Communications webs for PSTN subscribers
First Claim
1. A communications web for use by a public switched telecommunications (PSTN) subscriber, said web comprising:
- a. at least one Web Control Unit comprising;
i. at least one web interface, said interface adapted to be connected to the PSTN, said interface adapted to render the signals from the PSTN compatible with circuitry in the Web Control Unit, and to render the upstream signals compatible with the PSTN;
ii. at least one switch adapted to couple signals from each of said at least one web interfaces to at least one output, in accordance with control signals provided by a programmable controller;
iii. said programmable controller adapted to control said switch according to the number and types of PSTN connections coupled to said at least one web interface;
the number, types and locations of subscriber'"'"'s equipment serviced by the communications web; and
the desires of the subscriber;
iv. Web Control Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry coupled to said switch and adapted to multiplex downstream signals from said switch outputs into form compatible for delivery to Web Control Unit transceiver circuitry, and to demultiplex upstream signals from said Web Control Unit transceiver circuitry for delivery to said switch;
V. said Web Control Unit transceiver circuitry adapted to modulate said downstream signals from said Web Control Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to transmit said downstream signals via RF link, and to demodulate upstream signals received via RF link for delivery to said Web Control Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry;
b. at least one Wireless Access Unit comprising;
i. Wireless Access Unit transceiver circuitry adapted to receive downstream signals via RF link from said Web Control Unit and to demodulate said downstream signals for delivery to Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry, and to modulate upstream signals from said Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to provide said upstream signals via RF link to said Web Control Unit;
ii. Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry adapted to demultiplex downstream signals from said Wireless Access Unit transceiver circuitry and to multiplex upstream signals from Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry for delivery to said Wireless Access Unit transceiver circuitry and compatible for eventual demultiplexing by the multiplex/demultiplex circuitry in said Web Control Unit; and
iii. said Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry adapted to render downstream signals from said Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry compatible for use by subscriber'"'"'s equipment for delivery to at least one interface to said subscriber'"'"'s equipment, and to render upstream signals from said at least one subscriber'"'"'s equipment interface compatible for use by and delivery to said Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry.
18 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems for connecting telecommunications infrastructure lines to telephones, handsets, computers, telecopy machines and other end user interfaces or consumer electronics devices in a residence or business. Systems according to the present invention include Network Control Units which form the center of a star topology and which communicate via RF link with Wireless Access Units and handsets. Wireless Access Units feature an interface, such as, for example, a standard telephone jack, for accommodating a telephone, a fax machine, a compute modem or other device. Computers or other devices may also be accommodated by Wireless Access Units having other physical and virtual interfaces, including, for instance, serial ports or network interfaces. The Wireless Access Units may also be digital to accommodate ISDN or any other digital standard. Wireless control/monitoring accessories may also be employed to communicate with the Network Control Unit and provide additional functionality such as entrance monitoring, baby monitoring, HVAC control and other services.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A communications web for use by a public switched telecommunications (PSTN) subscriber, said web comprising:
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a. at least one Web Control Unit comprising; i. at least one web interface, said interface adapted to be connected to the PSTN, said interface adapted to render the signals from the PSTN compatible with circuitry in the Web Control Unit, and to render the upstream signals compatible with the PSTN; ii. at least one switch adapted to couple signals from each of said at least one web interfaces to at least one output, in accordance with control signals provided by a programmable controller; iii. said programmable controller adapted to control said switch according to the number and types of PSTN connections coupled to said at least one web interface;
the number, types and locations of subscriber'"'"'s equipment serviced by the communications web; and
the desires of the subscriber;iv. Web Control Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry coupled to said switch and adapted to multiplex downstream signals from said switch outputs into form compatible for delivery to Web Control Unit transceiver circuitry, and to demultiplex upstream signals from said Web Control Unit transceiver circuitry for delivery to said switch; V. said Web Control Unit transceiver circuitry adapted to modulate said downstream signals from said Web Control Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to transmit said downstream signals via RF link, and to demodulate upstream signals received via RF link for delivery to said Web Control Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry; b. at least one Wireless Access Unit comprising; i. Wireless Access Unit transceiver circuitry adapted to receive downstream signals via RF link from said Web Control Unit and to demodulate said downstream signals for delivery to Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry, and to modulate upstream signals from said Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to provide said upstream signals via RF link to said Web Control Unit; ii. Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry adapted to demultiplex downstream signals from said Wireless Access Unit transceiver circuitry and to multiplex upstream signals from Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry for delivery to said Wireless Access Unit transceiver circuitry and compatible for eventual demultiplexing by the multiplex/demultiplex circuitry in said Web Control Unit; and iii. said Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry adapted to render downstream signals from said Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry compatible for use by subscriber'"'"'s equipment for delivery to at least one interface to said subscriber'"'"'s equipment, and to render upstream signals from said at least one subscriber'"'"'s equipment interface compatible for use by and delivery to said Wireless Access Unit multiplex/demultiplex circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communications web for use by a switched telecommunications infrastructure subscriber, said web comprising:
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a. at least one Web Control Unit comprising; i. a plurality of web analog interfaces, each adapted to be connected to the telecommunications infrastructure, at least some of said interfaces adapted to convert analog signals to digital in a downstream direction and render the signals compatible with circuitry in the Web Control Unit, and to convert digital signals to analog in an upstream direction for delivery to the telecommunications infrastructure and to render the upstream signals compatible with the telecommunications infrastructure; ii. switching circuitry adapted to couple signals from each of said at least one web analog interfaces to at least one output, in accordance with control signals provided by a programmable controller; iii. said programmable controller adapted to control said switching circuitry according to the number and types of telecommunications infrastructure connections coupled to said at least one web analog interfaces;
the number, types and locations of subscriber'"'"'s equipment serviced by the communications web; and
the desires of the subscriber;iv. circuitry adapted to modulate and multiplex downstream signals from said switching circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to transmit said signals via RF link, and to demodulate and demultiplex upstream signals received via RF link for delivery to said switching circuitry; b. at least one analog Wireless Access Unit comprising; i. circuitry adapted to receive downstream signals via RF link from said Web Control Unit and to demodulate and demultiplex said downstream signals for delivery to Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry, and to multiplex and modulate upstream signals delivered from said Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to provide said upstream signals via RF link to said Web Control Unit; ii. said Wireless Access Unit interface circuitry adapted to convert downstream signals from said multiplexing and modulation circuitry to analog and render said downstream signals compatible for use by subscriber'"'"'s equipment for delivery to at least one interface to said subscriber'"'"'s equipment, and to convert upstream signals from said at least one subscriber'"'"'s equipment interface to digital and render said upstream signals compatible for use by and delivery to said multiplexing and modulation circuitry; c. a telephone connected to at least one Wireless Access Unit; and d. at least one handset comprising; i. circuitry adapted to receive downstream signals via RF link from said Web Control Unit and to demodulate and demultiplex said downstream signals for delivery to handset interface circuitry, and to multiplex and modulate upstream signals from said handset interface circuitry onto at least one RF carrier in order to transport said signals via RF link to said Web Control Unit; ii. said handset interface circuitry adapted to convert downstream signals from said multiplexing and modulation circuitry to analog and render said downstream signals compatible for use by at least a loudspeaker in said handset, and to convert upstream signals from a microphone in said handset to digital and render said upstream signals compatible for use by and delivery to said multiplexing and modulation circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for connecting a plurality of lines of the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN) to subscriber equipment comprising:
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a. converting analog signals on a plurality of said PSTN lines to digital signals; b. providing said digital signals to a switch adapted to couple signals from said PSTN lines to at least one output; c. programming said switch to couple each of said PSTN line signals to a desired output in the switch, said programming conducted according to;
(1) the number of and nature of each of said PSTN lines;
(2) the types of said subscriber equipment; and
(3) the subscriber'"'"'s preferences;d. multiplexing said output signals from said switch to create a multiplexed signal; e. modulating said multiplexed signal onto at least one radiofrequency signal for transmission of said multiplexed signal via radiofrequency link; and f. in at least one of a plurality of remote units, i. receiving said radiofrequency signal; ii. demodulating and demultiplexing said signal; iii. identifying portions of said demodulated signal intended for said at least one remote unit, said portions corresponding to signals on a PSTN line programmed in said switch to be connected to subscriber equipment connected to said at least one remote unit; iii. selecting said portions which have been identified and converting said identified portions to analog; and iv. providing said analog signal to subscriber equipment connected to said at least one remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification