Interface device having VDSL splitter and interference filter

• US 6,574,236 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fink, Richard H., Gosselin, Linda K., Thompson, Tom T.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
• Application Number:
  US09/314,467
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 370/463, 370/455, 370/481, 370/488-497, 370/480, 375/285, 375/288, 375/296, 379/90.01, 379/93-1-, 379/93.14, 379/93.21, 379/93.28, 379/93.33, 379/110.01, 379/156, 379/173.1, 379/387, 725/149, 725/144, 725/106, 725/109, 725/117, 725/124, 725/125, 725/127, 333/32-33
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A customer interface device for coupling a customer site to a VDSL-based video, voice and data distribution network includes a signal splitter for separating incoming narrowband and broadband from a single twisted-pair copper wire, a narrowband port for connection to existing telephone wiring at the customer site, and a broadband port for connection to a customer set-top box via a CAT 5 wire. The interface device further includes a high pass filter connected between the splitter and the narrowband port, and a low pass filter connected between the splitter and the broadband port. The filters improve broadband signal quality while preventing feedback of EMI noise from the existing building wiring to the network.

Claims

1. An interface device for connecting a customer site to a VDSL based communication network providing combined narrowband and broadband signals, the interface device comprising:

a network port for receiving the combined narrowband and broadband signals from a single twisted-pair copper cable connected to a network device;

a narrowband port for connection to a wiring plant located at the customer site;

a broadband port for connection to a twisted-pair copper cable located at the customer site;

a frequency splitter connected to the network port for separating the broadband signals for output at the broadband port and the narrowband signals for output at the narrowband port;

a low pass filter connected between the frequency splitter and the narrowband port for filtering the separated narrowband signals before output at the narrowband port, the low pass filter being further arranged to reduce feedback of EMI and other radio interference, which is electromagnetically coupled onto the narrowband wiring plant within the customer site, from entering the network; and

a high pass filter connected between the frequency splitter and the broadband port for filtering the separated broadband signals before output at the broadband port, the high pass filter being further arranged to reduce feedback of EMI and other radio interference, which is electromagnetically coupled onto the broadband cable within the customer site, from entering the network.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the broadband port is connected to a Category 5 type twisted-pair copper cable.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the narrowband port is connected to an existing telephone wiring plant at the customer site.

4. A broadband communication network for distributing combined narrowband and broadband signals comprising:

a central office connected to at least one multi-media service provider and to a switched telephone system, the central office comprising narrowband and broadband signal encoders and decoders for combining the narrowband and broadband signals on a single network distribution line;

a network device connected to the central office for providing a single twisted-pair copper cable drop feed to a customer site; and

an interface device connected to a wiring plant at the customer site for receiving the combined narrowband and broadband signals from the single twisted-pair copper cable drop feed, wherein the interface device comprises;

a frequency splitter for separating the broadband signals and narrowband signals for output on separate wiring plants located at the customer site;

a low pass filter connected to the frequency splitter and arranged to filter the separated narrowband signals before output from the interface device as well as reduce feedback of EMI and other radio interference, which is electromagnetically coupled onto the narrowband wiring plant within the customer site, from entering the network distribution line; and

a high pass filter connected to the frequency splitter and arranged to filter the separated broadband signals before output from the interface device as well as reduce feedback of EMI and other radio interference, which is electromagnetically coupled onto the broadband wiring plant within the customer site, from entering the network distribution line.

5. The network of claim 4 wherein the network device comprises a universal service access multiplexer.

6. The network of claim 4 wherein the separated and filtered narrowband signals are output from the interface device on a copper pair wire.

7. The network of claim 4 the separated and filtered narrowband signals are output from the interface device on an existing telephone wiring plant at the customer site.

8. The network of claim 4 wherein the separated and filtered broadband signals are output from the interface device on a twisted-pair copper cable.

9. The network of claim 4 wherein the separated and filtered broadband signals are output from the interface device on a Category 5 twisted-pair copper cable.

10. A method for interfacing a customer site to a VDSL based communication network providing combined narrowband and broadband signals on a single distribution line, the method comprising:

receiving the combined narrowband and broadband signals at the customer site from a single twisted-pair copper drop feed;

splitting the narrowband and broadband signals into separate output signals;

outputting low pass filtered narrowband signals to a narrowband wiring plant within the customer site;

outputting high pass filtered broadband signals to a broadband wiring plant within the customer site;

low pass filtering feedback EMI and other radio interference, which is electromagnetically coupled onto the narrowband wiring plant within the customer site, from entering the VDSL based communication network;

high pass filtering EMI and other radio interference, which is electromagnetically coupled onto the broadband wiring plant within the customer site, from entering the VDSL based communication network.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising reducing signal interference on the separated and filtered broadband signals by outputting the signals on a twisted-pair copper cable.