Network for telephony and data communication

• US 8,929,523 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2008
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 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): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US12/264,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20090060151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.08, 379/93.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.28, 379/93.31
• US Class Current: 379/93.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• 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 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A service outlet for coupling a data unit to a wired digital data signal and for coupling a service unit to an analog service signal, for use with a service wire pair installed in walls of a building, the service wire pair concurrently carrying a wired bi-directional digital data signal and an analog service signal carried over a service signal frequency band, using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the service signal frequency band. The outlet has a single enclosure and, within the enclosure: a wiring connector; first and second filters coupled to the wiring connector; a service connector coupled to the first filter and connectable to the service unit for coupling the service unit to the analog service signal; a service wiring modem coupled to the second filter; and a power supply coupled to the service wiring modem.

Claims

1. A system for coupling a first data unit in a building to a telecommunications network external to the building over a home network based on a telephone wire pair, the system comprising:

a telephone wire pair installed at least in part in walls of the building, the telephone wire pair being connected for carrying bi-directional digital data in a digital data frequency band distinct from, and higher than, an analog telephone frequency band;

a first device for coupling between the telephone wire pair and the telecommunications network, said first device comprising;

a port for coupling to the telecommunications network for communication with a location external to the building;

a first modem coupled to said port for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from, the telecommunications network;

a first telephone connector for connecting to said telephone wire pair;

a second modem coupled to said first telephone connector and communicatively coupled to said first modem for transmitting the digital data to, and receiving the digital data from, the telephone wire pair; and

a first filter coupled between said second modem and said first telephone connector for substantially passing signals in the digital data frequency band, wherein said first device is operative to pass bi-directional digital data between the telecommunications network and said telephone wire pair; and

a second device for coupling the first data unit to said telephone wire pair, said second device comprising, in a single enclosure;

a second telephone connector for connecting to said telephone wire pair;

a third modem coupled to said second telephone connector for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from, said second modem over said telephone wire pair;

a second filter coupled between said third modem and said second telephone connector for substantially passing signals in the digital data frequency band; and

a data connector coupled to said third modem for connecting to the first data unit, wherein said second device is operative to pass bi-directional digital data between the first data unit and said telephone wire pair.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second device further comprises a transceiver coupled to said data connector for transmitting packet-based digital data signals to, and receiving packet-based digital data signals from, the first data unit.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said second device further comprises a router or a gateway coupled to pass digital data between said third modem and said transceiver for handling protocol layers above the physical layer.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system is further operative to couple an analog telephone signal to an analog telephone set, wherein said telephone wire pair is further connected for carrying an analog telephone signal in the analog telephone frequency band, and said second device further comprises in said single enclosure:

an analog telephone connector for connecting to the analog telephone set; and

a third filter coupled between said telephone connector and said analog telephone connector for substantially passing signals in the analog telephone frequency band.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the telecommunications network is based on an external telephone wire pair connected for carrying bi-directional digital data and at least in part external to the building and being part of a PSTN, and wherein said port is a connector.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein:

said system is further operative to carry an analog telephone signal;

said external telephone wire pair is further connected for carrying an analog telephone signal in the analog telephone frequency band; and

said first device further comprises a third filter coupled between said telephone connector and said port for substantially passing signals in the analog telephone frequency band.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein:

said system is further operative to couple an analog telephone signal to an analog telephone set;

the external telephone wire pair is further connected for carrying an analog telephone signal; and

said second device further comprises;

an analog telephone connector for connecting to the analog telephone set; and

a third filter coupled between said port and said analog telephone connector for substantially passing signals in the analog telephone frequency band.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein digital data carried over the telecommunications network is xDSL based and the first modem is a xDSL modem.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein digital data carried by the external telephone wire pair is ADSL based, said first modem is an ADSL modem, and said port is an RJ-11 type telephone connector.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said port, said first and second modems, said telephone connector and said first filter, and at least one of said single enclosures 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 standard telephone outlet receptacle or opening; and

a form to substitute for a standard telephone outlet.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said port, said modems, said telephone connector and said first filter, and at least one of said single enclosures is pluggable into and attachable to a telephone outlet.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said port, said modems, said first telephone connector and said first filter, and at least one of said single enclosures is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on a wall of the building.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said port, said modems, said first telephone connector and said first filter, and at least one of said single enclosures is integrated within a telephone outlet.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

said telephone wire pair is connected for concurrently carrying a power signal; and

at least one of said first and second devices is couplable to the power signal to be at least in part powered by the power signal.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second modem is operative to perform bi-directional communication with one or more identical modems connected to said telephone wire pair.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second modem is operative to perform full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single other modem over said telephone wire pair.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the digital data carried over said telephone wire pair is based on a first protocol;

communication with the first data unit is based on a second protocol distinct from the first protocol; and

said second device is operative to adapt between the first and second protocols.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the digital data carried over said telephone wire pair is based on a first protocol;

communication with the telecommunications network is based on a second protocol distinct from said first protocol; and

said first device is operative to adapt between the first and second protocols.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the digital data carried over said telephone wire pair is based on Internet Protocol.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said second device further comprises a transceiver coupled between said third modem and said data connector for transmitting and receiving bi-directional packet-based digital data with the first data unit.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said transceiver is a Local Area Network (LAN) transceiver, said data connector is a LAN connector and communication with the first data unit is based on LAN standard.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said transceiver is an Ethernet transceiver, said data connector is a RJ-45 type, and communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3 standard.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the interface with the first data unit and communication with the first data unit are based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseTX standards.

24. A system for coupling a first data unit in a building to a telecommunications network external to the building over a home network, the system comprising:

a telephone wire pair installed at least in part external to the building, said telephone wire pair being connected for carrying bi-directional digital data in a digital data frequency band distinct from, and higher than, an analog telephone frequency band;

a first device for coupling between the telephone wire pair and the home network, said first device comprising;

a connector for connecting to the telephone wire pair;

a first modem coupled to said connector for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from, the telephone wire pair;

a first filter coupled between said first modem and said connector for substantially passing signals in the digital data frequency band;

a first port for coupling to the home network; and

a second modem coupled to said first port and communicatively coupled to said first modem for transmitting the digital data to, and receiving the digital data from, the home network, wherein said first device is operative to pass the bi-directional digital data between the home network and said telephone wire pair; and

a second device for coupling the first data unit to said home network, said second device comprising, in a single enclosure;

a second port for connecting to the home network;

a third modem coupled to said second port for transmitting the digital data to, and receiving the digital data from, said second modem over the home network; and

a data connector coupled to said third modem for connecting to the first data unit, wherein said second device is operative to pass bi-directional digital data between the first data unit and the home network.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said second device further comprises a transceiver coupled to said data connector for transmitting and receiving packet-based bi-directional digital data with the first data unit.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said second device further comprises a router or a gateway coupled to pass digital data between said third modem and said transceiver for handling protocol layers above the physical layer.

27. The system according to claim 24, wherein:

said system is further operative to couple an analog telephone signal to an analog telephone set;

said telephone wire pair is further connected for carrying the analog telephone signal in the analog telephone frequency band; and

said first device further comprises, in a single enclosure;

an analog telephone connector for connecting to the analog telephone set; and

a second filter coupled between said connector and said analog telephone connector for substantially passing signals in the analog telephone frequency band.

28. The system according to claim 24, wherein the home network is based on an internal telephone wire pair at least in part in walls of the building, the internal telephone wire pair being part of or separate from said telephone wire pair and being connected for carrying bi-directional digital data in a digital data frequency band distinct from, and higher than, an analog telephone frequency band, and wherein said first and second ports are respectively first and second telephone connectors.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein:

said system is further operative to carry an analog telephone signal;

said internal telephone wire pair is further connected for carrying the analog telephone signal in the analog telephone frequency band; and

said first device further comprises a second filter coupled between said first port and said connector for substantially passing signals in the analog telephone frequency band.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein:

said system is further operative to couple the analog telephone signal to an analog telephone set;

the internal telephone wire pair is further connected for carrying the analog telephone signal; and

said second device further comprises;

an analog telephone connector for connecting to the analog telephone set; and

a third filter coupled between said second port and said analog telephone connector for substantially passing signals in the analog telephone frequency band.

31. The system according to claim 24, wherein the digital data carried over the telephone wire-pair is xDSL based and the first modem is an xDSL modem.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the digital data is ADSL based, said first modem is an ADSL modem, and said connector is an RJ-11 type telephone connector.

33. The system according to claim 24, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said connector, said first and second modems, said first filter and said first port, and at least one of said single enclosures 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 standard telephone outlet receptacle or opening; and

a form to substitute for a standard telephone outlet.

34. The system according to claim 24, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said connector, said first and second modems, said first filter and said first port, and at least one of said single enclosures is pluggable into and attachable to a telephone outlet.

35. The system according to claim 24, wherein said first device further comprises a second single enclosure housing said connector, said first and second modems, said first filter and said first port, and at least one of said single enclosures is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on a wall of the building.

36. The system according to claim 24, wherein:

the home network is connected to concurrently carry a power signal; and

the power signal is couplable to at least one of said first and second devices be at least in part powered by the power signal.

37. The system according to claim 24, wherein said second modem is operative to perform bi-directional communication with one or more identical modems coupled to the home network.

38. The system according to claim 24, wherein said second modem is operative to perform full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single other modem over the home network.

39. The system according to claim 24, wherein:

the digital data carried over said home network is based on a first protocol;

communication with the first data unit is based on a second protocol distinct from the first protocol; and

said second device is operative to adapt between the first and second protocols.

40. The system according to claim 24, wherein:

the digital data carried over the external part of said telephone wire pair is based on a first protocol;

communication over the home network is based on a second protocol distinct from said first protocol; and

said first device is operative to adapt between the first and second protocols.

41. The system according to claim 24, wherein the digital data carried over the home network or over the external part of said telephone wire pair is based on Internet Protocol.

42. The system according to claim 24, wherein the external part of said telephone wire pair is coupled to the Internet.

43. The system according to claim 24, wherein said second device further comprises a transceiver coupled between said third modem and said data connector for transmitting bi-directional packet-based digital data to, and receiving bi-directional packet-based digital data from, the first data unit.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein said transceiver is a Local Area Network (LAN) transceiver, said data connector is a LAN connector, and communication with the first data unit is based on LAN standard.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein said transceiver is an Ethernet transceiver, said data connector is an RJ-45 type, and communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3 standard.

46. The system according to claim 45, wherein the communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseTX standards.