System and method for coupling multiple home networks

• US 6,778,646 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 2Wire, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 2Wire, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sun, Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/434,388
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 379/416, 379/399.01, 379/413.02, 379/387.01, 379/390.02, 379/93.09, 379/93.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.06, 379/93.07, 379/93.11, 379/93.14, 379/93.15, 379/93.26, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/93.05
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• 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 2012/2845 Telephone line

Abstract

A system and method for coupling multiple home networks includes a first copper wire network, a second copper wire network, and a high pass coupler disposed between the first and second copper wire networks. The high pass coupler is configured to transfer data signals between the first and second copper wire networks, the data signals having frequencies greater than a maximum plain old telephone service signal frequency. Further, the high pass coupler is configured to prevent cross-talk of plain old telephone service, or voice-band, signals between the first and second copper wire networks. The data signals transferred typically include signals in accordance with the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance standard, and may also include broadband Internet access signals. In one embodiment, the high pass coupler is implemented in a residential gateway device. In another embodiment, the high pass coupler is implemented in a network coupler that couples the copper wire networks while maintaining access points to the first and second copper wire networks.

Claims

1. A system for coupling multiple copper telephone wire networks, comprising:

a first copper telephone wire network operable to carry voice signals and Internet data, wherein the first telephone wire network couples to a telephone;

a second copper.telephone wire network; and

a high pass coupler between said first copper telephone wire network and said second copper telephone wire network, said high pass coupler having a first capacitor and a first transformer configured to transfer data signals between said first copper telephone wire network and said second copper telephone wire network, said data signals having frequencies greater than a maximum plain old telephone service signal frequency.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said data signals include Home Phoneline Networking Alliance standard signals.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said data signals include broadband Internet access signals.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said broadband Internet access signals are provided to said first copper telephone wire network via an Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said maximum plain old telephone service signal frequency is about 4 kilohertz.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a residential gateway device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a network coupler that provides an access point to said first copper telephone wire network and an access point to said second copper telephone wire network.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said high pass coupler has a coupling inductance such that said data signals are transferred between said first copper telephone wire network and said second copper telephone wire network without modification.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said high pass coupler has a coupling inductance of about 10 microHenrys.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said transformer having at least two windings, each of said windings including a capacitor that blocks plain old telephone service signals.

11. A system for coupling multiple home networks, comprising:

a first copper telephone wire network operable to carry voice signals and Internet data, wherein the first telephone wire network couples to a telephone;

a second copper telephone wire network; and

a high pass coupler having a first transformer and a first capacitor configured to exchange data between said first and second copper telephone wire networks, while preventing exchange of plain old telephone service signals between said first and second copper telephone wire networks.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said data conforms to a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance standard.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said data conforms to a broadband Internet access standard.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a residential gateway device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a network coupler.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said high pass coupler has a coupling inductance such that said data signals are transferred between said first copper telephone wire network and said second copper telephone wire network without modification.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said high pass coupler has a coupling inductance of about 10 microHenrys.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a network coupler that provides an access point to said first copper telephone wire network and an access point to said second copper telephone wire network.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said plain old telephone service signals include signals having a frequency between about 0 hertz and 4 kilohertz.

20. A network coupler for interconnecting a first copper telephone wire network and a second copper telephone wire network, comprising:

a high pass coupler having a transformer and a capacitor configured to transfer signals between said first and second copper telephone wire networks to produce an integrated network, said signals transferred have frequencies greater than a maximum plain old telephone service signal frequency and signals blocked have frequencies less than a maximum plain old telephone service signal frequency;

an access point to said first copper telephone wire network; and

an access point to said second copper telephone wire network, wherein said second copper telephone wire network is operable to carry voice signals and Internet data.

21. A method for coupling multiple copper telephone wire networks, comprising the steps of:

interposing a high pass coupler between said multiple copper telephone wire networks;

permitting transfer of data signals between said multiple copper telephone wire networks through said high pass coupler; and

preventing transfer of plain old telephone service signals between said multiple copper telephone wire networks using said high pass coupler while passing signals having frequencies greater than five kilohertz, wherein a first copper telephone wire network is operable to carry voice signals and Internet data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said data signals conform to a Home Phoneline Networking Alliance standard.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said data signals conform to a broadband Internet access standard.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a residential gateway device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a network coupler.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said high pass coupler is implemented in a network coupler that provides access points to said multiple copper telephone wire networks.

27. A system for coupling multiple copper telephone wire networks, comprising:

high pass coupling means interposed between said multiple copper telephone wire networks, wherein a first copper telephone wire network is operable to carry voice signals and Internet data and couples to a telephone;

means for permitting transfer of data signals between said multiple copper telephone wire networks; and

means for preventing transfer of plain old telephone service signals between said multiple copper telephone wire networks.