Multiple input, multiple output (mimo) communication system over in-premises wires

Abstract

A multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communications unit includes a multiplicity of analog front ends and a MIMO processor. Each analog front end is connectable to a different two of the wires in a subscriber premises and each handles data of one channel. The MIMO processor processes together the data of the channels. In one embodiment, the wires are the power line wires in a subscriber premises, including the phase, neutral and ground power line wires. In another embodiment, the wires are pairs of telephony wires.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications receiver for an in-premises multi-point network, the receiver comprising:
 a multiplicity of analog front ends each connectable to a different two of a plurality of wires in a subscriber premises, said plurality of wires forming a shared medium of said network, each different two of said plurality of wires forming a respective channel, and each said analog front end to receive a respective signal of one channel; and   a MIMO processor to process together received signals from said channels, at least a portion of said received signals being received simultaneously from said channels,   wherein said multiplicity is at least two,   wherein said wires are phase, neutral and ground power line wires of said premises,   wherein data to be transmitted is split into two independent data streams when symbols for transmitting said data as two signals along said channels are created,   wherein each said received signal received by each said analog front end comprises a contribution of said two independent data streams, and   wherein said MIMO processor generates said transmitted data by first separating said two received signals into said two independent data streams.   
     
     
         24 . The receiver according to  claim 23 , wherein one analog front end is connected to said phase and neutral wires and another analog front end is connected to said neutral and ground wires. 
     
     
         25 . The receiver according to  claim 23 , wherein one analog front end is connected to said phase and ground wires and another analog front end is connected to said phase and neutral wires. 
     
     
         26 . The receiver according to  claim 23 , wherein one analog front end is connected to said phase and ground wires and another analog front end is connected to said ground and neutral wires. 
     
     
         27 . The receiver according to  claim 23 , wherein said phase wire comprises multiple phase wires of said premises. 
     
     
         28 . A multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) power line communications transmitter for an in-premises multi-point network, the transmitter comprising:
 a multiplicity of analog front ends each connectable to a different two of a plurality of wires in a subscriber premises, said plurality of wires forming a shared medium of said network, each different two of said plurality of wires forming a respective channel, and each said analog front end to transmit a respective signal of one channel; and   a MIMO processor to process data to be transmitted along said channels as transmitted data, at least a portion of said data being transmitted as signals simultaneously along said channels,   wherein said multiplicity is at least two,   wherein said wires are phase, neutral and ground wires of said premises, and   wherein said transmitted data is split into two independent data streams when symbols for transmitting said transmitted data as two signals along said channels are created.   
     
     
         29 . The transmitter according to  claim 28 , wherein one analog front end is connected to said phase and neutral wires and another analog front end is connected to said neutral and ground wires. 
     
     
         30 . The transmitter according to  claim 28 , wherein one analog front end is connected to said phase and ground wires and another analog front end is connected to said phase and neutral wires. 
     
     
         31 . The transmitter according to  claim 28 , wherein one analog front end is connected to said phase and ground wires and another analog front end is connected to said ground and neutral wires. 
     
     
         32 . The transmitter according to  claim 28 , wherein said phase wire comprises multiple phase wires of said premises. 
     
     
         33 . A method of communicating across power lines, the method comprising:
 communicating data between at least two in-premises network devices along more than one channel, each channel defined by a different two of a plurality of wires in a subscriber premises, said data being split into two independent data streams when symbols for transmitting said data as two signals are created; and   using multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) processing of said two signals received along said plurality of wires, at least a portion of said two signals being received simultaneously from said channels,   wherein said wires are phase, neutral and ground wires of a subscriber premises,   wherein each said signal received along said plurality of wires comprises a contribution of said two independent data streams, and   wherein said MIMO processing generates said transmitted data by first separating said two signals received along said plurality of wires into said two independent data streams.   
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein one of said more than one channel comprises said phase and ground wires and another one of said more than one channel comprises said ground and neutral wires. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein one of said more than one channel comprises said phase and neutral wires and another one of said more than one channel comprises said ground and neutral wires. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein one of said more than one channel comprises said phase and ground wires and another one of said more than one channel comprises said phase and neutral wires. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 33 , wherein said phase wire comprises multiple phase wires of said subscriber premises.