MXPA99011003A - Twisted pair communication system. - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication system for passing information between information services and terminal devices over a twisted wire pair network. The information services include a telephone exchange and other services, such as a data network and a television distribution system. The terminal devices include telephones and other devices, such as computers and televisions. The system includes a main information interface coupled to the information services and a twisted pair wiring network coupled to the terminal devices and to the main information interface. The wiring network includes multiple active telephone pairs for passing voice signals between the telephone exchange and telephones. The information interface includes circuitry for combining on the active telephone pairs (a) telephone signals in a telephone frequency band passing between the telephone exchange and the one or more telephones and (b) high frequency signals in a high band of frequencies higher that those of the telephone frequency band passing information between the other information services and one or more of the terminal devices.

Description

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM IN BRAIDED PAIRS BACKGROUND The invention relates to communication of information, such as computer or video data, on unshielded twisted pair (UTP) pairs such as those used for telephone communication within a building. Referring to Figure 1, in a normal situation in which a building 100a is coupled to a variety of external information systems, communication within the building can use different wiring networks. The information systems may include public switched telephone networks (PSTN) 120, the television distribution system 124 and a data network 122. The 110a building may be a single family house or unit of multiple houses or office building. PSTN 120 is coupled to building 100a with one or more UTP cables 121. UTP cables 121 include pairs of wires each providing a telephone line external to the building. The television distribution system 124 may be a cable or satellite television system that provides multiple channels of television signals over a broadband connection 125, typically a coaxial cable.

The data network 122, such as the Internet, is coupled to the building 110a in one of several different ways, providing a high speed connection (eg, 1Mb / s or higher rates). The data network 122 can be coupled through PsTN 120, either by using one or more UTP cables 121 to pass data back and forth of the building 110a. For example, the two pairs of wires can carry data in a TI or partial IT format in which the wire pairs are used exclusively for data. Alternatively, the data network 122 may be coupled to the building 100 on some UTP 121 cables using a digital subscriber cycle signaling (DSL) technique in which data communication is passed on a scale of different frequencies to which the voice telephone communication passes over the same wires. The data network 122 can also be coupled to the building 100a through the television distribution system 124. For example, bidirectional data communication can pass over a cable television distribution system concurrently with television programming. In building 100a, the UTP 121 cables terminate at a telephone interface 132, such as a main wiring block. Similarly, the broadband connection 125 terminates at a television interface 152. The data network 122 is coupled to devices in the building 100a through a data interface 142. If the data network 122 is coupled via PSTN 120, the data interface 142 provides an appropriate interface for the type of signaling used (e.g., IT, DSL). If the data network 122 is coupled through the television distribution system 124, the data interface 142 may be a cable modem coupled to the broadband connection 125 through the television interface 152. Inside the building 1 10a, separate networks are normally used for telephone, data and television signals. A telephone wiring network 130 couples the telephones 134 to the telephone interface 12 and to PSTN 120. Multiple telephones 134 can be connected to the same telephone line. A data cabling network 140 is coupled to one or more computers 144 to the data network 122 through the data interface 142. A common form of data cabling network used within the building is adhered to one of Ethernet standards (I EEE STD 802.3, 802.12), such as 10BaseT, 10Base2, 100BaseT4, or 100VG. In 10BaseT, each data communication path consisting of two UTPs that are coupled to a computer 44 to the data interface 142. The communication is at a rate of 20 Mb / s. If more than one computer 144 is connected to the data cabling network 140, the data cabling network 140 may include a central node (not shown) that is connected to the data interface 142 and to each of the computers 144. Each of the computers 144 includes a network interface controller (N IC). , for its acronym in English) that provides an appropriate electrical interface to the data cabling network 140. According to the IEEE standard 802.3, the 10BaseT communication routes should not be greater than 99 meters without an intermediate central node. The two UTPs that connect two devices in communication consist of a UTP for communication in each direction. The two uTP are not intended for simultaneous communication in both directions. However, there are two occasions when both devices inadvertently transmit at the same time. In 10BaseT, a device should not transmit when it is receiving a signal from the other device. As a result, the circumstance in which both sides transmit at the same time, only occurs when each side begins a transmission before it receives the signal sent from the opposite end. This creates a condition called a "collision". When a collision occurs, each device is required to suspend its transmission and wait until they do not receive a signal. After a period of rest, each device can try to transmit again. As a result, when a 10BaseT device transmits on its pair of wires to the terminals, it should monitor from the wire pair of the computer only to determine whether the other end has sent a signal or not causing a collision. The device does not need to interpret the information sent in the signal that causes the collision.

The signal transmitted by a device for sending a stream of binary data is a Manchester encoding of the binary data stream. A Manchester encoding of a data stream is a two-level signal having at least one transition per input bit. For a data rate of 10 Mb / s, the spectrum of the coded data stream extends from approximately 3 MHz to 15 mHz. In 10Base2, a second normal 802.3 IEEE data communication path of 10 Mb / s consists of a single transmission line, typically a coaxial cable (eg, RG-58), coupling a computer 144 to the interface of data 142. The data cabling network 140 can be arranged in a star configuration or can be operated in a daisy chain arrangement by coupling multiple computers 144 to the data interface 142. When a 10Base2 device applies signals to the transmission line, use a similar Manchester code used in 10BaseT. Multiple 10Base2 devices receive signals from the same line. In 10Base2, when two devices transmit at the same time causing a collision, the devices detect the collision by monitoring the CD level of the received signal. When a device transmits, it applies a CD diverted to the transmission line. A second device can detect this deviation, even while it is transmitting.

