538results about "Substations coupling interface circuits" patented technology

A local area network within a residence or other building, including both wired and non-wired segments. The wired segments are based on new or existing wires in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets, such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module which serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units connected by wires and data units connected without wires.

An enhanced communication connector assembly capable of meeting Category 6 performance levels with respect to near end crosstalk (NEXT), when the assembly is connected to a mating connector. The assembly includes a wire board, and a number of elongated terminal contact wires with base portions that are supported on the board. The contact wires have free end portions opposite the base portions for making electrical contact with a mating connector. A crosstalk compensating device on the wire board is constructed and arranged to cooperate with sections of selected terminal contact wires to provide capacitive compensation coupling between the selected terminal contact wires, when the contact wires are engaged by the mating connector.

System and methods for determining an optimized transmit spectra (spectral distributions of transmission power) for a set of communications channels that experience cross-talk among themselves and for transmitting data on the channels. The transmit spectra are preferably constructed so that largely contiguous frequency bands are allocated to each signaling direction (upstream / downstream) on each communications channel and / or to each channel in the set of channels. In one embodiment, each communications channel is restricted to a maximum time-averaged power. The method preferably includes steps of determining the channel transfer functions of the communications channel, determining interference characteristics of the channels, calculating substantially optimal transmit spectra for the communications channels, and redistributing the frequency bins so that they are contiguously grouped in each transmit spectra. The contiguous groupings allow wider frequency bands for signaling in the channel. In one embodiment, the channel is limited by a “peak-power constraint.”

A line state detecting apparatus provided in a balanced transmission system includes, in transmission lines comprising a pair of conductors W1, W2 connected to a transmitting portion 13, current transformers T11, T12 primary sides of which are inserted to respectives thereof in series therewith and secondary sides of which are connected in series to cancel currents or voltages of the two transformer by each other, and a detecting portion 11 for detecting currents or voltages on secondary sides of the current transformers T11, T12. By an output of the detecting portion 11, a difference of currents or voltages of the conductors W1, W2 of the transmission lines is provided and an unbalance component between the conductors W1, W2 is detected.

A wireless cable replacement system. A personal area network, comprising a device having a first wireless transceiver, and an adapter having a second wireless transceiver in communication with the first wireless transceiver, and a plug capable of mating to a jack coupled to a local backbone.

In conjunction with a wiring in a house carrying data network signal, a modular outlet comprising of a base module and interface module. The base module connects to the wiring and attached to a wall. The interface module provides a data unit connection. The interface module is mechanically attached to the base module and electrically connected thereto. The wiring may also carry basic service signal such as telephone, electrical power and cable television (CATV). In such a case, the outlet will provide the relevant connectivity either as part of the base module or as part of the interface module. Both proprietary and industry standard interfaces can be used to interconnect the module. Furthermore, a standard computer expansion card (such as PCI, PCMCIA and alike) may be used as interface module.

A locator that can be mounted to an outlet box of a network and connected to a peripheral device. The locator includes a first connector and a second connector that are attached to a housing. The locator also includes a circuit that can transmit a stored physical address data to the network. The stored physical address data corresponds to a physical location of the outlet box.

Systems for connecting telecommunications infrastructure lines to telephones, handsets, computers, telecopy machines and other end user interfaces or consumer electronics devices in a residence or business. Systems according to the present invention include Network Control Units which form the center of a star topology and which communicate via RF link with Wireless Access Units and handsets. Wireless Access Units feature an interface, such as, for example, a standard telephone jack, for accommodating a telephone, a fax machine, a compute modem or other device. Computers or other devices may also be accommodated by Wireless Access Units having other physical and virtual interfaces, including, for instance, serial ports or network interfaces. The Wireless Access Units may also be digital to accommodate ISDN or any other digital standard. Wireless control / monitoring accessories may also be employed to communicate with the Network Control Unit and provide additional functionality such as entrance monitoring, baby monitoring, HVAC control and other services. Personal Communication Links provide wireless handset and speakerphone services. The Personal Communication Links include independent talk / listen paths from the unit to the Network Control Unit. In addition, each Personal Communication Link includes circuitry for automatically adjusting from high-volume / high-microphone sensitivity for speakerphone operation to low-volume / low-microphone sensitivity for conventional handset operation.

An apparatus and a method of realizing an antenna matching in accordance with a user's body effect and a state of a mobile device are provided. The method includes determining a state of the mobile device on a basis of a call mode and at least one of whether an external device is connected to the mobile device, whether a receiver is being used, whether a speaker is being used, and whether a proximity sensor is activated, determining an optimal Tunable Matching Network (TMN) circuit adjustment value in accordance with the determined state, and performing the antenna matching in accordance with the optimal TMN circuit adjustment value.

In order to overcome problems when using an adaptive filter for cancellation of common-mode noise in digital subscriber loops, caused by a portion of the differential signal being converted to common mode, which degrades the performance of the filter, a noise cancellation technique is proposed which compensates for this cross-coupled signal energy. In particular, a digital noise detector is used to detect one or more noisy frequency bands of the common mode signal and pass only the digitized common mode signal in those detected frequency bands through the adaptive filter to produce a digital common mode noise estimate signal. A control unit adjusts coefficients of the adaptive filter to reduce correlation between the differential signal and common mode signal. It is also proposed to compensate for the effects of stray capacitive coupling across the usual hybrid device by including an equivalent capacitive component in a common mode noise estimation circuit.

A method and apparatus for handling subscriber services from different sources without requiring interaction with different devices. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for receiving multimedia services using session initiation protocol (SIP) messages received from a source, such as a server on a network. In one embodiment, a set-top device is provided in which a SIP control is provided to register a subscriber with a server using SIP messages. A connection to a network, such as the Internet, is provided to communicate with the server. The set-top device is placed in line with the audio and video source to control audio and video streams presented to the subscriber. The set-top device is also configured to receive voice calls from a public switched telephone network (PSTN). Further, the set-top device includes a remote control mechanism, such as an infrared (IR) transmitter and receiver to receive input from the subscriber and to control other devices using IR signals. Also, subscriber services customized for a particular subscriber may be directed to the subscriber at a location when the subscriber registers with the server through a set-top device at that location using SIP. Services, such as, for example, call screening, channel guides, video on demand, and Web browsing are provided through the set-top device and messaging with a server using SIP messages.

A method and apparatus are disclosed. The method includes one or more of the following: compiling statistical models of physical layers of a communications system; creating a priori distributions of cross-talk transfer functions; storing the models and the a priori distribution in a storage medium; and using the models and the a priori distributions to diagnose probable causes of events detected in said communications system.

Integrated telephone with an xDSL-modem (2), comprising a splitter unit (6) for separating telephone signals received via a telephone line (9) in a low-frequency band from data signals received in a high-frequency band via the telephone line (9), a telephone set (3) connected to the splitter unit (6) for the transmission of telephone signals in the low-frequency band; and a high-speed xDSL-modem (2) connected to the splitter unit (6) for the transmission of data signals in the high-frequency band.

For measuring the influence of noise on the talking quality of a telephone link in a telecommunications network, a talker speech signal (s(t)) and a degraded speech signal (s'(t)) are fed to an objective measurement device (22) for obtaining an output signal (q) representing an estimated value of the talking quality. The degraded signal includes a returned signal (r(t)) originating from the network during transmission of the talker speech signal over the telephone link. The objective measurement carried out by the device is a modified PSQM-like measurement, which is modified as to include a modelling (32b) of masking effects in consequence of noise present in the returned signal. Preferably the modelling includes a noise suppression (42) carried out to a difference signal (D(t, f)) in the loudness density domain using a noise estimation (41).

A noise cancellation system configured to isolate and process a common mode noise signal to generate a cancellation signal. The cancellation signal is combined with a differential signal to cancel unwanted differential mode noise that coupled onto the differential signal. In one embodiment a multi-channel communication system utilizes two or more channels that are in close proximity to other alien channels. A common mode signal isolation unit is configured to isolate common mode noise. The common mode noise signal is processed with a filter or other means to generate a cancellation signal. The cancellation signal is combined with the differential signal to thereby cancel noise that coupled onto the differential signal. The processed common mode noise signal may be made to approximate the differential mode noise signal. The common mode signal may be obtained from a center tap of a transformer, or a sensing winding of a three winding transformer.

