Addressable outlet, and a network using the same
View Patent ↗An addressable outlet for use as part of local area network based on wiring installed in a building, such as telephone, electrical, cable television, dedicated wiring, and the like. The use of such wiring for data communications networks in addition to the wiring's primary usage creates a need for ways of determining the condition of the network and monitoring this information remotely. Network condition includes such factors as continuity of wiring, connector status, connected devices, topology, signal delays, latencies, and routing patterns. Providing basic processing and addressing capabilities within the outlet permits messaging to and from specific individual outlets, thereby allowing inquiries and reports of the condition of the immediate environment of each outlet. In addition, outlets can be configured with sensors to report on voltage, temperature, and other measurable quantities.
1. A device for coupling data units to the Internet over a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable being connected for carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from a CATV video frequency band, said device comprising:
a coaxial connector for connecting to the coaxial cable;
a coaxial cable modem for transmitting and receiving digital data over the coaxial cable;
a first filter coupled between said coaxial connector and said coaxial cable modem for substantially passing only signals in the digital data frequency band;
a first data port for coupling to a first data unit;
a first transceiver coupled to said first data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the first data unit;
a second data port for coupling to a second data unit;
a second transceiver coupled to said second data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the second data unit;
a multiport interconnection circuit consisting of one of: a switch; a router; and a gateway, coupled to pass digital data between said coaxial cable modem and said first and second transceivers;
a processor coupled to control and monitor said first and second transceivers and said coaxial cable modem;
a first address unit coupled to said processor for storing a first address that uniquely identifies said device in a digital data network; and
a single enclosure housing said coaxial connector, said coaxial cable modem, said first filter, said first and second data ports, said first and second transceivers, said multiport interconnection circuit, said processor and said first address unit.
2. The device according to claim 1 , further operative for coupling a CATV video signal to a CATV unit, the coaxial cable being connected for concurrently carrying the CATV video signal in the CATV video frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, said device further comprising:
a coaxial jack for connecting to the CATV unit to conduct the CATV video signal to the CATV unit; and
a second filter coupled between said coaxial connector and said coaxial jack for substantially passing only signals in the CATV video frequency band between the coaxial cable and the CATV unit.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein: the coaxial cable is connected to a CATV service provider; communication over the coaxial cable is based on cable modem standards; and said device is further operative as a cable modem or a set-top-box.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first address is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address.
5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second addresses is associated with a respective distinct functionality of said device.
7. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: a voltage sensor, a continuity detector, a communication activity detector; and a connected device status detector, and wherein said sensor is coupled to said processor.
8. The device according to claim 7 , further operative to send messages to a remote data unit over the coaxial cable, and wherein the messages include status information associated with said sensor.
9. The device according to claim 1 , further connectable to the Internet via the coaxial cable, and wherein said device is remotely manageable by a remote data unit communicating with said device through the Internet.
10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication with the first data unit is a Local Area Network (LAN) communication over a wired medium and wherein said first data port is a first data connector.
11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the communication with the first data unit is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.
12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3, 10BaseT, or 100BaseT, and said first data connector is a RJ-45 jack.
13. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the communication with each of the first and second data units is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.
14. 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 CATV outlet;
wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard CATV wall outlet;
a shape allowing direct mounting in a CATV outlet receptacle or opening; and
a form to substitute for a standard CATV outlet.
15. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is pluggable into and attachable to a CATV outlet.
16. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on a wall.
17. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is operative to identify and compose messages associated with the first address over a LAN coupled to said device.
18. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is operative to identify and compose messages associated with the first address over a Wide Area Network (WAN) coupled to said device.
19. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a second address unit storing a second address, and wherein the first address is associated with said first data port and the second address is associated with said second data port.
20. The device according to claim 1 , further operative for coupling a CATV video signal to a CATV unit, and wherein said device further comprises a coaxial jack coupled to said coaxial connector for conducting the CATV video signal to and from the CATV unit.
21. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the coaxial cable is at least in part in walls, and said coaxial cable modem is operative to communicate with another modem of the same type in the building.
