Telephone outlet with packet telephony adaptor, and a network using same

• US 7,680,255 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2004
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2001
• 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): Woo; Stella L
• Application Number:
  US10/988,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,946 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.07, 379/93.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.08, 379/93.28, 379/93.31, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/93.07
• 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 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 7/0081 Network operation, administration, maintenance, or provisioning

Abstract

An outlet for a Local Area Network (LAN), containing an integrated adapter that converts VoIP to and from analog telephony, and a standard telephone jack (e.g. RJ-11 in North America) for connecting an ordinary analog (POTS) telephone set. Such an outlet allows using analog telephone sets in a VoIP environment, eliminating the need for an IP telephone set or external adapter. The outlet may also include a hub that allows connecting both an analog telephone set via an adapter, as well as retaining the data network connection, which may be accessed by a network jack. The invention may also be applied to a telephone line-based data networking system. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the VoIP/POTS adapters are integrated into a telephone outlet, providing for regular analog service, VoIP telephony service using an analog telephone set, and data networking as well. In such a configuration, the outlet requires two standard telephone jacks and a data-networking jack. Outlets according to the invention can be used to retrofit existing LAN and in-building telephone wiring, as well as original equipment in new installation.

Claims

1. A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data with a supporting life-line function, for use with a single wire pair at least in part in a wall within a building, the wire pair concurrently carrying a first analog telephone signal frequency multiplexed with a digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, the digital data signal being carried in a digital data signal frequency band distinct from, and higher than, an analog signal frequency band in which the first analog telephone signal is carried,

said device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the wire pair;

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

a modem coupled to said high pass filter for conducting said digital data signal over said single telephone wire pair;

an adapter coupled to said modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a second analog telephone signal;

a low pass filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the first analog telephone signal;

a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling an analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;

a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and second switch ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and third switch ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said low pass filter, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter; and

a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said high pass filter, said modem, said adapter, said low pass filter, said telephone connector and said switch,

wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and

said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

2. The device according to claim 1 further housed within a telephone outlet.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said enclosure is attachable to an outlet.

4. The device according to claim 1, further operative for coupling the analog telephone set to the first analog telephone signal, the device further comprising:

a second telephone connector connected to said low pass filter and connectable to the analog telephone set for coupling the first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone set.

5. The device according to claim 1, further operative for coupling said digital data signal to a Data Terminal Equipment, the device further comprising:

a data connector connectable to the Data Terminal Equipment; and

a multi-port unit having first, second and third ports and operative to couple data between the ports, said multi-port unit being one of a hub, a switch and a router, said first port being coupled to said data connector, said second port being coupled to said modem and said third port being coupled to said adapter.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said switch shifts to the life-line state upon sensing, at said control port, a signal representing no power to said switch.

7. The device according to claim 1, further operative to automatically shift to the life-line state, said device further comprising a sensor coupled to said control port and operative to shift said switch to the life-line state when said sensor detects non availability of a proper second analog telephone signal.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said sensor is operative to sense a fault condition in said device.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein said switch comprises an electromechanical relay.

10. A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data and supporting a life-line function, for use with an AC power wiring at least in part in a wall within a building, the wiring concurrently carrying AC power frequency multiplexed with a digital data signal, the digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, the digital data signal being carried in a frequency band distinct from, and higher than, an AC power signal band in which the AC power signal is carried, said device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the AC power wiring;

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

a powerline modem coupled to said high pass filter for conducting said digital data signal over the AC power wiring;

an adapter coupled to said powerline modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a first analog telephone signal;

a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling said first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;

a life-line port couplable to a second analog telephone signal;

a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states, wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and second ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and third ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said life-line port, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter, and

a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said high pass filter, said powerline modem, said adapter, said telephone connector, said life-line port and said switch,

wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and

said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

11. The device according to claim 10 further housed within a power outlet.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein said enclosure is attachable to an outlet.

13. The device according to claim 10 further operative for coupling an analog telephone set to the second analog telephone signal, the device further comprising:

a second telephone connector connected to said life-line port and connectable to the analog telephone set for coupling the analog telephone set to said second analog telephone signal.

14. The device according to claim 10 further operative for coupling said digital data signal to a Data Terminal Equipment, the device further comprising:

a data connector connectable to the Data Terminal Equipment; and

a multi-port unit having first, second and third ports and operative to couple data between said ports, said multi-port unit comprising of one of a hub, a switch and a router, said first port being coupled to said data connector, said second port being coupled to said modem and said third port being coupled to said adapter.

15. The device according to claim 10 wherein said switch shifts to the life-line state upon sensing, at said control port, a signal representing no power to said switch.

16. The device according to claim 10 further operative to automatically shift to a life-line state, said device further comprising a sensor coupled to said control port and operative to shift said switch to the life-line state when said sensor detects non availability of a proper second analog telephone signal.

17. The device according to claim 16 wherein the sensor is operative to sense a fault condition in said device.

18. The device according to claim 10 wherein said switch comprises an electromechanical relay.

19. The device according to claim 10 further operative to couple the AC power signal to an AC powered appliance, said the device further comprising:

a low pass filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the AC power signal; and

an AC power connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to an AC power device, for coupling the AC power signal to the AC powered appliance.

