Communications gateway and method of using the same

• US 20060251094A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Van Vleck, Paul, Ansari, Ahmad C., Hartman, David Bruce, Reed, Vernon Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• 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

Abstract

A communications gateway can be used to provide communications services from a communications service provide to electronic devices within a structure. Signals can be transmitted from the communications gateways to the electronic devices over a plurality of different types of wireline media. The communications gateway can allow communication services using a wireline medium (e.g., a set of twisted pair wires) to be transmitted within the structure by taking advantage of existing wireline media (e.g., CAT3 cable, coaxial cable, power lines, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of using a communications gateway, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal at the communications gateway over a first set of twisted-pair wires;

transmitting a second signal over a first wireline medium that is routed through a first structural component of a structure;

receiving a third signal at the communications gateway over the first set of twisted-pair wires; and

transmitting a fourth signal over a second wireline medium that is routed through a second structural component of the structure, wherein the second wireline medium is a different media type from the first wireline medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first wireline medium and the second wireline medium is selected from a group consisting of a second set of twisted-pair wires, a coaxial cable, a multi-line network cable, a fiber optic cable, a power line, and any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first signal comprises an analog signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first wireline medium is a second set of twisted-pair wires.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the second signal comprises a digital signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the second signal is the same as or corresponds to the first signal; and

the fourth signal is the same as or corresponds to the third signal.

7. A communications gateway comprising:

a first input/output port configured to receive a first set of twisted-pair wires, wherein the first set of twisted-pair wires is coupled to a communications service provider remote from the first input/output port;

a second input/output port configured to receive a first wireline medium, wherein the first wireline medium is routed through a first structural component of a structure and is coupled to one or more devices within the structure; and

a third input/output port configured to receive a second wireline medium, wherein the second wireline medium is routed through a second structural component of the structure and is coupled to one or more devices within the structure, and wherein the second wireline medium is a different media type from the first wireline medium.

8. The communications gateway of claim 7, further comprising a fourth input/output port configured to receive a third wireline medium, wherein the third wireline medium is routed through a third structural component of the structure and is coupled to one or more devices within the premises, and wherein the third wireline medium is a different media type from each of the first wireline medium and the second wireline medium.

9. The communications gateway of claim 7, wherein each of the first and the second wireline media is selected from a group consisting of a second set of twisted-pair wires, a coaxial cable, a multi-line network cable, a fiber optic cable, a power line, and any combination thereof.

10. The communications gateway of claim 7, wherein the first wireline medium is a second set of twisted-pair wires.

11. The communications gateway of claim 10, further comprising an analog telephone adapter coupled to the first wireline medium.

12. The communications gateway of claim 11, further comprising a switch that is configured, such that the first wireline medium can be selectively coupled to the analog telephone adapter or to another line.

13. The communications gateway of claim 7, further comprising a modem positioned to receive a signal from the first input/output port before the signal is routed over the second wireline medium, the third wireline medium, or both.

14. The communications gateway of claim 13, further comprising a firewall module to reduce the likelihood of malicious signals from being forwarded to the first wireline medium, the second wireline medium, or both.

15. The communications gateway of claim 13, further comprising a coaxial cable adapter coupled to the second wireline medium, wherein:

the second wireline medium is a coaxial cable; and

the coaxial cable adapter is configured to receive a first signal from the modem and to send a second signal, corresponding to the first signal, over the second wireline medium.

16. The communications gateway of claim 15, further comprising a combining module coupled to the first wireline medium and to the coaxial cable adapter.

17. The communications gateway of claim 13, further comprising a fiber optic cable adapter coupled to the second wireline medium, wherein:

the second wireline medium is a fiber optic cable; and

the fiber optic cable adapter is configured to receive a first signal from the modem and send a second signal, corresponding to the first signal, over the second wireline medium.

18. The communications gateway of claim 13, further comprising a power line adapter coupled to the second wireline medium, wherein:

the second wireline medium is a power line; and

the power line adapter is configured to receive a first signal from the modem and to send a second signal, corresponding to the first signal, over the second wireline medium.

19. The communications gateway of claim 7, further comprising a filter module to filter signals received at the first input/output port.

20. A method of using a communications gateway, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal at the communications gateway over a first fiber optic cable;

transmitting a second signal over a first wireline medium that is routed through a first structural component of a structure;

receiving a third signal at the communications gateway over the first fiber optic cable; and

transmitting a fourth signal over a second wireline medium that is routed through a second structural component of the structure, wherein the second wireline medium is a different media type from the first wireline medium.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein each of the first wireline medium and the second wireline medium is selected from a group consisting of a set of twisted-pair wires, a coaxial cable, a multi-line network cable, a second fiber optic cable, a power line, and any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising converting the first signal to generate the second signal, wherein:

the first signal is a digital signal; and

the second signal is an analog signal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first wireline medium is a second set of twisted-pair wires.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the third signal comprises a digital signal.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the first wireline medium is a coaxial cable.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the second signal is the same as or corresponds to the first signal; and

the fourth signal is the same as or corresponds to the third signal

27. A communications gateway comprising:

a first input/output port configured to receive a first fiber optic cable, wherein the first fiber optic cable is coupled to a communications service provider remote from the first input/output port;

a second input/output port configured to receive a first wireline medium, wherein the first wireline medium is routed through a first structural component of a structure and is coupled to one or more devices within the structure; and

a third input/output port configured to receive a second wireline medium, wherein the second wireline medium is routed through a second structural component of the structure and is coupled to one or more devices within the structure, and wherein the second wireline medium is a different media type from the first wireline medium.

28. The communications gateway of claim 27, wherein the first wireline medium is a set of twisted-pair wires.

29. The communications gateway of claim 27, further comprising a coaxial cable adapter coupled to the second wireline medium, wherein:

the second wireline medium is a coaxial cable; and

the coaxial cable adapter is configured to receive a first signal from the modem and send a second signal, corresponding to the first signal, over the second wireline medium.

30. The communications gateway of claim 27, further comprising a power line adapter coupled to the second wireline medium, wherein:

the second wireline medium is a power line; and

the power line adapter is configured to receive a first signal from the modem and send a second signal, corresponding to the first signal, over the second wireline medium.

31. A method of communicating with a device within a structure, the method comprising:

receiving a configuration signal at a broadband access unit, wherein;

the configuration signal originates from a source remote to the structure; and

the broadband access unit is associated with a structure and located external to the structure; and

changing a configuration of the broadband access unit based at least in part on the configuration signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the configuration signal is received from a controller at a central office.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein changing the configuration includes:

activating a network interface to the network interface device;

or

deactivating the network interface to the network interface device.

34. A broadband access unit comprising:

an access module;

a routing and switching module coupled to the access module; and

a network interface coupled to the access module, the routing and switching module, or a combination thereof, wherein the network interface includes a first input/output port configured to receive a first wireline medium, the first input/output port coupled to a network interface device that is located external to a structure to which the network interface device is associated.

35. The broadband access unit of claim 34, further comprising a second network interface coupled to the access module, the routing and switching module, or a combination thereof, wherein the second network interface includes a second input/output port configured to receive a second wireline medium, the second input/output port coupled to a second network interface device that is located external to the structure to which the second network interface device is associated, and wherein the second wireline medium is a different media type from the first wireline medium.

36. The broadband access unit of claim 35, further comprising a third input/output port coupled to the access module and configured to receive a third wireline medium, the third input/output port coupled to a broadband access service provider.