MXPA01008521A - Digital telephony carrier current system - Google Patents

Abstract

A distribution system for the distribution of digital telephony data streams for use in a building or facility which uses, as a communication link, AC power lines (105) is described. This distribution system communicates signals and data without the need for continuous telephone lines. This system provides a base unit (104) connected to a subscriber interface unit (102), which in turn is connected to a public communication network. The base unit (104) further provides an AC power line interface (105) over which communication signals are communicated to extension units(106a, 106b, ..., 106e). The extension units (106a, 106b, ..., 106e) support standard user telecommunication devices, such as telephones, switchboards, facsimile machines, and modems. The preferred embodiment of this invention uses a FSK encoding/de-coding scheme to support the communication of the digital signals and to improve system quality, reducing errors and having higher noise immunity.

Description

CARRIER DIGITAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to methods and systems for distributing digital telephony data streams. More specifically, the invention relates to the distribution of digital telephony signals by AC power lines within a building or facilities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE A variety of telephone distribution systems, digital telephony and energy line carrier communication is well known in the art. In general, these previous systems are aimed at some engineering requirements of a digital telephony distribution system with power line, but are not directed to the issues and problems of the integration of all those systems to provide a telephone signal connection to low cost that is inherently digital in nature, and for distributing the signals within a building or facilities, while providing the means to form an interface between said signals to a standard digital and analog communication equipment. The reader is referred to the following documents of the US patents. as a general background material. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety by the material contained therein. The patent of E.U.A. No. 4,430,731 discloses a subscriber data distribution system having a means for translating data received from a transmission line, and for transmitting the data to a subscriber terminal via a connection line, as well as a means for translating data received . The patent of E.U.A. No. 4,451, 703 describes a line circuit for connecting a subscriber line to a telephone system that avoids the use of electromechanical elements, such as relays. The patent of E.U.A. No. 4,550,425 discloses a compressor-expander and voice samples device, where samples of analog signals are performed in a nominal proportion of 6 kilohertz and digitized in a Mu-Ley encoder. The patents of E.U.A. Nos. 4,864,598 and 4,937,851 describe a system for verifying the integrity of each of several communication paths, illustratively of complete telephone subscriber circuits that lie between a near extreme location and a corresponding remote end location.

