TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED TONE DETECTION

Abstract: In a transmission system a signalling tone is transmitted by a transmitter (2) to a receiver (6) via a transmission channel (4). In the receiver (6) a tone detector is used to detect the presence of the signalling tone. In order to improve the reliability of the tone detector (6) a number of correlating elements (14, 16, 18, 20) is used which determine a correlation value between the input signal and a reference signal (o1, o2, o3, o4). The absolute output signals of these correlating elements (14, 16, 18, 20) are added by an adder (42) to derive the combined correlation signal to be used for detection.

Description: "Transmission system with improved tone detection" The invention is related to a transmission system comprising a transmitter for transmission of a tone via a transmission channel to a receiver, said receiver comprising a detector for detecting the presence of said signalling tone in the received signal. The invention is also related to a receiver, a tone detector and a method for tone detection. A transmission system according to the preamble is known from the journal article "ADSI: maximising the synergy between the network and terminals" by B. Bowles in Telephony, August 29, 1994. Recently, telephone terminals provided with a display have become available. These telephone terminals are arranged to operate according to the Analogue Display Service Interface standard (ADSI). Said standard enables the transmission of data in addition to the transmission of speech signals to and from the telephone terminal. In order to distinguish between speech and data a so called CAS-signal (CPE Alerting Signal) is transmitted by the transmitter to indicate that a data signal will be transmitted. The CAS signal is constituted by two tones, having a frequency of 2130 Hz and 27S0 Hz, which are transmitted simultaneously during 80 msec. This double tone has to be detected under the presence of speech, making a reliable detection of the double tone rather difficult. The object of the invention is to provide a transmission system according to the preamble in which a reliable detection of a tone is possible. Therefor the invention is characterised in that the detector comprises a correlator for deriving a combined correlation signal being representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals each representative of a correlation value of the received signal and one out of a plurality of phase shifted reference signals. By deriving a combined correlation signal representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals of an input signal and a plurality of phase shifted reference signals, a useful correlation signal is obtained irrespective of the phase of the input signal. In addition each of the correlation signals will have a contribution to the combined correlation signal resulting in a reliable estimation of the presence of the tone to be detected. It is observed that US patent 4,216,463 discloses a tone detector in which a number of correlation signals are determined using phase shifted reference signals. In this tone detector, no combined correlation signal is derived, but only the largest correlation signal is used as output signal. There is no contribution of the correlation signals to a combined correlation signal, which will lead to a less reliable detection of the presence of a signalling tone. An embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the correlator is arranged for deriving modified correlation signals from the correlation signals using an even function and for adding said modified correlation signals. An even function has the property that f(x) is equal to f(-x). Examples of even functions are f(x)=x 2 , f(x)*= x 4 . A simple and effective way of combining the correlation signals is adding their absolute values. Taking the absolute value of a signal can also be regarded as an even function. A further embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the reference signals comprise four reference signals having a mutual phase difference of τ/4. The use of a correlator that derives a combined correlation signal from the input signal and four reference signals with a mutual phase difference of τ/4 has been proven to be a good compromise between performance and complexity. A further embodiment of the invention is characterised in that the detector comprises a correlator for deriving a combined correlation signal being representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals each representative of a correlation value of the input signal and one out of a plurality of phase shifted reference signals. Using at least one additional correlator, being in a measuring state during measuring periods displaced with respect to the measuring period of the correlator allows the detection of a tone having an unknown arrival time. By using mutually displaced measuring periods, it can be assured that always at least one correlation means is in the measuring state during the complete interval the tone to be detected is present. The invention will now be explained more in detail with reference to the drawings. Herein shows: Fig. 1, a transmission system according to the invention; Fig. 2, a digital embodiment of a tone detector to be used with a trans¬ mission system according to the invention; Fig. 3, a timing diagram of several signals in the tone detector according to Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a tone detector having four correlators for use with a transmission system according to the invention; Fig. 5, a timing diagram of the tone detector according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6, an alternative arrangement of the counters to be used in the tone detector according to Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a flow diagram of a software implementation of the tone detector according to Fig. 4. Fig. 8, a transmission system according to a still further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9, an alternative for the decision element 207 according to Fig. 8; Fig. 10, the ouφut signals of the strength measuring devices 216 and 218 as function of the twist. In the transmission system according to Fig. 1 a signal to be transmitted is applied to a transmitter 2. The output of the transmitter 2, carries the signal to be transmitted, possibly in combination with a signalling tone. This output is coupled to a terminal 6 via a transmission channel 4. The input of the terminal 6 is connected to an input of a selector 8 and to an input of a tone detector 10. The input of the tone detector 10 is connected to an input of a low pass filter 12. The output of the low pass filter 12 is connected to an input of the correlator comprising correlating elements 14, 16, 18 and 20. The input of the correlating element 14, [16, 18,20] is connected to a first input of a multiplier 24, [26,28, 30], the ouφut of which is connected to an integrator 32, [34, 36,38]. An ouφut of a reference generator, carrying ouφut signal I A ^ A * S connected to a second input of the multiplier 24, [26, 28, 30]. The ouφuts of the correlating elements 14, 16, 18 and 20, carrying the correlation signals, are constituted by the ouφuts of the integrators 32, 34, 36 and 40 respectively. These ouφuts are connected to corresponding inputs of an adder 42. The ouφut of the adder 42 is connected to a first input of a comparator 44. A reference signal THR is applied to a second input of the comparator 44. The ouφut of the comparator 44 is connected to a control input of the selector 8. A telephone handset 56 and an LCD screen 58 are connected to the selector 8. In the transmission system according to Fig. 1 the transmitted data received by the terminal 6 is applied to the telephone hand set 56 or to the (LCD) display 58 in dependence of the reception of a single signalling tone. A change over is made after the signalling tone is detected by the tone detector 10. The received signal is filtered by the low pass filter 12 to eliminate interfering signals like noise and speech outside the frequency range corresponding to the sig nalling tone to be detected. In the correlating elements 14, 16, 18 and 20, the ouφut signal of the low pass filter 12 is multiplied with a corresponding reference signal having phase <p, , Φ 2 ,< P3 and φ 4 . The frequency of the reference signal corresponds to the frequency of the signalling tone to be detected. The integrators 32, 43, 36 and 40 determine the integrated value of the ouφut signal of the corresponding multiplier 24, 26, 28 and 30 respectively, and determine subsequently the absolute value of said integrated value. The ouφut signals of the integrators 32, 34, 36 and 40 are added by the adder 42 to a combined correlation signal. A combined correlation signal substantially different from zero will be present if the input signal comprises a signalling tone with a frequency corresponding to the frequency f c of the reference signal. The tolerated frequency difference depends on the measuring time used. This measuring time used is defined by the time between two subsequent reset instants of the integrators 32 • • • 40. A finite measuring time T m results in a rectangular window function applied to the ouφut signal of the multipliers. This leads in the frequency domain to a filter function according to: sin (2πT m | f - f c | ) 2 iT m | f - f c | The transfer function according to (1) shows a main lobe having width equal to 1 T m , leading to a bandwidth of approximately l/T m .By choosing a suitable value for the measuring time, every desired frequency resolution can be obtained. Because the measuring time T m can easily be changed, the frequency resolution can easily be changed too. By using four reference signals having a phase incrementing by τ/4, always a major correlation signal is generated, irrespective of the phase of the reference tone. It can be shown that the amplitude variation of the combined correlation signal as function of the phase of the signalling tone, is not more than 10 % . The ouφut signal of the adder 42 is compared with a threshold value THR by the comparator 44. An detection signal is generated by the comparator 44 if the combined correlation signal exceeds the threshold value, indicating the presence of a signalling tone. It is conceivable that the correlated signals to be added are obtained by weighting the correlation signals with a factor dependent on the actual correlation value. Th weighting is equivalent to performing a non linear operation on the correlation signal. Using such weighting results in a decreased influence of a correlation signal having a small magnitude, which can be corrupted by noise. It is observed that if a double tone is used for signalling, two tone detectors, one for each tone are required. The tone detectors can have the same construction as d e detector 10, but have to be designed for different tone frequencies. This can easily be done by changing the frequency of the reference signal. The double tone is regarded as present if both tone detectors indicate the presence of the corresponding tone. In the case of a double tone, the two ouφuts of the tone detectors are combined in an AND gate, and the ouφut signal of the AND gate is applied to the input of the selector 8. In the digital tone detector 10 according to Fig. 2 the input signal is applied to a low pass filter 12. The ouφut of the low pass filter is connected to an input of sheer 60. The ouφut of die slicer 60 is connected to an input of the correlator constituted b the correlating elements 62, 64, 66 and 68. Said input of the correlating elements 62, 64, 66 68 is connected to a first input of an exclusive NOR gate 70, 74, 78 and 82 respectively. Second inputs of d e exclusive NOR gates 70, 74, 78 and 82 are connected to corresponding ouφuts of a reference signal generator 86, carrying ouφut signals <p, ,φ 2 .Φ 3 and - T e ouφut of the exclusive NOR gate 70 [74,78,82] is connected to an UP/DOWN control input of an up-down counter 72 [76,80,84]. To each of me up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84 a clock signal and a reset signal are applied. T e ouφuts of the up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84 , each carrying an ouφut signal corresponding to the absolute value of the count value, are connected to an input of an adder 88. The ouφut of the adder 88 is connected to first input of a comparator 90. A threshold signal THR is applied to a second input of die comparator 90. The ouφut of the comparator 90 constitutes the ouφut signal of die tone detector 10. The input signal of me tone detector 10 is filtered by me low pass filter 12 and subsequently converted into a binary signal by me slicer 60. The ouφut signal of me slicer 60 is compared in each of the correlating elements 62, 64, 66 and 68 to a corre- sponding binary reference signal generated by the reference signal generator 86. The reference signals generated by me reference signal generator have a mutual phase difference of τ/4. The comparison of me ouφut signal from the slicer 60 to me reference signals is performed by me exclusive NOR gates 70, 74, 78 and 82. The ouφut signal of an exclusive NOR gate has a logical value "0" if bom input signals have a different logical value, and ha a logical value "1 " if bom input signals have an equal logical value. The ouφut signals of me respective exclusive NOR gates 70, 74, 78 and 82 control the counting direction of corresponding up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84. If the ouφut signal of e slicer has the same logical value as the reference signal, die up-down counter will increase its count at every clock pulse. If the ouφut signal of e slicer has a logical value differing from the logical level of the reference signal, the up-down counter will decrease its count at every clock pulse. If the reference signal has approximately the same phase and frequency as the ouφut signal of the slicer, me count of me up-down counter will rapidly increase, indication a large (positive) correlation value. If the reference signal has approximately the same frequency as the ouφut signal of the slicer 60, but is opposite in phase with respect to me ouφut signal of me slicer 60, me count of the up-down counter will rapidly decrease, indication a large (negative) correlation value. If mere is no correlation between the reference signal and me ouφut signal of the slicer 60, the ouφut signal of the exclusive NOR gate will more or less randomly assume me logical value "0" or " 1 ". This means that the up-down counter will increase and decrease its count in a random fashion, leading to an average count of zero. The absolute values of the counts of the up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84 are summed periodically by me adder 88 and passed to die comparator 90 which compares the ouφut signal of the adder 88 to a threshold value THR. After the addition of the absolute values of the counts, the up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84 