RESIDENTIAL GATEWAY

• US 20140233580A1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Darrell, Jones, Alfonso, McDonald, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,432,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• 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 65/1023 Media gateways

Abstract

A method includes receiving power via a communication line at a power coupling device of a removable module coupled to a connector of a network interface device. The communication line is coupled to a service provider system that provides multiple services to a customer residence associated with the network interface device. The communication line provides first data associated with a first service of the multiple services to the network interface device. The method includes receiving, at a first service module of the removable module, second data associated with a second service of the multiple services, generating second processed data from the second data, and sending the second processed data to a device coupled to the network interface device. The method also includes generating operation power from the power at the power coupling device and providing the operation power to the removable module and the network interface device.

Claims

1. A removable module comprising:

contacts that are electrically couplable to a connector of a network interface device, wherein the network interface device is configured to be coupled via communication lines to a service provider system that is configured to provide multiple services via the communication lines to a customer residence associated with the network interface device;

a first service module coupled to a first contact of the contacts, wherein the first service module, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to receive first data associated with a first service of the multiple services via the communication lines, generate processed first data from the first data, and send the processed first data to a device coupled to the network interface device via a local area network; and

a power coupling device coupled to a second contact of the contacts, wherein the power coupling device, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to receive power via a communication line of the communication lines, generate operation power, and provide the operation power to the first service module and the network interface device.

2. The removable module of claim 1, further comprising a second service module, wherein the second service module, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to receive second data associated with a second service of the multiple services via the communication lines, generate second processed data from the second data, and send the second processed data to a second device coupled to the network interface device via the local area network.

3. The removable module of claim 1, further comprising a diagnostic unit, wherein the diagnostic unit, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to monitor performance of the first service module.

4. The removable module of claim 3, wherein the diagnostic unit, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to provide a visual display to indicate an operational status of the network interface device.

5. The removable module of claim 3, further comprising a memory, wherein the diagnostic unit is configured to perform tests that determine problems upstream of the network interface device, determine problems with the network interface device, determine problems with the removable module, determine problems with devices downstream of the network interface device, or combinations thereof, and wherein the memory is configured to store test information related to the tests.

6. The removable module of claim 5, wherein the diagnostic unit is configured to send the test information to the service provider system, to a second device coupled to a test communication port of the network interface device, or both.

7. The removable module of claim 1, further comprising a line conditioning unit, wherein the line conditioning unit, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to condition a particular communication line of the communication lines for data communications.

8. The removable module of claim 1, wherein the network interface device is configured to provide voice service to the customer residence when the contacts are not electrically coupled to the connector.

9. The removable module of claim 1, wherein the multiple services include a voice service and a video service.

10. The removable module of claim 1, wherein the multiple services include a video service and a data service.

11. The removable module of claim 1, wherein the multiple services include a voice service and a data service.

12. A removable module comprising:

contacts that are electrically couplable to a connector of a network interface device, wherein the network interface device is configured to be coupled via a communication line to a service provider system that is configured to provide multiple services to a customer residence associated with the network interface device;

a first service module coupled to a first contact of the contacts, wherein the first service module, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to receive first data associated with a first service of the multiple services via the communication line, generate first processed data from the first data, and send the first processed data to a device coupled to the network interface device via a local area network; and

a power coupling device coupled to a second contact of the contacts, wherein the power coupling device, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to receive power via the communication line, generate operation power, and provide the operation power to the first service module and the network interface device.

13. The removable module of claim 12, further comprising a second service module, wherein the second service module, when coupled to the network interface device via the connector, is configured to receive second data associated with a second service of the multiple services via the communication line, generate second processed data from the second processed data, and send the second processed data to a second device coupled to the network interface device via the local area network.

14. The removable module of claim 12, further comprising a diagnostic module, the diagnostic module configured to monitor performance of the network interface device, generate performance data, and send the performance data to the service provider system.

15. The removable module of claim 12, further comprising a connection module configured to manage a data communication connection between the network interface device and the service provider system.

16. A method comprising:

receiving power via a communication line at a power coupling device of a removable module coupled to a connector of a network interface device, wherein the communication line is coupled to a service provider system configured to provide multiple services to a customer residence associated with the network interface device, and wherein the communication line provides first data associated with a first service of the multiple services to the network interface device;

receiving, at a first service module of the removable module, second data associated with a second service of the multiple services;

generating, via the first service module, second processed data from the second data;

sending, via the first service module, the second processed data to a device coupled to the network interface device via a local area network;

generating operation power from the power at the power coupling device; and

providing the operation power to the removable module and the network interface device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving, at a second service module of the removable module, the first data;

generating, via the second service module, first processed data from the first data; and

sending, via the second service module, the first processed data to a second device coupled to the network interface device via the local area network.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving the first data at a second service module of a second removable module coupled to a second connector of the network interface device;

generating, via the second service module, first processed data from the first data; and

sending, via the second service module, the first processed data to a second device coupled to the network interface device via the local area network.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second data is received at the network interface device from the service provider system via the communication line.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second data is received at the network interface device from the service provider system via a second communication line.