Methods and apparatus to self-configure a flexible residential gateway

• US 20060239244A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wollmershauser, Steven Michael, Multach, Jeffrey, Hurst, William Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to self-configure a flexible residential gateway providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network. An example flexible residential gateway may include at least one voice over Internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) processor, at least one VoIP coupler connecting VoIP signals between at least one VoIP processor and at least one telephone line. In such an arrangement, the VoIP coupler may be configurably capable to disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from a telephone line. The gateway may further include a switch controller capable of disconnecting the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.

Claims

1. A flexible residential gateway apparatus providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network, the flexible residential gateway comprising:

at least one voice over Internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) processors for providing at least one VoIP service to the in home network through at least one telephone line, and processing VoIP signals communicated with the in home network;

at least one VoIP coupler connecting VoIP signals between at least one VoIP processor and at least one telephone line, wherein the VoIP coupler is capable to provide a battery feed voltage and ring voltages for at least one telephone line; and

a switch controller capable of disconnecting the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line if plain old telephone service (POTS) signals are detected on at least one telephone line.

2. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the VoIP coupler comprises a configurable battery switch capable to disconnect the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line, and the switch controller disconnects the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line by configuring the configurable battery switch of at least one VoIP coupler.

3. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising at least one POTS sensor capable to detect the presence of POTS signals on at least one telephone line, and wherein the switch controller uses at least one POTS sensor output to determine whether to disconnect the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line.

4. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein a VoIP coupler, a configurable battery switch, and a POTS sensor are associated with each telephone line.

5. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the switch controller controls the configurable battery switch of a VoIP coupler associated with a telephone line to disconnect the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from the telephone line if POTS signals are detected on the telephone line.

6. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein POTS signals comprise at least one of battery feed voltage or sealing current.

7. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible residential gateway is expanded using at least one additional VoIP processor, at least one additional VoIP coupler, and at least one additional telephone line implemented in at least one expansion unit attached to the flexible residential gateway via at least one communications cable or connector.

8. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

an xDSL (“

x”

variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor for providing access to the external communications network through one of the telephone lines, and processing xDSL signals communicated with the connected external communications network; and

a HomePNA (Home PhoneLine Networking Alliance) processor for providing HomePNA communications with the in home network through at least one telephone line, and processing HomePNA signals communicated with the connected in home network;

wherein the switch controller is further capable of disconnecting the HomePNA processor from at least one telephone line if VDSL (Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line) signals that interfere with the HomePNA signals are present on at least one telephone line.

9. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising:

at least one configurable switch capable to disconnect the HomePNA processor from at least one telephone line; and

one VDSL sensor configured to detect the presence of VDSL signals on the first telephone line that communicates xDSL signals with the connected external network;

wherein the switch controller controls at least one configurable switch to disconnect the HomePNA processor from all telephone lines if VDSL signals that interfere with the HomePNA signals are present on the first telephone line that communicates xDSL signals with the connected external network;

10. A flexible residential gateway apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein a VoIP coupler and a POTS sensor are associated with each telephone line, and

wherein the switch controller controls the VoIP coupler associated with a telephone line to disconnect the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from the telephone line if POTS signals are detected by the POTS sensor on the telephone line.

11. For a flexible residential gateway providing access to an external communications network, and providing voice over Internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) communications between at least one VoIP processor and an in home network through at least one telephone line, a self-configuration method comprising

detecting the presence of plain old telephone service (POTS) signals on at least one telephone line, and

disconnecting a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.

12. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 11 wherein disconnecting a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line uses at least one configurable battery switch.

13. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 11 wherein detecting the presence of POTS signals uses at least one POTS sensor capable to detect the presence of POTS signals on at least one telephone line.

14. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 13 wherein a POTS sensor is associated with each telephone line, and wherein the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages are disconnected from a telephone line if POTS signals are detected on the telephone line.

15. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 13 wherein POTS signals are comprised of at least one of battery feed voltage or sealing current.

16. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 11 further comprising

detecting the presence of POTS signals on at least one additional telephone line associated with at least one expansion unit that is attached to the flexible residential gateway through at least one communications cable or connector, and

disconnecting a battery feed voltage and ring voltages associated with an expansion unit from at least one additional telephone line associated with the expansion unit if POTS signals are detected on at least one of the additional telephone lines.

17. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 11 further comprising

detecting the presence of VDSL (Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line) signals on at least one telephone line, and

disconnecting a HomePNA processor from at least one telephone line if VDSL signals that interfere with HomePNA communications are detected on at least one telephone line.

18. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 17 further comprising detecting the presence of VDSL signals on one telephone line, and disconnecting the HomePNA processor from all telephone lines if VDSL signals that interfere with HomePNA communications are detected on the one telephone line.

19. A self-configuration method as defined in claim 17 further comprising detecting the presence POTS signals on each telephone line, and disconnecting the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from a telephone line if POTS signals are detected on the telephone line.

20. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to detect the presence of plain old telephone service (POTS) signals on at least one telephone line, and disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.

21. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 20 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line by using at least one configurable battery switch.

22. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 20 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to detect POTS signals by using at least one POTS sensor capable to detect the presence of POTS signals on at least one telephone line.

23. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 22 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to detect POTS signals for each telephone line, and to disconnect the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from a telephone line if POTS signals are detected on the telephone line.

24. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 22 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to detect POTS signals comprised of at least one of battery feed voltage or sealing current.

25. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 20 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to

detect the presence of plain old telephone service (POTS) signals on at least one additional telephone line associated with at least one expansion unit attached to the flexible residential gateway through at least one communications cable or connector, and

disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages associated with an expansion unit from at least one additional telephone line associated with expansion unit if POTS signals are detected on at least one of the additional telephone lines.

26. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 20 wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to

detect the presence of VDSL (Very high speed Digital Subscriber Line) signals on at least one telephone line, and

disconnect a HomePNA processor from at least one telephone line if VDSL signals lines that interfere with HomePNA communications are detected on at least one telephone line.