are reset by a reset signal R. The clock frequency is in general a multiple of the frequency of the tone to be detected. This results in an improved suppression of interfering components in the ouφut signals of me slicer 60. If the ouφut signal of the slicer 60 sometimes has a wrong logical value due to an interfering signal, in half of the cases a "0" is changed in a "1 ", and in half of me cases a "1" is changed in a "0". These errors tend to have an average value of zero if a large number of clock cycles is present per period of the reference signal. Fig. 3 shows a number of waveforms present in the tone detector according to Fig. 2. Graph 92 shows the clock signal CLK applied to the slicer 60 and to the up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84. Graph 94 shows an ouφut signal of me slicer 60. Graphs 96, 98, 100 and 102 show the reference signals φ l t φ 2 ,Φ 3 and φ 4 . It can be seen mat the frequency of the clock signal CLK is 8 times the frequency of the reference signals. As explained above, mis leads to an improved suppression of interfering signals. Graph 104 shows the ouφut signal of the exclusive NOR gate 70. Said ouφut signal has during most of the time a logical value "1". In graph 104 the count of up- down counter 72 is given as function of time. It can be seen that at every clock pulse of me clock signal CLK the count is incremented by 1. Before the first clock pulse the count value is equal to zero, and at die final clock pulse the count is increased to +9. Graph 106 shows the ouφut signal of the exclusive NOR gate 74. In said ouφut signal bom logical values "0" and "1" appear, but the logical value "1" dominates slighdy. In graph 106 the count of up-down counter 76 is given as function of time. It can be seen that the count increases if the ouφut signal of the exclusive NOR gate has a value " 1 " and that the count decreases if die value of me ouφut signal of me NOR gate has the value "0". The count of up-down counter 76 increases with time, but less rapidly as me count of up-down counter 72. The final value is here +3. Graph 108 shows the ouφut signal of the exclusive NOR gate 78. The logical values "0" and "1" appear during an almost equal amount of time. This results in alternatively counting up and down by the up-down counter 80. The final result is a count value of +1. Graph 110 shows me ouφut of the exclusive NOR gate 78. Here me logical value "0" dominates, resulting in counting down of die up-down counter 84 in most of the cases, resulting in a final count of -3. If me absolute values of die final counts of die up-down counters 72, 76, 80 and 84 are added a value of 16 is found, clearly indicating the presence of the tone to be detected. In me tone detector according to Fig. 4, an input signal is applied to a low pass filter 12. The ouφut of die low pass filter 12 is connected to an input of a slicer 60. The ouφut of the slicer 60 is connected to four correlators 112, 114, 116 and 118. Each of me correlators comprises four correlating elements 62, 64, 66 and 68 and an adder 88. The correlating elements in each of the correlators can be constructed in the same way as the correlating elements in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2. To each of the correlators 112, 114, 116 and 118 a corresponding reset signal R- , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 is applied. These reset signals are not applied simultaneously, but are distributed regularly in time. The ouφut signals of the correlators 112, 114, 116 and 118 are connected to inputs of a selector 120. The ouφut of die selector 120 is connected to a first input of a comparator 122. A threshold value THR is applied to a second input of me comparator 122. The ouφut of the comparator 122 is the ouφut of the tone detector 10. The tone detector according to Fig. 4 can be used if the arrival time of me tone is not known beforehand. The tone detector comprises a number of correlators which are in the measuring state during mutually displaced measuring periods. In mis way there is always at least one correlator which is in me measuring state during the presence of a signalling tone. A condition for mis is that the duration of d e tone does not exceed the overlap between die measuring periods of two correlators which are reset consecutively. The selector 120 determines the content of the adder of a correlator at d end of the measuring period and passes mis value to me comparator for comparison with die threshold value. Subsequendy the correlator is evaluated and reset. This evaluation and resetting of the correlator is performed cyclically. Fig. 5 shows die timing of the evaluation and resetting of me correlators in the tone detector according to Fig. 4. In graph 121 of Fig. the timing of the reset signal R. applied to me correlator 112 is shown. In graphs 123, 127 and 129 me timing for the reset signals R 2 , R 3 , and R4 for the correlators 114, 116 and 118 is shown. From Fig. 5 it i clear that me correlators are evaluated and reset in a cyclic fashion. It can also be seen that mere is always one correlator in the measuring state during me presence of a signalling tone of the duration indicated by graph 125, irrespective of die timing of he signalling tone. In general for the relation between the reset interval (or measuring period) T m and the duration T t øn g of me signalling tone to be detected can be written: τ m * rc ^Ttone ^2) In (2) n is the number of correlators. From (2) it can be seen that the difference between the measuring period and die tone duration decreases if me number of correlators increases. The advantage of having a measuring time in d e range of die tone duration is diat die measurement is only performed if a tone is present. This results in the elimination of a noise contribution to me ouφut signal of me correlator during absence of me tone to be detected. This leads to a more reliable detection of the signalling tone. Fig. 6 shows a alternative implementation of the tone detector according to Fig. 2 using a multiple of correlators. The arrangement according to Fig. 4 comprises a first set of memory cells comprising memory cells 150, 158, 166 and 174, a second set of memory cells 114 comprising memory cells 152, 160, 168 and 176, a third set of memory cells 116 comprising memory cells 154, 162, 170 and 178 and a fourth set of memory cells 118 comprising memory cells 156, 164, 172 and 180. Each set of memory cells corresponds to one correlator. The arrangement comprises one set of counters 119 comprising counters 182, 184, 186 and 188. These counters are updated once per period of die clock signal CLK. The direction of the update is determined by the up/down signals generated by the exclusive NOR gates 70, 74, 78 and 82 in Fig. 2. At the instant were me correlator 112 has to be evaluated, die following subtractions are performed: me count of the counter 182 minus the contents of memory cell 150, me count of counter 186 minus the contents of memory cell 166 and the count of counter 188 minus the contents of the memory cell 174. The absolute values of said subtractions are added and used as me correlation value. Subsequently die count of the counter 182 is copied into the memory cell 150, the count of the counter 184 is copied into memory cell 158, the count of me counter 186 is copied into the memory cell 160 and the count of the counter 188 is copied into the memory cell 174. This copy operation corre¬ sponds to the resetting at the instant associated with R- of the set of counters 112 in Fig. 4. It is observed that me counters 182, 184, 186 and 188 in the set of counters 119 are never reset. The same is done with the set of counters 112, 116 and 118 at instants associated with the reset signals R 2 , R 3 and R 4 respectively. The advantage of mis way of processing is a reduction of me amount of computational complexity, in exchange to somewhat increased memory requirements. In the flow diagram according to Fig. 7, me inscriptions of the blocks have the following meaning: No. INSCRIPT MEANING 130 INΓΓ All used variables are set to their initial value. 132 TAKE SAMPLE A sample of the sliced input signal is taken. 133 Vi ( S θ REFi ) } The exclusive NOR operation is performed on die sliced input signal and all i reference signal. 136 ADAPT COUNTERS The counters are adapted in response to the result of me exclusive NOR operations. 138 FINISHED ? It is checked whether a correlator has been active for e prescribed measuring time. 140 ADD I COUNTERS I The sum of the counters in the correlator mat has to be evaluated is calculated. 142 SUM > THR ? Is the sum of the absolute value of the counts larger than THR ? 144 OUTPUT "TONE An indication of the presence of the tone to be detected is presented at die ouφut of me detector. 146 RESET Reset all counters of the correlator just evaluated. 147 INC SCTR Increment sample counter SCTR. 148 RESET SCTR Reset sample counter SCTR. 149 SELECT Select next correlator to be evaluated. In die program according to me flow diagram in Fig. 7 a number of counters equal to the number of reference signals is used in each correlator. These counters are all set to zero in instruction 130. In instruction 132 the exclusive NOR value of all reference signals and die sliced input signal is calculated, resulting in a number of exclusive NOR values equal to the number of reference signals. In instruction 136 all counters are adapted in response to the calculated exclusive NOR value. In each correlator me counters associated with exclusive NOR value with logical value "0" are decremented, and die counters associated wim exclusive NOR value with logical value " 1" are incremented. In instruction 138 it is checked whether mere has a correlator to be evalu¬ ated, due to expiration of die measuring time. This check is performed by checking the value of a sample counter SCTR. If this counter has reached a predetermined value a correlator has to be evaluated. In instruction 140 me absolute values of the counts of the counters of the correlator to be evaluated