Multi-band data over voice communication system and method

• US 7,227,932 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Access Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Inline Connection Corporation
• Inventors: Goodman, David D., Domnitz, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/970,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20050117722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379 9305- 9308, 379/93.15, 379/93.26, 379/93.28, 379/93.37, 379/110.01, 37910201-10203, 348/14.01, 348 1408- 1413, 348/734
• 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

An interactive system and method for communicating data over a network of twisted pair wiring that is in active use as a conductive path for ordinary telephone signals. Data is encoded redundantly in multiple channels to avoid interference by noise on the telephone network, such as interference from common radio signals. Data is also communicated in the reverse direction using a more general procedure. This reverse channel can be located above the telephone voice band and below the multiple data channels. Data communications are accomplished without interfering with voice communications. The transmitted data may include audio/video signals, and signals from infrared transmitters.

Claims

1. A system for communicating information, comprising:

a signal interface;

a transceiver;

a signal processor;

an information source;

a destination of information;

a path coupled between the signal processor and the transceiver, wherein the path is a two-wire conductive path;

a first branch coupled between the signal interface and the path, wherein the first branch is a two-wire conductive branch;

wherein

the source of information provides a first information set to the signal interface,

the signal interface transmits a first signal onto the path,

the transceiver receives the first signal from the path and provides the first information set to a destination of information,

the signal processor transmits voiceband signals onto the path, receives voiceband signals from the path, and is operable to process telephone signals,

the power spectrum of the first signal is substantially confined within a plurality of bands wherein (a) the bands of said plurality of bands are non-overlapping frequency bands, (b) a downstream band extends between a lowest frequency in the plurality of bands and a highest frequency in the plurality of bands, and (c) the downstream band is above voiceband,

a first band and a second band are included in said plurality of bands,

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the first band,

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the second band,

substantially all of the power spectrum of the first signal is confined to frequencies outside a band of frequencies separating the first band and the second band, and

the first information set is recoverable from any signal that is created by excluding a portion of the first signal, wherein said portion is substantially confined within a band in the plurality of bands.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal processor provides the information content of voiceband signals received from said path to a telephone communications network.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

the destination of information provides a second information set,

the transceiver receives a second information set and transmits onto the path a second signal that encodes the second information set,

the signal interface receives the second signal from the first branch and provides the second information set to the source of information,

an upstream band is the smallest band that substantially confines a power spectrum of the second signal, and

said upstream band is above voiceband.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the first signal and at least a portion the second signal transmit simultaneously.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein

a highest frequency of the upstream band is below a highest frequency of the downstream band and a lowest frequency of the upstream band is below a lowest frequency of the downstream band.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the downstream band is wider than the upstream band.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the frequencies spanned by the upstream band are below a lowest frequency of the downstream band.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first low pass filter and a second branch, wherein (a) the second branch is coupled between a first telephone device and the path, (b) the first low pass filter is operable to present a high impedance to the first signal while passing voiceband signals, and (c) the second branch is a two-wire conductive branch.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first low pass filter substantially prevents attenuation of the first signal by said first telephone device.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second low pass filter and a third branch, wherein (a) the third branch coupled between a second telephone device and the path, (b) the second low pass filter is operable to present a high impedance to said first signal while passing voiceband signals, and (c) the second branch is a two-wire conductive branch.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the second low pass filter substantially prevents attenuation of the first signal by said second telephone device.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fourth branch coupled to the path, wherein substantially all of the first information set is recovered despite reflected signals created by the fourth branch.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the signal interface includes a first high pass filter coupled to the first branch, said first high pass filter operable to present a high impedance to voiceband signals while passing said second signal.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said first high pass filter substantially prevents attenuation of voiceband signals by said signal interface.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein said transceiver includes a second high pass filter coupled to said path, said second high pass filter operable to present a high impedance to voiceband signals while passing said first signal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the second high pass filter substantially prevents attenuation of voiceband signals by said transceiver.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein said second information set is provided to said transceiver encoded in a first radiated signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wavelength of said first radiated signal is in the infrared range.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the signal interface provides the second information set to the source of information encoded in a second radiated signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein (a) the second radiated signal substantially duplicates the first radiated signal, and (b) the second radiated signal transmits without substantial delay relative to the first radiated signal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein (a) at least part of said first information set is converted to a sound signal, (b) said sound signal is transmitted without substantial delay relative to transmission of said first signal, and (c) at least part of said first signal and at least part of said second signal transmit simultaneously.

22. The system of claim 3, wherein said second information set is provided to said transceiver encoded in a light signal.

23. The system of claim 3, wherein the signal interface converts the second signal received from said path into a third radiated signal encoding said second information set.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said third radiated signal has a wavelength in the infrared range.

25. The system of claim 3, wherein the signal interface converts the second signal received from said path into a light signal encoding said second information set.

26. The system of claim 3, wherein accepting said first information set comprises selecting one of a plurality of information sets and information encoded in the second signal has an influence on which of the plurality of information sets is selected.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein information encoded in the second signal includes an instruction to suspend transmission of the first signal.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal processor is a voice switch.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the transceiver is located inside a structure.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the signal interface is located inside the structure.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the width of the frequency band separating the first band and second band is (a) less than the width of the first band and (b) less than the width of the second band.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein the bands of the plurality of bands have the same width.

33. The system of claim 1, further including electrical noise that is induced on said path, wherein (a) the transceiver selects a redundant band from said plurality of bands, (b) at least part of the power spectrum of the electrical noise is within the redundant band, (c) the transceiver creates a third signal from the first signal by excluding the portion that is confined within said redundant band, (d) said third signal encodes substantially all of said first information set, and (e) the transceiver transmits said third signal to said destination of information.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the source of the said electrical noise is a radio transmitter.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein the first information set includes video information.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first converted signal is used to create a video signal.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said video signal is an NTSC video signal.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency band separating the first band and second band includes one of 7 MHz, 14 MHz, and 21 MHz.

39. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency band separating the first band and second band includes one of 7 MHz, 14 MHz, and 21 MHz.

40. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency band separating the first band and second band spans one of the amateur radio bands at:

7 MHz, 14 MHz, and 21 MHz.

41. A method for communicating comprising

accepting a first information set and transmitting a first signal onto a path at a first point, wherein said first signal encodes the first information set;

accepting a second information set and transmitting a second signal the path at a second point, wherein said second signal encodes the second information set;

receiving the first signal from the path at said second point and transmitting a first converted signal encoding the first information set;

receiving the second signal from the path at said first point and transmitting a second converted signal encoding the second information set; and

transmitting voiceband signals onto the path at a third point and receiving voiceband signals from said third point,

wherein;

said first point, said second point, and said third point are distinct points;

the power spectrum of the first signal is substantially confined within a plurality of bands wherein (a) the bands of said plurality of bands are non-overlapping frequency bands, (b) a downstream band extends between a lowest and a highest frequency in the plurality of bands, and (c) the downstream band is above voiceband;

a first band and a second band are included in said plurality of bands;

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the first band;

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the second band;

substantially all of the power spectrum of the first signal is confined to frequencies outside a band of frequencies separating the first band and the second band;

an upstream band is a smallest band that substantially confines the power spectrum of the second signal and the upstream band is above voiceband;

the first information set is recoverable from any signal that is created by excluding a portion of the first signal, wherein said portion is substantially confined within a band in the plurality of bands;

the first signal and the second signal are electrical signals; and

the path is a two wire conductive path.

42. The method of claim 41 further including providing the information content of voiceband signals received from the third point on said path to a telephone communication network.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein receiving said first signal from the path comprises presenting a high impedance to voiceband signals.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein presenting said high impedance substantially prevents attenuation of voiceband signals.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein receiving said second signal from the path comprises presenting a high impedance to voiceband signals.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein presenting said high impedance substantially prevents attenuation of said voiceband signals.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising receiving voiceband signals from a fourth point on said path (a) while presenting a high impedance to signals in the downstream band and (b) while converting voiceband signals received from said fourth point to sound, wherein the fourth point is distinct from the first point, the second point, and the third point.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein presenting said high impedance substantially prevents attenuation of said first signal.

49. The method of claim 41 wherein at least a portion of the first signal and at least a portion of the second signal transmit simultaneously.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein a highest frequency of said upstream band is below a highest frequency of said downstream band.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein a lowest frequency of said upstream band is below a lowest frequency of said downstream band.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the frequencies spanned by the upstream band are below a lowest frequency of the downstream band.

53. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

inducting electrical noise on said path;

selecting a redundant band from said plurality of bands; and

creating said first converted signal,

wherein;

said first converted signal is created by deleting a portion of the first signal that is received from the path;

said portion corresponds to the part of the first signal that is confined within said redundant band;

at least part of the first information set is encoded is said redundant band;

at least part of the power spectrum of the electrical noise is within the redundant band; and

said third signal encodes substantially all of said first information set.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the source of the said electrical noise is a radio transmitter.

55. The method of claim 41, wherein accepting the second information set comprises receiving a first radiated signal that encodes the second information set.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the wavelength of said first radiated signal is in the infrared range.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the second converted signal is a second radiated signal.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the second radiated signal substantially duplicates the first radiated signal, and the second radiated signal transmits without substantial delay relative to the transmission of the first radiated signal.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising creating a sound signal that encodes at least part of said first information set, wherein (a) said sound signal is transmitted without substantial delay relative to the transmission of said first signal, and (b) at least part of said sound signal and part of said second signal transmit simultaneously.

60. The method of claim 41, wherein accepting the second information set comprises receiving a light signal that encodes the second information set.

61. The method of claim 41, wherein said second converted signal is a radiated signal.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said second converted signal has a wavelength within the infrared range.

63. The method of claim 41, wherein said second converted signal is a light signal.

64. The method of claim 41, wherein accepting said first information set comprises selecting one of a plurality of information sets and information encoded in the second signal has an influence on which of the plurality of information sets is selected.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein information encoded in the second signal includes an instruction to suspend transmission of the first signal.

66. The method of claim 41, wherein the first information set includes video information.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising creating a video signal using information from said first information set.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein the first converted signal is a video signal.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said video signal is an NTSC video signal.

70. The method of claim 41, wherein the frequency band separating the first band and second band spans one of the amateur radio bands at:

7 MHz, 14 MHz, and 21 MHz.

71. The method of claim 41, wherein the frequency band separating the first band and second band spans an amateur radio band located below 30 MHz.

72. The system of claim 41, wherein the frequency band separating the first band and second band spans an amateur radio band located below 30 MHz.

73. A method for communicating, comprising:

accepting a first information set and transmitting a first signal onto a path at a first point, wherein said first signal encodes said first information set;

accepting a second information set and transmitting a second signal onto said path at a second point, wherein said second signal encodes said second information set;

receiving the first signal from the path at said second point and transmitting a first converted signal encoding the first information set;

receiving the second signal from the path at said first point and transmitting a second converted signal encoding the second information set;

wherein;

said first point is distinct from the second point;

the power spectrum of the first signal is substantially confined within a plurality of bands wherein (a) the bands of said plurality of bands are non-overlapping frequency bands and (b) a downstream band extends between a lowest and a highest frequency in the plurality of bands;

a first band and a second band are in the plurality of bands;

the first band is not contiguous with the second band;

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the first band;

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the second band;

substantially all of the power spectrum of the first signal is confined to frequencies outside a band of frequencies separating the first band and the second band;

the band of frequencies separating the first band and second band spans one of the bands below 30 MHz allocated to amateur radio transmission;

an upstream band is a smallest band that substantially confines the power spectrum of the second signal;

the first information set is recoverable from any signal that is created by excluding a portion of the first signal, wherein said portion is substantially confined within a band in the plurality of bands;

receiving said first signal from the path comprises presenting a high impedance to alternating current between 20 Hz and 3 KHz, and receiving said second signal from the path comprises presenting a high impedance to alternating current between 20 Hz and 3 Hz;

the first signal and the second signal are electrical signals; and

the path is a two wire conductive path.

74. A system for communicating information, comprising:

a signal interface;

a transceiver;

an information source;

a destination of information; and

a path coupled between the signal interface and the transceiver,

wherein;

the path is a two-wire conductive path;

the information source provides a first information set to the signal interface

the signal interface transmits a first signal onto the path;

the transceiver receives the first signal from the path and the transceiver provides the first information set to a destination of information;

the destination of information provides a second information set to said transceiver;

said transceiver transmits onto the path a second signal encoding said second information set;

the signal interface receives the second signal from the path and provides the second information set to the source of information;

the power spectrum of the first signal is substantially confined within a plurality of bands, wherein (a) the bands of said plurality of bands are non-overlapping frequency bands, and (b) a downstream band extends between a lowest frequency in the plurality of bands and a highest frequency in the plurality of bands;

an upstream band is the smallest band that substantially confines a power spectrum of the second signal;

a highest frequency of the upstream band is below a highest frequency of the downstream band and a lowest frequency of the upstream band is below a lowest frequency of the downstream band;

a first band and a second band are in the plurality of bands;

the first band is not contiguous with the second band;

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the first band;

the first signal encodes information from the first information set in the second band;

substantially all of the power spectrum of the first signal is confined to frequencies outside a band of frequencies separating the first band and the second band;

the band of frequencies separating the first band and second band spans one of the bands below 30 MHz allocated to amateur radio transmission; and

the first information set is recoverable from any signal that is created by excluding a portion of the first signal, wherein said portion is substantially confined within a band in the plurality of bands.