Information communication systems

• US 7,162,730 B1
• Filed: 01/07/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Ivie, Lovell Brent, Gilstrap, Daniel, Johnson, Dave, Bowden, Grant, Howard, R. Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/004,040
• Time in Patent Office: 3,289 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/78, 725/79, 725/82, 725/83, 725/118, 725/119, 725/148, 725/149, 385/100, 385/101, 379/156, 379/165, 379/327
• US Class Current: 725/78
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4452 Distribution frames
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44524 with frame parts or auxiliary devices mounted on the frame and collectively not covering a whole width of the frame or rack cassettes G02B6/4453
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44528 Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box routing arrangements H04Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution

Abstract

A system for distributing electronic information signals throughout a structure, particularly a residential dwelling, is disclosed. The system adapts a plurality of electronic information signals to be received by one or more information utilizing devices which are located throughout a structure. The system provides for adapting a multi-line telephone signal distribution hub for use with a one or two telephone lines allows the wiring for an internal telephone system to be installed immediately with a single telephone line interfaced to the multi-line telephone signal distribution hub while a control box and additional telephone lines from the telephone service utility can be readily connected at a later date. Further, the system distributes electronic signals within a room equipped for audio and video presentations and having a plurality of speaker connection locations for use in home theater applications, thus allowing home theater components to be easily and properly set up or changed.

Claims

1. A system for distributing electronic information signals from a central location in a structure to at least a first room, a second room, and a third room, the system comprising:

support means for holding a plurality of connectors, said support means comprising a panel, said panel having at least some of the plurality of connectors mounted thereon;

first input means for receiving a first information signal;

a first set of connectors connected to the support means, the first set of connectors including a coaxial cable connector, an optical fiber connector, and a twisted pair connector, the first set of connectors adapted for conveying electronic information signals between the central location and the first room;

a second set of connectors connected to the support means, the second set of connectors including a coaxial cable connector, an optical fiber connector, and a twisted pair connector, the second set of connectors conveying electronic information signals between the central location and the second room;

a third set of connectors connected to the support means, the third set of connectors including a coaxial cable connector, an optical fiber connector, and a twisted pair connector, the third set of connectors conveying electronic information signals between the central location and the third room; and

interconnection means for communicating the electronic information signals present on the first input means to any of the first, second, or third, sets of connectors such that the information signal can be selectively conveyed to any of the first, second, or third rooms in the structure, said interconnection means being disposed at the central location and allowing any of the electronic information signals to be selectively conveyed to only one of the first, second, or third rooms in the structure such that the electronic information signals may be conveyed to only one of the first, second, or third rooms in the structure or a plurality of rooms in the structure.

2. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for supporting comprising a front panel and a housing and wherein the information signal is simultaneously conveyed to all of the first, second, and third rooms in the structure.

3. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for receiving a first information signal comprises a coaxial cable.

4. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 3 wherein the means for receiving a first information signal further comprises an optical fiber.

5. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for receiving a first information signal further comprises a twisted pair cable.

6. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the coaxial cable connector comprises an RG6 connector.

7. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the twisted pair connector comprises a CAT5 connector.

8. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth set of connectors each comprise two coaxial cable connectors, two optical fiber connectors, and two twisted pair connectors.

9. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the first interconnection means comprises a length of coaxial cable including a coaxial cable connector positioned at each end thereof.

10. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the second interconnection means comprises a length of optical fiber including an optical fiber connector positioned at each end thereof.

11. A system for distributing electronic information signals as defined in claim 1 wherein the third interconnection means comprises a length of twisted pair cable including a twisted pair connector positioned at each end thereof.

12. An apparatus for conveying information signals from a first location to a second location, the apparatus comprising:

a coaxial cable;

an optical fiber cable;

a twisted pair cable; and

means for bundling the coaxial cable, the optical fiber cable and the twisted pair cable together such that the coaxial cable, optical fiber cable and the twisted pair cable form an elongated set of three cables which are maintained substantially parallel and which can be bent during installation and use;

wherein a first end of the coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, and twisted pair cable each connected to a electronic information distribution means for selectively conveying the information signals to the coaxial cable, optical fiber, and twisted pair cable, said electronic information distribution means located at the first location, said electronic information distribution means having at least one patch cable over which the information signals travel.

13. An apparatus for conveying information signals from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 12 wherein the coaxial cable extends from the first location to the second location.

