Ultra-wideband communication through twisted-pair wire media

Abstract

Methods and apparatus that transmit ultra-wideband signals through twisted-pair wire media are provided. One method includes transmitting an ultra-wideband signal through the twisted-pair wire media at dissimilar time periods. Another method includes transmitting an ultra-wideband signal through the twisted-pair wire media at dissimilar radio frequencies. Yet another method includes transmitting an ultra-wideband signal through the twisted-pair wire media at dissimilar time periods and at dissimilar radio frequencies. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

1 . An ultra-wideband communication system, comprising: 
 a group of twisted pair wire media;    an ultra-wideband transmitter structured to transmit an ultra-wideband signal through a twisted-pair wire medium of the group; and    an ultra-wideband receiver structured to receive the ultra-wideband signal from the twisted-pair wire medium.    
     
     
         2 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-wideband signal comprises a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 10 picoseconds to about 1 millisecond.  
     
     
         3 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-wideband signal comprises a pulse of electromagnetic energy having a duration that can range between about 0.1 nanoseconds to about 100 nanoseconds and a power that can range between about +30 power decibels to about −60 power decibels, as measured at a single frequency.  
     
     
         4 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the group of twisted-pair wire media is selected from a group consisting of: two pairs of twisted-pair wires; three pairs of twisted-pair wires; four pairs of twisted-pair wires; 25 pairs of twisted-pair wires; 50 pairs of twisted-pair wires; 100 pairs of twisted-pair wires; a shielded Category 1 twisted-pair; a shielded Category 2 twisted-pair; a shielded Category 3 twisted-pair; a shielded Category 4 twisted-pair; a shielded Category 5 twisted-pair; a shielded copper twisted-pair; an unshielded Category 1 twisted-pair; an unshielded Category 2 twisted-pair; an unshielded Category 3 twisted-pair; an unshielded Category 4 twisted-pair; and an unshielded Category 5 twisted-pair.  
     
     
         5 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-wideband transmitter comprises: 
 a data processor;    a pulse generator communicating with the data processor, the pulse generator configured to generate a plurality of electromagnetic pulses;    at least one amplifier communicating with the pulse generator; and    at least one filter communicating with the amplifier.    
     
     
         6 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 5 , wherein the data processor includes a data modulator that modulates data onto the plurality of electromagnetic pulses by a modulation method selected from a group consisting of: pulse amplitude modulation, pulse position modulation, pulse width modulation, on-off keying; binary phase shift keying, quadrature phase shift keying, multi-level binary phase shift keying, multi-level quadrature phase shift keying, pulse frequency modulation, coded recurrence modulation, ternary modulation, and sloped amplitude modulation.  
     
     
         7 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one filter comprises at least two band-pass filters.  
     
     
         8 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 7 , wherein a frequency response of a first band-pass filter is distinct from the frequency response of a second band-pass filter.  
     
     
         9 . The ultra-wideband communication system of  claim 7 , wherein a frequency response of a first band-pass filter overlaps the frequency response of a second band-pass filter.  
     
     
         10 . A method of communication through a wire media, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a twisted-pair wire media comprising a first wire pair and a second wire pair;    transmitting a first ultra-wideband signal on the first wire pair; and    transmitting a second ultra-wideband signal on the second wire pair;    wherein the first and second ultra-wideband signals are transmitted at dissimilar time periods.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of transmitting the first and second ultra-wideband signals at dissimilar time periods reduces cross talk between the first and second wire pairs.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the steps of transmitting the first ultra-wideband signal on the first wire pair and transmitting the second ultra-wideband signal on the second wire pair comprises: 
 transmitting the first ultra-wideband signal according to a first transmission code;    transmitting the second ultra-wideband signal according to a second transmission code;    wherein the first and second transmission codes prevent the first and second ultra-wideband signals from being transmitted substantially simultaneously.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second transmission codes are either orthogonal or are generated pseudo-randomly, or both orthogonal and are generated pseudo-randomly.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a signal on either the first or second wire pair;    disregarding the signal if the signal is received at a time period that does not correspond to a transmitted time period.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 either transmitting the first and second ultra-wideband signals across substantially all of a bandwidth of the first and second wire pairs or transmitting the first and second ultra-wideband signals across a portion of the bandwidth of the first and second wire pairs.    
     
     
         16 . A method of communication through a wire media, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a twisted-pair wire media comprising a first wire pair and a second wire pair;    transmitting a first ultra-wideband signal on the first wire pair; and    transmitting a second ultra-wideband signal on the second wire pair;    wherein the first and second ultra-wideband signals are transmitted at dissimilar radio frequencies and at dissimilar time periods.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of transmitting the first and second ultra-wideband signals at dissimilar time periods and radio frequencies reduces cross talk between the first and second wire pair.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the steps of transmitting the first ultra-wideband signal on the first wire pair and transmitting the second ultra-wideband signal on the second wire pair comprises: 
 transmitting the first ultra-wideband signal according to a first transmission code;    transmitting the second ultra-wideband signal according to a second transmission code;    wherein the first and second transmission codes prevent the first and second ultra-wideband signals from being transmitted substantially simultaneously and at similar radio frequencies.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second transmission codes are either orthogonal or are generated pseudo-randomly or both orthogonal and are generated pseudo-randomly.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a signal on either the first or second wire;    disregarding the signal if the signal is received at a radio frequency and a time period that does not correspond to a transmitted radio frequency and time period.