System and method for distributing voice and data information over wireless and wireline networks

• US 6,141,356 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gorman, Michael George
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US08/966,926
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 370/395, 370/485, 370/486, 370/487, 370/488, 370/493, 370/522, 370/490, 370/338, 370/524, 370/345, 455/6.3, 455/3.1, 455/5.1, 455/557, 455/3.3, 455/6.1, 348/6, 379/93.06, 375/222
• US Class Current: 370/493
• 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

A method and device for distributing both high-speed data service, such as digital computer, video and multimedia data, and lower speed data service, such as POTS voice telephone signals, throughout a customer premises. High-speed digital data and lower speed POTS voice signals are separated by a POTS splitter and distributed throughout the customer premises on separate distribution networks. The lower speed POTS is carried on a wireless distribution network and the high-speed data carried on the existing customer premises wiring ordinarily used for POTS.

Claims

1. An information distribution system for distributing a greater bandwidth data signal and a lesser bandwidth signal multiplexed onto a communications trunk, the system comprising:

a wireline distribution network of the customer premises having integral wires for distributing the greater bandwidth data signal within the customer premises;

a wireless distribution system serving the customer premises and communicating the lesser bandwidth signal over an electromagnetic signal; and

a frequency selective splitter in communication with the wireline distribution network and the wireless distribution system, the frequency selective splitter being tuned to separate the greater bandwidth data signal for distribution over the wireline network and the lesser bandwidth signal distribution over the wireless distribution system before the lesser bandwidth signal is carried by the wireline distribution network within the customer premises.

2. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireline distribution network for distributing high-speed data comprises twisted pair copper wire.

3. The information distribution system of claim 2 wherein the twisted pair copper wire is the wiring ordinarily used to distribute POTS service via the lesser bandwidth signal throughout the customer premises.

4. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireless distribution system operates at a frequency of about 900 MHz.

5. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireless distribution system is in communication with a voice telephone.

6. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the lesser bandwidth signal comprises at least one voice band signal associated with POTS.

7. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireless distribution system carries lower speed digital data as the lesser bandwidth signal.

8. The information distribution system of claim 7 wherein the lower speed digital data comprises digital data transmitted at about a 128 Kbps data rate.

9. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the lesser bandwidth signal comprises digital data transmitted at about a 64 Kbps data rate.

10. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireless distribution system distributes data to an electronic home appliance.

11. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireless distribution system further comprises:

a wireless controller in communication with the splitter to transmit the lesser bandwidth signal; and

a receiver in communication with the wireless controller to receive the lesser bandwidth signal transmitted by the wireless controller.

12. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireline distribution network comprises a modem for interfacing a digital subscriber line.

13. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireline distribution network distributes digital computer data.

14. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireline distribution network distributes video data.

15. The information distribution system of claim 1 wherein the wireline distribution network further comprises a routing switch for distributing high-speed data, as the greater bandwidth data signal, to a plurality of computer peripherals.

16. The information distribution system of claim 1 further comprising:

a local loop comprising the communications trunk in communication with the splitter, wherein the local loop carries digital data to the customer premises to be distributed by the wireline distribution system.

17. The information distribution system of claim 16 wherein the local loop comprises a high-speed asymmetric digital subscriber line.

18. The information distribution system of claim 17 further comprising:

an asymmetric digital subscriber line ("ADSL") modem in communication with the ADSL local loop, wherein the ADSL modem is in communication with the wireless distribution system, and the wireless distribution system distributes a channel of digital information from the ADSL modem.

19. The information distribution system of claim 16 wherein the local loop comprises a wireless local loop system carrying POTS as the lesser bandwidth signal and high-speed digital data as the greater bandwidth signal.

20. The information system of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch connected between the wireless distribution system and the wireline distribution network, wherein the switch provides the lesser bandwidth signal on the wireline distribution network upon the detection of a power outage.

21. The information distribution system of claim 20 wherein the switch is connected to the local AC power supply to detect a loss of power and provides lesser bandwidth signal on the wireline distribution system in the event of a power failure.

22. An information distribution system for distributing high-speed data and lower speed data within a customer premises comprising:

a wireline distribution network within the customer premises having wires for distributing high-speed data within the customer premises, the wireline distribution network, comprising;

a modem for interfacing a digital subscriber line to provide high-speed data; and

a routing switch for distributing the high-speed data to a plurality of computer peripherals;

a wireless distribution system within the customer premises system distributing lower speed data within the customer premises, the wireless distribution system comprising;

a wireless controller in communication with the splitter to transmit the lower speed data; and

a receiver in communication with the base controller to receive the lower speed data transmitted by the wireless controller; and

a splitter in communication with the wireline distribution network and the wireless distribution network, wherein the splitter separates high-speed data for distribution over the wireline network and lower speed data for distribution over the wireless distribution system.

23. A method of distributing high-speed data and lower speed data within a customer premises location comprising the steps of:

separating high-speed data from lower speed data for distribution within the customer premises;

distributing lower speed data within the customer premises over a wireless distribution system; and

distributing high-speed data within the customer premises over a wireline distribution system.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the wireline distribution network comprises twisted pair copper wire.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the twisted pair copper wire is the wiring ordinarily used to distribute POTS service throughout the customer premises.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the lower speed data comprises voice band signals associated with POTS.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the lower speed data comprises digital data.