Ethernet isolator for microphonics security and method thereof

• US 8,199,922 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2008
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Saunders, Marc, Render, David S. J., Pothier, Dennis, Ruttan, Philip R., Boggs, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENZ, LAURA MARY
• Application Number:
  US12/275,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20090161884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 381/63, 381 65- 66
• US Class Current: 381/66
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/205 Eavesdropping prevention - indication of insecurity of line or network

Abstract

A system and method for providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line. The transmission line has a first part and a second part. The first part of transmission line carries a data signal and a microphonic signal. The microphonic signal has frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz. The system includes an isolation apparatus. The isolation apparatus has an input in electrical communication with a first part of the transmission line, an output in electrical communication with the second part of the transmission line, and a filter in electrical communication with the input and the output. The filter is arranged to substantially remove the microphonic signal received at the input from first part of transmission line and pass the data signal to the output.

Claims

1. A system for providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line, the transmission line having a first part and a second part, the first part of transmission line carrying a data signal and a microphonic signal, the microphonic signal having frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz, the system comprising:

an isolation apparatus having;

an input in electrical communication with a first part of the transmission line;

an output in electrical communication with the second part of the transmission line and;

a filter in electrical communication with the input and the output, the filter arranged to substantially remove the microphonic signal received at the input from first part of transmission line and pass the data signal to the output;

wherein the isolation apparatus further comprises a sound isolating compound enveloping at least a portion of the filter.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission line is an Ethernet transmission line.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic device electrically coupled to the first part of the transmission line, the electronic device transducing the microphonic signal into the first part of the transmission line.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device includes a telephone.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the electronic device includes a computer.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the isolation apparatus further comprises a signal interrupt mechanism, the signal interrupt mechanism being electrically coupled to the filter and to the input, the signal interrupt mechanism preventing signal transmission to the filter when the signal interrupt mechanism is not energized.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an optical isolation circuit electrically coupled to the first part of the transmission line and to the filter.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes a housing, the isolation apparatus being integrated into the housing.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the filter includes a high pass filter in electrical communication with the transmission line.

10. A device providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line, the transmission line having a first part and a second part, the first part of transmission line carrying a data signal and a microphonic signal, the microphonic signal having frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz, the device comprising:

an input in electrical communication with a first part of the transmission line;

an output in electrical communication with the second part of the transmission line and;

a filter in electrical communication with the input and the output, the filter arranged to substantially remove the microphonic signal received at the input from first part of transmission line and pass the data signal to the output;

a sound isolating compound enveloping at least a portion of the filter; and

an optical isolation circuit in electrical communication with input and the filter.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a signal interrupt mechanism, the signal interrupt mechanism being electrically coupled to the filter and to the input, the signal interrupt mechanism preventing signal transmission to the filter when the signal interrupt mechanism is not energized.