Wall-mountable connector

• US 20070058666A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Pratt, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/052 using standardised network management architectures, e.g. telecommunication management network [TMN] or unified network management architecture [UNMA]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

In one embodiment, a media converter comprises a power interface that extracts power from a communication medium coupled to the media converter for powering the media converter. In another embodiment, a connector comprises a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the connector and a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the connector. The connector further comprises a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure. The connector communicatively couples the first communication medium and the second communication medium. The connector processes management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

Claims

1. A media converter comprising:

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the media converter;

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the media converter;

a media conversion module, communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface and to the second media attachment interface, that converts first signals received from the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface for transmission on the second communication medium via the second media attachment interface and that converts second signals received from the second communication medium via the second physical media attachment interface for transmission on the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface; and

a power interface, coupled to the first media attachment interface, that extracts power from the first communication medium and supplies power to the media conversion module.

2. The media converter of claim 1, wherein the first communication medium comprises a twisted-pair copper wiring.

3. The media converter of claim 2, wherein the second communication medium comprises an optical fiber.

4. The media converter of claim 1, wherein the first media attachment interface comprises a jack, wherein the first communication medium is physically attached to the media converter by inserting a plug coupled to the first communication medium into the jack.

5. The media converter of claim 1, wherein the media conversion module comprises a media conversion integrated circuit.

6. The media converter of claim 1, wherein the first and second signals comprise ETHERNET signals.

7. The media converter of claim 1, further comprising a mounting interface to mount the media converter to a structure.

8. The media converter of claim 7, wherein the mounting interface comprises an interface to mount the media converter to a wall.

9. The media converter of claim 7, wherein the mounting interface comprises at least one of a face plate and a surface-mount wall box.

10. A media converter comprising:

means for physically attaching a first communication medium to the media converter;

means for physically attaching a second communication medium to the media converter;

means for converting first signals received from the first communication medium for transmission on the second communication medium

means for converting second signals received from the second communication medium for transmission on the first communication medium; and

means for extracting power from the first communication medium for powering the media converter.

11. A media converter comprising:

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the media converter;

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the media converter;

a media conversion module, communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface and to the second media attachment interface, that converts first signals received from the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface for transmission on the second communication medium via the second media attachment interface and that converts second signals received from the second communication medium via the second physical media attachment interface for transmission on the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface;

a power media attachment interface to physically attach a power communication medium to the media converter, wherein power is injected onto the power communication medium; and

a power interface, coupled to the power media attachment interface, that extracts power from the power communication medium and supplies power to the media conversion module.

12. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the power communication medium comprises a twisted-pair copper wiring.

13. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the media conversion module is communicatively coupled to the power media attachment interface, wherein data signals are at least one of received from the power communication medium and transmitted on the power communication medium by the media conversion module.

14. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the media conversion module communicates data signals over the power communication medium when unable to communicate over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

15. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the first communication medium comprises a twisted-pair copper wiring.

16. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the second communication medium comprises an optical fiber.

17. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the media conversion module comprises a media conversion integrated circuit.

18. The media converter of claim 11, wherein the first and second signals comprise ETHERNET signals.

19. The media converter of claim 11, further comprising a mounting interface to mount the media converter to a structure.

20. The media converter of claim 19, wherein the mounting interface comprises an interface to mount the media converter to a wall.

21. The media converter of claim 19, wherein the mounting interface comprises at least one of a face plate and a surface-mount wall box.

22. A media converter comprising:

means for physically attaching a first communication medium to the media converter;

means for physically attaching a second communication medium to the media converter;

means for converting first signals received from the first communication medium for transmission on the second communication medium

means for converting second signals received from the second communication medium for transmission on the first communication medium; and

means for physically attaching a power communication medium to the media converter, wherein power is injected onto the power communication medium; and

means for extracting power from the power communication medium for powering the media converter.

23. The media converter of claim 22 further comprising means for communicating over the power communication medium.

24. A connector comprising:

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the connector;

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the connector; and

a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure;

wherein the connector communicatively couples the first communication medium to the second communication medium; and

wherein the connector extracts power from the first communication medium in order to power the connector.

25. The connector of claim 24, wherein the structure comprises a wall.

26. The connector of claim 24, wherein the mounting interface comprises at least one of a face plate and a surface-mount wall box.

27. The connector of claim 24, wherein the connector processes management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

28. The connector of claim 24, further comprising additional networking functionality.

29. The connector of claim 25, wherein the additional networking functionality comprises a wireless interface.

30. A connector comprising:

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the connector; and

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the connector;

a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure;

wherein the connector communicatively couples the first communication medium and the second communication medium;

wherein the connector processes management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

31. The connector of claim 30, wherein the structure comprises a wall.

32. The connector of claim 30, wherein the mounting interface comprises at least one of a face plate and a surface-mount wall box.

33. The connector of claim 30, further comprising a switch that forwards data between the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

34. The connector of claim 30, wherein each of the first communication medium and the second communication medium comprises at least one of copper wiring and optical fiber.

35. The connector of claim 33, further comprising:

a first physical layer device communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface;

a first media access control device communicatively coupled to the first physical layer device and the switch;

a second physical layer device communicatively coupled to the second media attachment interface; and

a second media access control device communicatively coupled to the second physical layer device and the switch.

36. The connector of claim 30, further comprising a management module that processes the management data.

37. The connector of claim 30, wherein the connector processes operation, administration, and maintenance protocol data units.

38. The connector of claim 30, further comprises a power interface that extracts power off of at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

39. The connector of claim 38, wherein the power interface extracts power off of the at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium using Power over ETHERNET.

40. The connector of claim 30, further comprising:

a power media attachment interface to physically attach a power communication medium to the connector, wherein power is injected onto the power communication medium; and

a power interface, coupled to the power media attachment interface, that extracts power from the power communication medium and supplies power to the connector.

41. The connector of claim 40, wherein the connector communicates data over the power communication medium.

42. The connector of claim 30, further comprising a user interface by which information is at least one of received from a user and output for a user.

43. The connector of claim 42, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a light-emitting diode and a rest button.

44. The connector of claim 30, further comprising additional networking functionality.

45. The connector of claim 44, wherein the additional networking functionality comprises a wireless interface.

46. A connector comprising:

a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure;

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the media converter; and

a first physical layer device communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface;

a first media access control device communicatively coupled to the first physical layer device;

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the media converter;

a second physical layer device communicatively coupled to the second media attachment interface;

a second media access control device communicatively coupled to the second physical layer device;

a switch, communicatively coupled to the first media access control device and the second media access control device, wherein the switch forwards data between the first communication medium and the second communication medium; and

a power media attachment interface to physically attach a power communication medium to the connector, wherein power is injected onto the power communication medium; and

a power interface, coupled to the power media attachment interface, that extracts power from the power communication medium to power the connector.

47. The connector of claim 46, wherein the switch is communicatively coupled to the power media attachment interface, wherein the switch communicates data over the power communication medium.

48. A connector comprising:

a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure;

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the media converter; and

a first physical layer device communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface;

a first media access control device communicatively coupled to the first physical layer device;

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the media converter;

a second physical layer device communicatively coupled to the second media attachment interface;

a second media access control device communicatively coupled to the second physical layer device;

a switch, communicatively coupled to the first media access control device and the second media access control device, wherein the switch forwards data between the first communication medium and the second communication medium; and

a power interface, coupled to the first media attachment interface, that extracts power from the first communication medium to power the connector.

49. The connector of claim 48, wherein each of the first communication medium and the second communication medium comprises at least one of copper wiring and optical fiber.

50. A connector comprising:

a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure;

a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the media converter; and

a first physical layer device communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface;

a first media access control device communicatively coupled to the first physical layer device;

a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the media converter;

a second physical layer device communicatively coupled to the second media attachment interface;

a second media access control device communicatively coupled to the second physical layer device;

a switch, communicatively coupled to the first media access control device and the second media access control device, wherein the switch forwards data between the first communication medium and the second communication medium; and

a management module that processes management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

51. A connector comprising:

means for physically attaching a first communication medium to the connector;

means for physically attaching a second communication medium to the connector; and

means for physically attaching the connector to a structure;

means for communicatively coupling the first communication medium to the second communication medium; and

means for extracting power from the first communication medium in order to power the connector.

52. The connector of claim 51, further comprising means for processing management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

53. The connector of claim 51, further comprising means for wireless interfacing a wireless device to the connector.

54. A connector comprising:

means for physically attaching a first communication medium to the connector;

means for physically attaching a second communication medium to the connector;

means for physically attaching the connector to a structure;

means for communicatively coupling the first communication medium to the second communication medium; and

means for processing management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.

55. The connector of claim 54, further comprising means for wireless interfacing a wireless device to the connector.