Network combining wired and non-wired segments

• US 8,873,575 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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): HOANG, THAI D
• Application Number:
  US12/627,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,793 Days
• Field of Search: 370331-338, 370342-343, 370347-350, 370419-420463, 370465-467, 370219-223, 455436-444
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• 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 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/20 for indoor coverage or short range network deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires.

Claims

1. A device for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit in a building, for use with a telephone wiring at least in part outside of the building and point-to-point connected to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and comprising one or two telephone wire pairs, the telephone wiring carrying the wired digital data, said device comprising:

a telephone connector for connecting to the telephone wiring;

a telephone transceiver coupled to said telephone connector and operative for full-duplex point-to-point digital data communication of the wired digital data signal using a wired digital data protocol over the telephone wiring with a mating telephone transceiver of the same type;

a radio frequency modem operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol;

a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone transceiver and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and the wired digital data protocol; and

a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone transceiver, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is further mechanically detachable from the telephone outlet.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said telephone wiring concurrently carrying said wired digital data and a telephone signal using multiplexing.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the telephone signal is an analog telephone signal, and wherein the multiplexing is a frequency division multiplexing (FDM).

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein device is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said device further comprising a second telephone connector connectable to the telephone unit and coupled to said first telephone connector, and wherein the device is operative to pass the telephone signal between said first and second telephone connectors for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the telephone signal is an analog telephone signal, the telephone unit is an analog telephone set, and the multiplexing is a frequency division multiplexing (FDM), and wherein the device further comprises a low pass filter coupled between said first and second telephone connectors for passing the analog telephone signal to the analog telephone set.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said device further comprises:

a data connector connectable to a wired data unit; and

a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of:

a WLL network, a LMDS network, and a satellite network.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said telephone transceiver is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.