Power line telephony exchange

• US RE40,492 E1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telkonet Communications, Inc. (Comstock Coal Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telkonet Communications, Inc. (Comstock Coal Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Grimes, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US11/170,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 379/322-324,333 370/352,422 340/310.01,425.1,425.2 375/222
• US Class Current: 379/322
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

Method steps and component combinations for establishing a telephony exchange, with benefits of hardwiring, free of a requirement for first installing telephone copper wire service to a concentration of electric power consumers. An operations center for the telephony exchange provides worldwide access by means of a public-switched telephone network and an Internet service provider. Communications received are converted to packetized data signals which are routed for sorting at a transformer service unit (TSU) for electrical power-line transfer with the output of a local transformer. The consumer voltage level transformer output is reactance coupled by the transformer service unit (TSU) to transfer packetized data signals, with transformer output electrical power to a plurality of subscriber service units (SSU'"'"'s) served by the TSU. Each SSU sorts packetized data signals for an individual subscriber, selectively providing for plain old telephone service, digital phone service, and worldwide Internet service.

Claims

1. A method for providing hardwired telephony service, comprising the steps of:

(A) laying out a concentration of electrical power consumer premises selected from the group consisting of individual users and multiple-user apartment buildings, office buildings, and industrial complexes, with existing electrical power wiring;

(B) preparing a pattern, within the concentration of electrical power consumer premises, for estimating potential subscribers for telephony exchange service, by;

(i) determining the a number and location of transformers supplying consumers with electrical power within such concentration,

(ii) determining the a number of such consumers supplied with electrical power by each respective transformer with electrical power consumers being located within a selected preferred radius of each such respective transformer;

(C) establishing an operations center, selectively located with relation to such concentration, for control of reception and re-transmitting of telecommunications for potential telephony exchange subscribers in such pattern;

(D) providing public-switched telephone access means and a worldwide Internet service provider at such operations center;

(E) extending a packetized data signal carrier, or predetermined capacity, from such operations center to a location for at least one electrical power transformer connected for delivery of transformer output by means of an electrical power line to respective consumers within such preferred radius, from such at least one transformer;

(F) electrically connecting a transformer service unit (TSU), for potential telephony exchange subscribers, to such transformer output by reactance coupling, so as to enable transferring both electrical power and packetized data signals, for such power and telephony exchange subscribers;

(G) sorting packetized data signals, being carried by such reactance coupled connection between such transformer and such TSU, for transfer on such existing electrical power wiring extending from such respective transformer unit to such power consumers and telephony exchange subscribers;

(H) installing a subscriber server means connected to a power outlet, at such electrical power consumer'"'"'s premises, for receiving packetized data signals;

(I) converting packetized data signals for subscriber use selected from the group consisting of

(i) plain old telephone communications,

(ii) digital phone communications, and

(iii) worldwide Internet communications.

2. The method of claim 1, further including

extending such packetized data signal carrier to a plurality of sequential combinations of a power transformer, with a respective transformer service unit for sequentially sorting of packetized data signals, for telephony exchange subscribers receiving transformer output power from each such respective sequential power transformer for power line delivery with packetized data signals, to its respective TSU.

3. The method of claim 2, further including

sorting such packetized data signals carrier supplied to at least one TSU, with remaining packetized data signals being directed to sequential TSU'"'"'s for other subscriber server means.

4. The method of claim 2, in which such wherein the subscriber server means enables

selecting from such group consisting of plain old telephone service, digital phone service, and worldwide Internet communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the a step of

selecting from the group consisting of (a) end-user location within about a half-mile radius of each such respective transformer, and (b) adding a transponder/repeater for an end-user located at a distance greater than about one-half mile from such transformer.

10. The method of claim 1, further including

extending such packetized data signal carrier to a plurality of sequential combinations of a power transformer, with a respective transformer service unit for sequentially sorting of packetized data signals, for subscribers receiving transformer output power from each such respective sequential power transformer for power line delivery with packetized data signals, to its respective TSU.

6. Apparatus An apparatus for providing hardwired telephone services to a concentration of electrical power consumer premises selected from the group consisting of individual users and multiple-user apartment buildings, office buildings, and industrial complexes, with existing electrical power wiring, comprising

(A) means for establishing an operations center, selectively located with relation to such concentration of electrical power consumers, for control of reception of telecommunications and re-transmitting for potential telephony exchange subscribers;

(B) means for providing public-switched telephone access means and a worldwide Internet service provider at such operations center;

(C) packetized data signal means extending from such operations center to a location for at least one electrical power transformer with power line for delivery of transformer output by means of an electrical power line to respective consumers within such preferred radius, from such at least one transformer;

(D) reactance means electrically connecting a transformer service unit (TSU), for potential telephony exchange subscribers, to such transformer so as to be capable of transferring both electrical power and packetized data signals for potential telephony exchange subscribers;

(E) means for sorting packetized data signals for transfer on such transformer power line to such electrical power consumers and telephony exchange subscribers;

(F) subscriber server means connected to a power outlet, at such electrical power consumer'"'"'s premises, for receiving packetized data signals;

(G) means for converting packetized data signals for subscriber use selected from the group consisting of

(i) plain old telephone communications,

(ii) digital phone communications, and

(iii) worldwide Internet communications.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a

means for extending such packetized data signal carrier to a plurality of sequential combinations of a power transformer with a respective transformer service unit for sorting of packetized data signals, for delivery with electrical power, to subscribers of each transformer with its respective transformer service unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further including

means for sorting such packetized data signals supplied for at least one transformer service (TSU) unit electrical power to telephony exchange subscribers (TSU) , with remaining packetized data signals being directed to sequential TSU'"'"'s for other subscriber server means.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further including

means for enabling a subscriber to select from such group consisting of plain old telephone service, digital phone service, and worldwide Internet communication.