Distributing voice and data information over wireless and wireline networks

• US 8,594,115 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorman, Michael George
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US13/185,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20110274253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 370/430, 370/480, 375/222
• US Class Current: 370/430
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An example disclosed method comprises receiving a combined signal at a customer premises, the combined signal including a first signal associated with a first frequency range and a second signal associated with a second frequency range larger than the first frequency range, monitoring for power outages at the customer premises, and when no power outage at the customer premises is detected, switching the second signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireline distribution system integrated in the customer premises, and switching the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireless distribution system and without using the wireline distribution system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a combined signal at a customer premises, the combined signal including a first signal associated with a first frequency range and a second signal associated with a second frequency range larger than the first frequency range;

monitoring for power outages at the customer premises; and

when no power outage at the customer premises is detected;

switching the second signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireline distribution system integrated in the customer premises; and

switching the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireless distribution system and not the wireline distribution system.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising, when a power outage is detected at the customer premises, switching the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using the wireline distribution system.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein switching the second signal comprises:

processing the combined signal with a filter having a bandwidth corresponding to the second frequency range to obtain the second signal; and

providing the second signal obtained from the filter to the wireline distribution system.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 wherein the filter is a first filter, and switching the first signal comprises:

processing the combined signal with a second filter different from the first filter and having a bandwidth corresponding to the first frequency range to obtain the first signal; and

providing the first signal obtained from the second filter to the wireless distribution system.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein switching the first signal comprises:

processing the combined signal with a filter having a bandwidth corresponding to the first frequency range to obtain the first signal.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first signal comprises a plain old telephone service signal, and the second signal comprises a digital data signal.

7. A method as defined in claim 6 wherein the digital data signal comprises a digital subscriber line signal.

8. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the first signal comprises a first data signal having a first data rate, and the second signal comprises a second data signal having a second data rate higher than the first data rate.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a network interface device to receive a combined signal at a customer premises, the combined signal including a first signal associated with a first frequency range and a second signal associated with a second frequency range larger than the first frequency range; and

a switch responsive to power outages at the customer premises, the switch to, when no power outage at the customer premises is detected;

switch the second signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireline distribution system integrated in the customer premises; and

switch the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireless distribution system and not the wireline distribution system.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein when a power outage is detected at the customer premises, the switch is to switch the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using the wireline distribution system.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 further comprising a splitter to:

separate the first signal from the combined signal; and

separate the second signal from the combined signal.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the splitter comprises:

a first filter having a bandwidth corresponding to the first frequency range to separate the first signal from the combined signal; and

a second filter having a bandwidth corresponding to the second frequency range to separate the second signal from the combined signal.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the first signal comprises a plain old telephone service signal, and the second signal comprises a digital data signal.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the digital data signal comprises a digital subscriber line signal.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the first signal comprises a first data signal having a first data rate, and the second signal comprises a second data signal having a second data rate higher than the first data rate.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a splitter to separate a combined signal received at a customer premises into at least a first signal associated with a first frequency range and a second signal associated with a second frequency range different from and larger than the first frequency range; and

a switch to;

monitor for power outages at the customer premises;

when no power outage at the customer premises is detected;

switch the second signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireline distribution system integrated in the customer premises; and

switch the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using a wireless distribution system and not the wireline distribution system; and

when a power outage is detected at the customer premises, switch the first signal for distribution at the customer premises using the wireline distribution system.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the splitter comprises:

a first filter having a bandwidth corresponding to the first frequency range to separate the first signal from the combined signal; and

a second filter having a bandwidth corresponding to the second frequency range to separate the second signal from the combined signal.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the first signal comprises a plain old telephone service signal, and the second signal comprises a digital data signal.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein the digital data signal comprises a digital subscriber line signal.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the first signal comprises a first data signal having a first data rate, and the second signal comprises a second data signal having a second data rate higher than the first data rate.