Video transmission and control system utilizing internal telephone lines

• US 6,236,718 B1
• Filed: 04/16/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Access Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: CAIS, INCORPORATED, Inline Connection Corporation
• Inventors: Goodman, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/292,895
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93-5-, 379/93.15, 379/93.26, 379/93.28, 379/93.37, 379/110.01, 379/102-1-1, 348/14-16, 348/7, 348/734, 359/142, 359/145-148
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• 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. In a telephone system in which a two-wire telephone network carries telephone voice signals in a telephone voice band between a first telephone equipment and a second telephone equipment coupled to the telephone network, a method for bi-directional communication in a high frequency band of frequencies above the telephone voice band of information between a first transceiver and a second transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network comprising:

accepting a first signal at the first transceiver;

transmitting a first transmitted signal that encodes control information in the first signal from the first transceiver to the second transceiver over the two-wire telephone network in a first range of frequencies in the high frequency band;

receiving the first transmitted signal at the second transceiver;

providing the control information to a source of information;

accepting at the second transceiver a second signal from the source of information;

transmitting a second transmitted signal that encodes information in the second signal from the second transceiver to the first transceiver over the two-wire telephone network in a second range of frequencies in the high frequency band;

preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from the two-wire telephone network to telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network, including preventing transmission of the second transmitted signal to the second telephone equipment;

receiving the second transmitted signal at the first transceiver; and

providing information in the second signal from the first transceiver to a destination of information;

wherein the first range of frequencies is smaller than the second range of frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first range of frequencies is at lower frequencies than and disjoint from the second range of frequencies.

8. The method of claims 1, 3, or 6 further comprising preventing transmission of signals in the telephone voice band from the two-wire telephone network to at least one the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein preventing transmission of signals in the telephone voice band from the two-wire telephone network to the first transceiver and to the second transceiver includes coupling a separate high-pass filter between the two-wire telephone network and each of the first transceiver and the second transceiver such that each high-pass filter passes signals in the high frequency band and present a high impedance at frequencies in the telephone voice band to the two-wire telephone network.

10. The method of claims 1, 3, or 6 wherein preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band to the second telephone equipment includes coupling a low-pass filter between the second telephone equipment and the two-wire telephone network such that the low-pass filter passes signals in the telephone voice band between the two-wire telephone network and the second telephone equipment and presents a high impedance at frequencies in the high frequency band to the two-wire telephone network.

11. The method of claims 1, 3 or 6 wherein transmitting the second transmitted signal onto the two-wire telephone network includes applying a balanced signal to the two-wire telephone network.

12. The method of claims 1, 3, or 6 wherein accepting the second signal includes accepting a video signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein accepting the video signal includes accepting an NTSC video signal.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein transmitting the second transmitted signal includes transmitting a compressed video signal.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein accepting the first signal includes accepting a wireless signal that encodes the control information.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein accepting the wireless signal includes receiving an infrared signal.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the control information encoded in the first transmitted signal identifies video programming that is to be encoded in the second signal.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising accepting an input from a user, encoding the input in the first signal, providing the first signal to the first transceiver, and determining the control information encoded in the first transmitted signal from the encoded manual input.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the control information encoded in the first transmitted signal includes a command to interrupt transmission of the second transmitted signal.

3. In a telephone system in which a two-wire telephone network carries telephone voice signals in a telephone voice band between a first telephone equipment and a second telephone equipment coupled to the telephone network, a method for bi-directional communication in a high frequency band of frequencies above the telephone voice band of information between a first transceiver and a second transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network comprising:

accepting a first signal at the first transceiver;

transmitting a first transmitted signal that encodes control information in the first signal from the first transceiver to the second transceiver over the two-wire telephone network in a first range of frequencies in the high frequency band;

receiving the first transmitted signal at the second transceiver;

providing the control information to a source of information;

accepting at the second transceiver a second signal from the source of information;

transmitting a second transmitted signal that encodes information in the second signal from the second transceiver to the first transceiver over the two-wire telephone network in a second range of frequencies in the high frequency band;

preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from the two-wire telephone network to telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network, including preventing transmission of the second transmitted signal to the second telephone equipment;

receiving the second transmitted signal at the first transceiver;

providing information in the second signal from the first transceiver to a destination of information; and

preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from a conductive path joining the first transceiver and the second transceiver on the two-wire telephone network to one or more telephone devices coupled to said conductive path at locations other than the locations of the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first transceiver, the first telephone equipment, and the one or more telephone devices are all coupled to the two-wire telephone network within a single residence.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band to the one or more telephone devices includes coupling a plurality of separate low-pass filters each between the two-wire telephone network and different one of the one or more telephone devices such that the low-pass filter passes signals in the telephone voice band between the two-wire telephone network and said telephone device and presents a high impedance at frequencies in the high frequency band to the two-wire telephone network.

6. In a telephone system in which a two-wire telephone network carries telephone voice signals in a telephone voice band between a first telephone equipment and a second telephone equipment coupled to the telephone network, a method for bi-directional communication in a high frequency band of frequencies above the telephone voice band of information between a first transceiver and a second transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network comprising:

accepting a first signal at the first transceiver;

transmitting a first transmitted signal that encodes control information in the first signal from the first transceiver to the second transceiver over the two-wire telephone network in the high frequency band;

receiving the first transmitted signal at the second transceiver;

providing the control information to a source of information;

accepting at the second transceiver a second signal from the source of information;

transmitting a second transmitted signal that encodes information in the second signal from the second transceiver to the first transceiver over the two-wire telephone network in the high frequency band;

preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from the two-wire telephone network to telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network, including preventing transmission of the second transmitted signal to the second telephone equipment;

receiving the second transmitted signal at the first transceiver; and

providing information in the second signal from the first transceiver to a destination of information;

wherein the two-wire telephone network includes a segment that forms a branch on a conductive path joining the first transceiver and the second transceiver and wherein transmitting the second transmitted signal onto the two-wire telephone network includes processing the second signal to form the second transmitted signal to mitigate effects resulting from the branch on the conductive path.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein processing the second signal includes forming the second transmitted signal by processing the second signal such that the range of attenuation of signals passing from the first transceiver to the second transceiver in the second frequency range is smaller than the range of attenuation of signals in the frequency range of the second signal.

20. A system for bi-directional communication of information in a high band of frequencies above a telephone voice band of frequencies over a two-wire telephone network used to carry telephone voice signals in the telephone voice band between a first telephone equipment and a second telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network including

circuitry for accepting a first signal, and

circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in a first range of frequencies in the high frequency band a first transmitted signal that encodes control information in the first signal;

a second transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network including

circuitry for receiving the first transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network,

circuitry for recovering the control information from the received first transmitted signal,

circuitry for providing the control information to a source for information,

circuitry for accepting a second signal from the source of information, and

circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in a second range of frequencies in the high frequency band a second transmitted signal that encodes information in the second signal;

circuitry coupled between the second telephone equipment and the two-wire telephone network for preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from the two-wire telephone network to telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network;

wherein the first transceiver further includes

circuitry for receiving the second transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network,

circuitry for recovering information in the second signal from the second transmitted signal, and

circuitry for providing the recovered information to a destination of information; and

wherein the first range of frequencies is smaller second range of frequencies.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first range of frequencies is at lower frequencies than and disjoint from the second range of frequencies.

26. The system of claims 20, 22, or 25 wherein the circuitry for processing the second signal includes circuitry for transforming the second signal into the second transmitted signal such that the range of attenuation of signals passing from the second transceiver to the first transceiver in the frequency range of the second transmitted signal is smaller than the range of attenuation of signals in the frequency range of the second signal.

27. The system of claims 20, 22, or 25 further comprising circuitry for preventing transmission of signals in the telephone voice band from the two-wire telephone network to the first transceiver and circuitry for preventing transmission of signals in the telephone voice band from the two-wire telephone network to the second transceiver.

28. The system of claims 20, 22, or 25 wherein the circuitry coupled between the second telephone equipment and the two-wire telephone network includes a low-pass filter coupled between the second telephone equipment and the two-wire telephone network such that the low-pass filter passes signals in the telephone voice band between the two-wire telephone network and the second telephone equipment and presents a high impedance at frequencies in the high frequency band to the two-wire telephone network.

29. The system of claims 20, 22, or 25 wherein the circuitry for transmitting the second transmitted signal onto the two-wire telephone network includes circuitry for balancing the second transmitted signal prior to applying it to said telephone network.

30. The system of claims 20, 22, or 25 wherein the circuitry for accepting the second signal includes circuitry for accepting a video signal.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the circuitry for accepting the video signal includes circuitry for accepting an NTSC video signal.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the circuitry for transmitting the second transmitted signal includes circuitry for transmitting a compressed video signal.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein the circuitry for accepting the first signal includes circuitry for accepting a wireless signal that encodes the control information.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the circuitry for accepting the wireless signal includes circuitry for receiving an infrared signal.

35. The system of claims 20, 22, or 25 wherein the first transceiver further includes coupling circuitry coupled to the two-wire telephone network, to a first signal path for passing the first transmitted signal to the two-wire telephone network, and to a second signal path for passing the second transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the coupling circuitry matches impedance characteristics of the first and the second signal paths and the two-wire telephone network.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the coupling circuitry includes circuitry for preventing signals in the second range of frequencies from passing over the first signal path.

22. A system for bi-directional communication of information in a high band of frequencies above a telephone voice band of frequencies over a two-wire telephone network used to carry telephone voice signals in the telephone voice band between a first telephone equipment and a second telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network including

circuitry for accepting a first signal, and

circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in the high frequency band a first transmitted signal that encodes control information in the first signal;

a second transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network including

circuitry for receiving the first transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network,

circuitry for recovering the control information from the received first transmitted signal,

circuitry for providing the control information to a source for information,

circuitry for accepting a second signal from the source of information, and

circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in the high band of frequencies a second transmitted signal that encodes information in the second signal; and

circuitry coupled between the second telephone equipment and the two-wire telephone network for preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from the two-wire telephone network to telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network;

wherein the first transceiver further includes

circuitry for receiving the second transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network,

circuitry for recovering information in the second signal from the second transmitted signal, and

circuitry for providing the recovered information to a destination of information; and

;

wherein the system further comprises circuitry for coupling one or more telephone devices to a conductive path joining the first transceiver and the second transceiver on the two-wire telephone network at locations other than locations of the first transceiver or the second transceiver and for presenting high impedance in the high band of frequencies to said telephone network.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first transceiver, the first telephone equipment, and the one or more telephone devices are all coupled to the two-wire telephone network within a single residence.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the circuitry for coupling the one or more telephone devices to the two-wire telephone network includes a plurality of separate low-pass filters each coupled between the two-wire telephone network and a different one of the one or more telephone devices such that each low-pass filter passes signals in the telephone voice band between the two-wire telephone network and said telephone device and presents a high impedance at frequencies in the high frequency band to the two-wire telephone network.

38. The system of claim 24 wherein the two-wire telephone network includes a segment that forms a branch on the conductive path joining the first transceiver and the second transceiver and wherein the second transceiver further includes circuitry for processing the second signal to mitigate effects resulting from the branch on the conductive path.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein at least some of the one or more telephone devices are coupled to the two-wire telephone network on branches from the path on the two-wire telephone network joining the first transceiver and the second transceiver.

40. The system of claim 24 wherein the circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in the high frequency band of frequencies the second transceiver is configured to pre-emphasize the second transmitted signal.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said circuitry for transmitting the second transmitted further circuitry for balancing the second transmitted signal prior to transmission onto the telephone network.

25. A system for bi-directional communication of information in a high band of frequencies above a telephone voice band of frequencies over a two-wire telephone network used to carry telephone voice signals in the telephone voice band between a first telephone equipment and a second telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network comprising:

a first transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network including

circuitry for accepting a first signal, and

circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in the high frequency band a first transmitted signal that encodes control information in the first signal;

a second transceiver coupled to the two-wire telephone network including

circuitry for receiving the first transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network,

circuitry for recovering the control information from the received first transmitted signal,

circuitry for providing the control information to a source for information,

circuitry for accepting a second signal from the source of information, and

circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in the high band of frequencies a second transmitted signal that encodes information in the second signal; and

circuitry coupled between the second telephone equipment and the two-wire telephone network for preventing transmission of signals in the high frequency band from the two-wire telephone network to telephone equipment coupled to the two-wire telephone network;

wherein the first transceiver further includes

circuitry for receiving the second transmitted signal from the two-wire telephone network,

circuitry for recovering information in the second signal from the second transmitted signal, and

circuitry for providing the recovered information to a destination of information; and

wherein the two-wire telephone network includes a segment that forms a branch on a conductive path joining the first transceiver and the second transceiver and wherein the second transceiver further includes circuitry for processing the second signal to form the second transmitted signal to mitigate effects resulting from the branch on the conductive path.

42. The system of claim 25 wherein the first transmitted signal and the second transmitted signal do not interfere with one another when transmitted concurrently onto the two-wire telephone network.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the first transmitted signal and the second transmitted signal occupy different frequency ranges within the high band of frequencies.

44. The system of claim 25 wherein the circuitry for transmitting onto the two-wire telephone network in the high frequency band of frequencies the second transceiver is configured to pre-emphasize the second transmitted signal.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein said circuitry for transmitting the second transmitted signal further includes circuitry for balancing a voltage of the second transmitted signal across two conductors of the two-wire telephone network.

46. The system of claim 25 wherein the system further comprises circuitry for coupling one or more telephone devices to the two-wire telephone network at locations other than locations of the first transceiver or the second transceiver and presenting high impedance in the high band of frequencies to said telephone network.

