AU741290B2

AU741290B2 - Network transfer facility

Info

Publication number: AU741290B2
Application number: AU55343/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ulrich Barth; Hans Jurgen Dr. Matt; Peter Dr. Sauer
Original assignee: Alcatel CIT SA; Alcatel SA
Current assignee: Alcatel Lucent SAS
Priority date: 1997-02-22
Filing date: 1998-02-17
Publication date: 2001-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-17
Also published as: AU5534398A; CA2227855A1; EP0860956A2; EP0860956A3; DE19707190A1; JPH10276457A

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

C

C.

C

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: NETWORK TRANSFER FACILITY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- This invention relates to a network transfer facility to connect a home network with subscriber line networks from service providers with a first external interface to receive information signals from coax cables from subscriber line networks and with at least an internal interface to transfer the information signals to terminals in the home network by means of coax cables.

Such a network transfer facility is known, for example, from an article by R.C.

Hutchinson titled "Architectural Framework for Standardizing Multimedia Services on Fibre- Coax"in Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Community Networking Integrated Multimedia Services to the Home, (IEEE 1994), pages 213 to 217.

Apart from the classical, public telephone network ("POT" Plain Old Telephone), So other subscriber line networks have been offered by service providers over the last few years for private or business access. Apart from the ISDN for more comfortable telephony there are, for example, cable networks for TV (CATV), hybrid fibre coax cable networks (HFC) as well as wireless telephone networks such as, for example, the privately operated German D2 network. Many more such subscriber line networks are to be established by service providers S over the next years. Currently, the following networks are either being implemented or planned ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) networks, STM (Synchronous Transfer Mode, line routed) networks, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), VHDSL (Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line), DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) and 20 GSM (Global System Mobile) networks. By the year 2000 there will be many more providers who will provide subscriber line networks with corresponding services for private or corporate end users.

On the other hand, what the end user, in particular in private households usually has available is at least a "ringing wire" network with twisted pair cables for the classic telephony as well as a coax cable network for TV terminals. In the following, all such signal line networks in the home, which also include, for example, the signal processing lines for intercom systems, computer networks, private branch exchanges (PBX) and similar, shall be termed "home network". A "terminal" is to be understood as any piece of equipment, such as for example, a control unit, an alarm device, a measuring and control device, a metre, a telecommunications device, a TV, a computer and similar devices which are able to be connected to such home networks.

In the initially quoted article by Hutchinson, a framework for the standardisation and (7-j K-Q supply of multimedia services on fibre coax cables is suggested. The described framework system is to enable end users to receive fairly free access to the subscriber line networks of a service provider. However, only the aspect of the service connections which reach the end user by means of fibre coax cables, such as for example, analog or digital TV, interactive TV.

cable TV or HFC systems, are considered.

In an article by Masami Kato et al. titled "VISUAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN AN APARTMENT HOUSE USING ONLY TWISTED PAIRED CABLE" in IEEE Transactions on Consumers Electronics, Vol. 40, No. 3, August 1994, pages 418 to 427, a system for visual communication for apartment buildings is suggested, which consists of a house bus and a network, which can be used in such an apartment building. The known system exclusively uses a network of twisted pair ringing wire cables and offers multiple S° services. Here again, no other sub networks such as for example the coax cable networks, are S° taken into consideration.

It is an object of the present invention to present a customer premises network transfer 15 facility of the initially described type, which can distribute information signals from a large number of possibly totally different service providers via a network transfer facility to terminals in a home network as well as in the opposite direction, where the network cable system which may already be present in the home can be utilised comprehensively and with as few additions or modifications as possible.

o 20 This object is achieved according to an embodiment of the invention in that further external interfaces for the interactive exchange of information signals with further types of subscriber line networks are provided, where at least one external interface provides a connection to a subscriber line network with twisted pair cables ("ringing wire") and that a combined switching and control unit is provided which transfers the information signals of a certain service provider from the corresponding external interface of the subscriber line network to one or more internal interfaces of the home network or vice versa. Preferably the control unit includes a microprocessor.

With such a network transfer facility the end user can easily establish unidirectional and bi-directional data connections with public and private service providers via their subscriber line networks and can communicate and receive corresponding information signals via terminals which are installed in his home network. The cabling already available in the ome is thereby connected into a home network which can make contact with all, even totally z different types of subscriber line networks right up to its last branchings, via a network transfer facility embodying the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the network transfer facility includes a switching/exchange unit provided for the as-required-connection of a subscriber line network for a certain services category, for example telephone services, with a ringing wire network available in the home network. The switching unit can be, for example, a part of a classical telephone system. As a telephone cable network is available in practically every household today, this is suitable as starting point for an intelligent network transfer facility with a corresponding switching unit.

