Local area network of serial intelligent cells

• US 6,480,510 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: SercoNet Limited (Yehuda Binder, MBA)
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US09/123,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 370/274, 370/276, 370/285, 370/293, 370/295-296, 370/400-402, 370/463, 370/475, 370/419-420, 370/501-502, 370/908, 370/910-911, 370/408, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/310.01, 340/693.1, 340/870.39
• US Class Current: 370/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• 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: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• 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: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/02 providing ringing current or supervisory tones, e.g. dialling tone or busy tone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/908 Local area network

Abstract

A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC'"'"'s interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC'"'"'s is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC'"'"'s to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that, unlike current bus topology and star topology, there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. The network can use dedicated wiring, as well as existing wiring as the in-house telephone or electrical wiring.

Claims

1. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising a plurality of serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least one communicating pair, wherein:

(a) each of said electrically-conducting media interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;

(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;

(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and

(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;

the local area network functioning as a multiplexer, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is connected to a high data rate connection whose bandwidth is multiplexed to at least one other of said plurality of serial intelligent cells.

2. The local area network as in claim 1, functioning as a voice multiplexer, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is connected to a telephone.

3. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising a plurality of serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least one communicating pair, wherein:

(a) each of said electrically-conducting media interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;

(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;

(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and

(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;

wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;

the local area network functioning as a multiplexer, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is connected to a high data rate connection whose bandwidth is multiplexed to at least one other of said plurality of serial intelligent cells.

4. The local area network as in claim 3, functioning as a voice multiplexer, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is connected to a telephone.

5. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising a plurality of serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least one communicating pair, wherein:

(a) each of said electrically-conducting media interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;

(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;

(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and

(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;

wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;

wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media is used to carry both local area network data and electrical power; and

wherein the local area network data and electrical power are combined using frequency-domain multiplexing, the local area network functioning as a multiplexer, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is connected to a high data rate connection whose bandwidth is multiplexed to at least one other of said plurality of serial intelligent cells.

6. The local area network as in claim 5, functioning as a voice multiplexer, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells is connected to a telephone.

7. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising a plurality of serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least one communicating pair, wherein:

(a) each of said electrically-conducting media interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;

(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;

(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and

(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;

wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said electrically-conducting media; and

wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a telephony/data splitter/combiner.

8. The local area network as in claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a power/data splitter/combiner.

9. The local area network as in claim 8, wherein said power/data splitter/combiner comprises an AC power/data splitter/combiner.

10. The local area network as in claim 8, wherein said power/data splitter/combiner comprises a DC power/data splitter/combiner.

11. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising a plurality of serial intelligent cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least one communicating pair, wherein:

(a) each of said electrically-conducting media interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;

(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;

(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and

(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidirectionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;

wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;

wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said electrically-conducting media; and

wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises a telephony/data splitter/combiner.

12. A local area network for data communication, sensing, and control comprising a plurality of serial intelligcnt cells interconnected exclusively by electrically-conducting media into at least one communicating pair, wherein:

(a) each of said electrically-conducting media interconnects no more than two of said serial intelligent cells;

(b) each of said at least one communicating pair includes one of said electrically-conducting media and exactly two of said serial intelligent cells;

(c) each of said at least one communicating pair engages in a communication exclusively over said electrically-conducting media; and

(d) each of said at least one communicating pair is operative to engage in said communication bidireetionally and independently of the communication of any other of said at least one communicating pair;

wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting media includes electrical power wiring of a building;

wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells receives electrical power via said elcctrically-conducting media; and

wherein at least one of said plurality of serial intelligent cells comprises an AC power/data splitter/combiner.