Local area network of serial intelligent cells
DCFirst Claim
1. A device for coupling a data terminal equipment unit to a data signal carried by wiring in a building that carries a power signal simultaneously with the a data signal, said device comprising:
- a wiring connector for connecting said device to the wiring;
a data coupler coupled to said wiring connector and having a data signal port operative to pass only a data signal;
a modem coupled to said data signal port for full duplex data signal communication with the wiring;
a data interface connector coupled to said modem for connecting to the data terminal equipment unit;
a power coupler coupled to said wiring connector and having a power signal port operative to pass only the power signal; and
a power supply coupled to said power signal port and to said modem to be powered by the power signal from the wiring and for powering said modem.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC'"'"'s interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC'"'"'s is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC'"'"'s to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that, unlike current bus topology and star topology, there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. The network can use dedicated wiring, as well as existing wiring as the in-house telephone or electrical wiring.
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Citations
81 Claims
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1. A device for coupling a data terminal equipment unit to a data signal carried by wiring in a building that carries a power signal simultaneously with the a data signal, said device comprising:
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a wiring connector for connecting said device to the wiring; a data coupler coupled to said wiring connector and having a data signal port operative to pass only a data signal; a modem coupled to said data signal port for full duplex data signal communication with the wiring; a data interface connector coupled to said modem for connecting to the data terminal equipment unit; a power coupler coupled to said wiring connector and having a power signal port operative to pass only the power signal; and a power supply coupled to said power signal port and to said modem to be powered by the power signal from the wiring and for powering said modem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for configuring a local area network in a building for the transport of power and data signals across a wiring, wherein the wiring includes at least first and second wiring segments, the device comprising:
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first and second ports each connected to a respective one of said first and second wiring segments; first and second data couplers each coupled to a respective one of said first and second ports, and each having a data signal port operative to pass only a data signal; first and second modems each coupled to said data signal port of a respective one of said first and second data couplers, for full duplex data signal communication with a respective one of said first and second wiring segments; at least one data interface connector coupled to at least one of said modems and operative for establishing a data signal connection with a data terminal equipment unit; first and second power couplers each coupled to a respective one of said first and second ports, and each having a respective one of first and second power signal ports, each signal port being operative to pass only the power signal; a power supply coupled to the first power signal port and to at least one of said modems to be powered by the power signal and for powering said modem; and means for allowing the communication of a data signal over the first wiring segment to be independent of the communication of a data signal over the second wiring segment, wherein the second power signal port is coupled to the first power signal port. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A network for carrying data and power signals, said network comprising:
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first, second and third nodes, each of said nodes containing at least one power consuming circuit; first and second wiring segments in a building, each of said segments comprising at least two conductors, said first wiring segment coupling said first and second nodes to form a first bi-directional communication link and said second wiring segment coupling said first and third nodes to form a second bi-directional communication link, wherein; at least one of said wiring segments simultaneously carries both data and power signals; said first communication link carries data independent of said second communication link; each of said nodes is connectable to a data terminal equipment unit for coupling the data terminal equipment unit to at least one of said communication links; at least a fist one of said nodes is connectable to a power source for coupling the power source to said at least one power signal over a wiring segment connected to said first one of said nodes; and at least a second one of said nodes is powered by a power signal carried over a wiring segment connected to said second one of said nodes. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A control network in a building for wired coupling an analog device to a data unit and comprising at least three nodes interconnected by at least two distinct wiring segments, the network comprising:
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first, second and third nodes; first and second wiring segments, each wiring segment comprising at least two conductors;
whereineach of said wiring segments connects exactly two of said nodes in a point-to-point connection, said two of said nodes effect full-duplex communication of serial digital data over said wiring segment connected between said two of said nodes, at least one of said nodes is connectable to a data unit for coupling the serial digital data carried over at least one of said wiring segments to the data unit, at least one of said nodes is connectable to the analog device for coupling the serial digital data carried over at least one of said wiring segments to the analog device, the analog device is a sensor or an actuator, and each of said nodes is addressable in said network. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A device for configuring a network for coupling a digital data signal to an analog sensor or actuator, for use with first and second wiring segments in a building, each wiring segment having at least two conductors, the device comprising:
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a first connector for connecting to a first wiring segment; a first modem including a transmitter and a receiver coupled to said first connector for serial full-duplex communication of a digital data signal with an identical modem over the first wiring segment; a second connector for connecting to the second wiring segment; a second modem including a transmitter and a receiver coupled to said second connector for serial full-duplex communication of a digital data signal with an identical modem over the second wiring segment; a controller comprising a processor and firmware coupled to said first and second modems and an interface coupled to said controller and connectable to the analog sensor or actuator, for coupling the digital data signal carried over said first wiring segment to the analog sensor or actuator; and a single enclosure housing said first and second modems, said controller and said interface; wherein said device is addressable. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification