Addressable outlet, and a network using the same

• US 7,990,908 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 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): Bhattacharya; Sam
• Application Number:
  US12/030,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 455/574, 370/318, 370/352, 370/401, 370/412, 370/469
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/622 Layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0677 Localisation of faults

Abstract

An addressable outlet for use as part of local area network based on wiring installed in a building, such as telephone, electrical, cable television, dedicated wiring, and the like. The use of such wiring for data communications networks in addition to the wiring'"'"'s primary usage creates a need for ways of determining the condition of the network and monitoring this information remotely. Network condition includes such factors as continuity of wiring, connector status, connected devices, topology, signal delays, latencies, and routing patterns. Providing basic processing and addressing capabilities within the outlet permits messaging to and from specific individual outlets, thereby allowing inquiries and reports of the condition of the immediate environment of each outlet. In addition, outlets can be configured with sensors to report on voltage, temperature, and other measurable quantities.

Claims

1. A device for coupling data units to the Internet over wiring, the wiring being connected for carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, the frequency of another signal, said device comprising:

a connector consisting of one of an AC power plug and a telephone connector for connecting to the wiring;

a modem for transmitting and receiving digital data over the wiring;

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

a first data port for coupling to a first data unit;

a first transceiver coupled to said first data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the first data unit;

a second data port for coupling to a second data unit;

a second transceiver coupled to said second data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the second data unit;

a multiport interconnection circuit consisting of one of;

a switch;

a router; and

a gateway, coupled to pass digital data between said modem and said first and second transceivers;

a processor coupled to control and monitor said first and second transceivers and said modem;

a first address unit coupled to said processor for storing a first address that uniquely identifies said device in a digital data network; and

a single enclosure housing said connector, said modem, said high pass filter, said first and second data ports, said first and second transceivers, said multiport interconnection circuit, said processor and said first address unit.

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein:

the wiring is AC power wiring adapted for further carrying an AC power signal at an AC power frequency;

the another frequency is an AC power frequency;

said connector is an AC power plug; and

said modem is a powerline modem.

3. The device according to claim 2,

wherein:

the AC power wiring is connected to a telephone or CATV service provider; and

communication over the AC power wiring is based on powerline carrier (PLC) standards.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first address is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein each of the first and second addresses is associated with a respective distinct functionality of said device.

7. The device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage sensor, a continuity detector, a communication activity detector; and

a connected device status detector, and wherein said sensor is coupled to said processor.

8. The device according to claim 7, further operative to send messages to a remote data unit over the AC power wiring, and wherein the messages include status information associated with said sensor.

9. The device according to claim 2, further connectable to the Internet via the AC power wiring, and wherein said device is remotely manageable by a remote data unit communicating with said device through the Internet.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the communication with the first data unit is a Local Area Network (LAN) communication over a wired medium and wherein said first data port is a first data connector.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the communication with the first data unit is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3, 10BaseT, or 100BaseT, and said first data connector is a RJ-45 jack.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the communication with each of the first and second data units is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.

14. The device according to claim 2, 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 receptacle or opening; and

a form to substitute for a standard AC power outlet.

15. The device according to claim 2, wherein said device is pluggable into and attachable to an AC power outlet.

16. The device according to claim 2, wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on a wall of the building.

17. The device according to claim 2, wherein said device is operative to compose and respond to messages associated with the first address over a LAN coupled to said device.

18. The device according to claim 2, wherein said device is operative to compose and respond to messages associated with the first address over a Wide Area Network (WAN) coupled to said device.

19. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a second address unit storing a second address, and wherein the first address is associated with said first data port and the second address is associated with said second data port.

20. The device according to claim 2, further operative for coupling the AC power signal to an AC powered appliance, and wherein said device further comprises an AC power jack housed in said single enclosure and coupled to said AC power plug for conducting the AC power signal to the AC powered appliance.

21. The device according to claim 2, wherein said device is in a building, the AC power wiring is at least in part in walls of the building, and said powerline modem is operative to communicate with another modem of the same type in the building.

22. The device according to claim 2, further operative for coupling the AC power signal to an AC powered appliance, t the AC power wiring being connected for concurrently carrying the AC power signal in the AC power frequency using frequency division multiplexing, said device further comprising:

an AC power jack for connecting to the AC powered appliance to conduct the AC power signal to the AC powered appliance; and

a low pass filter coupled between said AC power plug and said AC power jack for substantially passing only the AC power signal at the AC power frequency between the AC power wiring and the AC powered appliance.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the wiring is a telephone wire pair;

the another frequency is an analog telephone frequency within an analog telephone frequency band;

said connector is a telephone connector; and

said modem is a telephone line modem.

24. The device according to claim 23, further operative for coupling an analog telephone signal to an analog telephone set, the telephone wire pair being connected for concurrently carrying an analog telephone signal in the analog telephone frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, said device further comprising, in said single enclosure:

a telephone jack for connecting to the analog telephone set to conduct the analog telephone signal to and from the analog telephone set; and

a low pass filter coupled between said telephone connector and said telephone jack for substantially passing only signals in the analog telephone frequency band between the telephone wire pair and the analog telephone set.

25. The device according to claim 23, wherein:

the telephone wire pair is connected to a telephone service provider;

communication over the telephone wire pair is based on one of xDSL and ADSL standards; and

said telephone line modem is respectively an xDSL or ADSL modem.

26. The device according to claim 23, wherein the first address is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

27. The device according to claim 23, further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein each of the first and second addresses is associated with a respective distinct functionality of said device.

29. The device according to claim 23, further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage sensor, a continuity detector, a communication activity detector; and

a connected device status detector, and wherein said sensor is coupled to said processor.

30. The device according to claim 29, further operative to send messages to a remote data unit over the telephone wire pair, and wherein the messages include status information associated with said sensor.

31. The device according to claim 23, further connectable to the Internet via the telephone wire pair, and wherein said device is remotely manageable by a remote data unit communicating with said device through the Internet.

32. The device according to claim 23, wherein the communication with the first data unit is a Local Area Network (LAN) communication over a wired medium and wherein said first data port is a first data connector.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the communication with the first data unit is point-to-point bidirectional packet-based serial digital data communication.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein the communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseT, and said first data connector is a RJ-45 jack.

35. The device according to claim 32 wherein the communication with each of the first and second data units is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.

36. The device according to claim 23, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard telephone outlet;

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

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

a form to substitute for a standard telephone outlet.

37. The device according to claim 23, wherein said device is operative to compose and respond to messages associated with the first address over a LAN coupled to said device.

38. The device according to claim 23, wherein said device is operative to compose and respond to messages associated with the first address over a Wide Area Network (WAN) coupled to said device.

39. The device according to claim 23, further comprising a second address unit storing a second address, and wherein the first address is associated with said first data port and the second address is associated with said second data port.

40. The device according to claim 23, further operative for coupling an analog telephone signal to an analog telephone set, and wherein said device further comprises a telephone jack housed in said single enclosure and coupled to said telephone connector for conducting the analog telephone signal to and from the analog telephone set.

41. The device according to claim 23, wherein said device is in a building, the telephone wire pair is at least in part in walls of the building, and said telephone line modem is operative to communicate with another modem of the same type in the building.

42. A wall-mountable device for coupling a data unit in a building to the Internet over AC power wiring, the AC power wiring being connected for carrying an AC power signal at an AC power frequency and a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from the AC power frequency, said device comprising:

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

a powerline modem for transmitting and receiving digital data over the AC power wiring;

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

a first data port for coupling to a first data unit;

a first transceiver coupled between said powerline modem and said first data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the first data unit;

a processor coupled to control and monitor said first transceiver and said powerline modem;

a first address unit coupled to said processor for storing a first address that uniquely identifies said device in a digital data network; and

a single enclosure housing said AC power plug, said powerline modem, said high pass filter, said first data port, said first transceiver, said processor and said first address unit,

wherein said single enclosure is mountable onto an AC power outlet opening.

43. The device according to claim 42, further operative for coupling the AC power signal to an AC powered appliance, the AC power wiring being connected for concurrently carrying the AC power signal at the AC power frequency using frequency division multiplexing, said device further comprising:

an AC power jack for connecting to the AC powered appliance to conduct the AC power signal to the AC powered appliance; and

a low pass filter coupled between said AC power plug and said AC power jack for substantially passing only signals at the AC power frequency between the AC power wiring and the AC powered appliance.

44. The device according to claim 42, further comprising, in said single enclosure:

a second data port for coupling to a second data unit;

a second transceiver coupled to said second data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the second data unit; and

a multiport interconnection circuit consisting of one of;

a switch;

a router; and

a gateway, coupled to pass digital data between said powerline modem and said first and second transceivers.

45. The device according to claim 44, wherein the communication with each of the first and second data units is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.

46. The device according to claim 44, further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address, and wherein the first address is associated with said first data port and the second address is associated with said second data port.

47. The device according to claim 42, wherein:

the AC power wiring is connected to a telephone or CATV service provider; and

communication over the AC power wiring is based on a powerline carrier (PLC) standard.

48. The device according to claim 42, wherein the first address is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

49. The device according to claim 42, further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address.

50. The device according to claim 49, wherein each of the first and second addresses is associated with a respective distinct functionality of said device.

51. The device according to claim 42, further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

a voltage sensor, a continuity detector, a communication activity detector; and

a connected device status detector, and wherein said sensor is coupled to said processor.

52. The device according to claim 51, further operative to send messages to a remote data unit over the AC power wiring, and wherein the messages include status information associated with said sensor.

53. The device according to claim 42, further connectable to the Internet via the AC power wiring, and wherein said device is remotely manageable by a remote data unit connected to said device through the Internet.

54. The device according to claim 42, wherein the communication with the first data unit is a Local Area Network (LAN) communication over a wired medium, and wherein said first data port is a first data connector.

55. The device according to claim 54, wherein the communication with the first data unit is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.

56. The device according to claim 55, wherein the communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3, 10BaseT, or 100BaseT, and said first data connector is a RJ-45 jack.

57. The device according to claim 42, 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 receptacle or opening; and

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

58. The device according to claim 42, wherein said device is pluggable into and attachable to an AC power outlet.

59. The device according to claim 42, wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on a wall of a building.

60. The device according to claim 42, wherein said device is operative to compose and respond to messages associated with the first address over a LAN coupled to said device.

61. The device according to claim 42, wherein said device is operative to compose and respond to messages associated with the first address over a Wide Area Network (WAN) coupled to said device.

62. The device according to claim 42, further operative for coupling an AC power signal to an AC powered appliance, wherein said device further comprises an AC power jack housed in said single enclosure and coupled to said AC power plug for coupling an AC power signal to the AC powered appliance.

63. The device according to claim 42, wherein said device is in a building, the AC power wiring is at least in part in walls of the building, and said powerline modem is operative to communicate with another modem of the same type in the building.