Telephone system having multiple distinct sources and accessories therefor

• US 7,656,904 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2007
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• 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): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laekemariam; Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US11/709,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20070147433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.05, 379/100.12, 379/231, 379/397, 370/352, 370/464, 370/493, 370/496, 370/497
• US Class Current: 370/493
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/14 cable networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 Details of network access arrangements or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In conjunction with a data communication network carrying multiple telephony signals and allowing for connection of telephone sets, a system and method in which two external feeders connect to the data network at two distinct points via two distinct devices. The data network can be based on dedicated wiring or can use existing in-premises medium such as telephone, powerlines or CATV wiring. In the latter case, the wiring can still carry the original service for which it was installed. The external telephone connections can be based on the traditional PSTN, CATV network, cellular telephone network or any other telephone service provider network, using specific adapter for any medium used. In the case of connection to a POTS telephone signal, VoIP gateway (or any other converter) is required.

Claims

1. A system in a building for connecting a telephone set to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based telephone network other than a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via a home network, for use with a PSTN suitable for providing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), the PSTN being operated by a first telephone service provider and comprising a local loop connecting the building to the PSTN, the IP-Based telephone service network being external to the building for carrying Voice over IP (VoIP) packets and being operated by a second telephone service provider different from said first telephone service provider, said system comprising:

an AC power wiring that forms a part of the home network, is at least in part in walls of the building, and is accessible at an outlet cavity or outlet opening, said AC power wiring being connected to carry an AC power signal at an AC power frequency and to concurrently carry a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from and higher than, the AC power frequency, the digital data signal containing one or more digitized telephone signals;

a gateway connected to said AC power wiring at a first connection point, said gateway being couplable to the PSTN and to the IP-Based telephone service network, said gateway being operative to pass a first one of the digitized telephone signals between the IP-Based telephone service network and said AC power wiring and to pass a second one of the digitized telephone signals between the PSTN and said AC power wiring; and

a first adapter housed in a single enclosure connected to said AC power wiring at a second connection point distinct from said first connection point and connectable to a first analog telephone set, said first adapter being operative for converting between analog and digital telephone signals and for coupling one of the first and second ones of the digitized telephone signals carried over said AC power wiring to the first analog telephone set.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second adapter connected to said AC power wiring at a third connection point distinct from said first and second connection points and connectable to a second telephone set, said second adapter being operative for converting between analog and digital telephone signals and for coupling a digitized telephone signal carried over said AC power wiring to the second telephone set.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first adapter is further operative to couple a second digitized telephone signal contained in the digital data signal carried over said AC power wiring to a second telephone set.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the digital data signal to be carried over said AC power wiring substantially conforms to HomePLUG specifications.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the local loop is connected for carrying a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) signal.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the DSL signal is an ADSL signal.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is concurrently a cable television (CATV) network for delivering video and comprises coaxial cabling.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is coupled to the gateway over the air via satellite.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications over power lines.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is coupled to the gateway over the air using radio frequency signals.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is based on one of the following protocols:

cellular;

LMDS;

MMDS;

IEEE802.11; and

Bluetooth.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications over fibers.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to the gateway over a fiber using Fiber To The Home (FTTH) technology.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-based telephone network or the telephone service provided by the second telephone service provider is based on one or more of:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

IETF RFC 3261;

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP);

ITU-T H.323;

IETF RFC 2705; and

any variant thereof.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is further connectable to multiple telephone sets, and said system further provides an IP-PBX functionality for routing telephone calls between the multiple telephone sets and external telephone service connections.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said gateway is further operative to convert between a digitized telephone signal carried over the IP-Based telephone service network and a POTS signal.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein said single enclosure is mountable into the outlet cavity or outlet opening.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard AC power outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard AC power wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an AC power outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard AC power outlet.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first adapter is pluggable into an existing AC power outlet.

60. The system according to claim 1, wherein said gateway is configured to pass the first one and the second one of the digitized telephone signals simultaneously.

20. A device for coupling a digitized telephone signal carried over an existing AC power wiring to an analog telephone set, the AC power wiring being at least in part in walls of a building and being accessible at an outlet cavity or outlet opening, and the AC power wiring being coupled to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via a local loop, the PSTN being suitable for providing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) and being operated by a first telephone service provider, the AC power wiring further being connected to carry an AC power signal at an AC power frequency and for concurrently carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, the AC power frequency, the digital data signal containing one or more digitized telephone signals coupled to an IP-Based telephone service network external to the building and connected for carrying Voice over IP (VoIP) packets, the IP-Based telephone service network being operated by a second telephone service provider different from the first telephone service provider, said device comprising:

an AC power plug for connecting to the AC power wiring;

a powerline modem operable for bidirectional digital data communication with one or more additional modems of the same type as said powerline modem over the AC power wiring;

a high pass filter coupled between said powerline modem and said AC power plug for substantially passing only signals in the digital data frequency band;

a telephone connector for connecting to the analog telephone set;

a unit coupled to pass a digitized telephone signal between said telephone connector and said powerline modem;

a converter for converting between analog and digital telephony signals coupled between said telephone connector and said unit; and

a single enclosure in the building housing said powerline modem, said high pass filter, said telephone connector, said unit and said converter,

wherein said device is operative to connect the telephone set to a telephone service provided by the second telephone service provider.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the AC power wiring is connected to further carry a second digitized telephone signal, and said device is further operative to couple the second digitized telephone signal carried over the AC power wiring to a second telephone set.

22. The device according to claim 21, further being connectable to multiple telephone sets, said device further providing an IP-PBX functionality for routing telephone calls between the multiple telephone sets and external telephone service connections.

23. The device according to claim 20, wherein the digital data signal carried over the AC power wiring substantially conforms to HomePLUG specifications, and said telephone line modem is a HomePLUG modem.

24. The device according to claim 20, wherein the IP-based telephone network or the telephone service provided by the second telephone service provider is based on one or more of:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

IETF RFC 3261;

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP);

ITU-T H.323;

IETF RFC 2705; and

any variant thereof.

25. The device according to claim 20, wherein said single enclosure is mountable into the outlet cavity or outlet opening.

26. The device according to claim 20, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard AC power outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard AC power wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in a AC power outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard AC power outlet.

27. The device according to claim 20, wherein said device is pluggable into an existing AC power outlet.

28. Apparatus in a building for connecting a telephone set in the building to an Internet Protocol (IP)-Based telephone service network other than a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via a home network that includes an AC power wiring, for use with a PSTN suitable for providing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS), the PSTN being operated by a first telephone service provider and comprising a local loop connected to the building, the IP-Based telephone service network being external to the building, being connected for carrying one or more digitized Voice over IP (VoIP) telephone signals and being operated by a second telephone service provider different from the first telephone service provider, the AC power wiring being at least in part in walls of the building and being accessible at an outlet cavity or outlet opening, and being connected for carrying an AC power signal at an AC power frequency and for concurrently carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, the AC power frequency, and the digital data signal containing one or more digitized VoIP telephone signals, said apparatus comprising:

an AC power plug for connecting to the AC power wiring in the building;

a powerline modem coupled to said AC power plug for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digit data from, the AC power wiring;

a port adapted to be connected to the IP-Based telephone service network external to the building and to be coupled to one or more digitized telephone signals;

a connector for connection to the PSTN, the connector being connected to said powerline modern for passing PSTN signals between the PSTN and said powerline modem; and

a second modern coupled to said port for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from, the IP-Based telephone service network.

wherein;

said powerline modem and said second modem are connected together for passing digital data therebetween, and said apparatus is operative to pass the one or more digitized telephone signals between the IP-Based telephone service network and the AC power wiring.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the digital data signal carried over the AC power wiring substantially conforms to HomePLUG specifications.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the local loop is connected for carrying a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) signal.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is concurrently a cable television (CATV) network for delivering video and comprises coaxial cabling.

32. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications via satellite.

33. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications over powerlines.

34. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications using radio frequency signals.

35. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is based on one of the following protocols:

cellular;

LMDS;

MMDS;

IEEE802.11; and

Bluetooth.

36. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications over fibers.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications based on Fiber To The Home (FTTH) technology.

38. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the IP-based telephone network or the telephone service provided by the second telephone service provider is based on one or more of:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

IETF RFC 3261;

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP);

ITU-T H.323;

IETF RFC 2705; and

any variant thereof.

39. The apparatus according to claim 28, further being connectable to multiple telephone sets, said apparatus being operable to further provide an IP-PBX functionality for routing telephone calls between the multiple telephone sets and external telephone service connections.

40. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said apparatus is wall mountable.

61. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said powerline modem is operative to pass both the PSTN signals and the digital data simultaneously.

41. A system for connecting an analog telephone set in a building to multiple Internet Protocol (IP)-based telephone networks external to the building via a home network, said system comprising:

a first IP-Based telephone service network external to the building and connected for carrying at least a first digitized telephone signal in Voice over IP (VoIP) packets and operated by a first telephone service provider;

a second distinct IP-Based telephone service network external to the building and connected for carrying at least a second digitized telephone signal in Voice over IP (VoIP) packets and operated by a second telephone service provider different from the first telephone service provider;

an AC power wiring that forms a part of the home network and that is at least in part in walls of the building and is accessible at an outlet cavity or outlet opening, the AC power wiring being coupled to said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks for concurrently carrying the first and second digitized telephone signals, said AC power wiring being connected to additionally carry an AC power signal having an AC power frequency and to concurrently carry a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, the AC power frequency; and

a first adapter housed in a single enclosure and connected to said AC power wiring and connectable to the analog telephone set, said first adapter being operative for converting between analog and digitized telephone signals and to couple first analog signals obtained by conversion the first digitized telephone signal carried over said AC power wiring to the analog telephone set and to couple second analog signals obtained by conversion of the second digitized telephone signal carried over said AC power wiring to the analog telephone set.

42. The system according to claim 41, further comprising a gateway housed in a second single enclosure and connected to said AC power wiring at a first connection point, said gateway being coupled to said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks and being operative to pass the first and second digitized telephone signals between the first and second IP-Based telephone service networks and said AC power wiring.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein said gateway is further operative to convert between a digitized telephone signal carried over said first IP-Based telephone service network and a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) signal.

44. The system according to claim 41, further comprising a second adapter connected to said AC power wiring and connectable to a second telephone set, said second adapter being operative for converting between analog and digital telephone signals and to couple the second digitized telephone signal carried over said AC power wiring to the second telephone set.

45. The system according to claim 41, wherein the digital data signal to be carried over said AC power wiring substantially conforms to HomePLUG specifications.

46. The system according to claim 41, wherein one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks connects to the building over a local loop that is connected for carrying a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) signal.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein the DSL signal is an ADSL signal.

48. The system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is concurrently a cable television (CATV) network for delivering video and comprises coaxial cabling.

49. The system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications via satellite.

50. The system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications over power lines.

51. The system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications with radio frequency signals.

52. The system according to claim 51, wherein said at least one of said IP-Based telephone service networks is based on one of the following protocols:

cellular;

LMDS;

MMDS;

IEEE802.11; and

Bluetooth.

53. The system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications over fibers.

54. The system according to claim 53, wherein said at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications based on Fiber To The Home (FTTH) technology.

55. The system according to claim 41, wherein at least one of the first and second digitized telephone signals is based on one or more of:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

IETF RFC 3261;

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP);

ITU-T H.323;

IETF RFC 2705; and

any variant thereof.

56. The system according to claim 41, wherein said system is further connectable to multiple telephone sets, and said system further provides an IP-PBX functionality for routing telephone calls between the multiple telephone sets and external telephone service connections.

57. The system according to claim 41 wherein said single enclosure is mountable into the outlet cavity or outlet opening.

58. The system according to claim 41, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard AC power outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard AC power wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in a telephone outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard AC power outlet.

59. The system according to claim 41, wherein said first adapter is pluggable into an existing AC power outlet.