Telephone system having multiple distinct sources and accessories therefor

• US 8,238,328 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc (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): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US11/636,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20070086444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/401, 370/352, 370/354, 725/78, 725/82, 725/111, 725/119
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8044 Least cost routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/14 cable networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/745 Least cost routing, e.g. Automatic or manual, call by call or by preselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0069 comprising a residential gateway, e.g. those which provide an adapter for POTS or ISDN terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/121 Details of network access arrangements or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In conjunction with a data communication network carrying multiple telephony signals and allowing for connection of telephone sets, a system and method in which two external feeders connect to the data network at two distinct points via two distinct devices. The data network can be based on dedicated wiring or can use existing in-premises medium such as telephone, powerlines or CATV wiring. In the latter case, the wiring can still carry the original service for which it was installed. The external telephone connections can be based on the traditional PSTN, CATV network, cellular telephone network or any other telephone service provider network, using specific adapter for any medium used. In the case of connection to a POTS telephone signal, VoIP gateway (or any other converter) is required.

Claims

1. A system in a building for connecting a telephone set to an Internet Protocol (IP)-based telephone network other than a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via a home network, for use with a PSTN suitable for providing Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) service, the PSTN being operated by a first telephone service provider and comprising a local loop, and an IP-Based telephone service network external to the building for carrying Voice over IP (VoIP) packets and operated by a second telephone service provider different from said first telephone service provider, said system comprising:

a telephone wire pair that forms a part of the home network and that is at least in part in walls of the building, connected to the local-loop and accessible at an outlet opening, said telephone wire pair being connected for carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, a voice band, the digital data signal containing one or more digitized telephone signals;

a gateway connected to said telephone wire pair at a first connection point, said gateway being couplable to the PSTN and to the IP-Based telephone service network, said gateway being operative to pass the one or more digitized telephone signals between the IP-Based telephone service network and said telephone wire pair; and

a first adapter housed in a single enclosure connected to said telephone wire pair at a second connection point distinct from said first connection point and connectable to a first telephone set, said first adapter being operative for converting between analog and digital telephone signals and to couple a first digitized telephone signal carried over said telephone wire pair to the first telephone set.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone wire pair is further connected to the PSTN to concurrently carrying a POTS signal using frequency division multiplexing (FDM), and wherein said first adapter is further operative to connect the POTS signal to the first telephone set or another telephone set for telephone service by the first telephone service provider.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second adaptor connected to said telephone wire pair at a third connection point distinct from said first and second connection points and connectable to a second telephone set, said second adapter being operative for converting between analog and digital telephone signals, and said second adapter being operative to couple a digitized telephone signal carried over said telephone wire pair to the second telephone set.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone wire pair is connected to further carry a second digitized telephone signal, and said first adapter is further operative to couple the second digitized telephone signal carried over said telephone wire pair to the second telephone set.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the digital data signal to be carried over said telephone wire pair substantially conforms to Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) specifications.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the local loop is connected for carrying a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) signal.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the DSL signal is an ADSL signal.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is concurrently a cable television (CATV) network for delivering video and comprises coaxial cabling.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications via satellite.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications over power lines.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct over-the-air communications with radio frequency signals.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is based on one of the following protocols:

cellular;

LMDS;

MMDS;

IEEE802.11; and

Bluetooth.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications over fibers.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the IP-Based telephone service network is connected to conduct communications based on Fiber To The Home (FTTH) technology.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the IP-based telephone network or the telephone service provided by the second telephone service provider is based on one or more of:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

IETF RFC 3261;

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP);

ITU-T H.323;

IETF RFC 2705;

or any variant thereof.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is further connectable to multiple telephone sets, and said system further provides an IP-PBX functionality for routing telephone calls between all connected telephone sets and all external telephone service connections.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone wire pair is further connected to the PSTN to concurrently carry a POTS signal, and said gateway is further operative to convert between a digitized telephone signal carried over the IP-Based telephone service network and a POTS signal, and to couple the POTS signal to said telephone wire pair.

18. The system according to claim 1 wherein said single enclosure is mountable into an outlet cavity or an outlet opening.

19. The system 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 telephone outlet;

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

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

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

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first adapter is pluggable into an existing telephone outlet.

21. A system for connecting a telephone set in a building to multiple Internet Protocol (IP)-based telephone networks external to the building via a home network, said system comprising:

a first IP-Based telephone service network external to the building and connected for carrying at least a first digitized telephone signal in a Voice over IP (VoIP) packet form and operated by a first telephone service provider;

a second distinct IP-Based telephone service network external to the building and connected for carrying at least a second digitized telephone signal in a Voice over IP (VoIP) packet form and operated by a second telephone service provider different from said first telephone service provider;

a telephone wire pair that forms a part of the home network and that is at least in part in walls of the building, and accessible at an outlet opening, the telephone wire pair being coupled to said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks for concurrently respectively carrying the first and second digitized telephone signals, said telephone wire pair being connected for carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from, and higher than, a voice band; and

a first adapter housed in a single enclosure and connected to said telephone wire pair and connectable to a first telephone set, said first adapter being operative for converting between analog and digitized telephone signals, and being operative to couple the first digitized telephone signal carried over said telephone wire pair to the first telephone set and to couple the second digitized telephone signal carried over said telephone wire pair to the first telephone set.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a gateway housed in a second single enclosure and connected to said telephone wire pair at a first connection point, said gateway being coupled and to said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks, said gateway being operative to pass the first and second digitized telephone signals between the IP-Based telephone service networks and said telephone wire pair.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said telephone wire pair is further connected to a PSTN to concurrently carry a POTS signal, and said gateway is further operative to convert between a digitized telephone signal carried over the first IP-Based telephone service network and a POTS signal, and to couple the POTS signal to said telephone wire pair.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said telephone wire pair is further connected to a PSTN to concurrently carry a POTS signal using frequency division multiplexing (FDM), and wherein said first adapter is further operative to connect the POTS signal to the first telephone set or another telephone set for telephone service by the first or second telephone service provider.

25. The system according to claim 21, further comprising a second adaptor connected to said telephone wire pair and connectable to a second telephone set, said second adapter being operative for converting between analog and digital telephone signals and to couple the second digitized telephone signal carried over said telephone wire pair to the second telephone set.

26. The system according to claim 21, wherein the digital data signal to be carried over said telephone wire pair substantially conforms to Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) specifications.

27. The system according to claim 21, wherein one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks connects to the building over a local loop that is connected for carrying a Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) signal.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the DSL signal is an ADSL signal.

29. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is concurrently a cable television (CATV) network for delivering video and comprises coaxial cabling.

30. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications via satellite.

31. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications over power lines.

32. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications with radio frequency signals.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said at least one of said IP-Based telephone service networks is based on one of the following protocols:

cellular;

LMDS;

MMDS;

IEEE802.11; and

Bluetooth.

34. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications over fibers.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said at least one of said IP-Based telephone service networks is connected to conduct communications based on Fiber To The Home (FTTH) technology.

36. The system according to claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second digitized telephone signals is based on one or more of:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP);

IETF RFC 3261;

Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP);

ITU-T H.323;

IETF RFC 2705;

or any variant thereof.

37. The system according to claim 21, wherein said system is further connectable to multiple telephone sets, and said system further provides an IP-PBX functionality for routing telephone calls between all connected telephone sets and all external telephone service connections.

38. The system according to claim 21 wherein said single enclosure is mountable into an outlet cavity or an outlet opening.

39. The system according to claim 21, 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 opening or cavity; and

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

40. The system according to claim 21, wherein said first adapter is pluggable into an existing telephone outlet.