Service system for a building

• US 20090323711A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Wandsworth Group Limited
• Original Assignee: The Wandsworth Group Limited
• Inventors: Boarer, Terence
• Application Number:
  US11/887,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20090323711A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/420
• CPC Class Codes: G16C 10/00 Computational theoretical chemistry, i.e. ICT specially adapted for theoretical aspects of quantum chemistry, molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G16C 20/30 Prediction of properties of chemical compounds, compositions or mixtures

Abstract

A control system adapted to provide an IT structure for a building. The system includes a plurality of interconnectible units each including Ethernet capability with I/O serial connections, a head end unit, and a room unit, the units being connected in series and being modular whereby to provide an IT system for a whole building. A unit for use in such a single network structure includes a first connector for supporting an in-bound feed from a source external to the unit and a second connector adapted for data distribution to a data recipient element.

Claims

1. A unit for use in a single network structure, comprising a first connector for supporting an in-bound feed from a source external to the unit and a second connector adapted for data distribution to a data recipient element.

2. A unit according to claim 1, the external source comprising another similar unit.

3. A unit according to claim 1, the external source comprising a third party Ethernet switch.

4. A unit according to any preceding claim, the data recipient element comprising at least one similar unit.

5. A unit according to any preceding claim, the first and second connectors being autosense and connected by Ethernet cables.

6. A unit according to claim 5, the cables being crossed.

7. A unit according to claim 5, the cables being straight through.

8. A unit according to any preceding claim, the connectors each comprising an RJ45 connector.

9. A unit according to claim 8, comprising a series of layer 2 protocols including IGMP v 2 and IGMP snooping within firmware of the unit.

10. A unit according to any preceding claim, comprising wireless Ethernet.

11. A unit according to any preceding claim, comprising UPS (uninterruptible power supply).

12. A unit according to any preceding claim, mountable to a substrate.

13. A unit according to claim 12, comprising a self-contained wall mountable box.

14. A unit according to any preceding claim, comprising part of a modular system including a plurality of units.

15. A unit according to claim 14, the units each having a pre-defined number looked into each unit.

16. A unit according to any of claims 5 to 15, the cables being copper cables.

17. A unit according to any of claims 5 to 15, the cables being fibre cables.

18. A unit according to any preceding claim, adapted to service up to at least 80 data, voice or TV outlets.

19. A unit according to claim 18, adapted to be connected in-line to a plurality of identical units per gigabit feed from a core switch element.

20. A unit according to claim 19, adapted for modular connectivity to multi-protocol serial I/O devices.

54. A building including a unit or system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing and/or as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

21. A unit for use in a single network structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A service and control system adapted to provide an IT structure for a building, comprising a plurality of interconnectible units each including Ethernet capability with I/O serial connections, a head end unit, and a room unit, the units being connected in series and being modular whereby to provide an IT system for a whole building.

23. A system according to claim 22, adapted to be coupled to remote PCs whereby to operate and support building management system(s).

24. A system according to claim 22 or 23, incorporated into the fabric of a building.

25. A system according to claim 24, incorporated into the fabric of a building during refurbishment thereof.

26. A system according to any of claims 22 to 25, the head-end unit comprising one or more of an IP TV server, IP voice system, Ethernet layer 3 core switch, a Firewall, UPS and KVM, in any combination.

27. A system according to claim 26, further including a media server adapted for video provision.

28. A system according to either of claims 26 or 27, the IP TV server being connectible to a digital TV source.

29. A system according to claim 28, the source comprising a satellite source.

30. A system according to any of claims 26 to 29, the Firewall being connectible to an ADSL line.

31. A system according to any of claims 22 to 30, the interconnectible units comprising IP-zone units.

32. A system according to claim 31, the IP-zone units each comprising a 16-port layer 2 switch including an RS485 serial I/O distribution unit.

33. A system according to claim 31 or claim 32, each unit comprising a dedicated UPS.

34. A system according to claim 33, each IP-zone unit being an integral unit adapted for modular connection into the system.

35. A system according to claim 34, individual integral units being connectible with a plurality of substantially identical units per gigabit feed from a core switch.

36. A system according to any of claims 22 to 35, there being a plurality of room units, each associated with a particular room of a building.

37. A system according to claim 36, each room unit being an IP-room unit comprising a multi-port Ethernet switch in a standard electrical 2-gang wall switch.

38. A system according to claim 37, the switch comprising 6-port Ethernet switch.

39. A system according to claim 37 or claim 38, the IP-room unit comprising a box mountable on a substrate.

40. A system according to claim 39, the substrate comprising a wall.

41. A system according to any of claims 37 to 40, the IP-room unit comprising a plurality of outlets some of which are adapted to be powered over the Ethernet for use with IP telephones and TV outlets.

42. A system according to claim 41, there being a maximum of six outlets, a maximum of two of which are adapted for power over the Ethernet for use with IP telephones and TV outlets.

43. A system according to any of claims 37 to 42, the IP-room unit being connectible to at least one of the IP-TV unit and voice and data services.

44. A system according to claim 43, the IP-room unit being connectible to an IP-TV unit and a unit providing voice and data services.

45. A system according to claim 43, or claim 44, the TV unit comprising a miniature, low energy PC board or set top box at each TV connection point.

46. A system according to claim 45, the PC board being mounted on a wall mountable box at each TV outlet point.

47. A system according to any of claims 44 to 46, each TV unit providing wireless capability.

48. A system according to claim 47, the TV unit being supplied with multi-cast and application software and an infrared remote control handset.

49. A system according to any of claims 43 to 48, the telephone and data outlets comprising standard RJ45 outlets.

50. A system according to claim 49, the said outlets being provided with power over Ethernet (POE).

51. A system according to claim 50, the said outlets comprising two outlets per IP-room unit whereby to supply IP telephone handsets.

52. A system according to any of claims 22 to 51, the IP head end unit comprising a 19″

rack.

53. A service and control system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.