Automatic configuration of communication device input or output terminal
First Claim
1. A communication device comprising a modem having automatic port configuration to thereby connect the modem to a communication cable configured for data communication via a first communication standard, the communication device comprising:
- at least one port, said port being configured to connect to two or more communication cables to facilitate transfer of data to or from the communication device, wherein at least one of said two or more communication cables is configured for data communication via said first communication standard and at least one of said two or more communication cables is configured for data communication via a second communication standard;
communication circuitry on the communication device to facilitate data communication with a remote location and to detect a signal on a communication cable, the detection of the signal indicative that the communication cable is configured for data communication via said first communication standard;
a switching device between the at least one port and the communication circuitry; and
a switching device controller in communication with the switching device and the communication circuitry, the switching device controller configured to control the switching device to selectively connect the communication circuitry to said at least one of said two or more communication cables that is configured for data communication via said first communication standard.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for the automatic configuration of a communication input /output port or terminal on a communication device. The communication device comprises one or more input/output ports or terminals, one or more switching devices, some form of switch device controller, and one or more communication circuitry, configured to facilitate communication with a remotely located communication terminal. The one or more input/output ports or terminals of the communication device connect to one or more communication cables or wires configured to transfer data with the remotely located communication terminal. In one configuration the communication cables comprise two twisted pair wires as is commonly installed for telephone communication and utilized for DSL communication service. To achieve automatic configuration, the switching device is initially set in a default position connecting the communication circuitry to at least one of the communication cables. Thereafter, the communication circuitry monitors for enablement of the communication service on the communication cables connected to the communication circuitry. If the service is detected the process is complete. If the communication circuitry does not detect the communication service, the switch controller forces the switching device to connect the communication circuitry to another of the communication cables. This process repeats. Alternative embodiments include communication circuitry configured to support more than one communication standard and communication devices incorporating a low pass filter to achieve pass-through voice communication.
42 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A communication device comprising a modem having automatic port configuration to thereby connect the modem to a communication cable configured for data communication via a first communication standard, the communication device comprising:
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at least one port, said port being configured to connect to two or more communication cables to facilitate transfer of data to or from the communication device, wherein at least one of said two or more communication cables is configured for data communication via said first communication standard and at least one of said two or more communication cables is configured for data communication via a second communication standard;
communication circuitry on the communication device to facilitate data communication with a remote location and to detect a signal on a communication cable, the detection of the signal indicative that the communication cable is configured for data communication via said first communication standard;
a switching device between the at least one port and the communication circuitry; and
a switching device controller in communication with the switching device and the communication circuitry, the switching device controller configured to control the switching device to selectively connect the communication circuitry to said at least one of said two or more communication cables that is configured for data communication via said first communication standard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A connection configuration device adapted to reside between at least one communication cable set and communication circuitry, the configuration device comprising:
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a switching device having;
two or more inputs configured to connect to two or more cable sets, wherein one of said two or more cable sets is configured to communicate via a first communication standard and at least one of said one or more cable sets is configured to communicate via a second communication standard;
one or more outputs configured to connect to communication circuitry;
a switch configured to establish a connection between either of the two or more inputs and the one or more outputs; and
a switching device controller in communication with the switching device to selectively control the operation of the switch, said switching device controller in communication with said communication circuitry to monitor for a signal on the two or more cable sets indicating said one of said two or more cable sets configured to communicate via said first communication standard to thereby connect the communication circuitry to said one of said two or more cable sets configured to communicate via said first communication standard as indicated by said signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for automatic configuration of connections between a communication circuitry and two or more communication cable sets in a communication device during initial establishment of a communication service via a first communication standard, the method comprising:
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initiating operation of a communication service via said first communication standard on a first communication cable set or a second communication cable set, wherein either said first communication cable set is configured for said first communication standard and said second communication cable set is configured for a second communication standard or said second communication cable set is configured for said first communication standard and said first communication cable set is configured for said second communication standard;
connecting the communication circuitry to the first communication cable set during establishment of a communication service;
monitoring for enablement of the communication service via said first communication standard on the first cable set to determine if the communication service via said first communication standard was established on the first cable set; and
if said monitoring does not reveal enablement of the communication service via said first communication standard on the first cable set, connecting the communication circuitry to a second communication cable set. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for automatic configuration of connections between communication circuitry and two or more communication cable sets to achieve communication between the communication circuitry and a remote location, the method comprising:
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connecting the communication circuitry to a first communication cable set, said connecting occurring through a switching device;
transmitting a signal to said remote location to initiate communication with the remote location using the first communication set;
monitoring for a response from said remote location to said transmitting a signal over the first communication set; and
switching said switching device to connect the communication circuitry to achieve connection to an alternate communication cable set if said monitoring does not detect a response from said remote location, wherein only one of the two or more communication cable sets is designated for communication using the communication circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for automatic configuration of a DSL communication device comprising:
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means for connecting communication circuitry to a first communication cable;
means for initiating a communication session with a remote communication device over said first communication cable;
means for monitoring for a response from said remote communication device; and
means for changing the connection within said means for connecting of said communication circuitry from said first communication cable to a second communication cable if said means for monitoring does not detect a response from said remote communication device, wherein only one of the first communication cable and the second communication cable are configured to operate under a DSL communication standard. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for automatic configuration of a communication port comprising:
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a switch configured to couple to at least one of one or more communication cables through said communication port wherein at least one or more of said one or more communication cables is not configured for data communication and at least one of said one or more communication cables is configured for data communication;
communication circuitry for initiating a communication session with a remote communication device over said one or more communication cables;
a monitoring apparatus coupled to said switch to monitor for a response from said remote communication device, said response indicating that said communication port is coupled to a communication cable that is configured for data communication; and
a switch control device in communication with said monitoring apparatus for changing the connection within said switch to connect said communication circuitry to a communication cable that is configured for data communication. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification