Local area network of serial intelligent cells

• US 20060092962A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: SercoNet Limited (Yehuda Binder, MBA)
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Granted Patent: US 8,885,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• 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 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/02 providing ringing current or supervisory tones, e.g. dialling tone or busy tone
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/908 Local area network

Abstract

A serial intelligent cell (SIC) and a connection topology for local area networks using Electrically-conducting media. A local area network can be configured from a plurality of SIC'"'"'s interconnected so that all communications between two adjacent SIC'"'"'s is both point-to-point and bidirectional. Each SIC can be connected to one or more other SIC'"'"'s to allow redundant communication paths. Communications in different areas of a SIC network are independent of one another, so that, unlike current bus topology and star topology, there is no fundamental limit on the size or extent of a SIC network. Each SIC can optionally be connected to one or more data terminals, computers, telephones, sensors, actuators, etc., to facilitate interconnectivity among such devices. Networks according to the present invention can be configured for a variety of applications, including a local telephone system, remote computer bus extender, multiplexers, PABX/PBX functionality, security systems, and local broadcasting services. The network can use dedicated wiring, as well as existing wiring as the in-house telephone or electrical wiring.

Claims

1. An in-wall controller device for use with wiring in a wall of a building, the wiring being adapted to carry a power signal and an information signal, the device comprising:

at least one wiring connector operative for connecting to the wiring;

firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to said at least one wiring connector for coupling to the information signal;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to said at least one wiring connector for receiving the power signal to be powered therefrom, said power supply being coupled for powering said processor;

a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status;

at least one user settable manual switch coupled to said processor and operative for device control by a user; and

a single enclosure housing said at least one wiring connector, said processor, said firmware, said power supply, said visual indicator and said at least one user settable manual switch,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be wall-mountable into a mating wall opening, or an outlet receptacle, or an outlet opening.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring includes power line wiring for carrying the power signal, the power signal is an AC signal, said at least one wiring connector is adapted to connect to the power line wiring, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wiring includes at least one twisted-wire pair carrying the power signal, the power signal is a DC signal, said at least one wiring connector is adapted to connect to the at least one twisted-wire pair, and said power supply comprises a DC/DC converter.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is addressable in a network.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said at least one manual switch is used to manually assign an address to said device.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said device has an address that is automatically assigning or assigned by a data unit connected to said device.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a power connector coupled to said power supply and connectable to an apparatus for DC powering the apparatus.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising protection means including at least one of a fuse, a lightning arrester and a noise filter connected to said at least one wiring connector.

10. The device according to claim 1, further operative to provide a standard computer bus interface, said device further comprising a computer connector coupled to said processor and mechanical means for electrically connecting and mechanically attaching said computer connector to a computer plug-in unit being.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said standard computer bus interface is one of:

an ISA interface;

a PCMCIA interface;

an IDE interface; and

a SCSI interface.

12. The device according to claim 1, further operative to couple an analog unit to said processor, wherein said device further comprises an analog connector connectable to the analog unit for coupling an analog signal to said processor, and a converter for converting between analog and digital signals coupled between said analog connector and said processor.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the analog unit is an analog actuator for creating a physical phenomenon, and said converter is a digital to analog converter.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the analog unit is an analog sensor for sensing a physical phenomenon, and said converter is an analog to digital converter.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the analog unit is one of an audio unit and a video unit and the analog signal is one of an audio signal and a video signal, respectively.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the analog unit is a telephone unit, said analog connector is a telephone connector and the analog signal is a telephone signal.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the information signal is a bi-directional serial digital data signal, and said device further comprises a transceiver, coupled between said wiring connector and said processor and powered from said power supply, for communicating the digital data signal over the wiring.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said transceiver is operative to perform bi-directional communication with one or more identical transceivers connected to the wiring.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein said transceiver is operative to perform full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single other transceiver over the wiring.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the communication over the wiring conforms to an Ethernet standard.

21. A power outlet device for powering an apparatus by a power signal carried over wiring in a wall of a building, said device comprising:

a wiring connector operative for connecting to the wiring;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to said wiring connector for receiving the power signal in order to be powered by the power signal;

a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status;

a DC power connector coupled to be powered by said power supply, said connector being connectable to an apparatus for supplying power to the apparatus from said power supply; and

a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said power supply, said visual indicator, and said DC power connector,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be wall-mountable into a mating wall opening, or an outlet receptacle, or an outlet opening.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the wiring includes power line wiring carrying an AC power signal, said wiring connector is adapted to connect to the power line wiring, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein the wiring includes at least one twisted-pair for carrying a DC power signal, said wiring connector is adapted to connect to the at least one twisted-pair, said power supply comprises a DC/DC converter, and said device further comprises a diode-based bridge coupled to said wiring connector for accommodating line reversals.

24. The device according to claim 21, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

25. The device according to claim 21, further comprising protection means including one of a fuse, a lightning arrester and a noise filter connected to said wiring connector.

26. A LAN video camera system comprising:

a wiring in a wall of a building for concurrently carrying a power signal and a digitized video signal;

a wall-mounted outlet comprising a jack connected to said wiring;

a plug connected to said jack for connecting to said wiring;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to said plug for being powered by the power signal;

a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status;

a transceiver coupled to said plug for conducting serial digital data communication over said wiring; and

a video camera for producing the digitized video signal, said camera being coupled to said transceiver for coupling the digitized video signal to said transceiver,

wherein said transceiver, said visual indicator and said video camera are coupled to be powered by said power supply.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said wiring includes power line wiring carrying an AC power signal, said outlet is an AC power outlet, said plug is an AC power plug, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein said wiring includes at least one twisted-pair carrying a DC power signal, said outlet is a twisted-pair LAN outlet, and said power supply comprises a DC/DC converter.

29. The system according to claim 26, further comprising protection means including at least one of a fuse, a lightning arrester, and a noise filter connected to said plug.

30. The system according to claim 26, further comprising a single enclosure enclosing at least part of said system and constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

31. The system according to claim 26, wherein said system is addressable in a network.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising at least one manual switch for manually assigning an address to said system.

33. The system according to claim 31, wherein said system has an address that is automatically assigned or assigned by a data unit connected to said system.

34. The system according to claim 26, further comprising a single enclosure housing said power supply, said visual indicator, said transceiver, and said video camera.

35. The system according to claim 26, further comprising an analog to digital converter for converting between analog and digital signals coupled between said video camera and said transceiver.

36. The system according to claim 26, wherein said transceiver is operative to perform bi-directional communication with one or more identical transceivers connected to said wiring.

37. The system according to claim 26, wherein said transceiver is operative to perform full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single other transceiver over said wiring.

38. The system according to claim 26, wherein communication over said wiring conforms to an Ethernet standard.

39. The system according to claim 26, wherein at least one parameter of the system is configurable by a connected data unit.

40. The system according to claim 26, wherein said wiring comprises two separate sets of wires each carrying only a respective one of the digital data signals and the power signals.

41. The system according to claim 26, wherein the digital data and power signals are multiplexed and carried over the same conductors of said wiring.

42. The system according to claim 41, further comprising a data/power splitter having first, second and third ports, wherein only power is passed from said first port to said second port, and the digital data signal is passed between said first and third ports.

43. The system according to claim 26, further comprising firmware and a processor executing said firmware, said processor being coupled at least to control said transceiver.

44. A security system comprising the system according to claim 26.

45. A serial-to-Ethernet converter device for converting signals between a standard serial interface and Ethernet interface, the device comprising:

an Ethernet connector connectable to first wires for carrying full-duplex packet-based digital data, the first wires comprising at least one twisted-wire pair;

an Ethernet transceiver connected to said Ethernet connector for conducting full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single identical transceiver over the first wires;

a serial connector connectable to second wires for carrying serial digital data;

a serial transceiver connected to said serial connector, for conducting serial digital data communication over the second wires;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to power said Ethernet transceiver and said serial transceiver;

a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status; and

a single enclosure housing said Ethernet and serial connectors, said power supply, said Ethernet and serial transceivers, said power supply and said visual indicator, wherein said Ethernet transceiver is coupled to said serial transceiver for passing information between the first and second wires.

46. The device according to claim 45, further comprising firmware and a processor executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control said Ethernet transceiver and said serial transceiver.

47. The device according to claim 45, wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be wall-mountable into a mating wall opening, or into an outlet receptacle, or into an outlet opening.

48. The device according to claim 45, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

49. The device according to claim 45, wherein said device is addressable in a network.

50. The device according to claim 49, further comprising at least one manual switch for manually assigning an address to said device.

51. The device according to claim 49, wherein said device has an address that is automatically assigned or assigned by a data unit connected to said device.

52. The device according to claim 45, wherein said serial transceiver and said serial connector collectively form a standard serial interface that is one of a RS-232/EIA/TIA-232 interface, a RS-485/EIA/TIA-485 interface and an ITU-T V.24 interface.

53. The device according to claim 45, wherein said serial transceiver and said serial connector collectively form a standard serial interface which is PCM based.

54. The device according to claim 45, further comprising a power connector connectable to a power source to receive power therefrom, and wherein said power supply is connected to be powered from said power connector, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter or a DC/DC converter.

55. The device according to claim 45, wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to a mating fixture arranged to be secured on a wall.

56. The device according to claim 45, wherein said first wiring further concurrently carries a DC power signal, and said power supply is coupled to said Ethernet connector to be powered by the DC power signal.

57. The device according to claim 45, wherein said device is electrically pluggable and mechanically attachable to an outlet.

58. A coaxial outlet for coupling a data unit to a coaxial cable in a wall of a building, the cable having two conductors connected to simultaneously carry a digital data signal and an analog signal frequency multiplexed with the digital data signal, wherein the analog signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the digital data signal band, said coaxial outlet comprising:

a coaxial connector operative for connecting said outlet to the coaxial cable;

a data connector connectable to a data unit, for coupling the digital data signal to the data unit;

a filter coupled between said coaxial connector and said data connector and operative for substantially passing only the digital data signal; and

a single enclosure housing said coaxial connector, said data connector and said filter,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be mountable into a standard outlet receptacle or opening.

59. The outlet according to claim 58, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

60. The outlet according to claim 58, further operative to couple the analog signal to an analog unit, and wherein said outlet further comprises:

an analog connector connectable to an analog unit; and

a second filter coupled between said coaxial connector and said analog connector and operative for substantially passing only the analog signal.

61. A telephone outlet for coupling an analog telephone set to a telephone wire-pair in a wall of a building, the wire-pair having two conductors that simultaneously carry a digital data signal and an analog telephone signal frequency multiplexed with the digital data signal, wherein the digital data signal is carried in a frequency band distinct from and higher than the analog telephone signal frequency band, said telephone outlet comprising:

a wiring connector operative for connecting said outlet to the telephone wire-pair;

a standard telephone connector connectable to an analog telephone set, for coupling the analog telephone signal to the analog telephone set;

a low pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said standard telephone connector and operative for substantially passing only the analog telephone signal; and

a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said standard telephone connector and said low pass filter,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be mountable into a standard outlet receptacle or opening.

62. The outlet according to claim 61, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

63. The outlet according to claim 61, further operative to couple the digital data signal to a data unit, said outlet further comprising:

a data connector connectable to the data unit;

a high pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said data connector and operative for substantially passing only the digital data signal.

64. A power line outlet for coupling an AC powered appliance set to power lines in a wall of a building, the power lines having at least two conductors that simultaneously carry a digital data signal and an AC power signal frequency multiplexed with the digital data signal, wherein the digital data signal is carried in a frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the AC power signal frequency band, said power line outlet comprising:

a wiring connector operative for connecting said outlet to the power lines;

an AC power connector connectable to an appliance, for powering the appliance by the AC power signal;

a low pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said AC power connector and operative for substantially passing only the AC power signal; and

a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said AC power connector and said low pass filter,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be mountable into a standard outlet receptacle or opening.

65. The outlet according to claim 64, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

66. The outlet according to claim 64, further operative to couple the digital data signal to a data unit, said outlet further comprising:

a data connector connectable to the data unit; and

a high pass filter coupled between said wiring connector and said data connector and operative for substantially passing only the digital data signal.

67. A parallel-to-Ethernet converter device for converting signals between a standard parallel interface and an Ethernet interface, said device comprising:

an Ethernet connector connectable to first wires comprising at least one twisted-wire pair for carrying full-duplex packet-based digital data;

an Ethernet transceiver connected to said Ethernet connector, for conducting full-duplex point-to-point communication with only a single second Ethernet transceiver over the first wires;

a parallel connector connectable to second wires for carrying parallel digital data;

a parallel transceiver connected to said parallel connector for conducting parallel digital data communication over the second wires;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to power said Ethernet transceiver and said parallel transceiver;

a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status; and

a single enclosure housing said Ethernet and parallel connectors, said Ethernet and parallel transceivers, said power supply, and said visual indicator,

wherein said Ethernet transceiver is coupled to said parallel transceiver for passing information between the first wires and the second wires.

68. The device according to claim 67, further comprising firmware and a processor executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control said Ethernet transceiver and said parallel transceiver.

69. The device according to claim 67, wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be mountable into a mating wall opening, or into an outlet receptacle, or into an outlet opening.

70. The device according to claim 67, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

71. The device according to claim 67, wherein said device is addressable in a network.

72. The device according to claim 71, further comprising at least one manual switch for manually assigning an address to said device.

73. The device according to claim 71, wherein said device has an address that is automatically assigned or assigned by a data unit connected to said device.

74. The device according to claim 67, wherein said parallel transceiver and said parallel connector collectively form a PC-related standard parallel interface that is one of an ITU-V.35, ISA and PCMCIA standards.

75. The device according to claim 67, further comprising a power connector connectable to a power source, and wherein said power supply is connected to be powered from said power connector, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter or DC/DC converter.

76. The device according to claim 67, wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to mating fixture secured on a wall.

77. The device according to claim 67, wherein:

said first wires are connected to further concurrently carry a DC power signal; and

said power supply is coupled to said Ethernet connector to be powered by the DC power signal.

78. The device according to claim 67, wherein is device is electrically pluggable and mechanically attachable to an outlet.

79. A power outlet for powering an apparatus with a power signal carried over wiring in a wall of a building, said device comprising:

a wiring connector operative for connecting to the wiring;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to said wiring connector to receive operating power from the power signal;

a power connector coupled to said wiring connector for connecting to an apparatus for powering the apparatus by the power signal;

a monitoring device coupled to be powered by said power supply and coupled to said power connector for monitoring the power consumption of a connected apparatus; and

a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said power connector, said power supply and said monitoring device,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be mountable into a mating wall opening, or into an outlet receptacle, or into an outlet opening.

80. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein the wiring includes power line wiring for carrying an AC power signal, said wiring connector is adapted to connect to the power line wiring, said power connector is an AC connector socket, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter.

81. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein said outlet is part of a Demand Side Management (DSM) or an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system.

82. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein the wiring includes at least one twisted-wire pair for carrying a DC power signal, said wiring connector is adapted to connect to the at least one twisted-wire pair, and said power supply comprises a DC/DC converter.

83. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

84. The outlet according to claim 79, further comprising protection means connected to said wiring connector, wherein said protection means is at least one of a fuse, a lightning arrester, and a noise filter.

85. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein the wiring is connected to further simultaneously carry a bi-directional serial digital data signal, said outlet further comprises a transceiver coupled to said wiring connector to be coupled to the digital data signal over the wiring, and said transceiver is coupled to be powered from said power supply.

86. The outlet according to claim 85, wherein said transceiver is coupled to said monitoring device for carrying information representing the power consumption of the connected apparatus as part of the bi-directional serial digital data signal.

87. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein the communication over the wiring conforms to an Ethernet standard.

88. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein said outlet is further operative to control the power to the connected apparatus, and said outlet further comprises a power switch coupled between said power connector and said wiring connector for controlling the supply of power to the connected apparatus.

89. The outlet according to claim 88, wherein the control performed by said power switch is at least one of remote on/off operation, timing of the operation, delayed start or disconnection after a pre-set period.

90. The outlet according to claim 79, wherein said outlet is addressable in a network, and said outlet further comprises a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status.

91. The outlet according to claim 90, further comprising at least one manual switch used to manually assign an address to said outlet.

92. The outlet according to claim 90, wherein said outlet has an address that is automatically assigned or assigned by a data unit connected to said device.

93. A device for monitoring power supplied to an apparatus, for use with wiring in a wall of a building, the wiring being connected to simultaneously carry a power signal and a bi-directional serial digital data signal, said device comprising:

a wiring connector operative for connecting to the wiring;

a power supply including a voltage converter coupled to said wiring connector to be powered by the power signal;

a transceiver coupled to said wiring connector for communicating the digital data signal over the wiring, the transceiver is coupled to be powered from said power supply;

a visual indicator coupled to said power supply for indicating a status;

a power connector coupled to said wiring connector for connecting to an apparatus for powering the apparatus by said power signal;

a monitoring unit coupled to be powered from said power supply and coupled to said power connector for sensing, monitoring or measuring the power consumption of a connected apparatus; and

a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said power supply, said transceiver, said visual indicator, said power connector, and said monitoring unit,

wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to be mountable into a mating wall opening, or into an outlet receptacle, or into an outlet opening.

94. The device according to claim 93, wherein the wiring includes power line wiring for carrying an AC power signal, said wiring connector is adapted to connect to the power line wiring, said power connector is an AC connector socket, and said power supply comprises an AC/DC converter.

95. The device according to claim 94, wherein said device is part of a Demand Side Management (DSM) or Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system.

96. The device according to claim 93, wherein the wiring includes at least one twisted-wire pair connected for carrying an DC power signal, said wiring connector is adapted to connect to the at least one twisted-wire pair, and said power supply comprises a DC/DC converter.

97. The device according to claim 93, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

98. The device according to claim 93, further comprising protection means including at least one of a fuse, a lightning arrester and a noise filter connected to said at least one wiring connector.

99. The device according to claim 93, wherein said transceiver is coupled to said monitoring unit for carrying information representing the power consumption of the connected apparatus as part of the bi-directional serial digital data signal.

100. The device according to claim 93, wherein the communication over the wiring conforms to an Ethernet standard.

101. The device according to claim 93, further operative to control the power supplied to the connected apparatus, wherein said device further comprises a power switch coupled between said power connector and said wiring connector, for controlling the supply of power to the connected apparatus.

102. The device according to claim 101, wherein the control performed by said power switch is at least one of:

remote on/off operation;

timing of the operation;

delayed start;

or disconnection after a pre-set period.

103. The device according to claim 93, wherein said device is addressable in a network.

104. The device according to claim 103, further comprising at least one manual switch used to manually assign an address to said device.

105. The device according to claim 103, wherein said device has an address that is automatically assigned or assigned by a data unit connected to said device.

106. A device that is couplable to a cable that simultaneously carries a DC power signal over two dedicated conductors and a half-duplex serial digital data signal over at least one twisted-wire pair, said device comprising:

a wiring connector for connecting to the cable; and

a light emitter connected to said wiring connector for being powered by the DC power signal in order to emit light.

107. The device according to claim 106, wherein said light emitter is a LED.

108. A network for coupling first and second units in a building to respective ones of first and second bi-directional serial digital data streams external to the building, said network comprising:

first wires comprising two conductors at least in part in walls of the building and at least in part external to the building, said first wires being connected to carry the first and second bi-directional serial digital data streams in time-multiplexed form;

second wires comprising two conductors at least in part in walls of the building, said second wires being connected to carry the second bi-directional serial digital data stream;

a first outlet connected to said first wires, said first outlet being mounted in a wall opening or an outlet opening;

a second outlet connected to said second wires, said second outlet being mounted in a wall opening or an outlet opening;

a first device couplable to the first unit, said first device being connected to said first outlet for connecting to said first wires and being connected to said second wires, and said first device being operative to couple the first bi-directional serial digital data stream to the first unit to and to pass the second bi-directional serial digital data stream between said first and second wires; and

a second device couplable to the second unit, said second device being connected to said second outlet for connecting to said second wires, and said second device being operative to couple the second bi-directional serial digital data stream to the second unit.

109. The network according to claim 108, wherein said first device is attached to said first outlet.

110. The network according to claim 108, wherein said second device is attached to said second outlet.

111. The network according to claim 108, further comprising a first single enclosure housing said first device and said first outlet, wherein said first single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

112. The network according to claim 108, further comprising a second single enclosure housing said second device and said second outlet, wherein said second single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;

a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and

a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.

113. The network according to claim 108, wherein at least one out of said first and second devices is addressable in said network.

114. The network according to claim 113, further comprising at least one manual switch used to manually assign an address to said first or second device.

115. The network according to claim 113, wherein said at least one of said first and second devices has an address that is automatically assigned or assigned by a data unit connected to said device.

116. The network according to claim 108, wherein said first and second devices are connected in a point-to-point connection over said second wires.

117. The network according to claim 108, wherein at least one of said first wires and second wires is one of:

a twisted-wire pair;

a coaxial cable;

a telephone wire-pair; and

power line wiring, and at least one of said first and second outlets is one of a telephone outlet and a power line outlet.

118. The network according to claim 108, wherein the communication over at least one of said first wires and second wires is packet-based and full-duplex.

119. The network according to claim 108, wherein at least one of said first wires and second wires further simultaneously carries a service signal using frequency domain multiplexing.

120. The network according to claim 119, wherein the service signal is an analog telephone signal and at least one of said first and second outlets is a telephone outlet.

121. The network according to claim 108, wherein the time-multiplexed first and second bi-directional serial digital data streams are carried over said first wires using DSL.

122. The network according to claim 108, wherein the first bi-directional serial digital data stream contains digitized telephony data, and the first unit is a telephone set to which the digitized telephony data are coupled.

123. The network according to claim 108, wherein the second bi-directional serial digital data stream contains digitized telephony data, and the second unit is a telephone set to which the digitized telephony data are coupled.

124. The network according to claim 108, wherein the first and second bi-directional serial digital data streams respectively carry first and second digitized telephony data and wherein the first and second units are respectively first and second telephone sets to which the first and second digitized telephony data are respectively coupled.

125. The network according to claim 108, wherein at least one of said first wires and second wires concurrently carry a power signal, and at least one of said first and second devices is at least in part powered by the power signal.