Network combining wired and non-wired segments
View Patent ↗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 ( 5 a , 5 b , 5 c , 5 d , 5 e ) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets ( 61 a , 61 d ), 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 ( 24 b ) connected by wires and data units ( 24 a , 24 d ) connected without wires.
1. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical CATV distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a CATV coaxial cable carrying a CATV signal and a wall-mounted CATV outlet connected to the CATV coaxial cable, the CATV coaxial cable concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a CATV signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the CATV signal is carried over a low frequency band, said module comprising:
a coaxial cable connector that is electrically and mechanically connectable to the CATV outlet for connecting to the CATV coaxial cable;
a high pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the wired digital data signal;
a CATV modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the CATV coaxial cable using a wired digital data protocol;
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 CATV modem 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 coaxial cable connector, said high pass filter, said CATV modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter.
2. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the module is further mechanically detachable from the CATV outlet.
3. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.
4. The module according to claim 1 , wherein said module is further connectable to a TV set, and said module further comprises:
a low pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the CATV signal; and
a second coaxial cable connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the TV set, for coupling the CATV signal to the TV set.
5. The module according to claim 1 , wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module 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.
6. The module according to claim 5 , wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.
7. The module 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.
8. The module according to claim 1 , wherein said CATV modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical CATV modems coupled to other CATV outlets connected to the CATV coaxial cable.
9. The module 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.
10. A CATV outlet for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical CATV distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a CATV coaxial cable carrying a CATV signal and extending to a wall cavity for a wall-mounted CATV outlet, the CATV coaxial cable concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a CATV signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the CATV signal is carried over a low frequency band, said CATV outlet comprising:
a coaxial cable connector for connecting to the CATV coaxial cable;
a high pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the wired digital data signal;
a CATV modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the CATV coaxial cable using a wired digital data protocol;
a radio frequency modem operative for 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 CATV modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and said wired digital data protocol; and
a single enclosure containing said coaxial cable connector, said high pass filter, said CATV modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter,
wherein said enclosure is mountable to the CATV outlet cavity.
11. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to fit an existing standard CATV outlet cavity.
12. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.
13. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein the outlet is further connectable to a TV set, and said module further comprises:
a low pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the CATV signal; and
a second coaxial cable connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the TV set, for coupling the CATV signal to the TV set.
14. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein the outlet is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises:
a data connector connectable to the 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.
15. The outlet according to claim 14 , wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.
16. The outlet according to claim 10 , 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.
17. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein said CATV modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical CATV modems coupled to other CATV outlets connected to the CATV coaxial cable.
18. The outlet according to claim 10 , 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.
19. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with a CATV coaxial cable and a service coaxial cable, the CATV coaxial cable concurrently carrying a first wired digital data signal and a CATV signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the first wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the CATV signal is carried over a low frequency band, and the service coaxial cable concurrently carrying a second wired digital data signal carried over a service signal frequency band and a service signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the second wired digital data signal is carried over a frequency band distinct from the service signal frequency band, said module comprising:
a coaxial cable connector that is electrically and mechanically connectable to a CATV outlet for connecting to the CATV coaxial cable;
a first high pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the first wired digital data signal;
a CATV modem coupled to said first high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the first wired digital data signal with one or more identical CATV modems over the CATV coaxial cable using a first wired digital data protocol;
a service connector for connecting to the service coaxial cable;
a second high pass filter coupled to said service connector for passing only the second wired digital data signal;
a service wiring modem coupled to said second high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the second wired digital data signal with one or more identical service wiring modems over the service coaxial cable using a second wired digital data protocol;
a radio frequency modem operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with one or more wireless data units employing a radio frequency wireless digital data signal conforming to a wireless digital data protocol;
a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled to said CATV modem, said service wiring modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and said first and second wired digital data protocols; and
a single enclosure containing said coaxial cable connector, said first and second high pass filters, said CATV modem, said service wiring modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter.
20. The module according to claim 19 , wherein said enclosure is structured to be mechanically externally attachable to the CATV outlet.
21. The module according to claim 19 , wherein the module is further mechanically detachable from the CATV outlet.
22. The module according to claim 19 , wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.
23. The module according to claim 19 , wherein said module is further connectable to a TV set, and said module further comprises:
a low pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the CATV signal; and
a second coaxial cable connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the TV set, for coupling the CATV signal to the TV set.
24. The module according to claim 19 , wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises:
a data connector connectable to the 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.
25. The module according to claim 24 , wherein said standard data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.
26. The module according to claim 19 , 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.
27. The module according to claim 19 , wherein said CATV modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical CATV modems coupled to other CATV outlets connected to said CATV coaxial cable.
28. The module according to claim 19 , 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 radio frequency wireless digital data signal, and the radio frequency wireless digital data signal conforms to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.
29. The module according to claim 19 , wherein the service coaxial cable is a component of one of a telephone service, a CATV service, and a cable television service, the service signal is correspondingly one of a telephone signal, a CATV signal, and a cable television signal.
30. A method of conducting data communication over a network of CATV lines in a building, comprising:
(a) attaching, to each of a plurality of standard CATV outlets mounted on interior walls of first and second rooms of the building, a unit containing:
(i) a CATV modem configured for bidirectional digital data communication to and from the CATV lines in accordance with a first communications protocol;
(ii) an RF modem configured for bidirectional wireless digital data communication to and from transceivers in accordance with a second communications protocol; and
(iii) a protocol adapter coupling the CATV modem and the RF modem,
said step of attaching causing the CATV modem to be electrically coupled to the CATV lines of the building;
(b) placing transceivers at select locations in rooms of the building in which the units are attached to outlets;
(c) wirelessly transmitting digital data from a transceiver in the first room;
(d) in response to wireless transmission in step (c), automatically causing the protocol adapter of a unit in the first room to convert the digital data from the first communications protocol to the second communications protocol and applying the converted data to the CATV modem of the same unit;
(e) in response to step (d), automatically transmitting the converted data through the CATV lines of the building to at least one of the units in the second room of the building;
(f) in response to step (e), automatically causing the protocol adapter of the unit in the second room to reconvert the digital data from the second communications protocol to the first communications protocol and to apply the reconverted data to the RF modem of the unit in the second room; and
(g) in response to step (f), automatically causing the RF modem of the unit in the second room to transmit the reconverted data to a transceiver in the second room.
31. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical CATV distribution infrastructure at least in part in a building, the infrastructure having a CATV coaxial cable carrying a CATV signal and a wall-mounted CATV outlet connected to the CATV coaxial cable, the CATV coaxial cable concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a CATV signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the CATV signal is carried over a low frequency band, said module comprising:
a coaxial cable connector for connecting to the CATV coaxial cable;
a high pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the wired digital data signal;
a CATV modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the CATV coaxial cable using a wired digital data protocol;
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 CATV modem 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 coaxial cable connector, said high pass filter, said CATV modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter,
and wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to communicate with an outdoor broadband service.
32. The module according to claim 31 , wherein the outdoor broadband service is based on one of: satellite, LMDS and WLL service.
33. The module according to claim 31 , wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard.
34. The module according to claim 31 , wherein said module is further connectable to a TV set, and said module further comprises:
a low pass filter coupled to said coaxial cable connector for passing only the CATV signal; and
a second coaxial cable connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the TV set, for coupling the CATV signal to the TV set.
35. The module according to claim 31 , wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module 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.
36. The module according to claim 35 , wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.
37. The module according to claim 35 , wherein said CATV modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical CATV modems coupled to other CATV outlets connected to the CATV coaxial cable.
38. The module according to claim 35 , 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.