Adaptable in-wall network device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A network device for placement in a wall surface and establishing network connectivity with a network, comprising:
- a back unit, including, a back unit housing, a processor disposed within the back unit housing, a memory disposed within the back unit housing and in electrical communication with the processor and including executable applications for managing network communication, a primary network interface in electrical communication with the processor to communicate electronically with a network, and a front unit interconnect in electrical communication with the primary network interface; and
a front unit, including, a front unit housing to mechanically and detachably couple to the back unit housing, a secondary network interface to couple to and electrically communicate with the front unit interconnect upon coupling the front unit housing to the back unit housing, and an application device in electrical communication with the secondary network interface and, upon coupling of the secondary network interface to the front unit interconnect, in electrical communication with the primary network interface.
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Abstract
A network device includes a back unit that provides a network connection through a primary network interface. The back unit includes a universal mechanical and electrical connection to front units with specific hardware and/or network applications. A front unit with desired network applications is coupled to the back unit to establish a network connection to the front unit and enable the network applications. A front unit may be removed and exchanged for another front unit with different network applications as desired.
59 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A network device for placement in a wall surface and establishing network connectivity with a network, comprising:
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a back unit, including, a back unit housing, a processor disposed within the back unit housing, a memory disposed within the back unit housing and in electrical communication with the processor and including executable applications for managing network communication, a primary network interface in electrical communication with the processor to communicate electronically with a network, and a front unit interconnect in electrical communication with the primary network interface; and
a front unit, including, a front unit housing to mechanically and detachably couple to the back unit housing, a secondary network interface to couple to and electrically communicate with the front unit interconnect upon coupling the front unit housing to the back unit housing, and an application device in electrical communication with the secondary network interface and, upon coupling of the secondary network interface to the front unit interconnect, in electrical communication with the primary network interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network device for placement in a wall surface and establishing network connectivity to a network, comprising:
a back unit, including, a back unit housing to mechanically and detachably couple to a front unit housing, a processor disposed within the back unit housing, a memory disposed within the back unit housing and in electrical communication with the processor and including executable applications for managing network communication, a primary network interface in electrical communication with the processor to communicate electronically with a network, and a front unit interconnect in electrical communication with the primary network interface and to couple to and electrically communicate with a secondary network interface of a front unit upon coupling the back unit housing to a front unit housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A network device for placement in a wall surface and establishing network connectivity to a network, comprising:
a front unit, including, a front unit housing to mechanically and detachably couple to a back unit housing, a secondary network interface to couple to and electrically communicate with a front unit interconnect of a back unit upon coupling the front unit housing to a back unit housing, and an application device in electrical communication with the secondary network interface and, upon coupling of the secondary network interface to a front unit interconnect of a back unit, in electrical communication with a primary network interface of a back unit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A network device for placement in a wall surface and establishing network connectivity to a network, comprising:
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a back unit, including, a back unit housing, a back unit processor disposed within the back unit housing, a back unit memory disposed within the back unit housing and in electrical communication with the back unit processor and including executable applications for managing network communication, a primary network interface in electrical communication with the processor to communicate electronically with a network, and a front unit interconnect in electrical communication with the primary network interface; and
a front unit, including, a front unit housing to couple to the back unit housing, a front unit processor disposed within the front unit housing, a front unit memory disposed within the front unit housing and in electrical communication with the front unit processor and including executable applications for managing network communication, a secondary network interface to couple to and electrically communicate with the front unit interconnect, and an application device in electrical communication with the secondary network interface and to electrically communicate with the primary network interface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for providing network connectivity, comprising:
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providing power to a back unit, the back unit including, a back unit processor, a back unit memory in electrical communication with the back unit processor, a primary network interface in electrical communication with the processor, and a front unit interconnect in electrical communication with the primary network interface;
establishing a connection between the primary network interface and a network;
assigning an address to the back unit;
after establishing a connection, coupling a front unit to the back unit, the front unit including, a secondary network interface, and an application device in electrical communication with the secondary network interface; and
upon coupling the front unit to the back unit, coupling the secondary network interface of the front unit to the front unit interconnect to thereby provide network connectivity to the application device. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51)
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Specification