TONE ALLOCATION IN MULTIPOINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICATION USING ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEXING

• US 20090080554A1
• Filed: 11/17/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Wadman, Mark S., Tucker, Thomas C., Lou, Heng, Boualouang, Somvay, Downs, Matt, Kirscht, Robert J., Solum, Jeff, Berg, Darrell, Enfield, Debra Lea, Fort, Michael J., Hall, Joe, Opoczynski, Adam, Herrmann, James J., Roberts, Harold A., Dapper, Mark J., Smigelski, Thomas, Logajan, John M., Geile, Michael J., Sarnikowski, Scott, Hill, Terrance J., Anderson, Brian D., Brede, Jeffrey, Ferris, Tammy, Elpers, Mark D., Samant, Niranjan R., Buska, Steven P., Chiappetta, Joseph F., Nelson, Calvin G., Russell, David S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/14 Fourier, Walsh or analogous domain transformations , e.g. Laplace, Hilbert, Karhunen-Loeve, transforms for correlation function computation G06F17/156; spectrum analysers G01R23/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/142 Fast Fourier transforms, e.g. using a Cooley-Tukey type algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/1515 Reed-Solomon codes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/356 Unequal error protection [UEP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/272 Star-type networks or tree-type networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/69 Optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/77 using carrier waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/78 CATV [Community Antenna Television] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/79 using downlink of the CATV systems, e.g. audio broadcast via CATV network
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/80 having frequencies in two or more frequency bands, e.g. medium wave and VHF
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/11 Arrangements for counter-measures when a portion of broadcast information is unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/86 accessed over CATV networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/96 CATV systems for accessing the Internet H04H60/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/97 using uplink of the CATV systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0298 with sub-carrier multiplexing [SCM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/14 Monitoring arrangements for SDH/SONET rings H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/226 Selection of non-jammed channel for communication spectrum sharing arrangements H04W16/14; selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/255 based on redundancy of transmitted data, transmission path or transmitting source
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/004 by using forward error control H04L1/0618 takes precedence; coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or correction H03M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0045 : Arrangements at the receiver end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 : Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0071 : Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 : Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 : Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 : Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 : Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 : Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 : Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/0036 : using a recovered symbol clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/0057 : quadrature phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2027/0067 : Phase error detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03866 : using scrambling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 : Multicarrier modulation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2614 : Peak power aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2631 : with polyphase implementation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2634 : Inverse fast Fourier transform [IFFT] or inverse discrete Fourier transform [IDFT] modulators in combination with other circuits for modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2647 : Arrangements specific to the receiver only equalisation H04L27/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2652 : with polyphase implementation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/26524 : Fast Fourier transform [FFT] or discrete Fourier transform [DFT] demodulators in combination with other circuits for demodulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2654 : Filtering per subcarrier, e.g. filterbank multicarrier [FBMC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2655 : Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2657 : Carrier synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2662 : Symbol synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/34 : Amplitude- and phase-modulated carrier systems, e.g. quadrature-amplitude modulated carrier systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 : Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/064 : involving time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 : Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 : by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/067 : using time frame reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 : by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0823 : Errors, e.g. transmission errors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0829 : Packet loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 : Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 : Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0858 : One way delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0864 : Round trip delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 : Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 : Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 : the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 : Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 : allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/023 : Multiplexing of multicarrier modulation signals multicarrier modulation H04L27/2601
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 : Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/143 : for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1484 : operating bytewise
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/027 : Frequency division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 : being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2383 : Channel coding or modulation of digital bit-stream, e.g. QPSK modulation arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by adapting the channel coding H04L1/0009; analogue front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 : Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 : Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 : Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 : involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 : Transmission or handling of upstream communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/22 : Adaptations for optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 : Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Systems and methods for OFDM tone allocation are provided. In one embodiment, an end-user communication device comprises: a first remote unit for communicating with a host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the host unit communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration, wherein OFDM waveform from distinct remote units of the plurality of remote units combine to a unified OFDM waveform at the host unit. The first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using OFDM. The first remote unit is configured to determine when bandwidth is needed for upstream transmission to the host unit. The first remote unit is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host unit on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention-based.

Claims

1. An end-user communication device, the device comprising:

a first remote unit for communicating with a host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the host unit communicatively coupled to a plurality of remote units in a multipoint-to-point configuration, wherein OFDM waveform from distinct remote units of the plurality of remote units combine to a unified OFDM waveform at the host unit;

wherein the first remote unit is configured to transmit up to a plurality of tones, the up to a plurality of tones modulated with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing;

wherein the first remote unit is configured to determine when bandwidth is needed for upstream transmission to the host unit; and

wherein the first remote unit is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host unit on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention-based.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first remote unit is further configured to retransmit the request for bandwidth when there is a collision on the first tone.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first remote unit is further configured to retransmit the request for bandwidth using an exponential back-off procedure when there is a collision on the first tone.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first remote unit comprises a logic circuit configured to detect a potential collision on the first tone between signals transmitted by the first remote unit and signals from another remote unit.

5. The device of claim 1, the first remote unit including a modulator for modulating the up to a plurality of tones with upstream information using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, wherein the modulator is configured to adjust at least one characteristic of the plurality of tones such that when any tones are transmitted from the first remote unit and at least one other remote unit of the plurality of remote units, the orthogonality of the tones when received at the host unit is improved.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to adjust at least one of a carrier frequency, a carrier amplitude, and a timing.

7. A bidirectional communication system, the system comprising:

a host unit to communicate with a plurality of remote units using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration;

wherein OFDM waveform from distinct remote units of the plurality of remote units combine to a unified OFDM waveform at the host unit;

the host unit receiving an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform comprising a plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remote units;

wherein the host unit comprises a logic circuit configured to direct a modem to transmit information on at least one tone of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform based on whether the modem successfully receives a contention based request for bandwidth from a first remote unit of the plurality of remote units.

8. A bi-directional communication system, the system comprising:

a multipoint-to-point host unit; and

a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the multipoint-to-point host unit through a unified orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, wherein OFDM waveform from distinct remote units of the plurality of remote units combine to the unified OFDM waveform at the multipoint-to-point host unit;

wherein the multipoint-to-point host unit is configured to receive the unified orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform, the unified orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform comprising a plurality of tones transmitted by the plurality of remote units;

wherein a first remote unit of the plurality of remote units is configured to transmit a request for bandwidth to the host unit on a first tone of the plurality of tones, wherein access to the first tone is contention-based;

wherein the multipoint-to-point host unit is configured to direct a modem to transmit information on at least one tone of the unified orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform based on whether the modem successfully receives the request for bandwidth from the first remote unit of the plurality of remote units.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first remote unit is further configured to retransmit the request for bandwidth when there is a collision on the first tone

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first remote unit is further configured to retransmit the request for bandwidth using an exponential back-off procedure when there is a collision on the first tone.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the first remote unit is configured to detect a potential collision on the first tone between signals transmitted by the first remote unit and signals from another remote unit.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first remote unit is configured to detect a potential collision on the first tone based on whether the information is received from the multipoint-to-point host unit.

13. A system comprising:

a host unit;

a plurality of remote units using a multiple access scheme to communicate at the same time with the host unit using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM);

wherein the host unit allocates orthogonal tones within the system to the plurality of remote units;

wherein the host unit sends an adjustment signal to at least one of the remote units instructing the at least one remote unit to adjust the timing of transmissions from the remote unit to improve orthogonality of an OFDM waveform received at the host unit; and

wherein when the host unit detects that at least one of the orthogonal tones allocated to the at least one remote unit has become corrupted, the host unit allocates a different orthogonal tone to the at least one remote unit.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the host unit monitors a bit error rate for orthogonal tones in use to detect when tones become corrupted.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the host unit sends an adjustment signal to the at least one remote unit instructing the at least one remote unit to adjust a transmission characteristic of an upstream signal already transmitting payload data from the at least one remote unit to improve orthogonality of an OFDM waveform received at the host unit.