Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of quadrature-phase amplitude modulation comprising the step of amplitude modulating two carrier signal components I and Q in phase quadrature in accordance with signal points in a signal point constellation, the signal point constellation comprising 2 2n signal points, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 4, arranged in a modified square array with substantially 2 2n-2 points in each of four quadrants defined by I and Q axes intersecting at an origin of a phase-plane diagram, the signal points in each quadrant of the square array having I and Q component amplitudes of 1, 3, 5, . . . 2 n -1 units, the square array being modified by relocating a plurality of points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the square to positions extrapolated from the square array and having reduced distances from the origin, wherein in each quadrant each of a majority of the points so relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the square array, rotated through an angle of 180° about one of two predetermined points, said two predetermined points having I and Q amplitude co-ordinates of substantially (2 n ,2 n-1 ) and (2 n-1 ,2 n ).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of quadrature-phase amplitude modulation comprising the step of amplitude modulating two carrier signal components I and Q in phase quadrature in accordance with signal points in a signal point constellation, the signal point constellation comprising 2 2n signal points, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 4, arranged in a modified square array with substantially 2 2n-2 points in each of four quadrants defined by I and Q axes intersecting at an origin of a phase-plane diagram, the signal points in each quadrant of the square array having I and Q component amplitudes of 1, 3, 5, . . . 2 n -1 units, the square array being modified by relocating a plurality of points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the square to positions extrapolated from the square array and having reduced distances from the origin, wherein in each quadrant each of a majority of the points so relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the square array, rotated through an angle of 180° about one of two predetermined points, said two predetermined points having I and Q amplitude co-ordinates of substantially (2 n ,2 n-1 ) and (2 n-1 ,2 n ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in each quadrant all of the signal points so relocated are located in positions rotated through an angle of 180° about said predetermined points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein n=4.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein 5 signal points are relocated in each quadrant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein n=5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein 19 signal points are relocated in each quadrant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in each quadrant all but one of the relocated signal points are located in positions rotated through an angle of 180° about said predetermined points.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein n=4.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein 6 signal points are relocated in each quadrant, five of them being located in positions rotated through an angle of 180° about said predetermined points.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein n=5.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein 19 signal points are relocated in each quadrant, 18 of them being located in positions rotated through an angle of 180° about said predetermined points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein in each quadrant the nineteenth relocated signal point is located in a position having a separation of at least (8) 1/2 units from the nearest adjacent signal point in the same quadrant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein n=4.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein in each quadrant 5 signal points are relocated to positions rotated through an angle of 180° about said predetermined points.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
9 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein n=5.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein in each quadrant at least 18 signal points are relocated to positions rotated through an angle of 180° about said predetermined points.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal points in the four quadrants are relocated so that the signal point constellation is symmetric about the I and Q axes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal points in the four quadrants are relocated so that the signal point constellation is rotationally invariant for phase changes of 90°.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of quadrature-phase amplitude modulation comprising the step of amplitude modulating two carrier signal components I and Q in phase quadrature in accordance with signal points in a signal point constellation, the signal point constellation comprising 2 2n signal points, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 4, arranged in a modified square array with substantially 2 2n-2 points in each of four quadrants defined by I and Q axes intersecting at an origin of a phase-plane diagram, the square array being modified by relocating a plurality of points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the square to positions extrapolated from the square array and having reduced distances from the origin, wherein each of a majority of the points so relocated is relocated, about an axis parallel to one of said I and Q axes and substantially bisecting the points in the quadrant, to a position at substantially the same distance from said axis.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of quadrature-phase amplitude modulation comprising the step of amplitude modulating two carrier signal components I and Q in phase quadrature in accordance with signal points in a signal point constellation, the signal point constellation comprising 2 2n signal points, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 4, arranged in a modified square array with substantially 2 2n-2 points in each of four quadrants defined by I and Q axes intersecting at an origin of a phase-plane diagram, the square array being modified by relocating a plurality of points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the square to positions extrapolated from the square array and having reduced distances from the origin, wherein each of a majority of the points so relocated is relocated, about an axis parallel to one of said I and Q axes and substantially bisecting the points in the quadrant, to a position at substantially the same distance from said axis.