are added. In instruction 142 it is checked whether mis sum exceeds a threshold value THR. If the sum exceeds the threshold value an indication of the presence of the tone to be detected is presented at die ouφut of die detector in instruction 144. In instruction 146 all counters of the correlator just evaluated are reset, and in instruction 148 the sample counter SCTR is reset. In instruction 149 the next correlator to be evaluated is selected. This selection is done in such a way mat all correlators are evaluated cyclically. The correlators are allowed to run a predetermined number of samples before iey are evaluated again. If it is determined in instruction 138 that no evaluation of a correlator has to be performed yet, me sample counter SCTR is incremented in instruction 147. After finishing instruction 147 or instruction 149 die program jumps to instruction 132 to take the next sample of the input signal. To increase the processing speed of the program discussed, it is possible to transfer in instruction 140 the counter values to be evaluated to additional variables and to continue at instruction 146. For the evaluation of the values in the additional variables now a complete measuring period of one correlator is available. By using this modification the sample rate can be increased substantially, or me processing power of the processor to be used can be decreased accordingly. The tone detector according to the invention is very suitable to be imple¬ mented in software for a programmable processor. The parameters of the tone detector (tone frequency, frequency resolution) can very easily be changed by altering only the value of a few constants. The result is a versatile, reliable tone detector with a low implementation complexity. In the transmission system according to Fig. 8, a signal to be transmitted is applied to a transmitter 202. The ouφut of the transmitter 202 carries the signal to be transmitted, possibly in combination with a signalling tone. This ouφut is coupled to a terminal 206 via a transmission channel 204. The input of the terminal 206 is connected to an input of a selector 208 and to an input of a tone detector 210. The input of the tone detector 210 is connected to an input of a low pass filter 212. The ouφut of the low pass filter 212 is connected to an AGC circuit 214. The ouφut of the AGC circuit 214 is connected to an input of a strength measuring means 215. The input of the strength measuring means 215 is connected to a first input of a first tone strength measuring device 216 and to an input of a second tone strength measuring device 218. The ouφut of d e first tone strengm measuring device 216 is connected to a first input of a divider 220. A signal MAX* , representing the maximum value of the ouφut signal of the strength measuring device 216, is connected to a second input of the divider 220. The ouφut of die second tone strength measuring device 218 is connected to a first input of a divider 222. A signal MAX 2 , representing me maximum value of the ouφut signal of the strength measuring device 218, is connected to a second input of the divider 222. The ouφut of d e divider 220 is connected to a first input of the decision means 227. The first input of the decision means 227 is connected to a first input of a comparator 211 and to a first input of an adder 223. The ouφut of die divider 22 is connected to a second input of the decision means 227. The second input of the decision means 227 is connected to a first input of a comparator 229 and to a second input of an adder 223. The ouφut of me adder 223 is connected to a first input of a comparator 225. A first reference signal TH* is applied to a second input of d e comparator 211 and to a second input of the comparator 229. A second reference signal TH 2 is applied to a second input of the comparator 226. An ouφut of the comparator 211, me comparator 225 and die comparator 229 are connected to a corresponding input of an AND gate 213. The ouφut of the AND gate 213 is connected to a control input of die selector 228. A telephone handset and an LCD screen 258 are connected to die selector 228. The transmission system according to Fig. 8, is especially arranged for dealing with dual tone signals having a difference in strengdi, also called twist. In die transmission system according to Fig. 8 me data to be transmitted , is transmitted by the transmitter 202 via me transmission medium 204 to the terminal 206. In the terminal 206 the transmitted data received by d e terminal 206 is applied to me telephone hand set 256 or to die (LCD) display 258 in dependence of the reception of two signalling tones. A change over is made after the signalling tone signals are detected by me tone detector 210. The received signal is filtered by me low pass filter 212 to eliminate interfering signals like noise and speech outside the frequency range corresponding to me signalling tone to be detected. The AGC circuit provides an ouφut signal having a constant ouφut power to the input of the tone strength