Modal propagation of information through a defined transmission medium

A method for encoding one of m information signal combinations for transfer over a defined transmission medium having n orthogonal modes, wherein m>n, said information encoding method comprising the steps of:

• (a) assigning from a plurality of unique orthogonal modal signals a unique orthogonal modal signal to each of said m information signal combinations, said assigned unique orthogonal modal signals each being identified with one of said transmission medium's n orthogonal modes, wherein m>n and at least some orthogonal modal signals of said plurality of unique orthogonal modal signals comprise amplitude modulated orthogonal modal signals of said transmission medium;
• (b) converting said one of m information signal combinations into its assigned unique orthogonal modal signal of said step (a);
• and
• (c) driving said transmission medium in the orthogonal mode identified with said unique orthogonal modal signal of said step (b), whereby when propagating an information signal through the transmission medium as a unique orthogonal mode signal crosstalk within said transmission medium is restricted.

A method for identifying one of m information signal combinations from a corresponding one of m possible line signal combinations propagated through a defined transmission medium having n orthogonal modes, wherein m>n, at least some of said m possible line signal combinations comprising amplitude-modulated orthogonal modes of said transmission medium, said method employing a predefined relationship between said m possible information signal combinations and m corresponding line signal combinations, each line signal combination being associated with one of said n orthogonal modes of said transmission medium, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving said one of m possible line signal combinations propagated through said transmission medium;
• (b) identifying from said line signal combination received in step (a) the corresponding mode signal indicative of the orthogonal mode at which said line signal is propagated;
• and
• (c) converting said identified mode signal of step (b) into the corresponding information signal using the predefined relationship between said m information signal combinations and said m line signal combinations, whereby propagation of an information signal as a line signal corresponding to one of said transmission medium's n orthogonal modes restricts crosstalk within said transmission medium, wherein m>n.

A system for transferring one of m information signal combinations through a defined transmission medium having n orthogonal modes, said system comprising:

• (a) means for encoding said one of m information signal combinations as a unique line signal corresponding to one of said transmission medium's n orthogonal modes for propagation through said transmission medium in said corresponding orthogonal mode, each of said m information signal combinations having a preassigned unique line signal corresponding to one of said transmission medium's n orthogonal modes, at least some of said preassigned unique line signals comprising amplitude-modulated orthogonal modes of said transmission medium, wherein m>n;
• (b) means for propagating said unique line signal of step (a) through said transmission medium;
• and
• (c) means for receiving said unique line signal propagated through said transmission medium and for decoding said line signal to restore said one of m information signal combinations, whereby propagation of an information signal as a unique line signal corresponding to one of said transmission medium's n orthogonal modes restricts crosstalk within said transmission medium during signal propagation through the transmission medium.