Network interface devices

• US 8,887,220 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Darrell, McDonald, Steven L., Jones, Alfonso
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, MUSHFIKH I
• Application Number:
  US12/180,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 725/107
• US Class Current: 725/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/418 External card to be used in combination with the client device, e.g. for conditional access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

Network interface devices and methods are provided. A particular network interface device includes a first network interface adapted to terminate one or more communication lines and a second network interface to terminate at least one coaxial line. The network interface device also includes at least one interface connector adapted to receive a removable plug-in module. The removable plug-in module includes a video unit that is operable to receive video data from a network device via at least one of the one or more communication lines and to process the video data for communication via the at least one coaxial line or a twisted wire pair when the plug-in module is connected to the at least one interface connector. The removable plug-in module also includes a power coupling device to receive power via at least one of the one or more communication lines.

Claims

1. A network interface device comprising:

a first network interface to terminate a communication line of a remote communication network;

a second network interface to terminate a coaxial line; and

a first interface connector to receive a first removable plug-in module, wherein the first removable plug-in module includes a video unit and wherein, when the first removable plug-in module is connected to the first interface connector, the video unit performs video operations comprising;

receiving video data from a network device via the remote communication network; and

processing the video data for communication via the coaxial line or a twisted wire pair; and

a second interface connector to receive a second removable plug-in module that includes a power coupling device, wherein, when the second removable plug-in module is connected to the second interface connector, the power coupling device performs operations comprising;

receiving power via the communication line; and

providing power to the first removable plug-in module when the first removable plug-in module is connected to the first interface connector, wherein the video unit is operable to perform the video operations using a portion of the power received by the first removable plug-in module;

wherein, when the second removable plug-in module is not connected to the second interface connector, the video unit of the first removable plug-in module connected to the first interface connector is inoperable to perform the video operations.

2. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the video unit includes an output driver to communicate processed video data to a set top box device for display at a display device.

3. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a third interface connector to receive a third removable plug-in module, wherein the third removable plug-in module comprises a test unit coupled to the power coupling device, wherein the test unit performs loopback testing in response to a signal received via the remote communication network.

4. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the communication line includes the twisted wire pair, a T1 line, an E1 line, or a combination thereof.

5. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the second removable plug-in module further comprises a connection manager operable to manage a connection to the remote communication network coupled to the first network interface via the communication line.

6. The network interface device of claim 5, wherein the connection manager is operable to condition the communication line for data communication by communicating with the network device.

7. The network interface device of claim 5, wherein the connection manager is operable to:

test the first removable plug-in module, the second removable plug-in module, or a combination thereof in response to receiving a test signal via the remote communication network; and

communicate test results to a maintenance unit of the remote communication network.

8. The network interface device of claim 5, wherein the connection manager is operable to:

store performance data associated with the first removable plug-in module, the second removable plug-in module, or a combination thereof;

analyze the performance data; and

communicate a result of performance data analysis to a maintenance unit of the remote communication network.

9. The network interface device of claim 8, wherein analyzing the performance data comprises comparing the performance data to an operational criterion associated with the first removable plug-in module or the second removable plug-in module.

10. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the video data comprises internet protocol television data.

11. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a controller coupled to the power coupling device and operable to:

detect connection of the first removable plug-in module to the first interface connector; and

automatically initialize video data processing at the video unit in response to determining the first removable plug-in module includes the video unit.

12. The network interface device of claim 1, wherein the video data received at the video unit from the network device is modulated using a very high speed digital subscriber line protocol, and wherein the video unit is to demodulate the video data received at the video unit to generate a home phone line networking alliance protocol signal for communication via the coaxial line or the twisted wire pair.

13. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a data router operable to receive communication data via the communication line and to route the communication data to a device coupled to the second network interface.

14. The network interface device of claim 13, wherein the first removable plug-in module, the second removable plug-in module, or a combination thereof includes the data router.

15. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a lightning protection unit coupled to the first network interface.

22. The network interface device of claim 1, further comprising a visual status display that is operable to indicate an operational status of the first removable plug-in module the second removable plug-in module, or a combination thereof.

16. A method comprising:

detecting a first connection of a coaxial line interface of a network interface device to a coaxial wiring system at a customer premise;

detecting a second connection of a line interface of the network interface device to a set of communication lines, the second connection coupling the network interface device to a remote communication network;

detecting a third connection of a first removable plug-in module to a first interface connector of the network interface device, wherein, when the first removable plug-in module is connected to the first interface connector, the first removable plug-in module is operable to perform video operations comprising processing video data received from the remote communication network, the video data processed for communication via the coaxial wiring system; and

detecting a fourth connection of a second removable plug-in module to a second interface connector of the network interface device, wherein the second removable plug-in module includes a power coupling device, wherein, when the second removable plug-in module is connected to the second interface connector, the power coupling device performs operations comprising;

receiving power via the set of communication lines; and

providing power to the first removable plug-in module when the first removable plug-in module is connected to the first interface connector, wherein the first removable plug-in module is operable to perform the video operations using a portion of the power received by the first removable plug-in module;

wherein, when the second removable plug-in module is not connected to the second interface connector, the first removable plug-in module connected to the first interface connector by the third connection is inoperable to perform the video operations.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the coaxial wiring system includes a splitter and an amplifier.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sending a provisioning request to a network device of the remote communication network in response to detecting connection of the first removable plug-in module, wherein the network device stores a provisioning record at a database, wherein the provisioning record links the first removable plug-in module with a subscriber account associated with the customer premise; and

receiving an indication that provisioning of service is enabled from the remote communication network.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising automatically enabling access to a telephone service, a video service and a data service provided by the remote communication network in response to detecting connection of the first removable plug-in module associated with a subscriber account to the first interface connector.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

in response to detecting removal of the first removable plug-in module from the interface connector, automatically disabling access to the video service, the data service, or a combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the first removable plug-in module is distinct from the second removable plug-in module.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising in response to removal of the first removable plug-in module from the first interface connector, automatically disabling access to the telephone service, the video service, and the data service provided by the remote communication network.

21. A device comprising:

a housing;

a network interface device within the housing, the network interface device including a lightning protection device coupled to a remote network interface, wherein the remote network interface includes connectors to a remote communication network via a first set of twisted pair wires;

a local network interface within the housing, the local network interface including a coaxial connector;

a gateway within the housing, the gateway including a router to route data received from the remote communication network to a local device coupled to the local network interface;

a line conditioning unit within the housing, the line conditioning unit to condition the first set of twisted pair wires for a telephone service, a video service, a data service, or a combination thereof;

a first interface connector within the housing, the first interface connector to receive a first removable plug-in module, wherein the first removable plug-in module includes a video unit, wherein, when the first removable plug-in module is connected to the first interface connector, the video unit performs video operations comprising;

receiving video data from the remote communication network; and

processing the video data for communication via the coaxial connector;

a diagnostic unit within the housing, the diagnostic unit to monitor performance of the video unit, the gateway, the line conditioning unit, the first set of twisted pair wires, or a combination thereof;

a visual status display operable to indicate an operational status of the device; and

a second interface connector within the housing, the second interface connector to receive a second removable plug-in module that includes a power coupling device, wherein, when the second removable plug-in module is connected to the second interface connector, the power coupling device performs operations comprising;

receiving power via the first set of twisted pair wires of the remote communication network; and

providing power to the gateway, the line conditioning unit, the first removable plug-in module, the visual status display, and the diagnostic unit, wherein the first removable plug-in module receives the power when the first removable plug-in module is connected to the first interface connector, wherein the video unit is operable to perform the video operations using a portion of the power received by the first removable plug-in module;

wherein, when the second removable plug-in module is not connected to the second interface connector, the video unit in the first removable plug-in module connected to the first interface connector is inoperable to perform the video operations.