measuring devices 216 and 218. The strengm measuring device 216 is arranged for generating a strength measure for the first tone, and die strengm measuring device 218 is arranged for generating a strengm measure for the second tone. The strength measuring devices 216 and 218 comprise correlators according to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 4 or Fig. 6 and 7. me In the case of a CAS signal used in the above mentioned ADSI standard, die first tone has a frequency of 2130 Hz and the second tone has a frequency of 2750 Hz. The ouφut signal of the tone strengm measuring device 216 is normalised by the divider 220 with respect to the maximum possible ouφut signal of said tone strengdi measuring device 216. This means that the ouφut of the divider 220 varies between 0 and a predetermined constant value. This normalisation is done in order to obtain strengdi measures having me same range for both tone signals irrespective of (frequency determined) differences between me strengm signals from me strength measuring devices 216 and 218. At die ouφut of me adder 223, a combined strengm measure is available. The comparator 225 compares the combined strengm measure with me reference value TH 2 . The comparators 227 and 231 compare the strength measures at the ouφuts of me dividers 220 and 222 respectively wid me reference value TH*. If it is assumed that the maximum ouφut signal of the dividers 220 and 222 is equal to 221, suitable values for die d reshold value TH* and TH 2 are 0.24 and 0.8 respectively. Only if all three direshold values are exceeded, die tone pair is regarded as present by die AND gate 213, resulting in an improved reliability of the decision in die case mat the two tone signals differ in strength. It is observed mat it is possible to dispense wim die comparators 211 and 229. This will lead to less accurate limits set on the required value of the individual strengdi measures, but there is still die advantage of an improved reliability of the detection due to me higher value of TH 2 . In the decision circuit 227 according to Fig. 9, the first input is connected to a first input of a comparator 227 and to a first input of a comparator 229. A second input of the decision circuit 227 is connected to a first iiφut of a comparator 231 and to a first input of a comparator 233. A first reference signal TH* is applied to a second input of die comparator 227 and to a second input of the comparator 233. A third reference signal TH 3 is applied to a second input of die comparator 229 and to a second input of the comparator 231. The ouφut of the comparator 227 is connected to a first input of an AND gate 235 and me ouφut of the comparator 231 is connected to a second input of the AND gate 235. The ouφut of die comparator 229 is connected to a first input of an AND gate 237 and die ouφut of die comparator 231 is connected to a second input of die AND gate 237. The ouφut of me AND gate 235 is connected to a first input of an OR gate 239, and die ouφut of the AND gate 237 is connected to a second input of the OR gate 239. The ouφut of die OR gate 239 constitutes die ouφut of me decision means 227. In the decision circuit according to Fig. 9 it is assumed mat the reference value TH. is substantially smaller than TH 3 . Possible values of TH* and TH 3 are 0.2 and 0.4-0.5 respectively. The ouφut of me AND gate 235 will be " 1 " if and only if die normalised strengdi measure U 16 exceeds TH* and die normalised strength measure U 18 exceeds TH 3 . The ouφut of the AND gate 237 will be " 1 " if and only if die normalised strengdi measure U* g exceeds TH. and me normalised strengm measure U 16 exceeds TH 3 . This means that d e ouφut of one of die AND gates 235 or 237 is " 1 " if die strengm of one of the tone signals exceeds a value 0.8 and me other one exceeds 0.2. Consequently die ouφut of die OR gate 239 will be "1" under diese conditions. The reliability of die detection of me tone pair has substantially increased wim respect to the prior art device, because in die prior art device it was necessary to set the direshold value for both tone signals on die same low level (e.g. 0.2) . It is observed diat in case die tone pair is detected by die decision circuit according to Fig. 9, d e combined tone strength measure is larger than 1. Consequently the decision means according to Fig. 9 operates on basis of the combined strength measure without actually calculating it. Fig. 10 shows the first normalised strength signal U 20 , die second normalised ouφut strengdi signal U 22 and die sum of me first and me second normalised strength signals. These normalised strength signals are calculated by die divider 220, die divider 222 and die adder 223 respectively. From Fig. 10 it can be seen that in the case of a zero twist value the normalised strength signals U 20 and U 22 bom have a value of 0.64. The sum of these signals is 1.32. A suitable direshold value TH 2 is 0.8, and a suitable threshold value TH* is 0.24. Witih diese choice a twist of 6 dB is tolerated by die tone detector. If only die combined direshold signal is compared wim a reference value, this reference value has to be larger than 1, in order to prevent detection of a single tone as die combination of tone signals. A suitable choice could be a value of 1.2 .