Wall-mountable media converter
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a media converter comprises a power interface that extracts power from a communication medium coupled to the media converter for powering the media converter. In another embodiment, a connector comprises a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the connector and a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the connector. The connector further comprises a mounting interface to physically attach the connector to a structure. The connector communicatively couples the first communication medium and the second communication medium. The connector processes management data communicated over at least one of the first communication medium and the second communication medium.
1. A media converter comprising:
a first media attachment interface to physically attach a first communication medium to the media converter;
a second media attachment interface to physically attach a second communication medium to the media converter;
a media conversion module, communicatively coupled to the first media attachment interface and to the second media attachment interface, that converts first signals received from the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface for transmission on the second communication medium via the second media attachment interface;
a mounting interface to physically attach the media converter to a structure;
a power media attachment interface to physically attach a third communication medium to the media converter, wherein power is injected onto the third communication medium and wherein the third communication medium is different from the first communication medium and the second communication medium; and
a power interface, coupled to the power media attachment interface, that extracts power from the third communication medium and supplies power to the media converter;
wherein the media converter is configured so that the mounting interface, the power media attachment interface, the first media attachment interface, and the second media attachment interface are directly attached to the structure to which the media converter is physically attached.
2. The media converter of claim 1 , wherein the first communication medium comprises a twisted-pair copper wiring.
3. The media converter of claim 2 , wherein the second communication medium comprises an optical fiber.
4. The media converter of claim 1 , wherein the first media attachment interface comprises a jack, wherein the first communication medium is physically attached to the media converter by inserting a plug coupled to the first communication medium into the jack.
5. The media converter of claim 1 , wherein the media conversion module comprises a media conversion integrated circuit.
6. The media converter of claim 1 , wherein the mounting interface comprises an interface to mount the media converter to a wall.
7. The media converter of claim 1 , wherein the mounting interface comprises at least one of a face plate and a surface-mount wall box.
8. The media converter of claim 1 further comprising a switch that communicatively couples the first communication medium to the third communication medium in the event that the media conversion module is unable to communicate over the second communication medium.
9. The media converter of claim 1 , wherein the media conversion module further converts second signals received from the second communication medium via the second physical media attachment interface for transmission on the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface.
10. The media converter of claim 9 , wherein the first and second signals comprise ETHERNET signals.
11. A method of media conversion comprising:
physically attaching a first communication medium to a first media attachment interface of a media converter;
physically attaching a second communication medium to a second media attachment interface of the media converter;
converting first signals received from the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface for transmission on the second communication medium via the second media attachment interface;
physically attaching a mounting interface of the media converter to a structure;
physically attaching a third communication medium to a power media attachment interface of the media converter, wherein power is injected onto the third communication medium and wherein the third communication medium is different from the first communication medium and the second communication medium; and
extracting power from the third communication medium and supplying power to the media converter;
wherein the media converter is configured so that the mounting interface, the power media attachment interface, the first media attachment interface, and the second media attachment interface are directly attached to the structure to which the media converter is physically attached.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first communication medium comprises a twisted-pair copper wiring, and wherein the second communication medium comprises an optical fiber.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mounting interface comprises an interface to mount the media converter to a wall.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the mounting interface comprises at least one of a face plate and a surface-mount wall box.
15. The method of claim 11 further comprising communicatively coupling the first communication medium to the third communication medium in the event that it is not possible to communicate over the second communication medium.
16. The method of claim 11 further comprising converting second signals received from the second communication medium via the second physical media attachment interface for transmission on the first communication medium via the first media attachment interface.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first and second signals comprise ETHERNET signals.
18. A media converter comprising:
means for physically attaching a first communication medium to a media converter;
means for physically attaching a second communication medium to the media converter;
means for converting first signals received from the first communication medium for transmission on the second communication medium;
means for physically attaching the media converter to a structure;
means for physically attaching a third communication medium to the media converter, wherein power is injected onto the third communication medium and wherein the third communication medium is different from the first communication medium and the second communication medium; and
means for extracting power from the third communication medium and supplying power to the media converter;
wherein the media converter is configured so that the means for physically attaching the media converter to the structure, means for physically attaching a third communication medium to the media converter, the means for physically attaching the first communication medium to the media converter, and means for physically attaching the second communication medium to the media converter are directly attached to the structure to which the media converter is physically attached.
19. The media converter of claim 18 further comprising means for communicatively coupling the first communication medium to the third communication medium in the event that it is not possible to communicate over the second communication medium.
20. The media converter of claim 18 further comprising means for converting second signals received from the second communication medium for transmission on the first communication medium.