High-speed data communication over a residential telephone wiring network

• US 6,532,279 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United Access Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: David D. Goodman
• Inventors: Goodman, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/591,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.08, 379/93.01, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/93.04, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.09, 379/93.14, 379/93.28, 370/352, 370/486, 370/487, 370/488, 370/490
• US Class Current: 379/90.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6475 N-ISDN, Public Switched Telephone Network [PSTN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6478 Digital subscriber line, e.g. DSL, ADSL, HDSL, XDSL, VDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A method and system for communicating between a number of computers within a residence over an active telephone network, and for communicating data between a telephone exchange and the residence in a first data band concurrently with the computers communicating in a second data band over the telephone wiring network with the residence. A modem bridges communication in the first data band and the second data band enabling the computers to communicate with the telephone exchange, which may provide a data path to other computers, for instance over the Internet. In addition, signals such as video signals can be distributed within the residence in an additional high-frequency band making use of common circuitry for both data and video communication.

Claims

1. A system for data communication over an active telephone wiring network, which includes a first segment coupling a telephone exchange and a residence and a second portion forming a network within the residence, and over which voice signals pass in a voice band of frequencies between the telephone exchange and one or more telephones coupled to the second portion of the wiring network, the system comprising:

a first communication module at a first location on the telephone wiring network including

a first port for coupling to the telephone wiring network and providing a communication path in a first data band of frequencies above the voice band between the communication module and the telephone exchange over the telephone wiring network,

a second port for passing data signals in the first data band between the first communication module and a modem,

circuitry for passing signals in the first data band between the first port and the second port,

a plurality of ports for coupling to a data hub and passing data signals in a second data band of frequencies above the first data band between the first communication module and the data hub, and

circuitry for passing signals in the second data band between the telephone wiring network and one of the plurality of ports for coupling to the data hub;

a second communication module at a second location on the telephone wiring network including

a first port for coupling to the telephone wiring network and providing a communication path in the second data band between the first communication module and the second communication module over the telephone wiring network,

a second port for passing signals in the second data band from the second communication module to a computer at the second location, and

circuitry for passing signals in the second data band between the first port and the second port;

a first hub coupled to the first communication module;

a modem coupled between the first hub and the second port of the first communication module, wherein the modem bridges data communication in the first data band and data communication in the second data band; and

a second hub coupled between the second communication module and the computer at the second location;

wherein the second communication module includes

a third port for coupling to the second hub,

a fourth port for coupling to a branch of the wiring network,

circuitry for passing signals in the second data band between the third port and the fourth port, and

circuitry for passing signals in the voice band between the first port and the fourth port; and

wherein the system provides a data communication channel passing between the computer at the second location and the telephone exchange and said data communication channel passes over the telephone wiring network in the second data band between the second communication module and the first communication module, passes between the first communication module and the modem through the first hub, and passes between the modem and the telephone exchange over the wiring network in the first data band.