US 2006/0233354 A1 · Method and system for providing DC power on local telephone Lines

Abstract

A system for providing DC power on local telephone lines, such as telephone lines in a building or office, for powering devices and circuitry associated with communications over those telephone lines, as well as other functions. Desired voltage and power levels are supplied over local telephone lines by separating the DC power component from the central office or private branch exchange with a DC blocking filter while passing all AC telephony signals. A distinct DC power is then imposed over the telephone line for powering both the telephony service as well as other loads. Conventional telephone off-hook detection is simulated for compatibility with the central office or private branch exchange. The functions required may be integrated, partially or fully within a telephone outlet.

Claims50

Dependent claims

A device for coupling a telephone signal to an analog telephone set, for use with a single telephone wire pair connected for concurrently carrying a telephone signal and a power signal, said device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the telephone wire pair;
a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone set;
a telephone coupler coupled between said wiring connector and said telephone connector for powering said analog telephone set by the power signal, for passing the telephone signal and for limiting the DC power supplied to the analog telephone set to a level suitable for proper telephone operation;
at least one power consuming component separate from the telephone set;
a load coupler coupled between said at least one power consuming component and said wiring connector for powering said at least one power consuming component by the power signal, independently of the hook state of the connected analog telephone set;
and
a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said telephone connector, said telephone coupler, said load coupler and said at least one power consuming component.

4 more elements

A network interface device for coupling an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone signal frequency band to an analog telephone set and for coupling a digital data signal to a data unit, for use with a telephone wire pair carrying a DC power signal, said device comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the telephone wire pair for receiving the DC power signal;
a first port;
a telephone port connectable for coupling an analog telephone signal to the analog telephone set;
a low pass filter coupled between said first port and said telephone port for substantially passing only analog telephone signals in an analog telephone signal frequency band and for substantially stopping other signals;
a digital data interface for connection to a data unit;
a telephone modem coupled to said digital data interface and operative to conduct bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the data signal over a telephone wire pair in a digital data frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone frequency band;
a high pass filter coupled between said first port and said telephone modem for substantially passing only signals in the digital data frequency band and substantially stopping all other signals;
and
a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said telephone port, said first port, said low and high pass filters, said digital data interface and said telephone modem, wherein said device is powered only by the DC power signal, said device is mountable onto a wall of a residential building, and said device further comprises a current limiter for limiting the DC power component of the analog telephone signal to a level suitable for proper analog operation.

6 more elements

An outlet for coupling a telephone signal to an analog telephone set and bi-directional serial digital data to a data unit, for use with a single telephone wire pair concurrently carrying bi-directional serial digital data in a digital data frequency band and a power signal, said outlet comprising:

a wiring connector connectable to the telephone wire pair;
an analog telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone set;
a telephone coupler coupled between said wiring connector and said analog telephone connector for powering said analog telephone set by the power signal and for limiting DC power supplied to the analog telephone set to a level suitable for proper telephone operation;
a data connector connectable to the data unit for coupling the bi-directional serial digital data to the data unit;
a telephone modem coupled to said data connector for conducting the bi-directional serial digital data over the single telephone wire pair;
a high pass filter coupled between said telephone modem and said wiring connector for substantially passing only signals in the digital data frequency band;
a load coupler coupled between said telephone modem and said wiring connector for supplying power to said telephone modem from the power signal, independently of the hook state of the connected analog telephone set;
and
a single enclosure housing said wiring connector, said analog telephone connector, said data connector, said telephone modem, said high pass filter and said load coupler, wherein said outlet is mountable into a wall opening or an outlet cavity.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for providing DC power on local telephone Lines

Life of this patent

Method and system for providing DC power on local telephone Lines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims50