Network combining wired and non-wired segments
First Claim
1. A communication apparatus for adapting existing in-building AC power lines for data communication, said apparatus comprising a module electrically and mechanically attachable to a wall-mounted electrical outlet carrying AC electrical power, said module comprising a housing containing:
- (a) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from power lines leading from the outlet in accordance with a first communications protocol;
(b) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from a receiver inside an area of the building near the outlet in accordance with a second communications protocol; and
(c) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A communication apparatus for adapting existing in-building AC power lines for data communication, said apparatus comprising a module electrically and mechanically attachable to a wall-mounted electrical outlet carrying AC electrical power, said module comprising a housing containing:
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(a) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from power lines leading from the outlet in accordance with a first communications protocol; (b) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from a receiver inside an area of the building near the outlet in accordance with a second communications protocol; and (c) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communications apparatus for adapting existing in-building AC power lines for data communications comprising:
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a unit mounted on an interior wall of a room and directly connected to the AC power lines, said unit containing; (a) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from the power lines in accordance with a first communications protocol; (b) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from a receiver inside the room in accordance with a second communications protocol; (c) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem; and (d) a standard electrical outlet. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of adapting existing in-building AC power lines to conduct data communications comprising:
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(a) detaching an existing standard electrical outlet from an interior wall of a room of a building; (b) in place of the detached outlet, mounting a unit containing; (i) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from the power lines in accordance with a first communications protocol; (ii) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from a wireless receiver inside the room in accordance with a second communications protocol; (iii) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem; and (iv) a new standard electrical outlet; and (c) directly connecting the new standard electrical outlet and the powerline modem to the AC power lines.
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21. A method of adapting existing in-building AC power lines for data communications comprising:
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(a) attaching, to a standard electrical outlet mounted on an interior wall of a room of a building, a unit containing; (i) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from power lines in accordance with a first communications protocol; (ii) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from a receiver inside the room in accordance with a second communications protocol; and (iii) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem; wherein, when so attached, the powerline modem is electrically coupled to the AC power lines.
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22. A communications system network in a building, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of wall-mounted standard electrical outlets carrying AC electrical power to different rooms of the building, said outlets being wired together by building wiring carrying an AC power signal; (b) a plurality of wireless receivers inside the building; and (c) a plurality of modules, each attached externally to, and supported by, one of said outlets, each of said modules containing; (i) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from power lines leading from the outlet in accordance with a first communications protocol; (ii) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from at least one of the receivers in accordance with a second communications protocol; and (iii) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of conducting data communication over a network in a building, comprising:
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(a) attaching, to each of a plurality of standard electrical outlets mounted on interior walls of first and second rooms of the building, a unit containing; (i) a powerline modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from power lines in accordance with a first communications protocol; (ii) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from transceivers in accordance with a second communications protocol; and (iii) a protocol adapter coupling the powerline modem and the RF modem, said step of attaching causing the powerline modem to be electrically coupled to the AC power lines of the building; (b) placing transceivers at select locations in rooms of the building in which the units are attached to outlets; (c) wirelessly transmitting digital data from a transceiver in the first room; (d) in response to wireless transmission in step (c), automatically causing the protocol adapter of a unit in the first room to convert the digital data from the first communications protocol to the second communications protocol and applying the converted data to the powerline modem of the same unit; (e) in response to step (d), automatically transmitting the converted data through the AC power lines of the building to at least one of the units in the second room of the building; (f) in response to step (e), automatically causing the protocol adapter of the unit in the second room to reconvert the digital data from the second communications protocol to the first communications protocol and to apply the reconverted data to the RF modem of the unit in the second room; and (g) in response to step (f), automatically causing the RF modem of the unit in the second room to transmit the reconverted data to a transceiver in the second room.
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Specification