Network combining wired and non-wired segments

• US 7,633,966 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Mosaid Technologies Incorporated (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang; Thai D
• Application Number:
  US11/128,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 370352-356, 370/463, 370532-541
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• 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 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires.

Claims

1. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and a wall-mounted telephone outlet connected to the telephone wire pair, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying the wired digital data signal and the telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, said module comprising:

a telephone connector that is electrically and mechanically connectable to the telephone outlet for connecting to the telephone wire pair;

a high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the wired digital data signal;

a telephone modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the telephone wire pair using a wired digital data protocol;

a radio frequency modem operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol;

a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and the wired digital data protocol; and

a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter.

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the module is further mechanically detachable from the telephone outlet.

3. The module according to claim 1, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.

4. The module according to claim 1, wherein said module is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and

a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit.

5. The module according to claim 1, wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises:

a data connector connectable to a wired data unit; and

a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit.

6. The module according to claim 5, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.

7. The module according to claim 1 wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of:

a WLL network, a LMDS network, and a satellite network.

8. The module according to claim 1, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to the telephone wire pair.

9. The module according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.

10. A telephone outlet for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and extending to a wall cavity for a wall-mounted telephone outlet, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, said telephone outlet comprising:

a telephone connector for connecting to the telephone wire pair;

a high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the wired digital data signal;

a telephone modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the telephone wire pair using a wired digital data protocol;

a radio frequency modem operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol;

a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and said wired digital data protocol; and

a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter,

wherein said enclosure is mountable to the telephone outlet cavity.

11. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to fit an existing standard telephone outlet cavity.

12. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.

13. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein the outlet is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and

a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit.

14. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein the outlet is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises:

a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and

a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit.

15. The outlet according to claim 14, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.

16. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of:

a WLL network, a LMDS network, and a satellite network.

17. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to the telephone wire pair.

18. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.

19. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with a telephone wire pair and a service wire pair, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying a first wired digital data signal and a telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the first wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, and the service wire pair concurrently carries a second wired digital data signal in a data signal frequency band and a service signal in a service signal frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the data signal frequency band is distinct from the service signal frequency band, said module comprising:

a telephone connector that is electrically and mechanically connectable to a telephone outlet for connecting to the telephone wire pair;

a first high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the first wired digital data signal;

a telephone modem coupled to said first high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the first wired digital data signal with one or more identical telephone modems over the telephone wire pair using a first wired digital data protocol;

a service connector for connecting to the service wire pair;

a second high pass filter coupled to said service connector for passing only the second wired digital data signal;

a service wiring modem coupled to said second high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the second wired digital data signal with one or more identical service wiring modems over the service wire pair using a second wired digital data protocol;

a radio frequency modem operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with one or more wireless data units employing a radio frequency wireless digital data signal conforming to a wireless digital data protocol;

a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled to said telephone modem, said service wiring modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and said first and second wired digital data protocols; and

a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said first and second high pass filters, said telephone modem, said service wiring modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter.

20. The module according to claim 19, wherein said enclosure is structured to be mechanically externally attachable to the telephone outlet.

21. The module according to claim 19, wherein the module is further mechanically detachable from the telephone outlet.

22. The module according to claim 19, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.

23. The module according to claim 19, wherein said module is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and

a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit.

24. The module according to claim 19, wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises:

a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and

a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit.

25. The module according to claim 24, wherein said standard data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.

26. The module according to claim 19, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of:

a WLL network, a LMDS network and a satellite network.

27. The module according to claim 19, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to said telephone wire pair.

28. The module according to claim 19, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems, employing the radio frequency wireless digital data signal, and the radio frequency wireless digital data signal conforms to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.

29. The module according to claim 19, wherein the service wire pair is a component of one of an AC power service, a telephone service, and a cable television service, the service signal is correspondingly one of an AC power signal, a telephone signal, and a cable television signal.

30. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure at least in part in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and a wall-mounted telephone outlet connected to the telephone wire pair, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and the telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, said module comprising:

a telephone connector for connecting to the telephone wire pair;

a high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the wired digital data signal;

a telephone modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the telephone wire pair using a wired digital data protocol;

a radio frequency modem operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol;

a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and the wired digital data protocol; and

a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter,

and wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to communicate with an outdoor broadband service.

31. The module according to claim 30, wherein the outdoor broadband service is based on one of:

satellite, LMDS and WLL service.

32. The module according to claim 30, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.

33. The module according to claim 30, wherein said module is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises:

a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and

a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit.

34. The module according to claim 30, wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises:

a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and

a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit.

35. The module according to claim 34, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.

36. The module according to claim 34, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to the telephone wire pair.

37. The module according to claim 34, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.