Telephone communication system and method over local area network wiring
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for enabling a local area network wiring structure to simultaneously carry digital data and analog telephone signals on the same transmission medium. It is particularly applicable to a network in star topology, in which remote data units (e.g. personal computers) are each connected to a hub through a cable comprising at least two pairs of conductors, providing a data communication path in each direction. Modules at each end of the cable provide a phantom path for telephony (voice band) signals between a telephone near the data set and a PBX, through both conductor pairs in a phantom circuit arrangement. All such communication paths function simultaneously and without mutual interference. The modules comprise simple and inexpensive passive circuit components.
1. A device for use with a local area network (LAN) cable in a building having at least first and second twisted wire pairs, the LAN cable being connected to simultaneously carry first and second signals, said device comprising:
a first connector for connecting to the LAN cable;
a second connector coupled to said first connector for passing the first signal;
a third connector coupled to said first connector for passing the second signal; and
a single enclosure housing said first, second and third connectors,
wherein the second signal is carried over a phantom channel formed between the first and second twisted wire pairs of the LAN cable.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the first signal between said first and second connectors.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the second signal between said third and first connectors.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first signal is a digital data signal and said first connector is a digital data connector.
5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the first signal is a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the first signal, said first connector and said first cable are Ethernet-based substantially based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 1000BaseTX standards, and wherein said first connector is an RJ-45 type connector.
7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein said second connector is RJ-45 type connector connectable for communication of Ethernet-based substantially based IEEE802.3 10BaseT, 100BaseTX or 1000BaseT standards with a digital unit.
8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said connectors are connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
9. The device according to claim 8 , further comprising at least two signal transformers connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said connectors are connected for providing a DC path for passing DC signals between said first and third connectors.
11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the second signal is an analog telephone (POTS) signal and wherein said connectors are connected for providing an analog telephone (POTS) path between said first and third connectors.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein said third connector is an analog telephone connector.
13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein said third connector is an RJ-11 type connector.
14. The device according to claim 10 , further comprising two center tap transformers coupled between said first and third connectors, and wherein said third connector is connected to said center taps of said transformers.
15. The device according to claim 1 , an combination with an outlet in which at least a part of said device is housed.
16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is pluggable into, or attachable to, an outlet.
17. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said single enclosure is wall mountable, or mountable into an outlet opening, or structured to at least in part replace an existing outlet.
18. The device according to claim 1 , 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.
19. A device for use with a cable at least in part in walls of a building, the cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs and being connectable in an outlet cavity or outlet opening and carrying at least first and second signals, said device comprising:
a first connector for connecting to the cable;
a second connector coupled to said first connector for passing the first signal;
a third connector coupled to said first connector for passing the second signal; and
a single enclosure housing said first, second and third connectors,
wherein the second signal is carried over a phantom channel formed between the first and second twisted wire pairs of said cable, and said device is pluggable into or attachable to an outlet, or mountable into an outlet opening or cavity.
20. The device according to claim 19 , wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the first signal between said first and second connectors.
21. The device according to claim 19 , wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the second signal between said third and first connectors.
22. The device according to claim 19 , wherein the first signal is a digital data signal, said first connector is a digital data connector, and the cable is a Local Area Network (LAN).
23. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the first signal is a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal.
24. The device according to claim 23 , wherein the first signal, said first connector and the cable are Ethernet-based substantially based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseTX standards, and wherein said first connector is an RJ-45 type connector.
25. The device according to claim 23 , wherein said second connector is an RJ-45 type connector connectable for communication of Ethernet-based substantially based IEEE802.3 10BaseT, 100BaseTX or 1000BaseT standards with a digital unit.
26. The device according to claim 19 , wherein said connectors are connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
27. The device according to claim 26 , further comprising at least two signal transformers connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
28. The device according to claim 19 , wherein said connectors are connected for providing a DC path for passing DC signals between said first and second connectors.
29. The device according to claim 28 , wherein the second signal is an analog telephone (POTS) signal and wherein said connectors are connected for providing an analog telephone (POTS) path between said first and third connectors.
30. The device according to claim 29 , wherein said third connector is an analog telephone connector.
31. The device according to claim 30 , wherein said third connector is an RJ-11 type connector.
32. The device according to claim 28 , further comprising two center tap transformers coupled between said first and third connectors, and wherein said third connector is connected to said center taps of said transformers.
33. The device according to claim 19 , in combination with an outlet in which at least a part of said device is housed.
34. The device according to claim 19 , wherein said single enclosure is wall mountable or structured to at least in part replace an existing outlet.
35. The device according to claim 19 , 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.
36. An apparatus for coupling a first device and a second device to a local area network cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs, the cable being connected for simultaneously carrying first and second signals, the apparatus comprising:
a first connector connectable to the local area network cable;
a second connector connectable to the second device for coupling the second signal to the second device; and
a third connector connectable to the first device for coupling the first signal to the first device,
wherein each of the first and second twisted pairs is operative to carry the second signal, and the at least two twisted pairs cooperatively form a phantom channel operative to carry the first signal.
37. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein the second device is a digital data device, the second signal is a digital data signal, and said second connector is a digital data connector.
38. The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the second signal is a local area network signal, and said second connector is a local area network connector.
39. The apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein said first and second connectors are RJ-45 type, and the digital data signal is local area network packet-based and is based on 10/10BaseT according to IEEE802.3 protocol.
40. The apparatus according to claim 36 , further comprising:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said first signal transformer being connected between said first connector and said second connector, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said first signal transformer being operative to pass the second signal; and
a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said second signal transformer being connected between said first connector and said second connector, said primary winding of said second signal transformer having a center-tap connection, and said second signal transformer being operative to pass the second signal;
wherein said center tap connections of said first and second signal transformers are connected to said third connector.
41. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein said apparatus has the external dimensions of an outlet.
42. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein said apparatus is configured as a plug-in to an outlet.
43. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein said apparatus is further attachable to a surface of a building.
44. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein said apparatus is further enclosed in a single enclosure 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.
45. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein the first signal is an information signal.
46. The apparatus according to claim 45 , wherein the first signal is an analog signal, and said third connector is an analog connector.
47. The apparatus according to claim 45 wherein the information signal is bi-directionally carried between the first connector and the third connector.
48. The apparatus according to claim 45 , wherein the information signal is an analog voice signal, and said third connector is an analog voice connector.
49. The apparatus according to claim 48 , wherein the analog voice signal is a telephone signal and the analog voice connector is a telephone connector.
50. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein said phantom channel is connected to concurrently carry a DC power signal.
51. The apparatus according to claim 36 , wherein the local area network cable comprises N twisted wire pairs cooperatively forming N−1 phantom channels, where N is equal or greater than 3.
52. A system in a building for simultaneously carrying a first signal between first and second devices and a second signal between third and fourth devices, said system comprising:
a cable at least in part in a wall of the building and accessed via outlets, said cable having first and second ends and comprising at least two twisted wire pairs connected for carrying a first signal, and said at least two twisted wire pairs cooperatively forming a phantom channel simultaneously operative to carry the second signal;
a first apparatus connected to said first end of said cable, said first apparatus being connectable to the first device for coupling the first signal to the first device, and being further connectable to the third device for coupling the second signal to the third device; and
a second apparatus connected to said second end of said cable, said second apparatus being connectable to the second device for coupling the first signal to the second device, and being further connectable to the fourth device for coupling the second signal to the fourth device.
53. The system according to claim 52 , wherein the first signal is a digital data signal and the first and second devices are digital data units.
54. The system according to claim 53 , wherein the first signal is a packet-based, full-duplex local area network signal.
55. The system according to claim 52 , wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses comprises:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said first signal transformer being connected between said cable and one of the first and second devices, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said first signal transformer being operative to pass the first signal; and
a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said second signal transformer being connected between said cable and the other one of the first or second devices, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said second signal transformer being operative to pass the first signal;
wherein said center tap connection of each of said first and second signal transformers is coupled to a respective one of the third or fourth device.
56. The system according to claim 52 , wherein said cable is a local area network cable.
57. The system according to claim 56 , wherein said first and second apparatuses are connected to the local area network cable via RJ-45 type connectors, and the first signal is a local area network packet-based digital data signal based on 10/100BaseT according to IEEE802.3 protocol.
58. The system according to claim 52 , wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses has the external dimensions of an outlet.
59. The system according to claim 52 , wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses is configured as a plug-in to an outlet.
60. The system according to claim 52 , wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses is further attachable to a surface of the building.
61. The system according to claim 52 , wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses is enclosed in a single enclosure, 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.
62. The system according to claim 52 , wherein the second signal is an information signal.
63. The system according to claim 62 , wherein the information signal is an analog signal.
64. The system according to claim 62 , wherein the information signal is an analog voice signal.
65. The system according to claim 64 , wherein the analog voice signal is a telephone signal and at least one of said third and fourth devices is an analog telephone device.
66. The system according to claim 62 , wherein the information signal is carried bi-directionally between the third and fourth devices.
67. The system according to claim 52 , wherein a DC power signal is concurrently carried over said phantom channel.
68. The system according to claim 52 , wherein said cable comprises N wire pairs cooperatively forming N−1 phantom channels, where N is equal or greater than 3.
69. The system according to claim 52 , wherein said first apparatus and the first device are housed in a single enclosure.