47. A system for communication in a high band of frequencies above a telephone voice band of frequencies over a two-wire telephone network forming two conductive paths between devices coupled to said network and used to carry telephone voice signals in the telephone voice band, said system comprising:

a plurality of devices for communicating in the high band of frequencies coupled at separated points on a conductive path of the two-wire telephone network, including a first device, a second device, and a third device;

wherein the first device includes circuitry for receiving information transmitted over the two-wire telephone network in the high band of frequencies and each of the second device and third device includes circuitry for selectively transmitting information onto the two-wire telephone network in a shared range of frequencies in the high band of frequencies without interfering with voice signals carried in the telephone voice band whereby either of the second and third devices can pass information to the first device over the two-wire network to the first device.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the system further includes a circuitry coupled between the two-wire telephone network and one or more telephone device, wherein the circuitry presents a high impedance in the high band of frequencies to the two-wire telephone network.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein the system further includes circuitry coupled between the two-wire telephone network and the plurality of devices for communicating in the high band of frequencies, said circuitry blocking signals outside the high band of frequencies from passing from the two-wire telephone network to said devices.

50. The system of claim 47 wherein the two-wire telephone network includes one or more splits forming branches in the network, and wherein the circuitry for transmitting information in the high band of frequencies includes:

circuitry for accepting an information-bearing signal; and

circuitry for processing said information-bearing signal for transmission to the first device, wherein said circuitry is configured to reduce signal degradation caused by the branching of the network.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein the circuitry for processing said signal includes circuitry for frequency-shifting the information-bearing signal.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein the circuitry for processing said signal includes circuitry for spectral pre-emphasis of said signal.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein the circuitry for transmitting information in the high band of frequencies includes circuitry for balancing the signal transmitted onto the two-wire telephone network.

54. A method for communication in a high band of frequencies above a telephone voice band of frequencies over a two-wire telephone network forming two conductive paths between devices coupled to said network and used to carry telephone voice signals in the telephone voice band, said method comprising:

coupling a plurality of devices for communicating in the high band of frequencies at separated points to a conductive path of the two-wire telephone network, including coupling a first device, a second device, and a third device to said network;

at a first time, transmitting information from the second device onto the two-wire telephone network in a shared range of frequencies in the high band of frequencies to the first device, and concurrently disabling the third device from transmitting onto the said network in said shared range of frequencies; and

at a second time, transmitting information from the third device onto the two-wire telephone network in the shared range of frequencies in the high band of frequencies to the first device, and concurrently disabling the second device from transmitting onto the said network in said shared range of frequencies.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

coupling circuitry between the two-wire telephone network and one or more telephone device; and

presenting a high impedance in the high band of frequencies at said circuitry to the two-wire telephone network.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising:

coupling circuitry between the two-wire telephone network and the plurality of devices for communicating in the high band of frequencies; and

blocking signals outside the high band of frequencies from passing from the two-wire telephone network through said circuitry to said devices.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein the two-wire telephone network includes one or more splits forming branches in the network, and wherein transmitting information from the second device onto the two-wire telephone network includes:

accepting an information-bearing signal; and

processing said information-bearing signal for transmission to the first device, including reducing signal degradation caused by the branching of the network.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein processing said signal includes frequency-shifting the information-bearing signal.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein processing said signal includes spectral pre-emphasis of said signal.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein transmitting information from the second device onto the two-wire telephone network includes balancing the signal transmitted onto the two-wire telephone network.

61. A method for distributing information in a high band of frequencies above a telephone voice band of frequencies over a two-wire telephone network forming a conductive path between devices coupled to said network and used to carry telephone voice signals in the telephone voice band, said method comprising:

coupling a plurality of devices for communicating in the high band of frequencies at separated points to the conductive path;

at a first time, transmitting information from a first of the plurality of devices onto the two-wire telephone network in a shared range of frequencies in the high band of frequencies, and concurrently disabling a second of the plurality of devices from transmitting onto the said network in said shared range of frequencies; and

at a second time, transmitting information from the second of the devices onto the two-wire telephone network in the shared range of frequencies in the high band of frequencies, and concurrently disabling the first of the devices from transmitting onto the said network in said shared range of frequencies;

wherein the two-wire telephone network includes a segment that forms a branch on the conductive path and wherein transmitting information from the first of the devices and from the second of the devices onto the two-wire telephone network includes processing the information to form signals to mitigate effects resulting from the branch on the conductive paths.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

coupling circuitry between the two-wire telephone network and one or more telephone device at locations other that locations of the plurality of devices; and

presenting a high impedance in the high band of frequencies at said circuitry to the two-wire telephone network.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising:

coupling circuitry between the two-wire telephone network and the plurality of devices for communicating in the high band of frequencies; and

blocking signals outside the high band of frequencies from passing from the two-wire telephone network through said circuitry to said devices.