An analog telephone adapter (ATA) having a subscriber identity component in the format of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) that couples a telephone to a cellular network via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), thereby allowing a cellular service provider to provide an alternative communication service for the home or business. Instead of using the plain old telephone service, a subscriber can plug their analog telephone into the SIM-enabled ATA (SIM-ATA) and receive telephone service from a cellular service provider, eliminating or reducing the need for a traditional Local Exchange Carrier. The SIM-ATA converts signals from analog to digital, and vice-versa. Once the analog telephone signal has been converted to digital, an IP-based protocol (e.g., VoIP) can be used to transmit the telephone call over a digital network. The cellular service provider can then track usage and bill the subscriber accordingly.

According to the invention, a method and apparatus are disclosed for providing multiline telephonic and data services over a single access facility. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wall unit is located at a customer premises which terminates a single analog phone line and adaptively encodes using Voice over Internet Protocol technology and multiplexes a plurality of telephonic and data calls over the single analog phone line. A corresponding gateway server (or a plurality of gateway servers), which supports one or a plurality of wall unit calls, is located in the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”), or possibly in a private telephone network. The gateway server communicates with one or more active wall units to extract one or more telephonic and data calls from the analog signal produced from a wall unit, and to appropriately route the telephonic calls over the PSTN and the data packets over the Internet or to other data services. The telephonic and data devices connected to the wall unit are each assigned individual virtual phone numbers by the provider of the service embodying this invention. To reach one of these devices, its respective virtual telephone number is used. The virtual phone numbers are published across the PSTN and therefore can be reached from anywhere on the PSTN. In another embodiment, virtual phone numbers are not required, as phone calls destined for subscribed telephone number are automatically routed through the gateway server.

An audio conferencing system in which each participant in the conference generates a monaural signal for transmission on an output channel to the other participants, and receives a plurality of input channels from the other participants. The input channels are individually converted to stereophonic signal pairs by respective filter banks having selected predetermined transfer functions. The stereo channels are combined linearly to provide a stereophonic audio output. The system has an echo cancellation system in which an adaptive filter process is applied to the input channels to generate a combined echo cancellation signal for applying to the output channel.

An apparatus (40) and method for switching a customer-premises telephone line (36) between a plurality of local telephone networks (35). The local telephone networks may have different electrical and operational characteristics. Using less than 100 micro-amperes of current from the telephone networks, the apparatus (40) requires no external power and performs its tasks without interfering with the normal operation of the telephone networks including test equipment, terminal equipment, data transmission on the telephone line and test equipment. The method involves monitoring electrical signals on both local telephone networks (35) and using this information to assign a weight to each network. The customer-premises telephone line (36) is switched to the telephone network having the highest weight. The advantages are the elimination of a service call by a technician to manually switch the customer premises telephone line (36), equal access by both service providers to the switch and a seamless interface to the telephone networks.

A method and apparatus for modeling a network comprising a plurality of transmission lines is described, the method and system being adapted to measure loop parameters of first transmission line to provide measured loop parameters, determine a topology of the first transmission line by analyzing the measured loop parameters with reference to at least a one model of a plurality of models for transmission lines of different topologies, select a further model for estimating crosstalk related parameters based on the determined topology, and estimate at least one crosstalk related parameter based on the determined topolgy and the selected further model.

Methods, apparatus and systems for identifying crosstalk interference in xDSL systems are disclosed and are useful in a variety of xDSL systems to assist in the provisioning, maintenance and diagnosis of the xDSL system and in spectral management and assignments. Signal data are collected from a receiver, a primary transmitter and any crosstalk transmitters. The signal data are resampled, if necessary. A first estimate of the timing offset between the received signal and each crosstalk signal is then obtained by cross-correlating the received data with the transmitted crosstalk data. The first timing offset estimate is then used in connection with a least-squares estimation of the crosstalk response for the considered crosstalk data and a second estimate of the timing offset. The invention may be used at a third party site remote from the system transmitters and receivers. The crosstalk identification of the present invention can be used in dynamic spectrum management for DSL services and signals.

Resistance in parallel with inductors in a series leg of the low-pass filter facilitates changing input and output resistance of the filter with little or no change in the reactance of the inductors. Furthermore, the reactance of the capacitors in the shunt legs of the filter will be substantially unaffected. This assists the designer in matching the impedance of the filter in the pass-band while still providing substantial impedance mismatching in the stop-band without substantially affecting the characteristics of the filter. Facilitating impedance matching in the pass-band and impedance mismatching in the stop-band is accomplished without the need for more complex active components. POTS splitters making use of such filters can facilitate impedance matching of line and load termination in a telecommunications system in response to signals within the frequencies of typical analog telephony service while providing impedance mismatching in response to signals within the frequencies of typical xDSL service.

A digital access arrangement for (i) isolating downstream components from twisted pair copper wire and (ii) separating upstream and downstream communications channels. The line isolation is performed with relatively small, lightweight components, such as an optical isolation unit for example, and can be operated with signals modulated at relatively high frequencies and having relatively high data rates and amplitudes.

An access node of a communication system comprises a plurality of transmitters adapted for communication with at least one receiver over a plurality of channels. The access node is operative to obtain estimated crosstalk coefficients between a joining channel and an active channel, and to set a power level of at least one signal transmitted over the joining channel based on the estimated crosstalk coefficients. The access node obtains the estimated crosstalk coefficients by first obtaining a subset of the estimated crosstalk coefficients and subsequently determining additional ones of the estimated crosstalk coefficients by applying an interpolation process to the estimated crosstalk coefficients in the subset. The access node sets the power level of the signal transmitted over the joining channel in a manner that ensures maintenance of a desired performance characteristic for the active channel.

A laptop device includes a personal computer, a cellular transceiver, a speakerphone, and a hybrid communications control unit. The device has connectors for attaching a headset, cellular control unit, land telephone line, and additional speakers and microphones. The micro-processor-controlled hybrid communications control unit includes a modem, a data access arrangement, and a tone generator as well as digital, analog, and power switches. The hybrid communications control unit switches the communications components and provides, under program control, the proper protocols, level, and impedance matching to connect the modem, speakerphone, headset, speaker / microphone, or cellular control unit to the landline or to the cellular network via the transceiver. Matching and switching operations are automatic and transparent to the user. The unit can also connect two of the terminal devices or connect the cellular and landlines for call relaying. The device is capable of connecting plural calls at the same time. The hybrid communications control unit may be controlled by its internal firmware, by toggle switches, or by commands issued from the personal computer.

An access node of a communication system comprises a plurality of transmitters adapted for communication with at least one receiver. The access node is operative to simultaneously estimate channel coefficients between multiple ones of the transmitters and the receiver, and to utilize the estimated channel coefficients to control at least one data signal sent by at least one of the multiple transmitters to the receiver. In the process of simultaneously estimating the channel coefficients, the access node transmits a plurality of distinct probing signals generated based on respective ones of a plurality of different frequency expansions. For example, each of the distinct probing signals may be generated based on a distinct combination of a common probing sequence and a selected one of the plurality of different frequency expansions.

A crosstalk compensator provides for the compensation of mismatches in mutual coupling capacitances between adjacent parallel wire pairs. The aforementioned mismatch in mutual coupling capacitance may arise in a customer premises wiring system which may consist of at least the drop cable, cable run and / or receiver cable (from the service drop point to a digital device). Mismatches in the mutual coupling capacitances in the customer premises wiring system may give rise to undesirable levels of premises end crosstalk (PEXT) interference for which the crosstalk compensator has been designed to mitigate by providing a system and method for the connection of compensating capacitors between pairs of conductors selected from the plurality of subscriber loop conductors such that the mismatch is reduced or eliminated. The crosstalk compensator may be implemented in a variety of formats, including firmware or program code residing on a computer-readable medium, hardware, or a combination thereof.

A wireless handheld device includes one or more antennas and a connector configured to couple with one or more external accessories. The handheld device further includes an accessory detector coupled to the connector and configured to detect whether an external accessory coupled to the connector may interfere with wireless communication with the handheld device.

A VoIP device comprises a subscriber line interface circuit, a relay, a processor, and a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) coupling circuit. The relay is selectively coupled to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or coupled to a VoIP network through the subscriber line interface circuit. The processor determines whether a transmission from the telephone through the subscriber line interface circuit is a PSTN phone number or a VoIP phone number. When the transmission is a VoIP phone number, the processor routes the transmission to the VoIP network. When the transmission is a PSTN phone number, the processor instructs the subscriber line interface circuit to generate a DTMF redial number. The DTMF coupling circuit receives the DTMF redial number and routes the DTMF redial number to the PSTN network.