Method and apparatus for data transfer using a time division multiple frequency scheme

• US 6,895,059 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Atomics, Inc.
• Inventors: Walker, Michael L., Ellis, Jason L., Rogerson, Gerald D., Furuno, David S., Gehring, Stephan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayard, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US10/255,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 375/257, 375/295, 375/316, 375/265, 375/225, 375/139, 375/267, 375/141, 375/146, 375/147, 375/220, 340/310.01, 340/870.03, 455/101, 455/103, 455/505, 370/442, 370/441, 370/347, 370/342
• US Class Current: 375/295
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2005/00026 controlled by an analog electrical signal, e.g. obtained after conversion by a D/A converter
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2005/00058 controlled by a digital setting
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2005/00097 Avoiding variations of delay using feedback, e.g. controlled by a PLL
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2005/00267 using D/A or A/D converters
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/133 using a chain of active delay devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/1508 using a plurality of delay lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7176 Data mapping, e.g. modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2602 Signal structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/28 with simultaneous transmission of different frequencies each representing one code element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/26 combined with the use of different frequencies

Abstract

A method of data transmission according to one embodiment of the invention includes encoding a set of data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples. The method also includes transmitting, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts over a plurality n of frequency bands. Specifically, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst. A bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

Claims

1. A method of data transmission, said method comprising:

encoding an ordered set of m data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples; and

according to the series of ordered n-tuples, transmitting a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

2. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the burst corresponds to one element of the series of ordered n-tuples.

3. The method of data transmission according to claim 2, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a time of transmission of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts is indicated by the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of the n-tuple that includes the element corresponding to the burst.

4. The method of data transmission according to claim 2, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a time of transmission of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts occurs according to an expected propagation delay of the burst.

5. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a timing of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts is indicated by the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

6. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of bursts corresponds to a plurality of the m data values.

7. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least ten percent of the center frequency of the burst.

8. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least twenty percent of the center frequency of the burst.

9. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than one cycle.

10. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than five cycles.

11. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than ten cycles.

12. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein each among the series of ordered n-tuples corresponds to one among a series of time periods, and

wherein each of the series of time periods has a different start time, and

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the time period during which the burst is launched is indicated by the location within the series of n-tuples of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

13. The method of data transmission according to claim 12, wherein during each time period, no more than one of the plurality of bursts is launched.

14. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein for each frequency band occupied by one of the plurality of bursts, no other one of the plurality of bursts occupies the frequency band.

15. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein the series of n-tuples comprises a series of binary n-tuples, and

wherein said transmitting occurs according to the series of n-tuples such that in response to a high value of an element of a binary n-tuple, a burst occupies the frequency band corresponding to the order of the element within its n-tuple during a time period corresponding to the n-tuple, and in response to a low value of an element of a binary n-tuple, a burst is not transmitted on the frequency band corresponding to the order of the element within its n-tuple during a time period corresponding to the n-tuple.

16. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the plurality of bursts over an optical fiber.

17. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the plurality of bursts over a cable having at least one conductor.

18. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the plurality of bursts over a wireless transmission channel.

19. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein the number of ordered n-tuples in the series is greater than the number n of frequency bands.

20. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein the number n of frequency bands is greater than the number of ordered n-tuples in the series.

21. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein at least one among the plurality of bursts has a time-domain profile that is more sinc-shaped than rectangular and a frequency-domain profile that is more rectangular than sinc-shaped.

22. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of bursts includes a first burst occupying one of the plurality of frequency bands and a second burst occupying a different one of the plurality of frequency bands, and

wherein at least one frequency point exists at which the amplitude of the first burst is within twenty decibels of the maximum amplitude of the first burst and at which the amplitude of the second burst is within twenty decibels of the maximum amplitude of the second burst.

23. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, wherein at least one frequency point exists at which the amplitude of the first burst is within ten decibels of the maximum amplitude of the first burst and at which the amplitude of the second burst is within ten decibels of the maximum amplitude of the second burst.

24. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, said method further comprising:

receiving the plurality of bursts at a first location and at a first time of arrival;

generating a first timestamp corresponding to the first time of arrival;

receiving the plurality of bursts at a second location and at a second time of arrival;

generating a second timestamp corresponding to the second time of arrival; and

calculating at least one among a position and a location based at least on the first timestamp and the second timestamp.

25. The method of data transmission according to claim 1, said method further comprising:

transmitting a second plurality of bursts during a first time period, each burst occupying at least one among a plurality n of frequency bands;

receiving a third plurality of bursts during a second time period, each burst occupying at least one among a plurality n of frequency bands; and

calculating a distance based on a difference between the first and second time periods.

26. A transmitter comprising:

means for encoding an ordered set of m data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples; and

means for transmitting, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

27. The transmitter according to claim 26, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a time of transmission of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts is indicated by the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

28. The transmitter according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of bursts corresponds to a plurality of the m data values.

29. The transmitter according to claim 26, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least twenty percent of the center frequency of the burst.

30. The transmitter according to claim 26, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than ten cycles.

31. The transmitter according to claim 26, wherein each among the series of ordered n-tuples corresponds to one among a series of time periods, and

wherein each of the series of time periods has a different start time, and

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the time period during which the burst is launched is indicated by the location within the series of n-tuples of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

32. The transmitter according to claim 26, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the plurality of bursts over a wireless transmission channel.

33. A data storage medium having machine-readable code stored thereon, the machine-readable code comprising instructions executable by an array of logic elements, the instructions defining a method of data transmission, said method comprising:

encoding an ordered set of m data values to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples; and

according to the series of ordered n-tuples, transmitting a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

34. The data storage medium according to claim 33, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a time of transmission of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts is indicated by the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

35. The data storage medium according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the plurality of bursts corresponds to a plurality of the m data values.

36. The data storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least twenty percent of the center frequency of the burst.

37. The data storage medium according to claim 33, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than ten cycles.

38. The data storage medium according to claim 33, wherein each among the series of ordered n-tuples corresponds to one among a series of time periods, and

wherein each of the series of time periods has a different start time, and

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the time period during which the burst is launched is indicated by the location within the series of n-tuples of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

39. The data storage medium according to claim 33, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting the plurality of bursts over a wireless transmission channel.

40. A transmitter comprising:

an encoder configured to receive an ordered set of m data values and to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples; and

a signal generator configured to transmit, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

41. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein the encoder includes a lookup table configured to associate the ordered set of m data values with an ordered set including the corresponding series of ordered n-tuples.

42. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein the encoder includes a combinatorial logic array configured to receive the ordered set of m data values and to produce an ordered set including the corresponding series of ordered n-tuples.

43. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said encoder includes a serializer configured to output one among the series of ordered n-tuples over a corresponding period of time and to output another among the series of ordered n-tuples over a different corresponding period of time.

44. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said encoder is configured to output one among the series of ordered n-tuples over a first period of time and another among the series of ordered n-tuples over a second period of time different from the first period of time.

45. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said signal generator includes a trigger generator configured to generate a plurality of trigger events according to the series of ordered n-tuples.

46. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said signal generator includes a plurality of burst generators,

wherein each of the plurality of burst generators is configured to receive a trigger event and to generate at least one of the plurality of bursts according to the trigger event.

47. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said signal generator includes a plurality of burst generators,

wherein each of the plurality of burst generators corresponds to one of the plurality n of frequency bands and is configured to generate bursts which occupy that frequency band.

48. The transmitter according to claim 40, said transmitter further comprising a signal launcher configured to receive the plurality of bursts and to transmit the plurality of bursts over a transmission medium,

wherein said signal launcher includes a power amplifier.

49. The transmitter according to claim 48, wherein said signal launcher includes an antenna.

50. The transmitter according to claim 48, wherein said signal launcher includes a light-emitting diode.

51. The transmitter according to claim 48, wherein said signal launcher includes a filter.

52. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said signal generator includes an oscillator configured to output a signal over a selectable one of at least two of the plurality n of frequency bands.

53. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein said signal generator includes a gate configured to control an amplitude of a signal over one of the plurality n of frequency bands to produce a burst.

54. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, a time of transmission of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts is indicated by the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

55. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein at least one of the plurality of bursts corresponds to a plurality of the m data values.

56. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least twenty percent of the center frequency of the burst.

57. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than ten cycles.

58. The transmitter according to claim 40, wherein each among the series of ordered n-tuples corresponds to one among a series of time periods, and

wherein each of the series of time periods has a different start time, and

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the time period during which the burst is launched is indicated by the location within the series of n-tuples of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst.

59. The transmitter according to claim 40, said transmitter further comprising a sensor configured to sense an environmental condition and to output the ordered set of m data values according to the sensed environmental condition.

60. A method of data reception, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,

obtaining a series of ordered n-tuples based on the plurality of bursts; and

decoding the series of ordered n-tuples to produce an ordered set of m data values,

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a frequency band occupied by the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

61. The method of data reception according to claim 60, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a timing of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts.

62. The method of data reception according to claim 60, wherein at least one of the plurality of bursts corresponds to a plurality of the m data values.

63. The method of data reception according to claim 60, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least twenty percent of the center frequency of the burst.

64. The method of data reception according to claim 60, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than ten cycles.

65. The method of data reception according to claim 60, wherein each among the series of ordered n-tuples corresponds to one among a series of time periods, and

wherein each of the series of time periods has a different start time, and

wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the location within the series of n-tuples of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a timing of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts.

66. The method of data reception according to claim 60, wherein said receiving includes receiving the plurality of bursts over a wireless transmission channel.

67. A receiver comprising:

a signal detector configured to receive a signal including a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands, and to output a series of ordered n-tuples based on the plurality of bursts; and

a decoder configured to produce an ordered set of m data values from the series of ordered n-tuples,

wherein the signal detector is configured to output, for each of the plurality of bursts, an element corresponding to the burst such that an order of the element within its n-tuple corresponds to a frequency band occupied by the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

68. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein the signal detector includes at least one edge detector configured to detect an edge of a received burst.

69. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein the signal detector includes at least one envelope detector configured to detect an envelope of a received burst.

70. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein the signal detector includes at least one comparator configured to detect a feature of a received burst.

71. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein the signal detector includes at least one correlator configured to detect a received burst based on a correlation of a template with at least a portion of the received signal.

72. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein the signal detector includes at least one mixer configured to change a frequency of at least a portion of the received signal.

73. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein the signal detector includes at least one filter configured to select at least a portion of a corresponding one of the plurality n of frequency bands.

74. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein, for each of the plurality of bursts, the order, within the series of ordered n-tuples, of an n-tuple that includes an element corresponding to the burst is indicated by a timing of the burst relative to the rest of the plurality of bursts.

75. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein at least one of the plurality of bursts corresponds to a plurality of the m data values.

76. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein a bandwidth of at least one of the plurality of bursts is at least twenty percent of the center frequency of the burst.

77. The receiver according to claim 67, wherein a duration of at least one of the plurality of bursts is less than ten cycles.

78. A method of data transmission, said method comprising:

receiving a data signal including ordered data values;

encoding ordered sets of m data values to produce corresponding series of ordered n-tuples; and

according to each series of ordered n-tuples, transmitting a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands,

wherein, for each burst of each plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst, and

wherein a bandwidth of at least one burst of each plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

79. The method of data transmission according to claim 78, wherein the data signal includes video data.

80. The method of data transmission according to claim 78, wherein a data throughput rate of said transmitting is at least equal to a data rate of said data signal.

81. The method of data transmission according to claim 78, wherein the data signal includes data representing at least one image.

82. The method of data transmission according to claim 78, wherein the data signal includes audio data.

83. The method of data transmission according to claim 78, wherein said transmitting includes transmitting each plurality of bursts over a wireless transmission channel.

84. The method of data transmission according to claim 83, wherein said receiving includes receiving the data signal through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

85. A system including:

a plurality of transmitters, each of the plurality of transmitters comprising;

a sensor configured to sense an environmental condition and to output a ordered set of m data values according to the sensed environmental condition;

an encoder configured to receive the ordered set of m data values and to produce a corresponding series of ordered n-tuples; and

a signal generator configured to transmit, according to the series of ordered n-tuples, a plurality of bursts, each burst occupying at least one of a plurality n of frequency bands, such that, for each of the plurality of bursts, a frequency band occupied by the burst is indicated by the order within its n-tuple of an element corresponding to the burst; and

a receiver configured to receive the plurality of bursts from each transmitter, to decode the corresponding ordered sets of m data values, and to associate each among the ordered sets of m data values with a location of the corresponding transmitter,

wherein a bandwidth of at least one of each plurality of bursts is at least two percent of the center frequency of the burst.

86. The system according to claim 85, wherein at least one among said plurality of transmitters is further configured to transmit a second plurality of bursts indicating one among a location and a position of said transmitter.