Outlet with analog signal adapter, a method for use thereof and a network using said outlet
View Patent ↗An outlet for a Local Area Network (LAN), containing an integrated adapter that converts digital data to and from analog video signal. Such an outlet allows using analog video units in a digital data network, eliminating the need for a digital video units or external adapter. The outlet may include a hub that allows connecting both an analog video signal via an adapter, as well as retaining the data network connection, which may be accessed by a network jack. The invention may also be applied to a telephone line-based data networking system. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the analog video adapters are integrated into a telephone outlet, providing for regular telephone service, analog video connectivity, and data networking as well.
1. A device for coupling a digitized version of an analog signal to an analog device, for use with wiring installed in walls of a building and carrying a digital data signal and a power signal, the digital data signal containing the digitized version of the analog signal, said device comprising:
a wiring connector connectable to the wiring;
a transceiver coupled to said wiring connector for transmitting and receiving the digital data signal carried over the wiring;
at least one analog connector connectable to the analog device for coupling a signal in analog form to the analog device;
at least one adapter coupled between said transceiver and said analog connector, for converting between the digitized version of the analog signal and the signal in analog form and connected to conduct the signal in analog form to the at least one analog connector; and
a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said transceiver, said at least one analog connector and said at least one adapter,
wherein said transceiver and said at least one adapter are coupled to the wiring in order to be powered by the power signal, and said enclosure is attachable to a wall in the building;
wherein said device is further operative to both receive and transmit signals in analog form; the digital data signal is transmitted bi-directionally; said at least one analog connector comprises a first analog connector for receiving a first signal in analog form and a second analog connector for transmitting a second signal in analog form; said at least one adapter comprises a first adapter coupled between said first analog connector and said transceiver and operative for converting the first signal in analog form to a digitized version of the first signal, and a second adapter coupled between said second analog connector and said transceiver and operative for converting a digitized version of the second signal to the second signal in analog form; and the digital data signal contains both the digitized version of the first signal and the digitized version of the second signal.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said enclosure is at least in part housed within an outlet.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data signal is a packet-based signal.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one adapter is operative to convert signals from digital to analog.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one adapter is operative to convert signals from analog to digital.
6. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising compression means coupled between said transceiver and said at least one adapter for compressing or de-compressing the digitized version of the analog signal.
7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the analog signal is one of an audio signal and a video signal.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the analog signal is audio and the analog connector is audio connector.
9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the power signal is concurrently carried with the digital data signal over the same wires.
10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the power signal is carried over a power signal frequency band and the digital data signal is carried over a data signal frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, and the data signal frequency band is distinct from the power signal frequency band, and said device further comprises:
a data filter coupled between said wiring connector and said transceiver for passing only the digital data signal; and
a power filter coupled between said wiring connector and said at least one adapter for passing only the power signal to at least a part of said device.
11. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the power signal is a DC signal.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein; said transceiver is a local area network (LAN) transceiver; the wiring is LAN wiring; and the power signal is carried using Power over LAN/Ethernet (PoE).
13. A device for coupling a digitized version of an analog signal to an analog device, for use with a service wire pair installed in walls in a building and carrying a digital data signal carried over a data signal frequency band and a power signal carried over a power signal frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, the data signal frequency band being distinct from the power signal frequency band, and the digital data signal containing the digitized version of the analog signal, said device comprising: a wiring connector connectable to the service wire pair; a data filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the digital data signal; a wiring modem coupled to said wiring connector for conducting the digital data signal carried over the service wire pair; at least one analog connector connectable to the analog device for coupling a signal in analog form to the analog device; at least one adapter coupled between said wiring modem and said analog connector, for converting between the digitized version of the analog signal and the signal in analog form; and
a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said data filter, said wiring modem, said at least one analog connector and said at least one adapter, wherein the service wire pair is one of a telephone wire pair, a CATV coaxial cable and an AC power wiring pair, and said enclosure is attachable in a wall in the building;
wherein said device is further operative to both receive and transmit signals in analog form; the digital data signal is transmitted bi-directionally; said at least one analog connector comprises a first analog connector for receiving a first signal in analog form and a second analog connector for transmitting a second signal in analog form;
said at least one adapter comprises a first adapter coupled between said first analog connector and said wiring modem and operative for converting the first signal in analog form to a digitized version of the first signal, and a second adapter coupled between said second analog connector and said wiring modem and operative for converting a digitized version of the second signal to the second signal in analog form; and the digital data signal contains both the digitized version of the first signal and the digitized version of the second signal.
14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the enclosure is at least in part housed within an outlet.
15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the digital data signal is a packet-based signal.
16. The device according to claim 13 , wherein said at least one adapter is operative to convert signals from digital to analog.
17. The device according to claim 13 , wherein said at least one adapter is operative to convert signals from analog to digital.
18. The device according to claim 13 , further a comprising compressor coupled between said wiring modem and said at least one adapter for compressing or de-compressing the digitized version of the analog signal.
19. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the analog signal is one of an audio signal and a video signal.
20. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the analog signal is an audio signal and said at least one analog connector is an audio connector.
21. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the power signal is concurrently carried with the digital data signal over the service wire pair.
22. The device according to claim 13 further operative for coupling the digital data signal to a data unit, said device further comprising:
a data connector connectable to the data unit; and
a multiport unit constituting one of: a hub; a switch; a router; and a gateway, said multiport unit being coupled to said wiring modem and said at least one adapter.
23. The device according to claim 13 , wherein said service wire pair is one of a telephone wire pair, a CATV coaxial cable and an AC power wiring pair and concurrently carrying a service signal, the service signal is respectively one of: a telephone signal, a CATV signal and an AC power service signal.
24. The device according to claim 23 further operative for coupling the service signal to an analog service unit, said device further comprising:
an analog service connector connectable to an analog service unit; and
a service filter coupled between said analog service connector and said wiring connector for passing only the service signal.
25. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the data signal frequency band is above the power signal frequency band, and wherein said data filter is a high pass filter and said power filter is a low pass filter.
26. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the data signal frequency band is above the power signal frequency band, and wherein said data filter is a high pass filter.