Patent ID: 7639001

Claim:
An apparatus for providing auxiliary channel communication on an electrical signal-based network, the apparatus comprising: an electrical signal source adapted to provide a high-speed data signal extending over a high frequency range and having a first maximum peak-to-peak value, the signal source adapted to provide an auxiliary data signal extending over a low frequency range below the high frequency range and having a second maximum peak-to-peak value smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value, wherein the second maximum peak-to-peak value is at least two orders of magnitude smaller than the first maximum peak-to-peak value, the second maximum peak-to-peak value is larger than at least twice a RMS noise voltage, ν n , wherein ν n is expressed by ν n =√{square root over (4kTBR)} wherein k is Avogadro's number, T is temperature in K, and B is the bandwidth of the low frequency range; and a controller coupled to the signal source for controlling the signal source to produce the high-speed data signal and for modulating the high-speed data signal with the auxiliary data signal.