Networking methods and apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- designating a building in which previously installed wiring was utilized to transmit telephone communications or television programming;
installing a computer network in the building by coupling a network hub and a number of network communication adapters together with the previously installed wiring;
at the hub, generating a reference signal at a reference frequency for transmission to the adapters through the wiring;
adjusting signal power level in response to the reference signal at one or more of the adapters; and
at the hub, converting computer data signals sent by one of the adapters from a first frequency range to second frequency range for transmission to another of the adapters, the reference frequency being outside the first frequency range and the second frequency range.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes installing a computer network (51) in a building (24) by coupling together a hub (50, 350) and a number of network adapters (100, 400) together with previously installed cabling. Data signals are transmitted from the adapters (100, 400) to the hub (50, 350) within a first frequency range and converted to frequency-converted data signals within a second frequency range for transmission back to the adapters (100, 400). The network (51) interfaces to an ethernet bus (37) through each of the adapters (100, 400).
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
designating a building in which previously installed wiring was utilized to transmit telephone communications or television programming;
installing a computer network in the building by coupling a network hub and a number of network communication adapters together with the previously installed wiring;
at the hub, generating a reference signal at a reference frequency for transmission to the adapters through the wiring;
adjusting signal power level in response to the reference signal at one or more of the adapters; and
at the hub, converting computer data signals sent by one of the adapters from a first frequency range to second frequency range for transmission to another of the adapters, the reference frequency being outside the first frequency range and the second frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method, comprising:
-
designating a building in which previously installed coaxial cabling was utilized to provide television programming;
installing a computer network in the building by coupling a network hub and a number of network communication adapters together with the previously installed coaxial cabling, the network hub including a hub receiver and a hub transmitter;
passing television programming signals through the cabling within a cable television frequency range;
with one or more of the network communication adapters, transmitting data signals modulated for transmission to the network hub within a first frequency range through the computer network;
at the hub, demodulating the data signals in the first frequency range with the hub receiver to provide the data signals in an unmodulated form;
sending the data signals in the unmodulated form from the hub receiver to the hub transmitter;
modulating the data signals from the hub receiver with the hub transmitter for transmission in a second frequency range through the computer network; and
at each of the adapters, receiving the data signals transmitted in the second frequency range from the network hub, wherein the cable television frequency range does not overlap the first frequency range, the cable television frequency range does not overlap the second frequency range, and at least a portion of the first frequency range does not overlap the second frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system, comprising:
-
a network including a number of network connectors wired together within a building;
a hub coupled to the network between the connectors and wiring external to the building and operable to pass communication signals from wiring external to the building to the connectors, the hub including a frequency translator to translate received data signals in a first frequency range to a second frequency range and a signal generator to provide a power reference signal within a third frequency range, the first frequency range, the second frequency range, and the third frequency range each being nonoverlapping relative to one another; and
a number of network adapters each including a transmitter to transmit modulated outgoing signals within the first frequency range over the network to the hub, a receiver to receive modulated incoming data signals from the hub within the second frequency range, and power control circuitry responsive to the reference signal within the third frequency range to adjust signal power level. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A system, comprising:
- a computer network hub including;
a coaxial cable interface;
a splitter including a signal port and a plurality of coaxial cable ports, the splitter being operable to transmit signals between the signal port and the coaxial cable ports, the signal port being coupled to the coaxial cable interface;
a hub receiver including an input to receive data signals modulated for transmission to the network hub within a first frequency range from one or more of the coaxial cable ports, the hub receiver being operable to demodulate the data signals from the input for output in an unmodulated form;
a hub transmitter connected to the receiver to receive the data signals in the unmodulated form, the hub transmitter being operable to remodulate the data signals for transmission within a second frequency range, the hub transmitter including an output to send the data signals through the splitter after remodulation; and
a filter connected between the coaxial cable interface and the signal port of the splitter, the filter being operable to reduce transmissions through the coaxial cable interface in the first frequency range and the second frequency range, at least a portion of the second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range, and the first frequency range and the second frequency range not overlapping a cable television frequency range. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- a computer network hub including;
-
32. A method, comprising:
-
designating a building in which previously installed coaxial cabling was utilized to provide television programming;
establishing a computer network in the building by coupling a network hub and a number of network communication adapters together with the previously installed coaxial cabling;
performing an adapter equalization transmission sequence to characterize adapter signal transmission through the computer network, that includes each of the network communication adapters in turn;
sending an equalization reference signal to other of the network communication adapters through the computer network in accordance with the adapter equalization sequence;
storing respective equalization information based on the equalization reference signal received from the other of the network communication adapters during said sending;
performing an adapter data transmission sequence to communicate data between the adapters, that includes each one of the network communication adapters;
transmitting an adapter output signal in a first frequency range through the computer network to the network hub in accordance with the adapter data transmission sequence;
the network hub converting the adapter output signal to an adapter input signal in a second frequency range with at least a portion of the second frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range; and
at least one other of the network communication adapters receiving the adapter input signal through the computer network and processing the adapter input signal in accordance with the respective equalization information stored therewith. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a network contained within a building, the network including a network hub and a number of network communication adapters coupled together by coaxial cabling;
means for passing television programming signals through the cabling within a cable television frequency range;
means for transmitting data signals from one or more of the adapters to the network hub in a first frequency range;
means for frequency converting the data signals received at the hub in the first frequency range to a second range for transmission to the adapters, the cable television frequency range not overlapping the first frequency range, the cable television frequency range not overlapping the second frequency range, and at least a portion of the first frequency range not overlapping the second frequency range;
means for receiving the data signals in the second frequency range at each of the adapters; and
means for broadcasting a reference signal through the network to more than one of the adapters to characterize signal transmission through the network before communicating the data signals, the receiving means adjusting adapter signal processing in response to the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
-
-
43. A system, comprising:
-
a computer network hub including;
a coaxial cable interface;
a splitter including a plurality of coaxial cable ports;
a filter including a first connection to the coaxial cable interface and a second connection to the splitter, the filter being operable to pass television programming within a first frequency range from the coaxial cable interface to the splitter;
a frequency translator coupled to the splitter, the frequency translator being operable to convert signals received from the splitter within a second frequency range to return signals within a third frequency range for output through the splitter;
a power insertion device to connect to one of the coaxial cable ports through coaxial cabling;
a power supply with a current limiter to connect to the power insertion device; and
wherein the power insertion device is operable to provide electrical power to the hub through the coaxial cabling and splitter when the power insertion device is coupled to the power supply and the power supply is connected to a power source. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
-
Specification