Passive distributed filter system and method

A distributed filter apparatus for connecting a POTS communication device to a telephone connection having a POTS channel and a second communications channel and for decoupling the POTS channel, comprising:

• a housing with first and second ports, said first port adapted for connection to said telephone connection and said second port adapted for connection to said POTS communication device;
• a POTS filter within said housing and connected to said second port, said POTS filter configured to decouple said POTS channel from a combined signal having said POTS channel and said second communications channel on said telephone connection;
• and
• an automatic control mechanism within said housing and connecting said POTS filter and said first port, said automatic control mechanism configured to isolate said POTS filter from said telephone connection when said POTS communications device is on-hook and configured to interface said POTS filter with said telephone connection when said POTS communications device is off-hook.

A passive distributed filter system for enabling decoupling of first and second communications channels on a telephone connection, comprising:

• a plurality of first communications devices;
• a plurality of distributed filters corresponding respectively with and connecting each of said first communications devices to said telephone connection, each said distributed filter comprising an automatic control mechanism and a first channel filter, said automatic control mechanism configured to isolate said first channel filter when a respective first communications device is inactive, said distributed filter configured to interface communications on a first channel on said telephone connection with said respective first communications device when said first communications device is active;
• and
• a second communications device connected to said telephone connection and communicating signals over a second channel.

A passive distributed POTS filter system for enabling decoupling of a POTS channel and a second communications channel on a telephone connection, comprising:

• a plurality of POTS communications devices;
• a plurality of distributed POTS filters corresponding respectively with and connecting each of said POTS communications devices to said telephone connection, each said distributed POTS filter comprising an automatic control mechanism and a POTS filter, said automatic control mechanism configured to isolate said POTS filter when a respective POTS communications device is on-hook, said distributed POTS filter configured to permit POTS communications over a POTS channel on said telephone connection with said respective POTS communications device when said POTS communications device is off-hook;
• and
• a second communications device connected to said telephone connection and communicating signals over a second channel, said POTS and second channels being communicated over said telephone connection concurrently.

A method for implementing a passive distributed filter system for enabling decoupling of first and second communications channels on a telephone connection at a plurality of sites, comprising the steps of:

• interfacing a plurality of first channel communications devices with said telephone connection using a distributed filter, said first channel communications devices configured to communicate over said telephone connection via a first channel, said distributed filter comprising an automatic control mechanism and a first channel filter, said automatic control mechanism configured to isolate said first channel filter when a respective first communications device is inactive, said distributed filter configured to interface communications on a first channel on said telephone connection with said respective first communications device when said first communications device is active;
• and
• interfacing a second channel communications device to said telephone connection, said second channel communications device configured to communicate over said telephone connection via a second channel;
• and
• permitting noninterfering simultaneous communications via said first and second channels over said telephone connection.