Method and apparatus for an environmentally hardened ethernet network system
First Claim
1. A network, comprising:
- a first network device located outdoors and above ground, wherein the first network device is coupled to an AC power source and includes a first data connector and a first power connector;
an outdoor, above-ground cable, wherein the cable is greater than 100 meters in length and includes a first set of wires and a second set of wires within an outer sheath, wherein the cable is configured to carry data on the first set of wires, wherein the cable is further configured to carry power on the second set of wires, wherein the cable includes, at a first end of the cable, a first connector that couples the first set of wires to the first data connector, and wherein the cable includes, at the first end of the cable, a second connector that couples the second set of wires to the first power connector, and wherein the cable includes, at a second end of the cable, a third connector coupled to the first set of wires and a fourth connector coupled to the second set of wires; and
a second network device coupled to the first network device via the cable, wherein the second network device includes a second data connector and a second power connector that are respectively coupled at the second end of the cable to the third and fourth connectors, wherein the second network device is configured to operate without a direct coupling to an AC power source;
wherein the second network device is configured to receive data and power from the first network device via the cable; and
wherein the first and second network devices include physical layer transceivers having a specified clock rate and are configured to communicate data at 100 Mbps via the cable over distances greater than 100 meters by using clock rates for the physical layer transceivers that are lower than the specified clock rate.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In an environmentally hardened network, a data and power distribution cable is employed in connection with reliable end connectors, high performance physical layer transceivers clocked at a lower rate than is specified and full duplex switched packet transmission techniques between switched nodes in order to extend operational distance between network elements. In a specific embodiment, the data and power distribution cable comprises a data distribution element, a power distribution element, an optional strain distribution element, an optional hollow conduit, and an extra shield and outdoor sheath. The cable may incorporate: 1) a Gel filled outdoor UTP (CAT-5) cable; 2) end connectors of type DB-9 [D-Sub] for connection of the UTP to network equipment; 3) power transmission cable of wire gauge sufficient to carry the power required by network equipment (switches, etc) for the specific segment of the network; and optionally 4) a hollow conduit that permits installation of optical fiber before or after installation of the cable.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A network, comprising:
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a first network device located outdoors and above ground, wherein the first network device is coupled to an AC power source and includes a first data connector and a first power connector; an outdoor, above-ground cable, wherein the cable is greater than 100 meters in length and includes a first set of wires and a second set of wires within an outer sheath, wherein the cable is configured to carry data on the first set of wires, wherein the cable is further configured to carry power on the second set of wires, wherein the cable includes, at a first end of the cable, a first connector that couples the first set of wires to the first data connector, and wherein the cable includes, at the first end of the cable, a second connector that couples the second set of wires to the first power connector, and wherein the cable includes, at a second end of the cable, a third connector coupled to the first set of wires and a fourth connector coupled to the second set of wires; and a second network device coupled to the first network device via the cable, wherein the second network device includes a second data connector and a second power connector that are respectively coupled at the second end of the cable to the third and fourth connectors, wherein the second network device is configured to operate without a direct coupling to an AC power source; wherein the second network device is configured to receive data and power from the first network device via the cable; and wherein the first and second network devices include physical layer transceivers having a specified clock rate and are configured to communicate data at 100 Mbps via the cable over distances greater than 100 meters by using clock rates for the physical layer transceivers that are lower than the specified clock rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A cable, comprising:
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a first section including at least four unshielded twisted-wire pairs configured to carry data at 100 Mbps between first and second network devices coupleable to opposing first and second ends of the cable; a second section including at least a pair of insulated wires configured to carry power from the first network device to the second network device; a first connector that terminates the first section at the first end of the cable; a second connector that terminates the second section at the first end of the cable; and a weather-resistant outer sheath surrounding at least the first section and the second section; wherein the at least four unshielded twisted-pair wires included in the first section of the cable are uninterrupted over a length greater than 100 meters, and wherein the insulated wires configured to carry power are between 10 and 16 gauge and are further configured to carry a current of up to 60 amperes without impeding the ability of the at least four unshielded twisted-wire pairs to carry data at 100 Mbps over the length greater than 100 meters. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A network, comprising:
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a first node including a data connector and a power connector; and a cable greater than 100 meters in length, wherein the cable includes; a first portion configured to carry data, wherein the first portion includes at least four unshielded twisted pairs of wires (UTPs); a second portion including at least two insulated wires, wherein the second portion is configured to carry power without impeding an ability of the at least four UTPs to transmit and receive data at 100 Mbps between the first node and another node; a weather resistant outer sheath surrounding at least the first and second portions; a first connector that terminates the first portion and a second connector that terminates the second portion, wherein the first and second connectors are located at a first end of the cable; wherein the first connector is coupled to the data connector, and wherein the second connector is coupled to the power connector; and wherein the first node includes a first pair of physical layer transceivers configured to send and receive portions of said data over the UTPs, wherein the pair of physical layer transceivers are clocked at rates lower than a specified clock rate for the physical layer transceivers. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A cable, comprising:
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a first section including unshielded twisted-wire pairs configured to carry data between first and second network devices coupleable to opposing first and second ends of the cable; a second section including at least a pair of insulated wires configured to carry power from the first network device to the second network device, wherein the at least a pair of insulated wires are between 10 and 16 gauge wires; a first connector that terminates the first section at the first end of the cable; a second connector that terminates the second section at the first end of the cable; and an outer sheath surrounding at least the first section and the second section; wherein the unshielded twisted-wire pairs included in the first section of the cable are uninterrupted over a length greater than 100 meters and wherein the second section is configured to carry an electrical current without impeding an ability of the first section to carry data at 100 Mbps between two network nodes over the length greater than 100 meters. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A power and data distribution cable, comprising:
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a first section including unshielded twisted-wire pairs configured to carry data between first and second network devices coupleable to opposing first and second ends of the cable; a second section including a coaxial cable configured to carry power from the first network device to the second network device, wherein a center conductor of the coaxial cable is of sufficient gauge to support current up to 60 amperes; a first connector that terminates the first section at the first end of the cable; a second connector that terminates the second section at the first end of the cable; and an outer sheath surrounding at least the first section and the second section; wherein the unshielded twisted-wire pairs included in the first section of the cable are uninterrupted over a length greater than 100 meters and wherein the second section is configured to carry an electrical current without impeding an ability of the first section to carry data at 100 Mbps between two network nodes over the length greater than 100 meters. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network device including at least a first physical layer transceiver; wherein the physical transceiver is configured to communicate via a cable greater than 100 meters in length, wherein the cable includes a first set of wires configured to carry data and a second set of wires configured to carry power, wherein the first and second sets of wires are surrounded by a sheath, and wherein the first set of wires is uninterrupted over a length of greater than 100 meters; and wherein the network device is configured to transmit data via the cable at 100 Mbps over the length greater than 100 meters by employing the first physical layer transceiver at a lower than specified clock rate. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification