Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet

• US 7,873,058 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Jain; Raj K
• Application Number:
  US12/018,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20080117091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A device for a LAN, containing an integrated adapter that converts digital data to and from analog video signals, allowing the use of analog video units in a digital data network or telephone line-based data networking system, eliminating the need for digital video units or external adapter. The device may include a hub for connecting an analog video signal via an adapter, and retaining the data network connection. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the analog video adapters are integrated into a telephone device, providing for regular telephone service, analog video connectivity, and data networking as well. In such a configuration, the device would have a standard telephone jack, an analog video jack and at least one data networking jack. Such device can be used to retrofit existing LAN and telephone wiring, and original equipment in new installations.

Claims

1. A device for coupling an analog video unit to AC power wiring, the AC power wiring being connected for concurrently carrying an AC power signal in an AC power frequency band and serial bi-directional packet-based digital data including digitized video data in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from and higher than the AC power frequency band, said device comprising:

a power line connector operative for connecting said device to the AC power wiring outside said device;

a high pass filter coupled to said power line connector for substantially passing only signals in the digital data frequency band and for substantially rejecting signals in the AC power frequency band;

a power line modem coupled to said high pass filter for conducting the serial bi-directional packet-based digital data over the AC power wiring;

an analog video connector connectable for coupling an analog video signal to the analog video unit outside said device;

a converter between the analog video signal and a digitized video data signal coupled to said analog video connector, said converter comprising at least one of an analog to digital converter and a digital to analog converter;

a multi-port packet sharing means consisting of one of;

a switch;

a router; and

a gateway, coupled to pass only the digitized video data between said converter and said power line modem; and

a single enclosure housing said power line connector, said high pass filter, said power line modem, said analog video connector, said converter and said multi-port packet sharing means.

2. The device according to claim 1, further operative for coupling the AC power signal to an AC powered appliance, said device further comprising:

a low pass filter coupled to said power line connector for substantially passing only signals in the AC power frequency band; and

a standard AC power connector connectable to the AC powered appliance and coupled to said low pass filter for coupling the AC power signal to the AC powered appliance.

3. The device 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 outlet;

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

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet receptacle or opening; and

a form to substitute for a standard outlet.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is electrically pluggable into and mechanically attachable to an AC outlet.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on the wall.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the serial bi-directional packet-based digital data further includes a first digital data signal and said device is further operative for coupling the first digital data signal to a data unit and said device further comprises:

a data interface connector connectable to the data unit; and

a transceiver coupled between said multi-port packet sharing means and said data interface connector for conducting a bi-directional serial digital data communication with the data unit,

wherein said multi-port packet sharing means is coupled to pass the first digital data between said power line modem and said transceiver.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the communication with the data unit conforms to Ethernet standard or Internet Protocol.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power line modem is operative to perform bi-directional communication with one or more identical power line modems connected to the AC power wiring.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said power line modem is operative to perform one of half-duplex and full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single other power line modem over the AC power wiring.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said converter consists of an analog to digital converter, and the analog video unit is a video source.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said converter consists of a digital to analog converter, and the analog video unit is a video receiver.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the digitized video data is in a compressed form, and said device further comprises a digital compressor or a digital de-compressor coupled between said converter and said multi-port packet sharing means.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the compression is MPEG based.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the AC power wiring is in a building.