High-bandwidth home network over phone line
An Ethernet networking system is disclosed. The system includes a first network device having an interface to receive Ethernet data from a first Ethernet source. An Ethernet media converter couples the network device to telephone wires. The Ethernet media converter includes a first Ethernet transceiver PHY integrated circuit (IC) having a first system-side interface for coupling to a first transmission media including multiple pairs of wires and a first line-side interface. The Ethernet media converter further includes a second Ethernet transceiver PHY IC having a second line-side interface connected to the first line-side interface, and a second system-side interface for coupling to the telephone wires.
1. An Ethernet networking system comprising:
a first network device having an interface to receive Ethernet data from a first Ethernet source;
an Ethernet media converter for coupling the network device to telephone wires, the Ethernet media converter comprising:
a first Ethernet transceiver PHY integrated circuit (IC) having a first system-side interface for coupling to a first transmission media including multiple pairs of wires and a first line-side interface, and
a second Ethernet transceiver PHY IC having a second line-side interface connected to the first line-side interface, and a second system-side interface for coupling to the telephone wires.
2. The Ethernet networking system of claim 1 , wherein the multiple pairs of wires comprise four pairs of wires, and the telephone wires comprise a single pair of telephone wires.
3. The Ethernet networking system of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet media converter comprises a detachable adapter cable.
4. The Ethernet networking system of claim 1 , wherein the Ethernet media converter is disposed in the first network device.
5. The Ethernet networking system of claim 1 , wherein a data rate of data transferred between the network device and the telephone wires is configurable based upon the number of telephone wires.
6. The Ethernet networking system of claim 5 , wherein the data rate is configured based on identifying the number of telephone wires during an autonegotiation process.
7. The Ethernet networking system of claim 1 , wherein the first network device comprises a home gateway.
8. An Ethernet media converter for coupling a network device to telephone wires, the Ethernet media converter comprising:
a first Ethernet transceiver PHY integrated circuit (IC) having a first system-side interface for coupling to a first transmission media including multiple pairs of wires and a first line-side interface, and
a second Ethernet transceiver PHY IC having a second line-side interface connected to the first line-side interface, and a second system-side interface for coupling to telephone wires.
9. The Ethernet media converter of claim 8 , wherein the multiple pairs of wires comprise four pairs of wires, and the telephone wires comprise a single pair of telephone wires.
10. The Ethernet media converter of claim 8 , realized as a detachable adapter cable.
11. The Ethernet media converter of claim 8 , wherein a data rate of data transferred between the first PHY and the second PHY is configurable based upon the number of telephone wires.
12. The Ethernet media converter of claim 8 , wherein the data rate is configured based on identifying the number of telephone wires during an autonegotiation process.