14. An apparatus for conveying information signals from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 12 further comprising a coaxial cable connector connected to an end of the coaxial cable.

15. An apparatus for conveying information signals from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 12 further comprising a twisted pair connector connected to an end of the twisted pair cable.

16. An apparatus for conveying information signals from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 12 further comprising a fiber optic connector connected to an end of the optical fiber cable.

32. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 14 wherein said at least one coaxial cable is attached to a coaxial cable connector at a second end.

17. A dwelling including an electronic information distribution system comprising:

a structure comprising;

a first room;

a second room;

a third room;

a central location sited in the structure;

a first electronic information circuit entering the dwelling and conveying electronic information to the central location for distribution throughout the structure;

a first bus comprising a coaxial cable, a plurality of twisted conductors, and a fiber optic cable, the first bus extending from the central location to the first room;

a second bus comprising a coaxial cable, a plurality of twisted conductors, and a fiber optic cable, the second bus extending from the central location to the second room;

a third bus comprising a coaxial cable, a plurality of twisted conductors, and a fiber optic electronic information distribution means, sited at the central location, for selectively conveying any electronic information present on the first electronic circuit to any of the first, second, or third buses.

18. A residential dwelling including an electronic information distribution system as defined in claim 17 further comprising:

a second electronic information circuit entering the dwelling and conveying electronic information to the central location; and

a third electronic information circuit entering the dwelling and conveying electronic information to the central location;

and wherein;

the first electronic information circuit comprises a coaxial cable;

the second electronic information circuit comprises and optical fiber; and

the third electronic information circuit comprises a twisted pair cable.

19. A residential dwelling including an electronic information distribution system as defined in claim 17 wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth buses comprise two coaxial cables, two twisted pair cables, and two optical fibers.

20. A residential dwelling including an electronic information distribution system as defined in claim 17 wherein the electronic information distribution means having a length of cable selected from the group consisting of coaxial cable, twisted pair cable and optical fiber cable and connectors attached to each end of the length of cable.

21. A panel having a plurality of standard connectors, the panel comprising:

an information distribution section comprising;

a plurality of groups of connectors, each group of connectors have connectors for multiple connector-types each group of connectors corresponds to a location in a structure; and

a patch cord, the patch cord including a connector at a first end which is received by one of the group connectors, the patch cord second end connected to a service signal wherein the service signal can be switched from one location in the structure to another by disconnecting the patch cord from a connector in a first group and connecting it to another connector in a second group.

22. A panel as defined in claim 21 wherein the structure comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a residence and a commercial structure.

23. A panel as defined in claim 21 wherein the service signal comprises a signal selected from the group consisting of a telephone signal, a data signal, an internet signal, a satellite signal, and a cable signal.

24. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location, said set of information carrying media comprising:

an electronic information distribution panel disposed at the first location, said electronic information distribution panel having at least one CAT5 connector, at least one optical fiber cable connector, and at least one RG6 coaxial cable connector disposed thereon, one of each of said at least one CAT5 connector, at least one optical fiber cable connector, and at least one RG6 coaxial cable connector being arranged in a group, each said group corresponding to a location in a structure;

at least one twisted pair cable, each of the at least one twisted pair cable having a first end attached to one of the at least one CAT5 connector;

at least one optical fiber cable, each of the at least one optical fiber cable having a first end attached to one of the at least one optical fiber cable connector; and

at least one coaxial cable, each of the at least on coaxial cable having a first end attached to one of the at least one RG6 coaxial cable connector;

wherein said at least one twisted pair cable, said at least one optical fiber cable, and said at least one coaxial cable are joined together to form a bundle, said set of information carrying media being capable of carrying telephone signals, television signals, radio frequency signals, and light signals from said first location to said second location.

25. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one twisted pair cable comprises two twisted pair cables.

26. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one optical fiber cable comprises two optical fiber cables.

27. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one coaxial cable comprises two coaxial cables.

28. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one twisted pair cable comprises two twisted pair cables, said at least one optical fiber cable comprises two optical fiber cables, and said at least one coaxial cable comprises two coaxial cables.

29. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said set of information carrying media has a bandwidth, said bandwidth being greater than a bandwidth of coaxial cable and a bandwidth of a plurality of twisted pairs cables.

30. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one twisted pair cable is attached to a twisted pair connector at a second end.

31. A set of information carrying media extending from a first location to a second location as defined in claim 24 wherein said at least one optical fiber cable is attached to an optical fiber connector at a second end.