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Transmission system comprising a transmitter for transmission of a tone via a transmission channel to a receiver, said receiver comprising a detector for detecting die presence of said tone in the received signal, characterised in that the detector comprises a correlator for deriving a combined correlation signal being representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals each representative of a correlation value of the received signal and one out of a plurality of phase shifted reference signals. 2. Transmission system according to claim 1, characterised in that die cor¬ relator is arranged for deriving modified correlation signals from the correlation signals using an even function and for adding said modified correlation signals. 3. Transmission system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in mat die plurality of reference signals comprises at least three reference signals. 4. Transmission system according to claim 3, characterised in diat die reference signals comprise four reference signals having a mutual phase difference of τ/4. 5. Transmission system according to one of the previous claims, characterised in mat die detector comprises at least one additional correlator, and in that d e correlator and die additional correlator have mutually displaced measuring periods. 6. Transmission system according to one of die previous claims, characterised in that die detector comprises means for converting the received signal into a binary input signal, in that the correlator comprises comparator means for deriving a comparison signal by comparing the logical value of the binary input signal to me logical value of a binary reference signal, in d at the correlator comprises accumulator means, and in diat d e correlator is arranged for increasing or decreasing die value in die accumulator in dependence of die value of the comparison signal. 7. Transmission system according to claim 6, characterised in diat the correlator is arranged to determine the value of die comparison signal at least twice per period of the reference signal. 8. Terminal comprising a detector for detecting the presence of a tone in a received signal, characterised in diat die detector comprises a correlator for deriving a combined correlation signal being representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals each representative of a correlation value of the received signal and one out of a 16 plurality of phase shifted reference signals. 9. Terminal according to claim 8, characterised in that the detector comprises at additional correlator, and in that the correlator and die additional correlator have mutually displaced measuring periods. 10. Detector for detecting die presence of a tone in an input signal, characterised in that die detector comprises a correlator for deriving a combined correlation signal being representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals each representative of a correlation value of me input signal and one out of a plurality of phase shifted reference signals. 11. Detector according to claim 10, characterised in diat the detector comprises at least one additional correlator, and in diat the correlator and die additional cor¬ relator have mutually displaced measuring periods. 12. Detector according to one of d e claims 10 or 11, characterised in that die detector comprises means for converting the input signal into a binary input signal, in that die correlator comprises comparator means for deriving a comparison signal by comparing the logical value of die binary input signal to die logical value of a binary reference signal, in that d e correlator comprises accumulator means, and in that die correlator is arranged for increasing or decreasing die value in die accumulator in dependence of die value of die comparison signal. 13. Detector according to claim 12, characterised in that die correlator is arranged to determine the value of die comparison signal at least twice per period of the reference signal. 14. Mediod for detecting die presence of a tone in an input signal, characterised in diat die method comprises deriving a combined correlation signal being representative of a combination of a plurality of correlation signals each representative of a correlation value of me input signal and one out of a plurality of phase shifted reference signals.

Inventors: BRAAMS HARM, MOERMAN CORNELIS MARINUS, BRAAMS, HARM, MOERMAN, CORNELIS, MARINUS
Applicants: PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS NORDEN AB, PIJNENBURG BEHEER N V, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V., PIJNENBURG BEHEER N.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H04Q1
IPC codes: H04B1, H04L27, H04Q1