Full-Duplex Coupling Unit With Frequency Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing full-duplex communication systems over shared transmission media, such as coaxial cables, face challenges in reducing costs and complexity due to the need for adaptive hybrid circuits and echo cancelers that operate over a wide range of frequencies, which are expensive and complex.

Innovation Solution

A communication device with a coupling unit featuring a diplexer and a switching controller that splits the communication spectrum into low-frequency and high-frequency bands, allowing for efficient frequency division multiplexing and de-multiplexing, eliminating the need for expensive hybrid circuits and echo cancelers by ensuring upstream and downstream carriers are in different frequency bands, and using a diplexer for easy signal separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive hybrid circuits and echo cancelers are used to achieve full-duplex communication over a wide frequency range, then full-duplex communication capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefull-duplex communication capabilityVSAvoidcomplexity of hybrid circuits and echo cancelers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency spectrum is segmented into two disjoint ranges: a first frequency range for downstream communication and a second frequency range for upstream communication. This segmentation allows the use of simpler, non-adaptive hybrid circuits and echo cancelers designed for specific frequency ranges rather than requiring complex adaptive circuits that operate across the entire frequency spectrum.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters of the hybrid circuits and echo cancelers by assigning them to specific frequency ranges rather than requiring them to operate across all frequencies. The switching controller dynamically changes which frequency range is active based on whether downstream or upstream communication is occurring, thereby using simpler circuits with fixed characteristics for each frequency band.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If adaptive hybrid circuits and echo cancelers are used to operate over a wide frequency range, then full-duplex communication is enabled, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefull-duplex communication capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost of subscriber equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency spectrum is segmented into two disjoint ranges: a first frequency range for downstream communication and a second frequency range for upstream communication. This segmentation allows the use of simpler, non-adaptive hybrid circuits and echo cancelers designed for specific frequency ranges rather than requiring complex adaptive circuits that operate across the entire frequency spectrum.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive, complex adaptive hybrid circuits with cheaper, simpler hybrid circuits and echo cancelers that operate at fixed frequency characteristics. These simpler circuits are sufficient when the frequency range is divided and assigned to specific communication directions, thereby reducing manufacturing costs for subscriber equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If frequency division multiplexing is used to separate upstream and downstream carriers into different frequency bands, then cross-user interference is reduced, but signal bandwidth is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-user interferenceVSAvoidavailable bandwidth for communication

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The frequency spectrum is segmented into two disjoint ranges: a first frequency range for downstream communication and a second frequency range for upstream communication. This segmentation effectively separates upstream and downstream signals, reducing cross-user interference while utilizing the available bandwidth efficiently through the coupling unit that connects multiple users to the shared transmission medium.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the design of cable modems, reduces costs, and effectively mitigates cross-user interference by allowing simultaneous full-duplex operation with improved data throughput and reduced signal clipping, while maintaining high data rates.

Implementation Method 1

a first filter for passing communication signals from/to the shared transmission medium within a first communication frequency range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 2

a second filter for passing communication signals from/to the shared transmission medium within a second communication frequency range disjoint from the first communication frequency range

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 3

A communication device with a coupling unit featuring a diplexer and a switching controller that splits the communication spectrum into low-frequency and high-frequency bands, allowing for efficient frequency division multiplexing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency division multiplexing: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS11489654B2Apparatus and method for full-duplex communication over a shared transmission medium

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 VECIMA NETWORKS INC

AI summary

The communication device includes a transmitter for transmitting communication signals through a transmitter output terminal, a receiver for receiving communication signals through a receiver input terminal, and a coupling unit for coupling the transmitter output terminal and the receiver input terminal to the shared transmission medium, and including a first filter for passing communication signals from/to the shared transmission medium within a first communication frequency range, and a second filter for passing communication signals from/to the shared transmission medium within a second communication frequency range disjoint from the first communication frequency range.