Detection of cross-connection between a wireless loop network and another loop network at a subscriber's premises
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a remote unit for use in conjunction with a communications network. The remote unit includes a network interface which provides an interface between a premises communication system and a first network. The interface permits the premises communication system to receive at least one service over the first network. The remote unit also includes a detector for detecting a cross-connection to a second network which is also connected to the premises communication system.
1. A remote unit for use in conjunction with a network, comprising:
a network interface configured to provide an interface between a premises communication system and a first network, the first network being configured to provide at least one service to the premises communication system; and
a detector configured to detect a cross-connection to a second network, the second network being separately coupled to the premises communication system by a network interface device separate from the remote unit, the second network being configured to provide the service to the premises communication system.
2. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is configured to withhold the service from the premises communication system in response to the detection of the cross-connection.
3. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is configured to provide the service to the premises communication system when the cross-connection is not detected.
4. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the presence of a current on the premises communication system, the current being caused by the cross-connection to the second network.
5. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the premises communication system includes a tip line and a ring line and the detector is coupled to the tip line and the ring line.
6. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the detector includes an electronics activation mechanism in series with a current presence indicator.
7. The remote unit of claim 6 , wherein the electronics activation mechanism is a switch and the current presence indicator is an optocoupler.
8. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the remote unit is configured to notify a subscriber that the cross-connection is detected.
9. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the remote unit is a set top box.
10. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the network interface is adapted to communicate with a base station included in the first network.
11. The remote unit of claim 10 , wherein the network interface is adapted to communicate with the base station over a wireless link between the network interface and the base station.
12. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the remote unit is adapted to receive a plurality of services over the first network.
13. The remote unit of claim 12 , wherein one of the plurality of services is television service and another of the plurality of services is telephone service.
14. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the first network corresponds to a first service provider and the second network corresponds to a second service provider.
15. The remote unit of claim 1 , wherein the remote unit and the second network interface are located at premises associated with the premises communication system.
16. A method of operating a network, comprising:
providing an interface between a first network and a premises communication system such that the premises communication system can receive at least one service over the first network; and
detecting a cross-connection to a second network separately coupled to the premises communication system by a network interface device separate from a remote unit including the interface, the second network being configured to provide the service to the premises communication system.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
providing services to the premises communication system when the cross-connection is not detected.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
withholding services from the premises communication system when the cross-connection is detected.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting a cross-connection includes detecting the presence of a potential on the premises communication system.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting a cross-connection is performed when a subscriber operates an item of subscriber premises equipment in communication with the premises communication system.
21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
notifying a subscriber that the cross-connection is detected.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first network corresponds to a first service provider and the second network corresponds to a second service provider.
23. A network comprising:
a first network base station configured to provide services from a first provider to a premises communication system; and
a remote unit configured to provide an interface between the base station and the premises communication system, the remote unit including a detector for detecting a cross-connection to a second network, the second network being configured to separately provide the services to the premises communication system by a network interface device separate from the remote unit.
24. The network of claim 23 , wherein the remote unit is configured to withhold the services from the premises communication system when the cross-connection is detected.
25. The network of claim 23 , wherein the remote unit is configured to provide the service to the premises communication system when the cross-connection is not detected.
26. The network of claim 23 , wherein the detector detects the presence of a current on the premises communication system, the current being caused by the second network.
27. The network of claim 23 , wherein the network interface includes a subscriber line interface circuit connected in parallel with the detector.
28. The network of claim 23 , wherein the remote unit includes a subscriber notification mechanism for notifying a subscriber when the cross-connection is detected.
29. The network of claim 23 , wherein the second network corresponds to a second provider to the premises communication system.
30. The network of claim 23 , wherein the detector includes an electronics activation mechanism in series with a current presence indicator.