Local area network of serial intelligent cells

• US 20060077970A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• 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 8,325,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/02 providing ringing current or supervisory tones, e.g. dialling tone or busy tone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/908 Local area network

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.

Claims

1. A telephone system for coupling a serial digitized telephone data signal carried over wiring in building walls to a telephone set, the wiring forming part of a network, said system comprising:

a wiring connector operative for connecting to the wiring;

a transceiver coupled to said wiring connector for bi-directionally conducting the digitized telephone data signal over the wiring; and

a telephone set coupled to said transceiver for coupling the digitized telephone data signal to the telephone set, wherein said system is addressable in the network.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the telephone set is an analog telephone set and said system further comprises a converter between an analog telephone signal and the digitized telephone signal coupled between the telephone set and said transceiver.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wiring is one of:

a twisted-wire pair;

a coaxial cable;

a telephone wire-pair; and

powerline wiring, and said transceiver is operative to conduct the digitized telephone data signal over said wiring.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver is operative to carry out packet-based full-duplex communication over the wiring.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply connected to said transceiver for DC powering said transceiver, said power supply having a power source port for connecting to a power source.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a power connector connectable to the power source, and wherein said power source port is coupled to the said power connector for being powered from the power source.

7. The system according to claim 5 wherein the wiring further simultaneously carries a power signal, and wherein said power source port is arranged to be coupled to conduct the power signal.

8. The system according to claim 5 wherein said power supply comprises an AC/DC or a DC/DC converter.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system has a manually assigned address.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system has an automatically assigned address.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system has an address assigned by a data unit connected to said system.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver is operative to carry out bi-directional communication with at least one similar transceiver over the wiring.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transceiver is operative to carry out bi-directional point-to-point communication with only a single mating transceiver over the wiring.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one parameter of the system is configurable by a connected data unit.

15. The system according to claim 1 further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware.

16. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply connected to said transceiver for DC powering said transceiver, said power supply having a power source port for connecting to a power source; and

a power connector coupled to said power supply and connectable to a device for DC powering the device.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wiring further carries an analog telephone signal frequency multiplexed with the digitized telephone data signal in respective frequency bands;

the digitized telephone data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone signal frequency band; and

said system further comprises a high pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said transceiver for passing only the digitized telephone data signal.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wiring further carries a power signal frequency multiplexed with the digitized telephone data signal in respective frequency bands;

the digitized telephone data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the power signal frequency band; and

said system further comprises a high pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said transceiver for passing only the digitized telephone data signal.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said wiring connector is a standard connector for connecting to an outlet that is connectable to the wiring.

20. The system according to claim 1 further operative to couple to a data unit, said system further comprising:

a standard data interface connector connectable to a data unit,

a second transceiver coupled between said transceiver and said standard data interface connector for carrying out a bi-directional serial digital data communication with said data unit.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said system is housed within an outlet.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wiring includes at least one twisted-wire pair that is part of a local area network within a building; and

said transceiver is a local area network transceiver operative for point-to-point packet-based full-duplex communication with only a single mating transceiver over the wiring.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the transceiver is Ethernet based.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wiring is a telephone wire pair; and

said transceiver is operative for point-to-point packet-based full-duplex communication with only a single mating transceiver over a frequency band above an analog telephone band.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said transceiver is operative for point-to-point packet-based full-duplex communication using a DSL modem.

26. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the wiring is a telephone wire pair;

said transceiver is operative for packet-based communication with at least one similar transceiver over a frequency band above an analog telephone band;

said wiring connector is a telephone connector, and said system further comprises a high pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said transceiver for passing only the digitized telephone data signal.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein the in-wall wiring is a powerline wiring, and wherein said transceiver is operative for packet-based communication with one or more same transceivers over a frequency band above the AC power signal, and wherein said wiring connector is an AC power connector, and wherein the system further comprising an high pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said transceiver for passing only the digitized telephone data signal.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wiring further carries digital data using time multiplexing, and wherein said system further comprises a multiplexer/demultiplexer coupled between said transceiver and the telephone set for passing only the digitized telephone data signal therebetween.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is at least in part housed within a wall-mounted enclosure that is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

30. The system according to claim 1, wherein the telephone set, said transceiver and said wiring connector are enclosed within a single telephone-shaped enclosure.

31. A local area network (LAN) based PBX/PABX system in a building for carrying power and serial digital data, said system including three nodes interconnected by first and second distinct LAN wiring segments, said system comprising:

external wiring at least in part extending outside the building for full-duplex serial digital data communication, the serial digital data including time-multiplexed first and second serial digitized telephony data;

a first node connected to said external wiring for coupling to said time-multiplexed first and second serial digitized telephony data, said first node being further connected to the first and second LAN wiring segments for time multiplexing/de-multiplexing the first serial digitized telephony data on said first LAN wiring segment and the second serial digitized telephony data on the second LAN wiring segment;

a first LAN wiring segment comprising at least one twisted wire pair at least in part in a wall of the building, wherein at least one end of the first LAN wiring segment is terminated in a connector in a first outlet, and the first LAN wiring segment connects only said first and second nodes in a point-to-point connection using full-duplex communication of serial digital data over said first LAN wiring segment between said two connected nodes, and the serial digital data include the first serial digitized telephony data;

a second LAN wiring segment comprising at least one twisted wire pair and at least in part in a wall of a building, wherein at least one end of the wiring segment is terminated in a connector in a second outlet and wherein the second LAN wiring segment connects only said first and third in a point-to-point connection using a full-duplex communication of serial digital data over said second LAN wiring segment between said two connected nodes, and wherein the serial digital data include the second serial digitized telephony data;

a second node connected to said first LAN wiring segment via said first outlet and coupled to a first telephone set for coupling the first serial digitized telephony data to the first telephone set; and

a third node connected to said second LAN wiring segment via said second outlet and coupled to a second telephone set for coupling the second serial digitized telephony data to the second telephone set,

wherein said first, second and third nodes are each addressable in said system.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes has a manually assigned address.

33. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes has an automatically assigned address.

34. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes has an address assigned by a data unit coupled to said node.

35. The system according to claim 31, wherein said second node and the connected first telephone set are enclosed within a first single enclosure, and wherein said third node and the connected second telephone set are enclosed within the a second single enclosure.

36. The system according to claim 31 further operative to function as an intercom allowing the first and second telephone sets to communicate with each other.

37. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes is at least in part housed within a wall-mounted enclosure that is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

.

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet

38. The system according to claim 31, wherein the serial digital data communication over said external wiring is PCM highway based or DSL based.

39. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes is either pluggable into an outlet or attachable to an outlet.

40. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes is operative to provide a standard computer bus interface and further comprises a computer connector with associated mechanical means connectable and attachable to a computer plug-in unit, said computer connector being coupled to a wiring segment carrying the first or second digitized telephony data.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein said standard computer bus interface is one of:

an ISA interface, a PCMCIA interface, an IDE interface, and a SCSI interface.

42. The system according to claim 31, wherein all of said nodes comprise firmware and a processor for executing said firmware and coupled to control and process the digitized telephony data.

43. The system according to claim 31 further operative to carry power over said first and second LAN wiring segments, wherein:

said first node is connected to a power source for powering said first nodes;

said first and second wiring segments each concurrently carry a respective first or second DC power signal derived from the power source;

said second node is coupled to be powered by the first power signal; and

said third node is coupled to be powered by the second power signal.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein at least one of said nodes is further operative to power a device connected thereto.

45. The system according to claim 43, wherein at least one of said first and second LAN wiring segments comprising four conductors and carries the DC power over dedicated conductors distinct from the data carrying conductors.

46. The system according to claim 43, wherein at least one of said wiring segments carries power and data over the same conductors.

