Telephone outlet with packet telephony adaptor, and a network using same

A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data and supporting a life-line function, for use with an AC power wiring at least in part in a wall within a building, the wiring concurrently carrying AC power frequency multiplexed with a digital data signal, the digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, the digital data signal being carried in a frequency band distinct from, and higher than, an AC power signal band in which the AC power signal is carried, said device comprising:

• a wiring connector connectable to the AC power wiring;
• a high pass filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the digital data signal;
• a powerline modem coupled to said high pass filter for conducting said digital data signal over the AC power wiring;
• an adapter coupled to said powerline modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a first analog telephone signal;
• a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling said first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;
• a life-line port couplable to a second analog telephone signal;
• a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states, wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and second ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and third ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said life-line port, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter, and
• a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said high pass filter, said powerline modem, said adapter, said telephone connector, said life-line port and said switch,
• wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and
• said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data and supporting a life-line function, for use with a CATV wiring at least in part in a wall within a building, the wiring concurrently carrying CATV signal frequency multiplexed with a digital data signal, the digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, the digital data signal being carried in a frequency band distinct from a CATV signal band in which the CATV signal is carried, said device comprising:

• a wiring connector connectable to the CATV wiring;
• a filter coupled to said wiring connector for passing only the digital data signal;
• a cable modem coupled to said filter for conducting said digital data signal over the CATV wiring;
• an adapter coupled to said cable modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a first analog telephone signal;
• a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling said first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;
• a life-line port couplable to a second analog telephone signal;
• a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states, wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and second switch ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between said first and third switch ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said life-line port, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter, and
• a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said filter, said cable modem, said adapter, said telephone connector, said life-line port and said switch,
• wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and
• said enclosure is attachable to a wall.

A device for coupling an analog telephone device to digitized and packetized telephone data with a supporting life-line function, for use with a LAN wiring at least in part in a wall within a building, the wiring carrying a digital data signal containing the digitized and packetized telephone data, said device comprising:

• a wiring connector connectable to the LAN wiring;
• a modem coupled to said wiring connector for conducting the digital data signal over the LAN wiring;
• an adapter coupled to said modem and operative to effect a conversion between the digitized and packetized telephone data and a first analog telephone signal;
• a telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone device for coupling the first analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device;
• a life-line port couplable to a second analog telephone signal;
• a switch having first, second, third and control ports, said switch having life-line and normal states wherein in the life-line state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between the first and second ports, and in the normal state said switch is operative to only pass a signal between the first and third ports, the switch state being controlled by a signal at said control port, said first switch port being coupled to said telephone connector, said second switch port being coupled to said life-line port, and said third switch port being coupled to said adapter;
• and
• a single enclosure containing said wiring connector, said modem, said adapter, said telephone connector, said life-line port and said switch,
• wherein the digitized and packetized telephone data is based on Voice over Internet Protocol, and
• said enclosure is attachable to a wall.