Local area network of serial intelligent cells
First Claim
1. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
- (a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media is used to carry both local area network data and electrical power; and
wherein the local area network data and electrical power are combined using frequency-domain multiplexing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC'"'"'s interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC'"'"'s is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC'"'"'s to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that, unlike current bus topology and star topology, there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. The network can use dedicated wiring, as well as existing wiring as the in-house telephone or electrical wiring.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media is used to carry both local area network data and electrical power; and
wherein the local area network data and electrical power are combined using frequency-domain multiplexing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50)
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36. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media is used to carry both local area network data and electrical power; and
wherein the local area network data and electrical power are combined using frequency-domain multiplexing.
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39. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said electrically-conducting media; and
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a telephony/data splitter/combiner.
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45. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair. wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises;
(a) a line interface;
(b) a modem;
(c) a control block;
(d) a power supply; and
(e) a telephone interface;
and wherein one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is interconnected to a public telephone network interface.
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48. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said electrically-conducting media; and
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a telephony/data splitter/combiner.
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51. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said electrically-conducting media; and
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a power/data splitter/combiner. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 57, 58, 59)
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56. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building; and
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises;
(i) a line interface, (ii) a modem, (iii) a control block, (iv) a power supply, and (v) a computer bus connector.
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60. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises;
(i) a line interface, (ii) a modem, (iii) a control block, (iv) a power supply, and (v) a telephone interface;
and wherein one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is interconnected to a public telephone network interface. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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63. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising at least three serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least two communicating pairs, wherein:
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(a) each of said electrically-conducting media physically interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;
(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;
(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a full duplex communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and
(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said electrically-conducting media; and
wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a power/data splitter/combiner. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification