Addressable outlet, and a network using same

• US 20050025162A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0677 Localisation of faults

Abstract

An addressable outlet for use as part of local area network based on wiring installed in a building, such as telephone, electrical, cable television, dedicated wiring, and the like. The use of such wiring for data communications networks in addition to the wiring'"'"'s primary usage creates a need for ways of determining the condition of the network and monitoring this information remotely. Network condition includes such factors as continuity of wiring, connector status, connected devices, topology, signal delays, latencies, and routing patterns. Providing basic processing and addressing capabilities within the outlet permits messaging to and from specific individual outlets, thereby allowing inquiries and reports of the condition of the immediate environment of each outlet. In addition, outlets can be configured with sensors to report on voltage, temperature, and other measurable quantities.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. An addressable device for coupling packet-based data signals to and from a data unit, for use with service wiring in a building concurrently carrying an analog service signal and the packet-based data signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the data signal is carried over a data signal frequency band and the analog service signal is carried over an analog service signal frequency band distinct from the data signal frequency band, and the service signal is one of a telephone signal, a power signal and a CATV signal, the device comprising:

a single housing and, in said single housing;

a wiring connector connectable to the service wiring;

a data filter coupled to the wiring connector for passing only the data signal,

a wiring modem coupled to said data filter and operative to couple to the data signal;

a data connector connectable to a data unit;

a multiport unit comprising a hub, the multiport unit comprising a first port coupled to said wiring modem and a second port coupled to the data connector, said first and second ports being operative to couple data carried by the data signals between said modem and said data connector; and

a processing unit coupled to the multiport unit and comprising an address unit storing an address that uniquely identifies the device,

wherein the processing unit is operative to identify and compose messages associated with said address in a data network,

and wherein said housing is attachable to a wall.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

the service wiring is a residential telephone wiring;

the analog service signal is an analog telephone signal; and

the device further comprises;

a low pass filter coupled to the wiring connector for passing the analog telephone signal; and

a telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter for coupling the analog telephone signal to a telephone unit.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

the service wiring is a residential power wiring;

the analog service signal is a power signal; and

the device further comprises;

a low pass filter coupled to the wiring connector for passing the power signal; and

a power connector coupled to said low pass filter for coupling the power signal to an appliance.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

the service wiring is a residential CATV wiring;

the analog service signal is a CATV signal; and

the device further comprises;

a CATV filter coupled to the wiring connector for passing the CATV signal; and

a CATV connector coupled to said CATV filter for coupling the CATV signal to a CATV unit.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the data signal is Ethernet based, and the address is one of a Media Access Control (MAC) address and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

16. The device according to claim 11, further comprising sensors coupled to said processing unit for checking the device status.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device is further operative to be power fed by a power signal carried over the service wiring.

18. A network for monitoring the status of an outlet in a building at a location remote from the building, the network comprising:

a server located at the location remote from the building for performing the monitoring;

a gateway;

a wide area network (WAN) operative to allow the remote server to communicate with the gateway;

a wall-attachable addressable outlet connectable to a data unit located in the building; and

a wired local area network (LAN) within the building to couple the gateway to the outlet in order to couple the data unit to the wide area network,

wherein the local area network is composed of one of telephone wiring, power wiring and CATV wiring, and

wherein the network is operative to allow the outlet to send messages to the remote server.

19. The network according to claim 18, wherein the LAN includes residential telephone wiring concurrently carrying an analog telephone signal and data using frequency division multiplexing, and the outlet is further operative to couple the analog telephone signal to a telephone unit.

20. The network according to claim 18, wherein the LAN includes residential power wiring concurrently carrying a power signal and data using frequency division multiplexing, and the outlet is further operative to couple the power signal to an appliance.

21. The network according to claim 18, wherein the LAN includes residential CATV wiring concurrently carrying a CATV signal and data using frequency division multiplexing, and the outlet is further operative to couple the CATV signal to a CATV unit.

22. The network according to claim 18, wherein the LAN is Ethernet based, and the outlet has an assigned address that is one of a Media Access Control (MAC) address and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

23. The network according to claim 18, wherein the outlet further comprises sensors operative to provide information about the outlet status.

24. The network according to claim 18, wherein the outlet is further operative to be powered by a power signal carried by the wiring.

25. The network according to claim 18, wherein the WAN is based on one of xDSL, CATV and wireless.