Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 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+1 signal points, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 4, arranged in a modified rectangular array with substantially 2 2n-1 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 array having I and Q component amplitudes of 1,3,5, . . . units, the rectangular array being modified by relocating a plurality of points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the rectangle to positions extrapolated from the rectangular 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 rectangular array, rotated through an angle of 180° about a point having I and Q amplitude co-ordinates of substantially (2 n ,2 n ).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
192 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+1 signal points, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 4, arranged in a modified rectangular array with substantially 2 2n-1 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 array having I and Q component amplitudes of 1,3,5, . . . units, the rectangular array being modified by relocating a plurality of points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the rectangle to positions extrapolated from the rectangular 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 rectangular array, rotated through an angle of 180° about a point having I and Q amplitude co-ordinates of substantially (2 n ,2 n ).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein in each quadrant each of a plurality of the signal points which are relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the rectangular array, in which one of its I and Q amplitude co-ordinates is increased by 2 n and the other is reduced by 2 n .
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 32 signal points are relocated in each quadrant.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said majority of the relocated points comprises 22 points each quadrant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said plurality of signal points which are relocated each with one of its I and Q amplitude co-ordinates increased by 2 n and the other reduced by 2 n comprises 8 signal points in each quadrant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signal point constellation is symmetrical about the I and Q axes and about lines passing through the origin at angles of 45° with respect to the I and Q axes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the signal point constellation is symmetrical about the I and Q axes and about lines passing through the origin at angles of 45° with respect to the I and Q axes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the signal point constellation is symmetrical about the I and Q axes and about lines passing through the origin at angles of 45° with respect to the I and Q axes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein n=4 and the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is not more than about √666 units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is not more than about √666 units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein n=4 and the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is substantially √650 units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is substantially √650 units.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
223 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 512 signal points arranged in a modified rectangular array with 128 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 array having I and Q component amplitudes of 1, 3, 5, . . . units, the rectangular array being modified by relocating 32 points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the rectangle to positions extrapolated from the rectangular array and having reduced distances from the origin, wherein in each quadrant: each of about 22 points so relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the rectangular array, rotated through an angle of 180° about a point having I and Q amplitude co-ordinates of substantially (16,16); and each of at least about 8 other points so relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the rectangular array, in which one of its I and Q amplitude co-ordinates is increased by 16 units and the other is reduced by 16 units.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
223 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 512 signal points arranged in a modified rectangular array with 128 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 array having I and Q component amplitudes of 1, 3, 5, . . . units, the rectangular array being modified by relocating 32 points in each quadrant from positions adjacent to a corner of the rectangle to positions extrapolated from the rectangular array and having reduced distances from the origin, wherein in each quadrant: each of about 22 points so relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the rectangular array, rotated through an angle of 180° about a point having I and Q amplitude co-ordinates of substantially (16,16); and each of at least about 8 other points so relocated is located in a position, relative to the position which it would have in the rectangular array, in which one of its I and Q amplitude co-ordinates is increased by 16 units and the other is reduced by 16 units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the signal point constellation is symmetrical about the I and Q axes and about lines passing through the origin at angles of 45° with respect to the I and Q axes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is substantially √650 units.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein two further ones of the points which are so relocated are relocated from positions with co-ordinates (27,1) and (31,5) to positions with co-ordinates (11,23) and (9,21) respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is substantially √650 units.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the greatest distance of any signal point from the origin is not more than about √666 units.