The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,052,039 discloses an in-line interface circuit for coupling to telecommunication lines and alternating current lines. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,333,192 discloses an in-line interface circuit for coupling signals between a telephone line and a hybrid circuit that includes a complete circuit controller circuit for supplying power to the telephone line and for controlling the telephone line with alternating current signals. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,465,256 discloses a signal pre-processor for receiving signals from a line card of a telephone line. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,528,675 discloses a network interface unit for servicing a central office line and one or more local stations through the remote interface of observed devices, such as general purpose controllers and measurement readers, to an existing telephone line for Customers that service the customer's location. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,627,898 discloses a signal distribution system that includes a means of receiving modules, by means of which a user can select the set of isolation circuits to eliminate the interference induced by a closed earth path. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,694,335 discloses a programmable digital network that can be extended, which originates from a network node and includes a base node microcomputer and a network interface that is operatively connected to a power supply. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5, 706,157 discloses a communication power distribution system that includes a single power distribution system, which comprises a single power regulator that feeds a plurality of transmission lines with limited current by corresponding active current limiters. The patents of E.U.A. Nos. 5,710,798, 5,717,725 and 5,745,532 describe a system and method for the wireless transmission of information, which is subject to fading by the use of a radiofrequency carrier modulated with a subcarrier modulated with the information. The patents of E.U.A. Nos. 5,740,241 and 5,768,368 describe a technique for energizing telephone lines using an unbalanced current source and current load and a technique for improving the attenuation frequency distribution and return loss of wired line communication circuits coupled to the transformer . The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,778,116 describes an apparatus for distributing and controlling the distribution of communication signals generated externally and locally to and between a plurality of subscribers. The patents of E.U.A. No. 5,799,067 and 5,799,068 describe a business telephone system that employs digital signal processing in a digital telephone that has a serial link to connect to a general-purpose computer. The patent of E.U.A. No. 5,805,570 discloses an end-to-end call processing method for the integrated services digital network main hub - basic ratio interface (ISDN-BRI) using a shared line multitasking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is desirable to provide a system for distributing digital telephony data streams in a building or facilities by the use of AC power line techniques. In particular, it is desirable to provide said system that is adapted to communicate telephony information between a base unit, connected to a subscriber interface that itself receives and sends telephony data to and from a public network, and any number of units of telephony. extension, wherein the communication between the base unit and the extension units is through an AC power line. Accordingly, the main objective of this invention is to provide a system for the distribution of digital telephony data streams who uses the. Alternating current power lines inside a buildings building.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system for distributing digital telephony data streams that includes a base unit adapted to connect to a subscriber interface. Another object of the invention is to provide a system for distributing digital telephony data streams that includes one or more extension units adapted to provide access to a user to a public network through AC power lines. Still another object of this invention is to provide a system for the distribution of digital telephony data streams that provides low cost communication connections for digital telephone signals within a building or facilities. Even a further object of this invention is to provide a system for the distribution of digital telephony data streams that provides a means to realize the digital telephony signal interface to digital equipment and standard analogue. Another object of this invention is to provide a system for the distribution of digital telephone data streams that provides a much better signal quality. The additional objects and advantages and other novel features of the invention will be explained in part in the following description, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of this invention can be realized and obtained by the modalities and combinations indicated in particular in the appended claims. Even other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, wherein the preferred embodiment of this invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of one of the most suitable modes for realize this invention. As will be appreciated, this invention has the ability to encompass other different embodiments, and its various details and specific electronic circuits have the ability to be modified in various aspects without departing from the invention. Consequently, the drawings and descriptions should be considered illustrative in nature, but not restrictive. To achieve the foregoing and other objectives, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, a subscriber interface unit is connected to a public network, a base unit is electrically connected to the subscriber interface unit, and they use one or more extension units, which communicate with the base unit through the AC power lines of a building or facilities. This invention relies on the enhanced signal quality of digital signal communication. In particular, this invention uses a coding scheme of frequency change keys (FSK), for its acronym in English).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings that are incorporated and form part of the specification illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Although not all, some of the alternative modalities are explained in the following description. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the upper level system illustrating the main sections of the invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram that provides additional detail of the subscriber interface unit of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 is a block diagram that provides additional detail of the base unit of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 is a block diagram that provides additional detail of the extension unit of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 illustrates the block diagram of the upper level system of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The digital telephone signals 101 are received by the subscriber line interface unit 102.

