Home Gateway Impedance Adaptation for Telephone Line Echo

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current home gateways require complex configuration and may not function optimally due to impedance mismatch and local echo issues, especially when installed in parallel with long telephone lines, and they do not easily accommodate pre-existing wiring or unbundled lines, making installation difficult for subscribers and operators.

Innovation Solution

A home gateway with conditional re-injection capabilities that automatically determines the unbundling state of the telephone line and adjusts impedance and amplification settings based on line characteristics, allowing for seamless switching between ports to minimize subscriber intervention and ensure optimal signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If home gateway is installed in parallel with long telephone lines, then ease of installation is improved, but impedance mismatch and local echo increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidimpedance mismatch and local echo
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway dynamically adjusts its impedance settings based on the detected line configuration. The system automatically switches between series and parallel connection modes and adapts impedance values to match the actual telephone line conditions, thereby maintaining signal quality while allowing flexible installation configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway incorporates automatic detection mechanisms that monitor the telephone line state and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust impedance parameters and connection modes based on real-time line conditions, resolving impedance mismatch and local echo issues without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If complex configuration is required, then transmission quality can be optimized, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway performs self-configuration by automatically detecting telephone line characteristics and setting appropriate impedance parameters without user intervention. The system autonomously identifies connection modes (series/parallel) and adjusts settings to optimize transmission quality, eliminating the need for complex manual configuration while maintaining optimal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If pre-existing wiring is not accommodated, then transmission quality is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidaccommodation of pre-existing wiring
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway changes its operational parameters (impedance values, connection modes) to adapt to different telephone line configurations. By detecting whether the line is bundled or unbundled and adjusting impedance settings accordingly, the system maintains transmission quality while accommodating pre-existing wiring arrangements without requiring reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2166739B1Haushaltsverbindung mit Einspritzung
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
  • EP2166739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2166739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2166739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The gateway (GW3) has an internal balance impedance with a predefine value and presented at a telephone line (LT), and amplifiers including variable gains with predefined values and for amplifying signals during transmission and reception. A modification unit modifies a value of the impedance and the gains based on characteristics of the line to obtain a length of a part of the line connecting a network equipment to a port of the gateway. The length is known by a remote management equipment i.e. digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), accessible by the gateway. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for configuring a domestic gateway (2) a computer program comprising instructions to perform a method for configuring a domestic gateway.