Method and apparatus for providing out of band communications over structured cabling

• US 20060115008A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Emea Limited (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.), CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics UK Limited (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: MacFadyen, David Niall, Standish, Ian Miles, Eberle, James Joseph Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,443,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/257
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/02 Details
• 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 25/02 Details ; arrangements for supplying electrical power along data transmission lines systems for transmitting signals via power distribution lines H04B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0272 Arrangements for coupling to multiple lines, e.g. for differential transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/06 the signals being represented by different frequencies combined with time-division multiplexing H04L5/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/20 using different combinations of lines, e.g. phantom working

Abstract

An out of band communications apparatus includes first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair. The data lines convey high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from the first frequency range. The apparatus also includes a band pass filter coupled to the first and second data lines. The filter only passes the out of band data and blocks the high speed data. The apparatus also includes a device coupled to the band pass filter and configured to at least one of transmit and receive out of band data.

Claims

1. An out of band communications apparatus comprising:

first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair and conveying high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from said first frequency range;

a band pass filter coupled to said first and second data lines only passing said out of band data and blocking said high speed data; and

a device coupled to said band pass filter configured to at least one of transmit and receive out of band data.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second data lines simultaneously convey power.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a transformer having a center power tap for one of adding and removing power from said first and second data lines.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter is configured to pass frequencies below 100 kilohertz.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second frequency range is between 100 hertz and 100 kilohertz.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second frequency range is between 100 hertz and 20 kilohertz.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second data lines are configured to convey multiple out of band data signals within the second frequency range.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a circuit including at least one inductor and a capacitor, wherein said inductor has a predetermined impedance.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a circuit including a resistor, at least one inductor and a capacitor, wherein said inductor has a predetermined impedance.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to be coupled to an out of band communications electronic device.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said filter comprises a digital signal processor configured to pass the out of band data between said apparatus and the out of band communications electronic device.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a digital signal processor and at least one analog to digital converter configured to convert the out of band data to a digital signal.

13. A method for managing a structured cabling infrastructure using an out of band communications apparatus, wherein the infrastructure includes at least one apparatus, each apparatus includes first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair and conveying high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from the first frequency range, said method comprising:

coupling the data lines to an identification indicator, wherein the identification indicator is positioned within the infrastructure;

coupling a band pass filter to the first and second data lines, wherein the band pass filter is configured to pass out of band data and block high speed data;

providing an out of band communications electronic device, wherein the out of band communications electronic device is configured to generate and interpret out of band data; and

transmitting an out of band data signal from the identification indicator to the out of band communications electronic device via the data lines, wherein the out of band data signal relates to the status of the identification indicator.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the electronic identification indicator is coupled to a wall outlet, said coupling the data lines comprises ending the data lines at the wall outlet.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein filtering the out of band data comprises passing the out of band data within the second frequency range to the out of band communications electronic device.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising generating an infrastructure map based on the out of band data signal transmitted from the identification indicator.

17. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising polling the identification indicator with a signal from the out of band communications electronic device.

18. A method for indicating the transmission status of an out of band communications apparatus, wherein the out of band communications apparatus includes first and second data lines arranged in a differential pair and conveying high speed data within a first frequency range and out of band data within a second frequency range that differs from the first frequency range, the out of band communications apparatus is also configured to transmit power along the data lines, said method comprising:

coupling the data lines to at least one illumination source;

coupling a band pass filter to the first and second data lines, wherein the band pass filter is configured to pass out of band data and block high speed data;

providing an out of band communications electronic device, wherein the out of band communications electronic device is configured to generate and interpret out of band data;

transmitting an out of band data signal from the out of band communications electronic device to the illumination source via the data lines, wherein the out of band data signal relates to the transmission status of the out of band communications apparatus.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the illumination source is an LED indicator.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the transmission status relates to the transmission of data on the data lines.

21. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the transmission status relates to the transmission of power on the data lines.

22. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising coupling the illumination source to one of a wall outlet, a patch panel, a switch, and a patch cord such that the transmission status of the out of band communications apparatus is indicated at the corresponding wall outlet, patch panel, switch, and patch cord to which the illumination source is coupled.