Auxiliary power and telephone signal distribution system

• US 5,661,802 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Original Assignee: Ole K Nilssen
• Inventors: Nilssen, Ole K.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US08/585,642
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 380/20, 380/21, 380/10
• US Class Current: 380/240
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• 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: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A telephone and auxiliary power distribution system in a building has a flexible multi-conductor signal and power distribution cable; which cable originates from a central signal & power management facility located near the point where the telephone utility line enters the building and extends from there to each of numerous locations within the building at which a fire-hazard-proof signal & power outlet is wanted; each of which outlets is adapted to service one of plural different loads, such as a wide variety of telephone and telephone-related instruments, smoke detectors, PC'"'"'s, TV'"'"'s & VCR'"'"'s, clocks and timers, thermostats, door chimes and buttons, modems, fax machines, lamps & lights, Class-2 & Class-3 sub-circuits, etc. The central signal and power management facitility, which is connected with the telephone utility line, the electric utility power line, the gas utility gas supply line and a water supply line, serves: (i) to connect the telephone utility line with the signal and power distribution cable; (ii) even during periods of electric utility power failure, to provide various conditioned DC voltages to various pairs of power conductors within the distribution cable; (iii) to detect the presence of any unauthorized (e.g., fire-hazardous) loads connected with the power conductors; and (iv) to remove the voltage from a pair of conductors if an unauthorized load be connected therewith.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising:

a TV signal source providing TV signals at a TV signal output;

each TV signal representing a TV channel;

at least one of the TV signals being scrambled so that, in the absence of a proper descrambling function, a TV set can not convert said at least one scrambled TV signal into a proper TV image;

a TV instrument operative to convert an unscrambled TV signal into a proper TV picture on a TV screen;

the TV instrument including a de-scrambling means functional, on receipt of a proper de-scrambling signal at a de-scrambling signal input, to de-scramble a scrambled TV signal, thereby to convert the scrambled TV signal into an unscrambled TV signal, thereby to cause the TV instrument to convert the scrambled TV signal into a proper TV picture on the TV screen;

the TV instrument being further characterized in that, in the event the descrambling signal were to be removed from the descrambling signal input, it will within a brief period cease to display said proper TV picture;

the duration of the brief period being substantially shorter that the duration of a single ordinary TV program;

a telephone-type instrument connected with the de-scrambling signal input as well as with a signal port connected in communication with the local telephone system; and

a de-scrambling signal source connected, via the local telephone system, in communication with the de-scrambling signal input, thereby to provide said proper de-scrambling signal.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 further characterized in that:

(i) in order for the de-scrambling function to be properly provided, it is necessary that the proper de-scrambling signal be supplied to the de-scrambling signal input on a substantially continuous basis; and

(ii) the de-scrambling signal source is functional to provide the proper de-scrambling signal on a substantially continuous basis.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that:

(i) the telephone-type instrument is located within a building; and

(ii) the de-scrambling signal source is located outside of the building.

4. The arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that the act of supplying the de-scrambling signal input on a substantially continuous basis is defined to include a situation wherein the de-scrambling signal is supplied periodically with a period as long as 15 minutes or more.

5. The arrangement of claim 2 further characterized in that the function of providing the proper de-scrambling signal on a substantially continuous basis is defined as including situations wherein the proper de-scrambling signal is periodic but having a period no longer than 15 minutes.

6. An arrangement comprising:

a telephone sub-system having;

(i) a first input/output port connected with a telephone line of a local telephone system;

(ii) a first apparatus connected with the first input/output port and operative to provide a de-scrambling signal at a first output/input port, but only after having received a first command signal at a command input/output port;

(iii) a TV antenna functional to receive TV signals from a TV signal source;

(iv) a second apparatus connected with the TV antenna as well as with the first apparatus;

the second apparatus providing scrambled TV signals at a TV output port; and

(v) a main output/input port to which are connected the first output/input port as well as the TV output port;

a multi-conductor cable characterized by including a first set of conductors suitable for conveying telephone signals and a second set of conductors suitable for conveying TV signals;

the second set of conductors being distinctly and substantively different from the first set of conductors; and

a TV sub-system located some distance away from the telephone sub-system and having a main input/output port connected with the main output/input port by way of the multi-conductor cable;

the TV sub-system including a third apparatus operative;

(i) to receive the scrambled TV signals as well as the de-scrambling signal;

(ii) to produce de-scrambled TV signals from the scrambled TV signals; and

(iii) to generate from the de-scrambled TV signals an unscrambled TV image on a TV screen.

7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the telephone sub-system is further characterized by including a source of non-interruptible electric power functional to deliver non-interruptible power to:

(i) the first apparatus;

(ii) the second apparatus; and

/or (iii) to a pair of power conductors in the multi-conductor cable.

8. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein at least part of the multi-conductor cable is buried in the ground.

9. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the command input/output port is connected in circuit with the first output/input port.

10. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the third apparatus is further characterized by being operative to produce de-scrambled TV signals from the scrambled TV signals only for as long as actually receiving the de-scrambling signal.

11. The arrangement of claim 6 the first apparatus is further characterized by ceasing to provide the de-scrambling signal after receiving a second command signal at its command input/output port.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein the second command signal is defined as the absence of the first command signal.

13. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the first apparatus is further characterized by providing the de-scrambling signal only as long as actually receiving the first command signal at its command input/output port.

14. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the multi-conductor cable includes a co-axial TV cable as well as plural conductors for transmitting telephone signals and/or electric power.

15. The arrangement of claim 6 further characterized by:

(i) the first input/output port being connected with a plurality of telephone lines from the local telephone system; and

(ii) including a plurality of TV sub-systems, each with its own main input/output port connected with the main output/input port via the multi-conductor cable.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

(i) each one of the plural TV sub-systems is located in a different building; and

(ii) the multi-conductor cable extends between these buildings.

17. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein:

(i) the TV antenna includes a satellite dish antenna; and

(ii) the TV signal source includes a TV satellite in Earth orbit.

18. An arrangement comprising:

a telephone sub-station having;

(i) a first input/output port connected via telephonic means with a local telephone system;

(ii) a first apparatus connected with the first input/output port and operative to provide a de-scrambling signal at a first output/input port, but only after having received a certain command signal at a command port;

(iii) a TV antenna means functional to receive TV signals from a TV signal source;

(iv) a second apparatus connected with the TV antenna means as well as with the first apparatus;

the second apparatus providing scrambled TV signals at a TV output port; and

(v) a main output/input port to which are connected the first output/input port as well as the TV output port;

a multi-conductor cable characterized by including a first set of conductors suitable for conveying telephone signals and a second set of conductors suitable for conveying TV signals;

the second set of conductors being distinctly and substantively different from the first set of conductors; and

a TV sub-system located some distance away from the telephone sub-station and having a main input/output port connected with the main output/input port by way of the multi-conductor cable;

the TV sub-system including a third apparatus operative;

(i) to receive the scrambled TV signals as well as the de-scrambling signal;

(ii) to produce de-scrambled TV signals from the scrambled TV signals; and

(iii) to generate from the de-scrambled TV signals a corresponding unscrambled TV image on a TV screen.

19. The arrangement of claim 18 wherein:

(i) the first input/output port includes a cellular antenna;

(ii) the first apparatus includes a first cellular telephone transceiver; and

(iii) the local telephone system includes a cellular telephone transmitter and receiver.

20. An arrangement comprising:

a TV signal source providing TV signals at a TV signal output;

each TV signal representing a TV channel;

at least one of the TV signals being scrambled so that, in the absence of a proper descrambling function, a TV set can not convert said at least one scrambled TV signal into a proper TV image;

a TV instrument disposed within a room and operative to convert an unscrambled TV signal into a proper TV picture on a TV screen;

the TV instrument including a de-scrambling means functional, on receipt of a proper de-scrambling signal at a de-scrambling signal input, to de-scramble a scrambled TV signal, thereby to convert the scrambled TV signal into an unscrambled TV signal, thereby to cause the TV instrument to convert the scrambled TV signal into a proper TV picture on the TV screen;

the TV instrument being further characterized in that, in the event the descrambling signal were to be removed from the descrambling signal input, it will within a brief period cease to display said proper TV picture;

the duration of the brief period being distinctly shorter that the duration of a single ordinary TV program;

a telephone-type instrument connected with the de-scrambling signal input as well as with a signal port connected in communication with the local telephone system; and

a de-scrambling signal source located external of said room and connected, via the local telephone system, in communication with the de-scrambling signal input, thereby to provide said proper de-scrambling signal.

21. An arrangement comprising:

a telephone sub-station having;

(i) a first input/output port connected via telephonic means with a local telephone system;

(ii) a first apparatus connected with the first input/output port and operative to provide a de-scrambling signal at a first output/input port, but only after having received a certain command signal at a command port;

(iii) a TV antenna means functional to receive TV signals from a TV signal source;

(iv) a second apparatus connected with the TV antenna means as well as with the first apparatus;

the second apparatus providing scrambled TV signals at a TV output port; and

(v) a main output/input port to which are connected the first output/input port as well as the TV output port;

a multi-conductor cable characterized by including a first set of conductors suitable for conveying telephone signals and a second set of conductors suitable for conveying TV signals;

the second set of conductors being distinctly and substantively different, in terms of electromagnetic transmission and/or power handling characteristics, from the first set of conductors; and

a TV sub-system located some distance away from the telephone sub-station and having a main input/output port connected with the main output/input port by way of the multi-conductor cable;

the TV sub-system including a third apparatus operative;

(i) to receive the scrambled TV signals as well as the de-scrambling signal;

(ii) to produce de-scrambled TV signals from the scrambled TV signals; and

(iii) to generate from the de-scrambled TV signals a corresponding unscrambled TV image on a TV screen.