US5537436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Simultaneous analog and digital communication applications
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-14
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Granted: 1996-07-16
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Expires: 2013-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A number of arrangements and methods that achieve concurrent communication of analog information and digital information. In general terms, when the communication channel is viewed as a multi-dimensional space, the digital information signal is divided into symbols, and the symbols are mapped onto the signal space with a preset distance between them. The analog signal, generally limited in magnitude to less than half the distance separating the symbols, is converted to component signals and added (i.e., vector addition) to the symbols. The sum signal is then transmitted to the receiver where the symbols are detected and subtracted from the received signal to yield the analog signal components. The transmitted analog signal is recreated from those components. Arrangements utilizing the above principles are applications where systems that include a digital port can benefit from an analog communication channel, and conversely, where systems that include an analog port can benefit from a digital communication channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Bottoms
- 👤 Gordon Bremer
- 👤 Joseph Q. Chapman
- 👤 William R. Davis
- 👤 Kenneth D. Ko
- 👤 D. Randy Roberson
- 👤 Luke J. Smithwick
- 👤 Richard K. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 03:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L27/00; H04L27/32; H04L27/34; H04L27/345; H04L27/3461; H04L27/3483; H04J; H04J7/00; H04L27/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A modem system comprising: a signal mapper having digital symbols applied to the mapper at a digital port and analog signal samples applied to the mapper at an analog port, for developing mapper output signals that represent the digital symbols and the analog samples; a modulator, responsive to the signal mapper output signals, for developing a modulated output signal at an output port of the modulator representable by a N-dimensional signal space that is composed of a plurality of N-dimensional sub-spaces, where N is an integer greater than 1, the sub-spaces are areas when N is 2 and volumes when N is greater than 2, a predetermined point in each of the sub-spaces being associated with a predetermined digital symbol applied to said mapper in each of the N dimensions, with a zero level analog sample in each of the N dimensions, and other points in each of the volumes associated with the predetermined digital symbols in each of the N dimensions and a non-zero level analog sample in at least one of the N dimensions, and the analog samples in each of the N dimensions form a mutually exclusive set; and means for coupling the output port of the modulator to an output port of the modem.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A modem system comprising: a signal mapper having digital symbols applied to the mapper at a digital port and analog signal samples applied to the mapper at an analog port, for developing mapper output signals that represent the digital symbols and the analog samples; a modulator, responsive to the signal mapper output signals, for developing a modulated output signal at an output port of the modulator representable by a N-dimensional signal space that is composed of a plurality of N-dimensional sub-spaces, where N is an integer greater than 1, the sub-spaces are areas when N is 2 and volumes when N is greater than 2, a predetermined point in each of the sub-spaces being associated with a predetermined digital symbol applied to said mapper in each of the N dimensions, with a zero level analog sample in each of the N dimensions, and other points in each of the volumes associated with the predetermined digital symbols in each of the N dimensions and a non-zero level analog sample in at least one of the N dimensions, and the analog samples in each of the N dimensions form a mutually exclusive set; and means for coupling the output port of the modulator to an output port of the modem.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modem of claim 1 further comprising a user appliance connected to the digital port.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The modem of claim 1 further comprising a PBX connected to the output port of the modem.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The modem of claim 3 wherein the analog port of the modem is connected to said PBX.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The modem of claim 3 wherein the digital port of the modem is connected to said PBX.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The modem of claim 1 further comprising a wireless base station coupled to the analog port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The modem of claim 6 wherein said wireless base station is a cordless telephone base station, further comprising digital user apparatus connected to the digital port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The modem of claim 1 further comprising electronic game apparatus coupled to the digital port of the modem, with the analog port adapted for connecting a telephone instrument thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modem of claim 8 further comprising visual display means coupled to the game apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modem of claim 1 further comprising a television system coupled to the analog port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The modem of claim 10 wherein the television system is also connected to the digital port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The modem of claim 10 wherein the television system is also coupled to a band-splitting means that is responsive to a signal applied at a wide-band port and wherein the modem output port is also responsive to the band-splitting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modem of claim 1 incorporated in a pluggable assembly consonant with the PCMCIA standard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The modem of claim 1 having a portable computer connected to the digital port thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The modem of claim 14 further comprising wireless transmission and receiving circuitry connected to the output port thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The modem of claim 1 further comprising: first means, for implementing telephone functions, coupled to the analog port, and second means, including visual display means, coupled to the digital port.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |