/220, 375/219, 375/223, 375/261, 375/377, 379/93.29, 379/93.31, 379/93.32, 379/93.33, 379/93.34, 379/93.08, 379/100.17
• US Class Current: 375/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors

Abstract

A system and apparatus for enabling modems having incompatible modulation methods to communicate with one another. The adaptive modulation system is adapted to enable a first communications device having a first modulation method to communicate with a second communications device having a second modulation method, even in those instances where the modulation methods are incompatible. The adaptive modulation system includes a communications device having a controller, a data pump and a data access arrangement/coder/decoder. The controller further includes an adaptive modulation unit having a decoder/interpreter, and a programmer. The decoder/interpreter in the adaptive modulation unit in the first communications device receives an incompatible modulation mode algorithm from the second communications device. The programmer receives the decoded modulation algorithm and programs the flash ROM with the new modulation method. A comparator may also be used to determine whether transfer of the algorithm is time efficient.

Claims

1. An adaptive modulation system for communications devices, comprising:

a first communications device having a first modulation unit for storing a first modulation algorithm, said first modulation algorithm including two or more modulation methods;

a second communications device having a second modulation unit for storing a second modulation algorithm, said second algorithm including two or more modulation methods, said first modulation algorithm having at least one modulation method that is incompatible with said modulation methods of said second communications device and also having at least one modulation method that is compatible with at least one of said modulation methods of said second communications device; and

an adaptive modulation unit for enabling said first and second devices to communicate with each other using one of said incompatible modulation methods.

2. The adaptive modulation system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive modulation unit determines which of said communications devices has a better modulation method.

3. The adaptive modulation system of claim 2, wherein said adaptive modulation unit enables said better modulation method algorithm to be sent from one said communications device to the other said communications device.

4. The adaptive modulation system of claim 2, wherein said communications devices are modems.

5. The adaptive modulation system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive modulation unit further includes means for requesting session duration time between said communications devices.

6. The adaptive modulation system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive modulation unit further includes means for requesting session size between said communications devices.

7. The adaptive modulation system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive modulation unit further includes means for providing session duration time between said communications devices.

8. The adaptive modulation system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive modulation unit further includes means for providing session size between said communications devices.

9. The adaptive modulation system of claim 8, further including a comparator for determining whether said incompatible algorithm is smaller in size than said session.

10. The adaptive modulation system of claim 7, further including a comparator for determining whether said incompatible algorithm is smaller in duration than said session duration.

11. The adaptive modulation system of claim 2, further including means responsive to said comparator for determining whether said better modulation method algorithm should to be sent from one said communications device to the other said communications device.

12. In an adaptive modulation system, a method for enabling communications devices having incompatible modulation methods to communicate, comprising:

providing a first communications device having a plurality of modulation modes;

providing a second communications device having a plurality of modulation modes wherein at least one of said plurality of modulations modes is incompatible with at least one of said plurality of modulation modes in said first communications device and at least one of said plurality of modulations modes in said second communications device is compatible with one of said plurality of modulation modes in said first communications device;

establishing a connection between said communications devices using one of said compatible modulation modes;

transferring one or more said incompatible modulation modes from said first communications device to said second communications device; and

establishing modulation between said communications devices using said incompatible modulation mode.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of determining the efficiency of said transferring step.

14. The method of claim 12, further including means for preventing said transferring step in response to said efficiency determining step determining that transfer of said modulation modes is not efficient.

15. The method of claim 12, further including the step of requesting session duration time between said communications devices.

16. The method of claim 12, further including the step of requesting session size between said communications devices.

17. The method of claim 15, further including the step of providing session duration time between said communications devices.

18. The method of claim 16, further including the step of providing session size between said communications devices.

19. The method of claim 16, further including the step of determining whether said incompatible modulation mode is embodied by an algorithm of smaller in size than said session.

20. The method of claim 15, further including the step of determining whether said incompatible modulation mode is embodied by an algorithm of smaller in duration than said session duration.

21. The method of claim 12, further including the step of determining whether a better modulation method algorithm should to be sent from one said communications device to the other said communications device.

22. An adaptive modulation system for communications devices, comprising:

a first communications device having one or more modulation standards;

a second communications device having one or more modulation modes wherein at least one of said modulations modes is incompatible with said first communications device; and

an adaptive modulation unit for enabling said first communications devices to recognize and utilize said incompatible modulation mode to enable said first communications device to communicate with said second communications device using said incompatible modulation mode.