Methods and arrangements for transmitting data over twisted pair wire using RF modulation techniques

• US 6,470,053 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Ce Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KHANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/182,926
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/222, 375/257, 375/361, 375/356, 375/279, 375/280, 375/295, 375/298, 375/308, 375/316, 375/329, 370/446, 370/448, 370/445, 370/463
• US Class Current: 375/257
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/50 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via two-conductor transmission lines H04B3/54 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• 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 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/40247 LON
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

Methods and arrangements are provided for allowing various devices to communicate data over standard twisted pair wire within a confined region, such as a home environment. The methods and arrangements employ radio frequency (RF) communication techniques to modulate and transmit data signals over existing twisted pair phone lines at RF frequencies. The RF transmitted data can be detected over limited distances by other similarly configured devices. The RF transmitted data is then received and demodulated to regenerate the original data. The methods and arrangements also allow the data transmission to be conducted in accordance with conventional CSMA/CD techniques/protocols. Thus, for example, Ethernet network configured devices can be seamlessly interconnected using the methods and arrangements of the present invention without requiring that additional and/or upgraded wiring be installed in the home environment.

Claims

1. An arrangement for transmitting digital data output by a first device to a second device over a twisted pair wire, the arrangement comprising:

a modulator configured to receive a data signal output by the first device and modulate the data signal to produce a corresponding modulated data signal using at least one radio frequency (RF) carrier; and

a line driver configured to receive the modulated data signal and output the modulated data signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device based on a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol, wherein the modulator further includes a first filter that is configured to low pass filter the data signal, and wherein the first filter is a low pass filter having a pass band equal to about 88 percent of a data rate of the digital signal and is selected from a group of low pass filters consisting of a fifth-order Butterworth low pass filter and a Gaussian low pass filter.

2. The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the line driver further includes a second filter that is configured to bandpass filter the modulated data signal.

3. An arrangement for transmitting digital data output by a first device to a second device over a twisted pair wire, the arrangement comprising:

a modulator configured to receive a data signal output by the first device and modulate the data signal to produce a corresponding quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) data signal using at least one radio frequency (RF) carrier; and

a line driver configured to receive the modulated data signal and output the modulated data signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device based on a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol,

wherein the line driver includes an equalizer that is configured to dynamically equalize the modulated data signal to account for at least one determined characteristic associated with at least a portion of the twisted pair wire.

4. The arrangement as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a detector configured to receive the modulated data signal from the twisted pair wire and output a substantially reproduced modulated data signal;

a demodulator configured to receive the reproduced modulated data signal, and substantially reproduce the data signal therefrom, and output a reproduced data signal to the second device.

5. A method for transmitting data over twisted pair wire within a home environment, the method comprising:

outputting a digital signal from a first device, the digital signal comprising data that is to be provided to a second device;

modulating the digital signal with a carrier signal having a carrier frequency to produce a corresponding radio frequency (RF) signal; and

transmitting the RF signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device using a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol,

wherein the carrier frequency is between about 10 MHz and about 70 MHz, and the step of modulating the digital signal comprises modulating the digital signal using a technique selected from a group consisting of quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK).

6. A method for transmitting data over twisted pair wire within a home environment, the method comprising:

outputting a digital signal from a first device, the digital signal comprising data that is to be provided to a second device;

modulating the digital signal with a carrier signal having a carrier frequency to produce a corresponding radio frequency (RF) signal; and

transmitting the RF signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device using a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol,

wherein the carrier frequency is between about 70 MHz and about 200 MHz, and the step of modulating the digital signal comprises modulating the digital signal using a technique selected from a group consisting of binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and differential binary phase shift keying (BPSK).

7. A method for transmitting data over twisted pair wire within a home environment, the method comprising:

outputting a digital signal from a first device, the digital signal comprising data that is to be provided to a second device;

modulating the digital signal to produce a corresponding radio frequency (RF) signal; and

transmitting the RF signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device using a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol,

wherein the step of modulating the digital signal further comprises modulating the digital signal using a carrier signal having a carrier frequency between about 1 MHz and about 10 MHz,

wherein the step of modulating the digital signal further comprises quadrature amplitude modulating (QAM) the digital signal, and

wherein the step of transmitting the RF signal further comprises dynamically equalizing the RF signal to account for at least one determined characteristic associated with at least a portion of the twisted pair wire.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

substantially reproducing the RF signal as transmitted through the twisted pair wire;

demodulating the RF signal to substantially reproduce the digital signal; and

supplying the digital signal to the second device.

9. An arrangement for transmitting digital data output by a first device to a second device over a twisted pair wire, the arrangement comprising:

a modulator configured to receive a data signal output by the first device and to modulate the data signal to produce a corresponding quadrature phase shift keyed (QPSK) or differential QPSK modulated data signal using at least one radio frequency (RF) carrier having a frequency between about 10 MHz and about 70 MHz; and

a line driver configured to receive the modulated data signal and output the modulated data signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device based on a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol.

10. An arrangement for transmitting digital data output by a first device to a second device over a twisted pair wire, the arrangement comprising:

a modulator configured to receive a data signal output by the first device and to modulate the data signal to produce a corresponding binary phase shift keyed (BPSK) or differential BPSK modulated data signal using at least one radio frequency (RF) carrier having a frequency between about 70 MHz and about 200 MHz; and

a line driver configured to receive the modulated data signal and output the modulated data signal through at least one twisted pair wire to the second device based on a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol.