Frequency offset differential pulse position modulation

• US 7,706,247 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommWorks Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hemingway Fisheries LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Langley, John B., Mancusi, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo; John
• Application Number:
  US11/504,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20070086327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• Field of Search: 370/205, 370/436, 370/239, 370/430, 370/278, 370/213, 370/442, 707/188, 375220-222, 375/132, 375/239
• US Class Current: 370/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/026 using pulse time characteristics modulation, e.g. width, position, interval
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/066 using differential modulation with several bits [NDPCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4902 Pulse width modulation; Pulse position modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention provides such a need by utilizing a frequency offset differential pulse position modulation scheme to transmit data between computing devices within a wireless network system. The differential pulse position modulation component of the scheme enables the present invention to provide relative immunity to interference for the system. In particular, such immunity from interference is achieved by utilizing a blanking time between pulse positions, which is large enough to allow the interference between frequency offset—differential pulse position modulation pulses to subside. The frequency offset component of the scheme enables the system to utilize multiple frequency channels to enable the system to achieve higher data rates. In particular, by utilizing a time offset between the frequency channels, the blanking time can be reduced, thereby increasing the amount of data that can be transmitted with a set period of time.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

encoding, at an encoder, a first portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a first pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said first pulse position modulation signal; and

encoding said first portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal.

2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising transmitting the encoded first pulse position modulation signal.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

encoding, at a second encoder, a second portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a second pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said second pulse position modulation signal; and

encoding said second portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal.

4. The method of claim 3, and further comprising transmitting the encoded second pulse position modulation signal.

5. The method of claim 3, and further comprising encoding a third portion of data at least in part into a differential between a respective start time, end time, start frequency, and/or end frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal and said second pulse position modulation signal.

6. An apparatus comprising:

an encoder operable to encode a first portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a first pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said first pulse position modulation signal; and

wherein said encoder is further operable to encode said first portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a first transmitter operable to transmit said first pulse position modulation signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising:

a second encoder operable to encode a second portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a second pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said second pulse position modulation signal; and

wherein said second encoder is further operable to encode said second portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, and further comprising a second transmitter operable to transmit said second pulse position modulation signal.

10. An article comprising:

a computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which if executed result in;

encoding, at an encoder, a first portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a first pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said first pulse position modulation signal; and

encoding said first portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the computer readable medium has stored thereon further instructions, that, if executed, result in transmitting the encoded first pulse position modulation signal.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the computer readable medium has stored thereon further instructions, that, if executed, result in:

encoding, at a second encoder, a second portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a second pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said second pulse position modulation signal; and

encoding said second portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the computer readable medium has stored thereon further instructions, that, if executed, result in transmitting the encoded second pulse position modulation signal.

14. The article of claim 12, wherein the computer readable medium has stored thereon further instructions, that, if executed, result in encoding a third portion of data at least in part into a differential between a respective start time, end time, start frequency, and/or end frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal and said second pulse position modulation signal.

15. A system comprising:

an encoder operable to encode a first portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a first pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said first pulse position modulation signal;

wherein said encoder is further operable to encode said first portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said first pulse position modulation signal; and

at least one computing device operable to communicate with said encoder, wherein said at least one computing device is further operable to, at least in part, provide said first portion of data to said encoder.

16. The system of claim 15, and further comprising a first transmitter operable to transmit said first pulse position modulation signal.

17. The system of claim 15, and further comprising:

a second encoder operable to encode a second portion of data at least in part into a time difference between a start time of a second pulse position modulation signal and an end time of said second pulse position modulation signal; and

wherein said second encoder is further operable to encode said second portion of data at least in part into a frequency difference between a start frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal and an end frequency of said second pulse position modulation signal.