47. The system according to claim 43, wherein the first and second DC power signals are each current limited and said system is further operative to accommodate line reversal in any of said wiring segments with a diode-based bridge in order to provide power protection.

48. The system according to claim 31 wherein the first and second digitized telephony data are packet-based.

49. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of the telephone sets is an analog telephone set coupled to the respective node via a standard analog telephone connector, and wherein said respective node further comprises a converter between an analog telephony signal and digitized telephony data coupled to said standard analog telephone connector for coupling respective serial digitized telephony data to the analog telephone set.

50. The system according to claim 31, wherein at least one of said nodes further comprises a visual indicator for indicating a communication status.

51. A system in a building for coupling at least one analog telephone set in the building to a digital telephone service external to the building, the system comprising:

a telephone wire pair, at least in part extending outside the building and at least in part in a wall of the building and connected to a telephone outlet, for carrying full-duplex serial digital data including serial digitized telephony data, the serial digital data is carried over a frequency band distinct from, and higher than, analog telephony band,

a first analog telephone set connectable to the wire pair via a standard analog telephone connector;

a single enclosure; and

a device housed in said single enclosure and comprising;

a first telephone connector connected for coupling the serial digitized telephony data to said telephone wire pair;

a high pass filter coupled to said first telephone connector for passing only the serial digital data;

a telephone modem coupled to said high pass filter for conducting the serial digital data over said telephone wire pair;

an analog/digital telephony converter coupled to said telephone modem for converting between the serial digitized telephony data and an analog telephone signal; and

a second telephone connector connected to said first analog telephone set for coupling the analog telephone signal to said first analog telephone set.

52. The system according to claim 51 further providing a life-line service, wherein:

said telephone wire pair is connected to concurrently carry a second analog telephone signal over an analog telephone band, and said device further comprises;

a low pass filter coupled to said first telephone connector for passing only the second analog telephone signal; and

a third telephone connector connected to said low pass filter and connectable to a second analog telephone set, for coupling the second analog telephone signal to the second analog telephone set.

53. The system according to claim 51 further providing a life-line service, wherein:

said telephone wire pair is connected to concurrently carry a second analog telephone signal over an analog telephone band, and said device further comprises;

a low pass filter coupled to said first telephone connector for passing only the second analog telephone signal,

a switch coupled to said low pass filter, said converter and to said second telephone connector, said switch being switchable between a first state for connecting said second telephone connector to said converter and a second state for connecting second telephone connector is connected to said low pass filter.

54. The system according to claim 53 wherein said switch comprises a relay and is operative to shift from the first state to the second state upon sensing a loss of telephone service.

59. The system according to claim 51, wherein said device is at least in part housed within a wall-mounted enclosure that is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

.

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

60. The system according to claim 51, wherein communication of the serial digital data over said telephone wire pair is PCM highway based.

61. The system according to claim 51, wherein communication of the serial digital data over said telephone wire pair is DSL based, and said telephone modem is a DSL modem.

62. The system according to claim 51, wherein said device is pluggable into an outlet or attachable to an outlet.

63. The system according to claim 51, wherein said device further comprises a visual indicator for indicating a communication status.

64. The system according to claim 51, wherein said device is further operative to provide a standard computer bus interface, and further comprises a computer connector with associated mechanical means connectable and attachable to a computer plug-in unit, said computer connector being coupled to said wire pair for enabling transfer of the digitized telephony data between said computer connector and said wire pair.

65. The system according to claim 64, wherein said standard computer bus interface is one of:

an ISA interface, a PCMCIA interface, an IDE interface, and a SCSI interface.

66. The system according to claim 51, wherein said device further comprises firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control and process the digitized telephony data.

55. The system according to claim 55 wherein said device is addressable in said system.

56. The system according to claim 55, wherein said device has a manually assigned address.

57. The system according to claim 55, wherein said device has an automatically assigned address.

58. The system according to claim 55, wherein said device has an address assigned by a data unit coupled to said device.