Network for telephony and data communication

• US 20050105477A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: SercoNet Limited (Yehuda Binder, MBA)
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Granted Patent: US 7,492,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A service outlet for coupling a data unit to a wired digital data signal and for coupling a service unit to an analog service signal, for use with a service wire pair installed in walls of a building, the service wire pair concurrently carrying a wired bi-directional digital data signal and an analog service signal carried over a service signal frequency band, using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the service signal frequency band. The outlet has a single enclosure and, within the enclosure: a wiring connector; first and second filters coupled to the wiring connector; a service connector coupled to the first filter and connectable to the service unit for coupling the service unit to the analog service signal; a service wiring modem coupled to the second filter; and a power supply coupled to the service wiring modem.

Claims

1. An apparatus for configuring a network in a building, the network having first and second wiring segments, each wiring segment comprising at least two conductors installed at least in part in a wall of the building, the first wiring segment carrying a frequency domain multiplexed first packet-based digital data signal and a first analog signal, and the second wiring segment carrying a frequency domain multiplexed second packet-based digital data signal and a second analog signal, the apparatus comprising:

first and second ports each connectable to a respective one of the first and second wiring segments;

first and second data filters each coupled to a respective one of said first and second ports, each having a data signal port operative to pass only a respective one of the first and second digital data signals;

first and second modems each coupled to said data signal port of a respective one of said first and second filters, and each operative for bi-directionally conducting a respective packet-based data signal over a respective one of the first and second wiring segments;

at least one data connector operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

a multiport unit coupling said first and second modems to said at least one data connector for data transfer between said modems and said at least one data connector, said multiport unit being constituted by one of;

a repeater;

a bridge; and

a router;

first and second analog filters each coupled to a respective one of said first and second ports, each having a respective analog signal port and each operative to pass only a respective one of the first and second analog signals; and

a single enclosure housing said ports, said data filters, said modems, said at least one data connector, said multiport unit and said analog filters,

wherein said analog signal ports of said first and second analog filters are coupled to each other for coupling the first and second analog signals to each other.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second analog signals is an analog telephone signal, and the analog filter associated with at least the one of the first and second analog signals is a low pass filter.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the wiring segments is a telephone wiring segment, and the modem associated with one of the wiring segments is a telephone wiring modem.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is at least partially housed within an outlet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one power consuming component connected to at least one of the wiring segments and powered by a power signal carried by the at least one of the wiring segments.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the power signal is carried in a frequency spectrum distinct from the analog and data signals.

7. The outlet according to claim 5, wherein the power signal is an alternating current signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the data signals carried over at least one of the wiring segments include a plurality of time division multiplexed data channels;

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of data connectors each operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

said data connectors are each coupled to said multiport unit; and

said apparatus is operative for coupling each data unit to a distinct data channel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the data signals carried over at least one of the wiring segments include a plurality of frequency division multiplexed data channels;

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of data connectors each operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

said data connectors are each coupled to said multiport unit; and

said apparatus is operative for coupling each data unit to a distinct data channel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall of the building.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an analog connector connectable to an analog unit and coupled to said analog signal port of said first analog filter.

12. An apparatus for configuring a network in a building, for use with first and second wiring segments, each wiring segment comprising at least two conductors installed at least in part in a wall of the building, the first wiring segment carrying a frequency domain multiplexed first packet-based digital data signal and a first analog signal, the second wiring segment carrying a frequency domain multiplexed second packet-based digital data signal and a second analog signal, the apparatus comprising:

first and second ports each connectable to a respective one of the first and second wiring segments;

first and second data filters each coupled to a respective one of said first and second ports, each having a data signal port operative to pass only a respective one of the first and second digital data signals;

first and second modems each coupled to said data signal port of a respective one of said first and second filters, and each operative for bi-directionally conducting a respective packet-based data signal over a respective one of the first and second wiring segments;

at least one data connector operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

a multiport unit coupling said first and second modems to said at least one data connector for data transfer between said modems and said at least one data connector, said multiport unit being constituted by one of;

a repeater;

a bridge; and

a router;

an analog filter coupled to said first port and having an analog signal port and operative to pass only the first analog signal;

an analog connector operative for establishing an analog signal connection with an analog unit, said analog connector being coupled to said analog signal port of said analog filter; and

a single enclosure housing said ports, said data filters, said modems, said at least one data connector, said multiport unit, said analog filter and said analog connector.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first analog signal is an analog telephone signal, said analog filter is a low pass filter and said analog connector is a telephone connector.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the wiring segments is a telephone wiring segment, and the modem associated with one of the wiring segments is a telephone wiring modem.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the apparatus is at least partially housed within an outlet.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising at least one power consuming component connected to at least one of the wiring segments and powered by a power signal carried by the at least one of the wiring segments.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the power signal is carried in a frequency spectrum distinct from the analog and data signals.

18. The outlet according to claim 16, wherein the power signal is an alternating current signal.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

the data signal carried over at least one of the wiring segments include a plurality of time division multiplexed data channels;

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of data connectors each operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

said data connectors are each coupled to the multiport unit; and

said apparatus is operative for coupling each data unit to a distinct data channel.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

the data signal carried over at least one of the wiring segments includes a plurality of frequency division multiplexed data channels;

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of data connectors each operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

said data connectors are each coupled to the multiport unit; and

said apparatus is operative for coupling each data unit to a distinct data channel.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall of the building.

22. An apparatus for configuring a network in a building, for use with first and second wiring segments, each wiring segment comprising at least two conductors installed at least in part in a wall of the building, the first wiring segment carrying a frequency domain multiplexed first packet-based digital data signal and a first analog signal, the second wiring segment carrying a frequency domain multiplexed second packet-based digital data signal and a second analog signal, the apparatus comprising:

first and second ports each connectable to a respective one of the first and second wiring segments;

first and second data filters each coupled to a respective one of said first and second ports, each having a data signal port operative to pass only a respective one of the first and second digital data signals;

first and second modems each coupled to said data signal port of a respective one of said first and second filters, and each operative for bi-directionally conducting a respective packet-based data signal over a respective one of the first and second wiring segments;

at least one data connector operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

a multiport unit coupling said first and second modems to said at least one data connector for data transfer between said modems and said at least one data connector, said multiport unit being constituted by one of;

a repeater;

a bridge; and

a router;

a telephone connector connectable to a telephone device, said telephone connector being coupled to said first port; and

a single enclosure housing said ports, said data filters, said modems, said at least one data connector, said multiport unit and said telephone connector.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a low pass filter operative to pass only analog telephone signals, the low pass filter coupled between said telephone connector and said first port.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein at least one of the wiring segments is a telephone wiring segment, and the modem associated with one of the first and second analog signals is a telephone wiring modem.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus is at least partially housed within an outlet.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising at least one power consuming component connected to at least one of the wiring segments and powered by a power signal carried by the at least one of the wiring segments.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the power signal is carried in a frequency spectrum distinct from the analog and data signals.

28. The outlet according to claim 26, wherein the power signal is an alternating current signal.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

the data signal carried over at least one of the wiring segments includes a plurality of time division multiplexed data channels;

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of data connectors each operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

said data connectors are each coupled to said multiport unit; and

said apparatus is operative for coupling each data unit to a distinct data channel.

30. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein:

the data signal carried over at least one of the wiring segments includes a plurality of frequency division multiplexed data channels;

said apparatus further comprises a plurality of data connectors each operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data unit;

said data connectors are each coupled to said multiport unit; and

said apparatus is operative for coupling each data unit to a distinct data channel.

31. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said apparatus enclosure is attachable to a wall of the building.

32. For use with a telephone wiring in wall in a building, the telephone wiring comprising of at least two conductors and being connected to external telephone and data networks, the telephone wiring concurrently carrying over the same conductors a digitized telephony signal and a digital data signal, a device for coupling a telephone device to the digitized telephony signal and for coupling a data unit to the digital data signal, the device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the telephone wiring;

a high pass filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the digital data signal;

a telephone wiring modem coupled to said high pass filter, said telephone wiring modem being operative to conduct a packet-based digital data signal bi-directionally over said telephone wiring;

a data connector connectable to a data unit for establishing a bi-directional packet-based digital data signal connection with the data unit;

a router coupled between said data connector and said telephone wiring modem for data transfer between said modem and said data connector;

a telephone connector coupled to said wiring connector and connectable to a telephone unit for coupling the telephone unit to the digitized telephony signal; and

a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said high pass filter, said telephone wiring modem, said data connector, said router and said telephone connector.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the digitized telephony signal is ISDN based.

34. The device according to claim 32, wherein the digital data signal is ADSL based and the telephone wiring modem is an ADSL modem.

35. The device according to claim 32, wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

36. The device according to claim 32, wherein said enclosure is mountable into telephone outlet cavity.

37. The device according to claim 32, wherein said enclosure is housed in a telephone outlet.

38. The device according to claim 32, wherein the telephone unit is an analog telephone unit.

39. The device according to claim 32, wherein the telephone wiring further concurrently carries a power signal, and said telephone wiring modem is further coupled to said wiring connector for coupling to the power signal to be powered by the power signal.

40. The device according to claim 39, wherein the power signal is carried using frequency division multiplexing.