INTRA-PREMISES WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICE USING LUMPED AND DISTRIBUTED WIRELESS RADIATION FROM CABLE SOURCE INPUT

• US 20110069646A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Worstell, Harry R., Rice, Christopher W., Murray, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/297
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus that includes a communication interface for receiving broadband signals and for transmitting RF frequency signals to a diplexer located within a premises via cabling where the RF frequency signals are configured for distribution to signal radiation devices of the premises via the diplexer and where the RF frequency signals are configured for being radiated by the signal radiation devices to at least one wireless device; and a controller for generating packetized signals from the received broadband signals at a first frequency and for modulating the packetized signals at a second frequency, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise the modulated packetized signals at the second frequency. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface for receiving broadband signals and for transmitting RF frequency signals to a diplexer located within a premises via cabling, wherein the RF frequency signals are configured for distribution to signal radiation devices of the premises via the diplexer, and wherein the RF frequency signals are configured for being radiated by the signal radiation devices to at least one wireless device; and

a controller for generating packetized signals from the received broadband signals at a first frequency and for modulating the packetized signals at a second frequency, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise the modulated packetized signals at the second frequency.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is programmed for receiving broadcast signals, and wherein the RF frequency signals comprise the broadcast signals at the first frequency.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a diplexer for combining the broadcast signals at the first frequency and the modulated packetized signal at the second frequency.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed for converting input analog radio frequency signals carrying the broadband signals to digital Ethernet signals, wherein the digital Ethernet signals have different address headers than Ethernet signals intended for wired distribution.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a cable modem for converting input analog radio frequency signals carrying the broadband signals to digital signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the digital signals have different address headers than Ethernet signals intended for wired distribution.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the diplexer comprises a first filter operating at 2.4 GHz and a second filter operating at 1.0 GHz.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an input device for receiving broadband signals and broadcast signals;

a wireless device for generating packetized signals from the received broadband signals at a first frequency and for modulating the packetized signals at a second frequency; and

a first diplexer for providing RF frequency signals to a second diplexer located within a premises via cabling, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise the broadcast signals at the first frequency and the modulated packetized signals at the second frequency, and wherein at least a portion of the RF frequency signals are configured for distribution to signal radiation devices of the premises via the diplexer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least a portion of the RF frequency signals are configured for being radiated by the signal radiation devices to at least one wireless device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one wireless devices is configured for voice communications, and wherein the RF frequency signals comprise television broadcast signals and digital data signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise television broadcast signals and digital data signals.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise television broadcast signals and voice analog signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input device comprises a cable modem for converting input analog radio frequency signals carrying the broadband signals to digital signals having different address headers than Ethernet signals intended for wired distribution.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first diplexer comprises a first filter operating at 2.4 GHz and a second filter operating at 1.0 GHz.

15. A communication system comprising:

a first diplexer located in a premises for receiving RF frequency signals via cabling connected outside of the premises, the RF frequency signals comprising broadcast signals at a first frequency and broadband signals at a second frequency; and

a signal radiation device coupled with the first diplexer for radiating the broadband signals to a wireless device,

wherein the broadband signals have different address headers than Ethernet signals intended for wired distribution.

16. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the cabling is connectable with a second diplexer located outside of the premises that combines the broadcast signals at the first frequency and the broadband signals at the second frequency.

17. The communication system of claim 16, wherein the broadband signals are modulated at the second frequency using a wireless device connected with the second diplexer.

18. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the wireless devices is configured for voice communications, and wherein the RF frequency signals comprise television broadcast signals and digital data signals.

19. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise television broadcast signals and digital data signals.

20. The communication system of claim 15, wherein the RF frequency signals comprise television broadcast signals and voice analog signals.