22. A wall-mounted device for coupling a data unit to the Internet over a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable being connected for carrying a digital data signal in a digital data frequency band that is distinct from a CATV video frequency band, said device comprising:
a coaxial connector for connecting to the coaxial cable;
a coaxial cable modem for transmitting and receiving digital data over the coaxial cable;
a first filter coupled between said coaxial connector and said coaxial cable modem for substantially passing only signals in the digital data frequency band;
a first data port for coupling to a first data unit;
a first transceiver coupled between said coaxial cable modem and said first data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the first data unit;
a processor coupled to control and monitor said first transceiver and said coaxial cable modem;
a first address unit coupled to said processor for storing a first address that uniquely identifies said device in a digital data network; and
a single enclosure housing said coaxial connector, said coaxial cable modem, said first filter, said first data port, said first transceiver, said processor and said first address unit,
wherein said single enclosure is mountable onto a CATV outlet opening.
23. The device according to claim 22 , further operative for coupling a CATV video signal to a CATV unit, the coaxial cable being connected for concurrently carrying the CATV video signal in the CATV video frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, said device further comprising:
a coaxial jack for connecting to the CATV unit to conduct the CATV video signal to the CATV unit; and
a second filter coupled between said coaxial connector and said coaxial jack for substantially passing only signals in the CATV video frequency band between the coaxial cable and the CATV unit.
24. The device according to claim 22 , further comprising:
a second data port for coupling to a second data unit;
a second transceiver coupled to said second data port for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the second data unit; and
a multiport interconnection circuit consisting of one of: a switch; a router; and a gateway, coupled to pass digital data between said coaxial cable modem and said first and second transceivers.
25. The device according to claim 24 , wherein the communication with each of the first and second data units is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.
26. The device according to claim 24 , further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address, and wherein the first address is associated with said first data port and the second address is associated with said second data port.
27. The device according to claim 22 , wherein: the coaxial cable is connected to a CATV service provider; communication over the coaxial cable is based on a CATV standard; and the device is further operative as a cable modem or a set-top-box.
28. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the first address is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address.
29. The device according to claim 22 , further comprising a second address unit for storing a second address.
30. The device according to claim 29 , wherein each of the first and second addresses is associated with a respective distinct functionality of said device.
31. The device according to claim 22 , further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: a voltage sensor, a continuity detector, a communication activity detector; and a connected device status detector, and wherein said sensor is coupled to said processor.
32. The device according to claim 31 , further operative to send messages to a remote data unit over the coaxial cable, and wherein the messages include status information associated with said sensor.
33. The device according to claim 22 , further connectable to the Internet via the coaxial cable, and wherein said device is remotely manageable by a remote data unit connected to said device through the Internet.
34. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the communication with the first data unit is a Local Area Network (LAN) communication over a wired medium, and wherein said first data port is a first data connector.
35. The device according to claim 34 , wherein the communication with the first data unit is point-to-point bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication.
36. The device according to claim 35 , wherein the communication with the first data unit is based on IEEE802.3, 10BaseT, or 100BaseT, and said first data connector is a RJ-45 jack.
37. The device according to claim 22 , wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:
a form substantially similar to that of a standard CATV outlet;
wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard CATV wall outlet;
a shape allowing direct mounting in a CATV outlet receptacle or opening; and
a form to substitute for a standard CATV outlet.
38. The device according to claim 22 , wherein said device is pluggable into and attachable to a CATV outlet.
39. The device according to claim 22 , wherein said single enclosure is structured to attach to a mating fixture secured on a wall.
40. The device according to claim 22 , wherein said device is operative to identify and compose messages associated with the first address over a LAN coupled to said device.
41. The device according to claim 22 , wherein said device is operative to identify and compose messages associated with the first address over a Wide Area Network (WAN) coupled to said device.
42. The device according to claim 22 , further operative for coupling a CATV video signal to a CATV unit, wherein said device further comprises a coaxial jack coupled to said coaxial connector for coupling a CATV video signal to the CATV unit.
43. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the coaxial cable is at least in part in walls, and said coaxial cable modem is operative to communicate with another modem of the same type in the building.