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 wiring infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure including wiring at least in part in walls of the building and connected to one or more wall-mounted outlets, the wiring including at least one wire pair connected for concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a power signal, said module comprising:
a first connector for connecting to one of the wall-mounted outlets for connection to the wiring;
a transceiver coupled to said first connector and operative for full-duplex packet-based serial digital data communication of the wired digital data signal with a single mating transceiver of the same type as said transceiver over the wiring 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 including one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said 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 first connector, said transceiver, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter,
wherein said transceiver and said radio frequency modem are coupled to said first connector to be powered from the power signal carried over the wiring.
2. The module according to claim 1 , wherein said module is further mechanically removably attachable to the one of the wall-mounted outlets.
3. The module according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on the IEEE802.11 standard.
4. The module according to claim 1 , wherein said module is further connectable to a digital data unit and further comprises a second connector coupled to said packet-based digital protocol adapter for coupling the wired digital data signal to the digital data unit.
5. The module according to claim 1 , wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit and further comprises: a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and a second transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based full-duplex packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit and for coupling the wired digital data to the wired data unit.
6. The module according to claim 5 , wherein said data connector and said second 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 transceiver is further operative for conducting standard-based packet-based serial digital data communication with two or more identical transceivers coupled to the wiring and in the same building by respective wall-mounted outlets.
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 of the wireless digital data signal with two or more further radio frequency modems, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.
10. An outlet for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing wiring infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure including wiring at least in part in walls of the building and connected to one or more wall-mounted outlets, the wiring including at least one wire pair connected for concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a power signal, the outlet comprising:
a first connector for connecting to the wiring;
a transceiver coupled to said first connector and operative for full-duplex packet-based serial digital data communication of the wired digital data signal with a single mating transceiver of the same type as said transceiver over the wiring 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 including one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said 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 connector, said transceiver, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter,
wherein said enclosure is mountable to an outlet cavity or to an outlet opening, and
wherein said transceiver and said radio frequency modem are coupled to said first connector to be powered from the power signal carried over the wiring.
11. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:
a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;
wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet;
a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and
a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
12. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on the IEEE802.11 standard.
13. The outlet according to claim 10 further connectable to a digital data unit, wherein said outlet further comprises a second connector coupled to said packet-based digital protocol adapter for coupling the wired digital data signal to the digital data unit.
14. The outlet according to claim 10 , wherein said outlet is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said outlet further comprises: a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and a second transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based full-duplex packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit and for coupling the wired digital data signal to 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 transceiver is further operative for conducting standard-based full-duplex packet-based digital data communication with two or more further transceivers coupled to respective wall-mounted outlets connected to the wiring in the building.
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 of the wireless digital data signal with two or more further radio frequency modems, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.
19. A communications system network in a building, comprising:
a plurality of wall-mounted standard outlets connected for carrying digital data to different rooms of the building, said outlets being wired together by building wiring connected for carrying a digital data signal and a power signal;
a plurality of wireless receivers inside the building; and
a plurality of modules, each attached externally to, and supported by, a respective one of said outlets, each of said modules containing:
(i) a first transceiver configured for bi-directional digital data communication to and from the wiring leading from the respective outlet in accordance with a first communications protocol;
(ii) an RF modem configured for bi-directional wireless digital data communication to and from at least one of the wireless receivers in accordance with a second communications protocol; and
(iii) a protocol adapter coupling said first transceiver with said RF modem.
20. The network according to claim 19 , wherein the wireless communication is based on IEEE802.11 standard.
21. The network according to claim 19 , wherein at least one of said modules is further connectable to a wired data unit and further comprises: a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit.
22. The network according to claim 21 , wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface.
23. The network according to claim 19 , wherein said network is part of one of: a WLL network, a LMDS network and a satellite network.
24. The network according to claim 19 , wherein said first transceiver is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more further transceivers coupled to respective outlets connected to the building wiring.
25. The network according to claim 19 , wherein said RF modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based radio frequency digital data communication with two or more further RF modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal conforms to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.