Device for transmission of communication signals
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a device ( 1 ) for transmission of communication signals between a master station location and a number of subscribers and in particular a device for transmission of a first communication signal in the form of an analogue telephone signal or ISDN data signal. The device contains corresponding interface means ( 11 ) for this. It is provided according to the invention that the device ( 1 ) is developed such that a further interface means ( 3 ) in the form of a DSL modem can be linked, in order additionally to transmit a second communication signal, preferably a broadband communication signal, over ports ( 15 ) for the transmission of the first communication signal. For this purpose, the device contains correspondingly developed distribution or addition means.
1. A device for transmission of communication signals between a master station location and a number of subscribers, comprising:
a plurality of ports associated with the number of subscribers;
a plurality of interfaces operably coupled to the plurality of ports, respectively, wherein an interface is configured to enable transmission of a first communication signal between the master station location and a corresponding subscriber through an associated port;
a further port configured to be linked to a digital subscriber modem, and further configured to be coupled to the subscriber via both a communication line in the device and the associated port;
an addition circuit configured to merge signals from the plurality of ports to the further port to enable transmission of a second communication signal between the master station location and at least one of the subscribers over at least one associated port used to transmit the first communication signal to at least one of the subscribers; and
a signal conditioning unit coupled between the addition circuit and the further port, the signal conditioning unit configured to split the second communication signal into an incoming communication signal and an outgoing communication signal.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first communication signal comprises an analog telephone signal.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first communication signal comprises an ISDN data signal.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication signal comprises a broadband communication signal.
5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one transformer configured to provide inductive coupling of the plurality of ports with the further port.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the addition circuit includes the at least one transformer, and wherein the at least one transformer includes a separate primary transformer winding corresponding to each of the plurality of ports and a common secondary transformer winding.
7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one transformer further comprises a separate transformer operably coupled to each of the plurality of ports.
8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one capacitor configured to provide capacitive decoupling of the plurality of ports from the further port.
9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one capacitor is coupled between the plurality of ports and the further port.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the signal conditioning unit comprises a bridge circuit, the bridge circuit having a first branch formed by first impedances and a second branch formed by a second impedance and an impedance of a transmission path between at least one of the subscribers and the master station location, the bridge circuit further comprising a first tap configured to provide reception of incoming signals and a second, different tap configured to provide transmission of outgoing signals.
11. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a low-pass filter arranged between the interface and at least one of the plurality of ports.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a telephone line card.
13. A method for transmission of communication signals, via a device in a master station location, comprising:
transmitting a first communication signal in a first frequency range from an interface of the device to any of a plurality of connected subscribers via a corresponding one of plurality of ports of the device, each of the plurality of ports corresponding to one of the plurality of connected subscribers;
transmitting a second communication signal in a second frequency range from a digital subscriber modem to a connected subscriber via a further port, wherein a plurality of communication lines couple the further port to the plurality of ports of the device, the second frequency range differing from the first frequency range, the second communication signal having an access control characteristic associated with each of the plurality of connected subscribers; and
downstream of the further port and upstream of the plurality of communication lines, splitting the second communication signal into an incoming communication signal and an outgoing communication signal;
wherein at least part of a communication path between the further port and the corresponding one of the ports is shared by each of the plurality of ports to merge signals from the plurality of ports to the further port.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the access control characteristic comprises a CDMA access control characteristic.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the access control characteristic comprises a TDMA access control characteristic.
16. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising employing splitterless paths between the plurality of ports and each of the interface and further port.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the device comprises a telephone line card.