Methods and apparatus to self-configure a flexible residential gateway

A flexible residential gateway apparatus providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network, the flexible residential gateway comprising:

• an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor for providing access to the external communications network through one of a first telephone line or a coaxial cable, and for processing xDSL signals communicated with the connected external communications network;
• a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver for providing access to the external communications network through a computer cable, and for processing Ethernet signals communicated with the connected external communications network, wherein a switch controller is capable of selecting either the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver and, if the xDSL processor is selected, whether the xDSL processor is connected to the first telephone line or the coaxial cable;
• an xDSL sensor to detect a presence of xDSL signals on the first telephone line and the coaxial cable;
• and
• an Ethernet sensor to detect a presence of Ethernet signals on the computer cable;
• wherein the switch controller uses outputs of the xDSL sensor and the Ethernet sensor to select either the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver and, if the xDSL processor is selected, whether to connect the xDSL processor to the first telephone line or to the coaxial cable.

A flexible residential gateway apparatus providing access to an external communications network, and providing communications with an in home network, the flexible residential gateway comprising:

• an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor for providing access to the external communications network through one of a first telephone line or a coaxial cable, and for processing xDSL signals communicated with the connected external communications network;
• a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver for providing access to the external communications network through a computer cable, and for processing Ethernet signals communicated with the connected external communications network, wherein a switch controller is capable of selecting either the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver and, if the xDSL processor is selected, whether the xDSL processor is connected to the first telephone line or the coaxial cable;
• at least one voice over Internet protocol (IP) (VoIP) processor for providing at least one VoIP service to the in home network through at least one telephone line, and processing VoIP signals communicated with the in home network;
• at least one VoIP coupler connecting VoIP signals between at least one VoIP processor and at least one telephone line, wherein the VoIP coupler is capable to disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line;
• and
• at least one POTS (plain old telephone service) sensor capable to detect a presence of POTS signals on at least one telephone line;
• wherein the switch controller is capable of disconnecting the battery feed voltage and the ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.

A self-configuration method for a flexible residential gateway apparatus comprising an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor that is capable to provide access to an external communications network through a first telephone line and through a coaxial cable, and a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver that is capable to provide access to the external communications network through a computer cable and to provide communications with an in home network, the method comprising:

• gathering at least one configuration selector output;
• selecting one of the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then selecting whether the xDSL processor is connected to the first telephone line or the coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the at least one configuration selector output comprises
• at least one output of a first detector that is detecting a presence of xDSL signals on the first telephone line and on the coaxial cable, and
• an output of a second detector that is detecting a presence of Ethernet signals on the computer cable.

A self-configuration method for a flexible residential gateway apparatus comprising an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor that is capable to provide access to an external communications network through a first telephone line and through a coaxial cable, and a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver that is capable to provide access to the external communications network through a computer cable and to provide communications with an in home network, the method comprising:

• gathering at least one configuration selector output;
• selecting one of the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then selecting whether the xDSL processor is connected to the first telephone line or the coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the at least one configuration selector output comprises a position of a multi-position switch.

A self-configuration method for a flexible residential gateway apparatus comprising an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor that is capable to provide access to an external communications network through a first telephone line and through a coaxial cable, and a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver that is capable to provide access to the external communications network through a computer cable and to provide communications with an in home network, the method comprising:

• gathering at least one configuration selector output;
• selecting one of the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then selecting whether the xDSL processor is connected to the first telephone line or the coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the at least one configuration selector output comprises at least one value specified by a user via at least one of a GUI (graphical user interface) or a remote configuration/management interface (RC/MI).

A self-configuration method for a flexible residential gateway apparatus comprising an xDSL (“x” variety of Digital Subscriber Line) processor that is capable to provide access to an external communications network through a first telephone line and through a coaxial cable, and a wide area network (WAN) Ethernet transceiver that is capable to provide access to the external communications network through a computer cable and to provide communications with an in home network, the method comprising:

• gathering at least one configuration selector output;
• selecting one of the xDSL processor or the WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then selecting whether the xDSL processor is connected to the first telephone line or the coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• further comprising detecting a presence of plain old telephone service (POTS) signals on at least one telephone line, and disconnecting a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.

An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

• gather at least one configuration selector output;
• select one of a xDSL processor or a WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then select whether the xDSL processor is connected to a first telephone line or a coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to determine the at least one configuration selector output as
• at least one output of a first detector that is detecting a presence of xDSL signals on the first telephone line and on the coaxial cable, and
• an output of a second detector that is detecting a presence of Ethernet signals on a computer cable.

An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

• gather at least one configuration selector output;
• select one of a xDSL processor or a WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then select whether the xDSL processor is connected to a first telephone line or a coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to determine the at least one configuration selector output as the position of a multi-position switch.

An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

• gather at least one configuration selector output;
• select one of a xDSL processor or a WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then select whether the xDSL processor is connected to a first telephone line or a coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to determine the at least one configuration selector output as at least one value specified by a user via at least one of a GUI (graphical user interface) or a remote configuration/management interface (RC/MI).

An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

• gather at least one configuration selector output;
• select one of a xDSL processor or a WAN Ethernet transceiver based on the at least one configuration selector output;
• and
• if the xDSL processor is selected then select whether the xDSL processor is connected to a first telephone line or a coaxial cable based on the at least one configuration selector output, wherein the machine readable instructions cause the machine to detect a presence of plain old telephone service (POTS) signals on at least one telephone line, and to disconnect a battery feed voltage and ring voltages from at least one telephone line if POTS signals are detected on at least one telephone line.