20. The device according to claim 10 wherein the AC power wiring concurrently carries the second analog telephone signal, wherein said life-line port is coupled to said wiring connector.

21. The device according to claim 10 wherein the second analog telephone signal is carried over dedicated wiring adjacent to the AC power wiring, and said life-line port is coupled to said wiring connector.

22. A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data and supporting a life-line function, for use with a CATV wiring at least in part in a wall within a building, the wiring concurrently carrying CATV signal frequency multiplexed with a digital data signal, the digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, the digital data signal being carried in a frequency band distinct from a CATV signal band in which the CATV signal is carried, said device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the CATV wiring;

a filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the digital data signal;

a cable modem coupled to said filter for conducting said digital data signal over the CATV wiring;

an adapter coupled to said cable modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a first analog telephone signal;

a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling said first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;

a life-line port couplable to a second analog telephone signal;

a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states, wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and second switch ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and third switch ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said life-line port, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter, and

a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said filter, said cable modem, said adapter, said telephone connector, said life-line port and said switch,

wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and

said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

23. The device according to claim 22 further housed within a CATV outlet.

24. The device according to claim 22 wherein said enclosure is attachable to an outlet.

25. The device according to claim 22 further operative for coupling an analog telephone set to the second analog telephone signal, the device further comprising:

a second telephone connector connected to said life-line port and connectable to the analog telephone set for coupling the second analog telephone signal to the analog telephone set.

26. The device according to claim 22 further operative for coupling the digital data signal to a Data Terminal Equipment, the device further comprising

a data connector connectable to the Data Terminal Equipment;

and

a multi-port unit having first, second and third ports and operative to couple data between the ports, said multi-port unit being one of a hub, a switch and a router, said first port being coupled to said data connector, said second port being coupled to said modem and said third port being coupled to said adapter.

27. The device according to claim 22 wherein said switch shifts to the life-line state upon sensing, at said control port, no power to said switch.

28. The device according to claim 22, further operative to automatically shift to the life-line state, said device further comprising a sensor coupled to said control port and operative to shift said switch to the life-line state when said sensor detects non availability of a proper second analog telephone signal.

29. The device according to claim 28 wherein said sensor is operative to sense a fault condition in said device.

30. The device according to claim 22 wherein said switch comprises an electro-mechanical relay.

31. The device according to claim 22, further operative to couple the CATV signal to a CATV appliance, said device further comprising:

a second filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the CATV signal; and

a CATV connector coupled to said second filter and connectable to the CATV appliance, for coupling the CATV signal to the CATV appliance.

32. The device according to claim 22 wherein the CATV wiring concurrently carries the second analog telephone signal, and said life-line port is coupled to said wiring connector.

33. The device according to claim 22 wherein the second analog telephone signal is carried over dedicated wiring adjacent to the CATV wiring, and said life-line port is coupled to said wiring connector.

34. A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data with a supporting life-line function, for use with a LAN wiring at least in part in a wall within a building, the wiring carrying a digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, said device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the LAN wiring;

a modem coupled to said wiring connector for conducting the digital data signal over the LAN wiring;

an adapter coupled to said modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a first analog telephone signal;

a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling the first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;

a life-line port couplable to a second analog telephone signal;

a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between the first and second ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between the first and third ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said life-line port, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter; and

a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said modem, said adapter, said telephone connector, said life-line port and said switch,

wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and

said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

35. The device according to claim 34 further housed within an outlet.

36. The device according to claim 34 wherein said enclosure is attachable to an outlet.

37. The device according to claim 34 further operative for coupling an analog telephone set to the second analog telephone signal, said device further comprising:

a second telephone connector connected to said life-line port and connectable to the analog telephone set for coupling the second analog telephone signal to the analog telephone set.

38. The device according to claim 34 further operative for coupling the digital data signal to a Data Terminal Equipment, said device further comprising:

a data connector connectable to the Data Terminal Equipment; and

a multi-port unit having first, second and third ports and operative to couple data between the ports, said multi-port unit being one of a hub, a switch and a router, said first port being coupled to said data connector, said second port being coupled to said modem and said third port being coupled to said adapter.

39. The device according to claim 35 wherein said switch shifts to the life-line state upon sensing, at said control port, a signal representing no power to said switch.

40. The device according to claim 34 further operative to automatically shift to the life-line state, said device further comprising a sensor coupled to said control port and operative to shift said switch to the life-line state when said sensor detects non availability of a proper second analog telephone signal.

41. The device according to claim 40 wherein said sensor is operative to sense a fault condition of said device.

42. The device according to claim 34 wherein said switch comprises an electro-mechanical relay.

43. The device according to claim 34 wherein the LAN wiring concurrently carries the second analog telephone signal, and said life-line port is coupled to said wiring connector.

44. The device according to claim 34 wherein the second analog telephone signal is carried over dedicated wiring adjacent to the LAN wiring, and said life-line port is coupled to said wiring connector.