Local area network for distributing data communication, sensing and control signals

• US 8,582,598 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• 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): HOLLOWAY III, EDWIN C
• Application Number:
  US13/351,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20120185908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 370/200, 370222-224, 370/254, 370/258, 370/293, 370/400, 370404-406, 370/424, 370452-456, 370/460, 370/463, 370/502, 370/503, 340 342- 344, 379/107, 710/413, 725/127
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21039 Slaves, modules in daisy chain, each handles control data, transmits to next
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25181 Repeater
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40 Bus networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40019 Details regarding a bus master
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/42 Loop networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0836 to enhance reliability, e.g. reduce downtime
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/40 Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane

Abstract

A network for carrying out control, sensing and data communications, composed of a plurality of nodes. Each node may be connected to a payload, which includes sensors, actuators and DTE'"'"'s. The network is formed using a plurality of independent communication links, each based on electrically-conducting communication media composed of at least two conductors and interconnecting two nodes, in a point-to-point configuration. During network operation, nodes can be dynamically configured as either data-generating nodes, wherein data is generated and transmitted into the network, or as receiver/repeater/router nodes, wherein received data is repeated from a receiver port to all output ports.

Claims

1. A device for coupling a video signal onto, and for being powered from, a Local Area Network (LAN) cable concurrently carrying a power signal and a serial digital data signal over said LAN cable in a full-duplex communication, the device comprising:

a LAN connector for connecting to the LAN cable;

a video port for receiving a video signal;

a LAN transceiver for communication in a full-duplex serial digital data signal over said LAN cable, the LAN transceiver being coupled between said LAN connector and said video port for transmitting the video signal in said serial digital data signal;

a firmware and a processor executing said firmware, wherein said processor is coupled to said LAN transceiver for controlling said LAN transceiver;

a power supply for voltage conversion coupled to said LAN transceiver and powered only from said power signal, the power supply connected for powering said LAN transceiver and said processor;

a single enclosure housing said LAN connector, said video port, said LAN transceiver, said firmware and said processor; and

a power/data splitter having first, second and third ports, said splitter being configured so that only the power signal is passed from said first port to said second port, and only the digital data signal is passed between said first and third ports, and wherein said power/data splitter is connected between said LAN transceiver, said power supply and said LAN connector, wherein said first port is coupled to said LAN connector;

said second port is coupled to said power supply; and

said third port is coupled to said LAN transceiver,

wherein said device is addressable in the LAN.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device has a manually assigned address.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device has an automatically assigned address.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said device has an address assigned by a data unit coupled via the LAN.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said communication over said LAN cable is a point-to-point communication.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said LAN transceiver is operative for communication with a single mating LAN transceiver of the same type over said LAN cable.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said communication over said LAN cable is packet based.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein said communication over said LAN cable is Ethernet-based.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said video port is a video connector.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said video port is an analog video connector.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power signal is carried over said LAN cable using dedicated wires.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said video signal is an analog video signal, and wherein said device further comprises an analog to digital converter coupled between said video port and said LAN transceiver for converting the analog video signal to a digital form.

13. The device according to claim 1 further operative for sensing a physical phenomenon, wherein the device further comprises an analog port for coupling to receive an analog signal from an analog sensor for sensing the physical phenomenon, and said device further comprises an analog to digital converter coupled between said analog port and said LAN transceiver for converting the analog signal to a digital signal for transmission in said serial digital data signal.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the analog sensor is an audio device, said analog signal is an analog audio signal, and said digital signal contains digitized audio.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said analog port is an analog connector.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein said analog port is an analog audio connector.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein said analog port is further coupled to said power supply for powering the analog sensor from said power signal.

18. The device according to claim 1 further operative for producing a physical phenomenon, wherein the device further comprises an analog port for coupling an analog signal to an analog actuator for producing the physical phenomenon, and wherein said device further comprises a digital to analog converter coupled between said analog port and said LAN transceiver for converting a digital signal from said serial digital data signal to an analog signal.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the analog actuator is an audio device, said analog signal is an analog audio signal, and said digital signal contains digitized audio.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said analog port is an analog connector.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein said analog port is an analog audio connector.

22. The device according to claim 18, wherein said analog port is further coupled to said power supply for powering the analog actuator from said power signal.

23. The device according to claim 1, further comprising in said single enclosure a data port coupled to said LAN transceiver and connectable to a data unit for coupling the data unit to the serial digital data signal.

24. The device according to claim 23 wherein:

the data unit is a wired digital data unit;

said data port comprises a digital data connector connectable to the wired digital data unit; and

said device further comprises a further transceiver coupled between said LAN transceiver and said digital data connector for bi-directional digital data communication with the wired digital data unit.

25. The device according to claim 24 wherein the communication with the wired digital data unit is standard full duplex serial communication.

