Shareable high speed internet access via telephone wiring

• US 20010047418A1
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William O. White
• Original Assignee: William O. White
• Inventors: White, William O.
• Application Number:
  US09/779,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2878 Access multiplexer, e.g. DSLAM generic distributed time multiplexers, e.g. TDM/TDMA H04J3/1694

Abstract

The invention is an Internet access system and a method for providing economical high-speed Internet access from shareable locations using an existing telephone infrastructure. The invention comprises a system of multiple shareable terminals connected by telephone wiring to a central server which is in turn connected to the Internet. The shareable terminal is a relatively “dumb” terminal comprising a display, input/output buffers, a DSL modem, telephone line interface circuitry, a keyboard and a mouse. The telephone wiring is common voice-grade telephone wiring normally existing within a building. The central server comprises a computer along with telephone interface circuitry such as a DSLAM and an interface to the Internet. The central server provides the data processing and storage capability for supporting the shareable terminals.

Claims

1. An Internet access system comprising:

one or more shareable terminals;

a DSLAM;

telephone wiring, coupled to said shareable terminal and to said DSLAM;

a central server, coupled to said DSLAM; and

an Internet connection, comprising a trunk line coupled to said central server and to an Internet service provider.

2. A system as in

claim 1

wherein said shareable terminal comprises:

a display device;

one or more user-input devices;

a data buffer;

a DSL modem; and

supporting circuitry interconnecting said display device, said user-input device, said data buffer and said DSL modem.

3. A system as in

claim 1

further comprising a DSL modem coupled to said shareable terminal and to said telephone wiring.

4. A system as in

claim 1

wherein one or more telephones are coupled to said telephone wiring.

5. A system as in

claim 4

comprising a line filter between said telephone and said telephone wiring.

6. A system as in

claim 1

wherein a PBX is coupled to said telephone wiring.

7. A system as in

claim 1

further comprising a line filter between said telephone wiring and said DSLAM.

8. A system as in

claim 1

wherein said central server comprises:

a storage device;

an operating system; and

one or more application programs.

9. A system as in

claim 1

wherein said central server and said DSLAM are contained within a secure enclosure.

10. A system as in

claim 1

wherein said telephone wiring comprises telephone wiring existing prior to installation of said system.

11. A system as in

claim 1

wherein said central server comprises a server installation existing prior to installation of said system.

12. A system as in

claim 1

wherein said Internet connection comprises an Internet connection existing prior to installation of said system.

15. A method as in

claim 11

further comprising the steps of:

providing said central server; and

providing said Internet connection.

13. A method for providing Internet access comprising the steps of:

providing one or more shareable terminals;

providing telephone wiring;

connecting the terminals to the wiring;

providing a DSLAM;

connecting the wiring to the DSLAM;

providing a central server;

connecting the DSLAM to the server;

providing an Internet connection; and

connecting the server to the Internet connection.

14. A method for adding Internet access to existing telephone wiring comprising the steps of:

providing one or more shareable terminals;

providing one or more DSL modems;

coupling the terminal to the DSL modem;

coupling the DSL modem to the existing wiring;

providing a DSLAM;

coupling the existing wiring to the DSLAM;

coupling the DSLAM to a central server; and

coupling the server to an Internet connection.