Spectrum monitoring for PSTN subscribers

Apparatus for allowing a subscriber to communicate via an external telecommunications network with other nodes on the external telecommunications network, comprising:

• a. a base unit comprising:
• first circuitry connected to the external telecommunications network and adapted to render at least one downstream signal from said external network compatible with circuitry in said base unit, and to render at least one upstream signal compatible with the external network;
• second circuitry coupled to said first circuitry and to transceiver circuitry, the second circuitry adapted to multiplex at least two signals from the first circuitry into a downstream signal, and to demultiplex at least one upstream signal from the transceiver circuitry;
• said transceiver circuitry adapted to modulate at least one downstream signal onto at least one RF signal and thereby transmit it over at least one RF link, and to receive at least one upstream signal over at least one RF link, demodulate said upstream signal, and couple said upstream signal to other circuits in the base unit;
• and
• monitoring circuitry further comprising:
• processing circuitry coupled to the receiver circuitry and adapted to control said receiver circuitry and process signals from said receiver circuitry;
• and
• storage circuitry coupled to said processing circuitry and adapted to store information corresponding to signals in bands of interest received by said receiver;
• b. at least one wireless unit comprising:
• wireless unit transceiver circuitry adapted to receive at least one downstream RF signal from the base unit and demodulate said downstream RF signal, and to modulate at least one upstream signal from other circuitry in said wireless unit onto at least one RF signal in order to transmit the upstream signal to the base unit;
• demultiplexing circuitry for demultiplexing downstream signals;
• and
• interface circuitry coupled to said wireless unit transceiver circuitry adapted to render downstream signals suitable for imparting information usable to the subscriber, and upstream signals compatible with the wireless unit transceiver circuitry.

A system for communicating over a telecommunications network, comprising:

• a. a plurality of base units, each comprising:
• first circuitry connected to the telecommunications network and adapted to render at least one downstream signal from said network compatible with circuitry in said base units, and to render at least one upstream signal compatible with said network;
• transceiver circuitry adapted to modulate at least one downstream signal onto at least one RF signal and thereby transmit it over at least one RF link, and to receive at least one upstream signal over at least one RF link, demodulate said upstream signal, and couple said upstream signal to other circuits in the base units;
• and
• monitoring circuitry further comprising:
• processing circuitry coupled to the receiver circuitry and adapted to control said receiver and process signals from said receiver circuitry;
• storage circuitry coupled to said processing circuitry and adapted to store information corresponding to signals in bands of interest received by said receiver;
• b. a plurality of wireless units, each associated with one of said base units, each of said wireless units comprising:
• wireless unit transceiver circuitry adapted to receive at least one downstream RF signal from said base units and demodulate said downstream RF signal, and to modulate at least one upstream signal from other circuitry in said wireless units onto at least one RF signal in order to transmit the upstream signal to said base units;
• interface circuitry coupled to said wireless units transceiver circuitry adapted to render downstream signals suitable for imparting information usable to subscriber, and upstream signals compatible with the wireless unit transceiver circuitry;
• and
• c. at least one system management node adapted to receive signals over said telecommunications network from at least some of said base units and to collect information from said base units corresponding to bands of interest monitored by said base units.