Network interface device with a remote power source

• US 7,672,448 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 2Wire, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norell, Andrew, Trethewey, Paul, Hinman, Brian, Schley-May, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jamal; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/475,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 379/413
• US Class Current: 379/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a residential gateway is located at the network interface device and is powered with a remote power source inside the residence. In another embodiment, bi-directional data communication between the residential gateway and the remote power source is also enabled.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a remote power supply unit located inside a residence, the remote power supply unit comprising;

an oscillator;

a power amplifier coupled to the oscillator; and

a first series resonant circuit coupled to the power amplifier; and

a residential gateway located at a network interface device, wherein the network interface device is located outside the residence, the residential gateway comprising;

a second series resonant circuit; and

a rectifying circuit coupled to second series resonant circuit,

wherein the residential gateway receives a power signal from the remote power supply unit over a phone line coupled between the first and second series resonant circuits to provide the power signal to the residential gateway.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit generates the power signal at a first frequency to be injected into the phone line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first frequency is 25 KHz.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication module configured to perform bi-directional data communication between the residential gateway and the remote power supply unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a modulator to modulate the power signal at the remote power supply unit with encoded data to convey data from the remote power supply unit to the residential gateway.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a demodulator to demodulate the encoded power signal at the residential gateway to convey data to the remote power supply unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communication module conveys data to the power supply unit at a second frequency.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the residential gateway conveys data to the power supply unit at a frequency of 306 KHz.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communication module comprises status light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the power supply unit to reflect at least one of a state of the residential gateway and the power supply unit.

10. A method comprising:

generating a power signal by an oscillator in a remote power supply unit located inside a residence;

amplifying the power signal by an amplifier;

filtering the amplified power signal by a first series resonant circuit;

supplying the power signal to a residential gateway located outside the residence using a phone line coupled to the first series resonant circuit;

filtering the power signal by a second series resonant circuit in the residential gateway; and

rectifying the power signal by a rectifier.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

supplying power to the residential gateway using a power signal at a first frequency.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first frequency is 25 KHz.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising extracting the power signal at the residential gateway from the phone line.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising enabling bi-directional data communication between the residential gateway and the remote power supply unit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising frequency modulating the power signal at the remote power supply unit with encoded data to convey data from the remote power supply unit to the residential gateway.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising demodulating the power signal at the residential gateway to convey data to the remote power supply unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the residential gateway conveys data to the remote power supply unit at a second frequency.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second frequency is 306 KHz.