26. The device according to claim 25 further operative to power the data unit, wherein said data port is coupled to said power supply for powering the connected data unit therefrom.

27. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a transformer connected between said LAN transceiver and said LAN connector for passing said serial digital data signal and for isolating said power signal.

28. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power signal and the digital data signal are carried over said LAN cable using the same wires.

29. A device for coupling an audio signal onto, and for being powered from, a Local Area Network (LAN) cable concurrently carrying a power signal and a serial digital data point-to-point communication signal, the device comprising:

a LAN connector for connecting to the LAN cable;

an audio port for receiving a audio signal;

a LAN transceiver for point-to-point communication in a serial digital data signal over said LAN cable, the LAN transceiver being coupled between said LAN connector and said audio port for transmitting the audio signal in said serial digital data signal;

a firmware and a processor executing said firmware, wherein said processor is coupled to said LAN transceiver for controlling said LAN transceiver;

a power supply for voltage conversion coupled to said LAN transceiver and powered only from said power signal, the power supply connected for powering said LAN transceiver and said processor;

a single enclosure housing said LAN connector, said audio port, said LAN transceiver, said firmware and said processor; and

a power/data splitter having first, second and third ports, said splitter being configured so that only the power signal is passed from said first port to said second port, and only the digital data signal is passed between said first and third ports, and wherein said power/data splitter is connected between said LAN transceiver, said power supply and said LAN connector, wherein said first port is coupled to said LAN connector;

said second port is coupled to said power supply; and

said third port is coupled to said LAN transceiver,

wherein said device is addressable in the LAN.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein said device has a manually assigned address.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein said device has an automatically assigned address.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein said device has an address assigned by a data unit coupled via the LAN.

33. The device according to claim 29, wherein said communication over said LAN cable in a full-duplex communication.

34. The device according to claim 33, wherein said LAN transceiver is operative for communication with a single mating LAN transceiver of the same type over said LAN cable.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein said communication over said LAN cable is packet based.

36. The device according to claim 35, wherein said communication over said LAN cable is Ethernet-based.

37. The device according to claim 29, wherein said audio port is an audio connector.

38. The device according to claim 37, wherein said audio port is an analog audio connector.

39. The device according to claim 29, wherein the power signal is carried over said LAN cable using dedicated wires.

40. The device according to claim 29, wherein said audio signal is an analog audio signal, and wherein said device further comprises an analog to digital converter coupled between said audio port and said LAN transceiver for converting the analog audio signal to a digital form.

41. The device according to claim 29 further operative for sensing a physical phenomenon, wherein the device further comprises an analog port for coupling to receive an analog signal from an analog sensor for sensing a physical phenomenon, and said device further comprises an analog to digital converter coupled between said analog port and said LAN transceiver for converting the analog signal to a digital signal for transmission in said serial digital data signal.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein the analog sensor is a video device, said analog signal is an analog video signal, and said digital signal contains digitized video.

43. The device according to claim 41, wherein said analog port is an analog connector.

44. The device according to claim 41, wherein said analog port is an analog video connector.

45. The device according to claim 41, wherein said analog port is further coupled to said power supply for powering the analog sensor from said power signal.

46. The device according to claim 29 further operative for producing a physical phenomenon, wherein the device further comprises an analog port for coupling an analog signal to an analog actuator for producing the physical phenomenon, and wherein said device further comprises a digital to analog converter coupled between said analog port and said LAN transceiver for converting a digital signal from said serial digital data signal to an analog signal.

47. The device according to claim 46, wherein the analog actuator is a video device, said analog signal is an analog video signal, and said digital signal contains digitized video.

48. The device according to claim 46, wherein said analog port is an analog connector.

49. The device according to claim 46, wherein said analog port is an analog video connector.

50. The device according to claim 46, wherein said analog port is further coupled to said power supply for powering the analog actuator from said power signal.

51. The device according to claim 29, further comprising in said single enclosure a data port coupled to said LAN transceiver and connectable to a data unit for coupling the data unit to the serial digital data signal.

52. The device according to claim 51, wherein:

the data unit is a wired digital data unit;

said data port comprises a digital data connector connectable to the wired digital data unit; and

said device further comprises a further transceiver coupled between said LAN transceiver and said digital data connector for bi-directional digital data communication with the wired digital data unit.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein the communication with the wired digital data unit is standard full duplex serial communication.

54. The device according to claim 53 further operative to power the data unit, wherein said data port is coupled to said power supply for powering the connected data unit therefrom.

55. The device according to claim 29 further comprising a transformer connected between said LAN transceiver and said LAN connector for passing said serial digital data signal and for isolating said power signal.

56. The device according to claim 29, wherein the power signal and the digital data signal are carried over said LAN cable using the same wires.