These digital telephony signals 101 may be provided by wireline, fiber optic, radio frequency or other similar network technologies. The subscriber line interface unit 102 receives and converts these signals 101 to make them compatible for the use of the base unit 104 of this invention. The subscriber line interface unit 102 is almost always connected to the base unit 104 by an electronic signal connection 103. The base unit 104 employs an encoding scheme, almost always and preferably an FSK, and converts and imposes the signal on the power line 105. Also, one or more extension units 106a-e are connected to the power line. These extension units 106a-e receive the coded signal from the base unit 104, decode the signal and transmit it to the user's telecommunication equipment 107 ae, which may include devices such as telephones, facsimiles, modems and the like, and they use to perform bi-directional digital and analog communications. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the subscriber interface unit (SIU) 102 of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The preferred SIU is almost always placed on the outside of the building and connected to the cable television connection and the internal telephone connection box. The SIU can receive 207 power, either from the cable television network or by a power adapter connected to the indoor AC power. Preferably, the SIU is compatible with the universal serial bus connection system (USB PC). Essentially, the preferred SIU is a cable modem dedicated to sending and receiving cable telephony data. As shown in Figure 2, a typical and preferred SIU is electrically connected to the cable television system through a cable interface circuitry 201, which includes a modulator and a demodulator. The cable interface circuitry 201 communicates electronically with a processor 202, which can perform the modulation / demodulation functions, as well as the frequency location, data encryption and decryption, as well as other control and decoding functions. already known. The processor 202 transfers the information in two directions. First, standard telephone communication signals are communicated to and from a telephone 206 through a standard subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) 203. Secondly, the digital communication data is communicated through a I / O port 204 to a data link 103 to the base unit 104. The I / O port 204 provides the isolation of the signals, as well as the translation of the level. This description of the preferred SIU is a possible modality. As an alternative, the SIUs available in the market can be substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the base unit 104 of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The preferred base unit 104 has a plastic housing with two electrical connections: a power line connection 307 which provides a connection to the alternating current line communication channel 105 to the extension units 106; and a data line connection 103 for communicating with the SIU 102. A processor 302 is provided, in communication with the data line 103 through an I / O port 301, which matches the type of network in the port of I / O 204 of the SIU. The processor 302 formats the communication data of the power line and the USB data to achieve communication. A modulator 303 receives the signals from the processor 302 transfer to the power line channel 105. A buffer 304 receives the signals from the modulator 303. A filter 305 receives the signals in buffer 304 therefrom and outputs the data to the power line interface 306 for transfer to the power line interface 307. The reception data from the power line interface 307, through the power line interface circuitry 306, are a filter 310. A buffer 309 receives the signal from the filter 310 and outputs the signal to a demodulated 308, which in turn communicates the signal to the processor 302. Energy 311 is preferably provided to the base unit by an AC power socket. The preferred modulator 303 and the demodulator 308 use a frequency change key modulation scheme, although alternative modulation schemes can be substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the extension unit 106 of the preferred embodiment of the invention. The preferred extension unit 106 is contained in a plastic housing and has two or three electrical connections. Almost always a connection is provided to the power line 307 to achieve communication with the base unit 104 by a power line interface circuit 401. The second connection is made to a standard 407 telephone, by means of a power interface circuit. Subscriber line (SLIC) 405. A third connection provides a data port 406, such as USB or RS-232. The data port 406 and the SLIC 405 communicate with an extension unit processor 404, which in turn is electrically connected to a modulator 408, for data transfer, and to a demodulator 411. The modulator 408 emits its signal towards a buffer 409, which passes the data to a filter 410 before transfer to the L / F circuit 401 of the power line. The demodulator 411 receives its signal from a buffer 403, which receives the signal from the power line l / F 401 through a filter 402. The preferred modulation scheme that is used in the extension unit 106 is FSK, although alternative techniques of analogous transmission could be used without departing from the concept of this invention. The above description is of a preferred embodiment of the invention and has been presented for purposes of illustration, and as a description of the preferred embodiment of the invention now known to the inventors.; It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the connections, shape or precise choice of the components described. Obvious modifications or variations are possible and are foreseen in light of the above description. This embodiment of the invention was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application, to enable one skilled in the art to use the invention in various modalities and with various modifications, as is appropriate for the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the invention, as determined by the appended claims, when interpreted in accordance with the scope to which they justly, legally and equitably give entitlement.

Claims (6)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A distribution system for signal and data communication, comprising: A) a source of digital telephony signals; B) a subscriber line interface unit; C) a base unit; D) an extension unit; and E) a communication link connecting said base unit to the extension unit.

2 - The distribution system for signal and data communication according to claim 1, further characterized in that the base unit comprises a line interface adapted to send and receive signals from a variety of telephone service connections.

3. The distribution system for signal and data communication according to claim 1, further characterized in that the digital telephony signal source is selected from the group consisting of wire, fiber optic and radiofrequency signal sources.

4. The distribution system for signal and data communication according to claim 1, further characterized in that the base unit comprises an FSK encoder.

5. The distribution system for signal and data communication according to claim 1, further characterized in that the extension unit comprises an FSK decoder.

6. - The distribution system for communication of signals and data according to claim 1, further characterized in that the communication link is an alternating current line communication link.