Method and apparatus for providing a derived digital telephone voice channel

• US 6,917,624 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorman, Michael George
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US09/679,091
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 370/487, 370/397, 370/259, 370/324, 370/295, 370/352, 370/522, 370/430, 370/480, 370/384, 709/246, 725/81, 348/12, 375/211, 375220-222, 455/554, 455/126, 379/93.07
• US Class Current: 370/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• 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 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A method and device for distributing both high-speed data service, such as digital computer, video and multimedia data, and lower speed data service, such as POTS voice telephone signals, throughout a customer premises. High-speed digital data and lower speed POTS voice signals are separated by a POTS splitter and distributed throughout the customer premises on separate distribution networks. The lower speed POTS is carried on a wireless distribution network and the high-speed data carried on the existing customer premises wiring ordinarily used for POTS.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to a higher data transmission rate channel and a lower data transmission rate channel present on a communications trunk, the system comprising:

an integral transmission line integrated into a premises served by the communications trunk;

a wireless system for communicating the lower data transmission rate channel over an electromagnetic signal about or within the premises; and

a splitter associated with a termination of the communications trunk, the splitter being tuned in frequency to separate the higher data transmission rate channel for transmission over the integral transmission line and the lower data transmission rate channel for transmission by the wireless system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the integral transmission line comprises a twisted pair of wire suitable for distributing the higher data transmission rate channel.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the twisted pair represents the wiring ordinarily used to distribute plain old telephone service via the lower data transmission rate throughout the premises.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless system operates at a frequency of approximately 900 Megahertz (MHz).

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless system facilitates communication with a voice telephone via the communications trunk.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower data transmission rate channel comprises at least one voice-band signal associated with plain old telephone service.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless system carries a digital signal as the lower data transmission rate channel.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the data rate of the lower data transmission rate channel is approximately 128 kilobits per second (Kbps).

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower data rate transmission channel comprises digital data transmitted at about a 64 (kilobits per second) Kbps.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless system provides the lower data transmission rate channel to an electronic home appliance.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless system further comprises:

a wireless controller in communication with the splitter to transmit the lower data transmission rate channel; and

a receiver in communication with the wireless controller to receive the lower data rate transmission channel transmitted by the wireless controller.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the integral transmission line associated with a modem for interfacing a digital subscriber line.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the integral transmission line is associated with a routing switch for distributing the higher data rate channel to a plurality of computer peripherals.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications trunk comprises a local loop affiliated with a central switching office.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the local loop comprises a high-speed asymmetric digital subscriber line.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the local loop comprises a wireless local loop system for carrying the higher transmission rate channel and plain old telephone service on the lower data transmission rate channel.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the local loop comprises a wireless local loop system carrying plain old telephone service as the lower data transmission rate channel and high-speed digital data as the higher data transmission rate channel.

18. The information system of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch connected between the wireless system and the integral transmission line, wherein the switch provides the lower data transmission rate channel on the integral transmission line upon the detection of a power outage.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the switch is connected to an alternating current power supply of the premises to detect a loss of power at the premises and provides lower data transmission rate channel on the wireline distribution system in the event of a power failure.