In a preferred further development of this embodiment, the switching unit can process 10 narrow band as well as broad band unidirectional and bi-directional information signals. With this capacity, the network transfer facility can connect a multiple of possibly very different terminals with another multiple of also possibly very different subscriber line networks.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment of the network transfer facility where a house-bus-system is connected to one or more internal interfaces, which facilitates the exchange of information signals between the combined switching and control unit and random S terminals in the home network. This means that a particularly clear and simple logical wiring can be carried out within the home network.

The following practical examples of the network transfer facility are particularly advantageous especially in combination with the above described house-bus-system and/or 20 with the above described switching unit in the form of a telecommunications equipment: In one practical example a terminal can comprise a facility to actuate a heating system.

This means that the temperature in a house can be influenced in a simple manner by the corresponding activation of the heating system, or another terminal within the home network, or by means of corresponding software in the switching and control unit, or even by remote action from outside the home. Preferably, the corresponding terminal also comprises a temperature sensor so that the prevailing temperature can be recorded and, for example, transferred as a control value to a control circuit.

In another practical example a terminal comprises a facility for activating a lighting system, preferably also a brightness sensor. With this facility, the lighting situation in the house can be monitored, directed or controlled in the same manner as described in the above for the heating system.

T T In another practical example a terminal comprises a facility for activating a roller >z shutter and preferably also a brightness sensor. With this facility an easy-to-use automatic, or even manually remote controlled roller shutter control can be implemented.

Particularly preferred are practical examples of the network transfer facility which distinguish themselves by the fact that a terminal comprises a device to monitor the environment for physical changes, for example a smoke detector, a fire detector, a gas detector or a water detector and that when the combined switching and control unit receives an information signal from this terminal, it transfers an alarm signal to an alarm facility to trigger an alarm. In this manner, all feasible monitoring functions within the area of a home, but also in a commercial premise, government department or plant can be transferred in a very simple manner to a control or regulating system, at least however to a warning system.

Especially preferred is a further development of this practical example, where it is *..provided that a terminal is connected with one or more sensors of a security system and that an alarm signal can be transferred automatically via an external telecommunication network, for example to a police station. Such alarm systems are frequently available and can be 15 integrated into a home network with the help of the network transfer facility in the simplest way, where in the case of an alarm a connection to the outside can be established automatically.

A further category of practical examples provides that a terminal comprises a facility for reading consumption, for example an electricity, water or gas metre, and that the combined 20 switching and control unit receives the read consumption value data at determined periods of time. This means that consumption reading functions can be simplified quite considerably and made much cheaper for the end user.

With advantageous further developments of these practical examples, a storage unit can be provided where the read consumption figures can be stored and where necessary, requested. This means that consumption reading functions and particularly the consumption development become transparent for the end user.

With an advantageous further development it can also be provided, that the data from read consumption values can be transmitted automatically or upon request, via an external interface to an external telecommunications network and to a provider, for example an energy supplier, a water supplier a gas company. Such an automatic reading of the consumption can be offered practically at zero tariff by the provider of the correspondingly used service, which 7STanconsiderably lower the overall costs of the service.

%sOF\ 6 Particularly preferred is a practical example of the network transfer facility where the combined switching and control unit can receive remote controlled signals via one of the external interfaces and after checking the authorisation, can transfer them to a terminal connected to the home network. In this manner the owner of a corresponding authorisation, which can be available for example in the form of a pass word, can influence home network terminals from outside the home, for example by means of a telephone.

The scope of use for such a remote control system are nearly inexhaustible. For example, when one is returning from a trip during the cold period of the year, one can poll the existing house temperature prior to arriving home, and can activate the heating so that the temperature has reached a pleasant level by the time one arrives home. With this system however, other in-house equipment such as answering machines, mail boxes and other types of data storage equipment around the house can be polled en route. Flap-like openings can also be remotely activated so that a dog or cat living in the home can leave or re-enter the house as it pleases, although the owner is absent and without promoting an unauthorised entry into the house by burglars. It is also feasible to activate a loading device for a microwave S oven prior to arriving home, so that the prepared hot meal is waiting immediately upon arrival.

Another greatly advantageous practical example of the network transfer facility is .iowhere a door intercommunication system is provided, which comprises a terminal with •20 activating unit for the remote opening of the door, a microphone, a speaker and possibly a video camera if desired, which is connected to an interface of the network transfer facility and which transfers a door-call to at least one other terminal which is connected to an internal interface via the home network. or which can be reached by remote dial via the network transfer facility.

The integration of such a door intercom system into the home network can be achieved by connection the system parts which are outside of the house to an external as well as to an internal interface of the network transfer facility. Usually the ringing wires are considered to be a house-internal system and are therefore connected to internal interfaces of the network transfer facility. In this case there is also the scope of a remote action by using the information transfer channels via external interfaces on the network transfer facility.

In another practical example, the combined switching and control unit comprises a ST e' yice for recording call charges for the telecommunication services. This is of particular advantage in combination with a telecommunication system, as it has been described above.

With another advantageous practical example of the network transfer facility according to the invention it is provided that the combined switching and control unit processes external calls according to recognition and, depending upon configuration, transfers these incoming calls to an authorised point (subscriber) in the home, or outside of the home via one of the external interfaces. The external call may also come from a door intercom system with or without an image.

With another advantageous practical example of the network transfer facility it has been provided that the combined switching and control unit comprises a server facility to receive, buffer and request messages, for example voice mail (answering machine), data mail and/or video mail. With such a server facility, not only the above mentioned services but 9** nearly unlimited other service functions can be made available internally in the home network go and easily opened via a terminal of the home network.

A practical example where an additional facility to decode received signals is provided is also advantageous.

In particular, the additional facility can comprise a so called Set Top Box to decode digital television programs. When several TV sets are connected which do not all need :simultaneous access to different digital programs, the number of decoders required in the home can be reduced considerably.

20 Particularly preferred is a practical example of the network transfer facility where the **combined switching and control unit is connected with a personal computer (PC) via the home network, and with which system configurations and determination of terminal authorisations as well as allocation of the performance characteristics of a switching facility for the operation, control of call charges recording and/or communication with another terminal in the home network or a terminal in a subscriber line network can be executed.

Apart from the functions listed as examples in the above, such a PC can also be used to select certain information signal paths, with which for example, the cheapest provider of certain communicative services can be selected.

Further advantages of the invention are given by the description and the drawing.

According to the various embodiments of the invention, the above mentioned characteristics and those which are still to follow can be used on their own or several of them together in rani combinations. The shown and described practical examples should not be understood vz7 8 as a final list, but are intended as examples to explain the invention.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic system overview of the connection scope with a network transfer facility according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematics of the global structure of a network transfer facility according to an embodiment of the invention.

The schematic display in Figure 1 shows a network transfer facility 1, which includes a combined switching and control unit 8 comprised of several modules. In a particular embodiment, the combined switching and control unit 8 includes a computer, which can be realised by a microprocessor 9. One of the modules of the combined switching and control unit 8 is also a storage unit o °o The network transfer facility 1 is connected with various subscriber access connections, networks, such as for example POT, ISDN, DECT, power net, GSM, CATV, 15 ATM, etc. by means of interfaces, which are called "external" interfaces 4, in the *00.0: following. The totality of all subscriber line networks is designated with the reference number 3 in Figure 1. The individual subscriber line networks can be completely different kinds of networks, for example they can be coax cable supported networks (cable TV. etc), ringing wire networks (classic telephone network POT, ISDN, etc.) or wireless networks 20 (DECT, GSM etc.). It is also feasible that information transfer can be conducted via a power current line which services practically each household and each business establishment.

On the other side, the network transfer facility 1 is connected with a home network 2 via "internal" interfaces 5, said network can also comprise a multiple of subnetworks or individual connections. Such a subnetwork is the ringing wire network 7 may be present insome households, and can have ordinary telephones (POT), ISDN telephones but also fax machines, PCs, TV sets and similar connected to it as terminals. Another network which may be available in some households is a coax cable network 6, which usually has radios and TV sets connected. Beyond that, digital telephones, MM-terminals, PCs and a whole series of other equipment for in-house monitoring, regulating and controlling of facilities can be connected. These facilities can be for example, heating systems, lighting systems, roller shutter systems and similar.

ST;4/ Finally, a further application example shown in Figure 1 is an alarm system, which has in-house terminals, but also external equipment such as for example sensors, door opening equipment, video monitoring camera, door bells and similar connected to the network transfer facility 1 via an internal interface This also allows the connection of incoming and outgoing signals with other terminals in the home network 2, for example PCs, video monitors and similar. An alarm can also trigger the transmission of a message via the external interfaces 4, etc. and via a subscriber line network, for example the telephone network, to an external point, for example a police station or fire station. On the other hand, the consumption values of in-house equipment, for example gas, water, electricity and similar, can be read automatically, transferred to the switching and control unit 8 and there either stored in storage unit 10 and/or transferred automatically to corresponding providers, such as the gas company, water supply company or an energy supply company.

In a reciprocal manner, when a corresponding password or code is entered as proof of authorisation one can have remote access to the in-house terminals from outside, for example by means of the telephone network, a radio network or similar. Examples for such remote 15 control operations have already been described in the above. These possibilities can be expanded considerably, particularly by connecting computer terminals into the home network 2 and using the corresponding software.

Figure 2 shows a functional block diagram illustrating the system according to an embodiment of the invention. A network transfer facility 21 includes a network access 20 module 24, with which the various subscriber line networks 23 can be accessed via correspondingly designed interfaces. Via a switching and control unit 29 the information signals from the network access module 24 reach a processor 28, which also has storage units, server units and similar connected to it or integrated in it. In particular, the processor is controlled by corresponding software. On the other side, the processor 28 communicates via an in-home access module 25, which is also equipped with corresponding interfaces, with a home network 22, which can comprise various cable networks, in particular a house bus system 26, to which various terminals, for example TV, video phone, telephone, PCs, radios and control equipment for other equipment in the house, are connected. A considerable advantage of this system consists, amongst others, of the fact that other already available structures, but also structures developed at a future point in time, can be connected without difficulty via suitable interfaces.

Claims

1. A customer premises network transfer facility to connect a home network with subscriber line networks from service providers the home network including one or more internal buses having one or more terminals; the facility including a first external interface to receive information signals from coaxial cables from the subscriber line networks and at least one internal interface to transfer the information signals to one or more terminals in the home network by means of one or more internal busses, wherein one or more further external interfaces for the interactive exchange of information 10 signals are provided with corresponding further types of subscriber line networks, where at .C* least one external interface establishes a connection to a subscriber line network with twisted pair cables, and wherein a combined switching and control unit, including a microprocessor is provided, which controls unidirectional or bi-directional flows of information signals between a selected 15 service provider and one or more of the subscriber terminals.

2. A network transfer facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein a switching unit is provided CC. for the as-required-connection of a subscriber line network for a category of services with a CCC. ringing wire network in the home network.

3. A network transfer facility as claimed in claim 2, wherein the switching unit is able to ••go S 20 process narrow band as well as broad band unidirectional and bi-directional information signals.

4. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein a house-bus-system is connected to one or more internal interfaces, which enables the exchange of information signals between the combined switching and control unit and one or more terminals in the home network.

A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claimswherein a terminal comprises a facility for activating a heating system with a temperature sensor.

6. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claimswherein a terminal comprises a facility for activating a heating system without a temperature sensor.

7. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein a iST4/terminal comprises a facility for activating a lighting system and preferably a brightness OFV 11 sensor. 7. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein a terminal comprises a facility for activating a roller shutter and preferably a brightness sensor.

8. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein a terminal comprises a facility to monitor the environment for physical changes, for example a smoke detector, a fire detector, a gas detector or a water detector, and wherein the combined switching and control unit, upon receipt of an information signal from this terminal, transfers an alarm signal to an alarm facility to trigger an alarm.

9. A network transfer facility as claimed in claim 8, wherein the terminal is connected with one or more sensors of a security system, and that an alarm signal can be transferred automatically, for example to a police station, by means of an external telecommunications network.

A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein a terminal comprises a facility to read the consumption, for example an electricity, water or gas 15 metre, and wherein the combined switching and control unit receives data of read consumption values in determinable periods of time.

11. A network transfer facility as claimed in claim 10, wherein a storage unit is provided ego• where the read consumption values can be stored and, as required, polled.

12. A network transfer facility as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the data from the 20 read consumption values can be sent automatically or upon request via an external interface to C:to* an external telecommunications network and to a provider, for example an energy supplier, a water supplier or gas supplier.

13. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the combined switching and control unit can receive remote control signals via an external interface and, after checking the authorisation, e.g. a pass word, can transfer the remote control signals to a terminal connected to the home network.

14. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein a door intercommunication system is provided which comprises a terminal with an activating unit for the remote controlled opening of the door, a microphone, a loudspeaker and, if required, a video camera, which is connected to an interface of the network transfer facility and which transfers a door call to at least one other terminal, which is connected to an internal S- 7 ,erface by means of the home network, or which can be selected via the network transfer 7 S z facility by remote dialling.

A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the combined switching and control unit comprises a facility for the recording of call charges for telecommunication services.

16. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the combined switching and control unit comprises a server facility to receive, buffer and poll messages, for example voice mail (answering machine), data mail and/or video mail.

17. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein an additional facility is provided for decoding the received signals.

18. A network transfer facility as claimed in claim 17, wherein the additional facility 0@ comprises a set top box to decode digital television programs. ;i

19. A network transfer facility as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the S. e combined switching and control unit is linked to a personal computer via the home network, with which system configurations and determination of terminal authorisations, as well as 0 15 allocation of the performance characteristics of a switching device for the operation, control of charge recordings and/or communication with another terminal in the home network or a 0 terminal in a subscriber line network can be conducted. oo

20. A network transfer facility substantially as herein described with reference to Figures :l 1- 2 of the accompanying drawings. S ~DATEDTHIS THIRTEENTH DAYOF AUGUST 2001 ALCATEL by its attorneys Freehills Carter Smith Beadle C-OoFF\O "e_2 I/ -A