Normal IEEE calls for the same transmission levels for 10Base2 and 10BaseT, but the minimum reception level is lower by 6dB for 10Base2 than for lOBaseT. The circuitry to convert between the signaling used in lOBaseT and the standards of 10Base2 is available from many vendors. The circuitry is usually called a "medium converter". A medium integrated circuit converter is one available from Leel One Corp., the integrated circuit LXT906. | In 100BaseT4, a normal communication of 802.3 (u) of IEEE of 100 Mb / s is about four UTP. When transmitting, one device sends 33.3 Mb / s over each of three of the four UTPs. When it is receiving, the device receives 33.3 Mb / s in three of the four UTPs, including the UTP that it does not use for transmission. The UTP that is not used for transmission is used for collision detection as in the standard of two lOBaseT wire pairs. Each of the 33.3 Mb / s data streams is coded into blocks resulting in a signal that has no significant power in the voice band and extends to approximately 25 MHz. In 100VG, a communication from IEEE standard 802.12 from 100 Mb / s is also about four UTP. When data is transmitted, a device sends 25 Mb / s over each of the four UTPs. Instead of relying on a collision detection approach, at 100VG, the central node grants permission to transmit to a single device at a time between data transmissions. A non-return to zero signaling (NRZ) approach is used to transmit data, resulting in coded data extending to approximately 15 MHz. The television network 150 is a network coaxial (e.g., RG-6) that couples each television 154 through the television interface 152 to the television distribution system 124. The television cabling network typically provides the same broadband signal to multiple televisions 154 that tune the desired channel. A television 154 can be coupled to the television cabling network 150 through a "fixed top box" (not shown) that provides tuning capability. Some overhead fixed boxes also provide means for sending control information back to the television distribution system 124, for example, to order pay-per-view movies or to provide interface television (ITV) functionality. A computer 146 can also be coupled to the data network 122 through a dial-up telephone connection using a telephone modem 147 connected to a telephone wiring network 13. The telephone modem 147, you can use analog signaling within the voice frequency band. Analog telephone modems support relatively garlic data regimes below 56 kb / s. The computer 146 may also be coupled via a cable modem 148 to the television cabling network 150. COMPENDIUM Most buildings have existing telephone wiring networks, and may not have data cabling or television cabling networks , in a general aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for using a telephone wiring network in said building for bidirectional communication of data and television signals, as well as telephone communication, thus reducing the cost of deploying said communication capacity inside the building. In addition, televisions and computers connect to the telephone wiring network without necessarily using complex interface electronics and without interfering with existing telephone services. The invention can also characterize novel media converters and central data nodes that have extended scale, increased security and reduced cabling requirements. The existing telephone wiring network can also be adapted with devices that incorporate filters and terminators to improve the communication capacity of the wiring network. The invention has applicability in numerous circumstances, including the addition of data and television communication capabilities of a multi-unit building, such as an apartment building or a hotel, which has an existing telephone wiring network. In one aspect, in general, the invention is a communication system for passing over a network communication of twisted-wire pairs between multiple-terminal devices, including one or more telephones, and multiple information services, including a telephone exchange and other services. Information services. The system includes a main information interface coupled with the information services and a twisted pair cabling network coupled to the terminal devices and the main information interface. The wiring network includes multiple pairs of active telephones to pass the voice signals between the telephone exchange and one or more telephones. The information interface includes circuitry for combining the pairs of active telephones (a) telephone signals in a telephone frequency band that passes between the telephone exchange and one or more telephones and (B) high frequency signals in a higher frequency band to those of the telephone frequency band that passes information between the other information services and one or more terminal devices. The aspects of the invention include one or more of the following aspects. The other information services may include a data network and the terminal devices may include a computer. The main information interface also includes a data hub to pass information between the computer and the data network. The other information services may include a data network and the terminal devices may include a computer. The main information interface then also includes a central data node for information between the computer and the data network. The other information services may include a television distribution service. The twisted pair cabling network can include multiple cables coupled to the main information interface and the terminal devices and cables form branching routes from the main information interface to the terminal devices and the wiring network includes junctions in the branch points of the cables to reduce the degradation of the signals in the high frequency band. The terminal devices may include a television receiver and an associated remote control device, and the main information interface may include a video selector which is coupled to one of the information services and which includes a receiver to accept the control information sent from the remote control device over the twisted pair cabling network in the high frequency band and a transmitter for providing a television signal to the television receiver over the twisted pair wiring network in the high frequency band in response to the control information. The video selector may include a tuner to select a television broadcast. The video selector may also include a computer coupled to a data network, and the control information includes information to identify a source of video information in the data network. The communication system may include private circuitry to prevent the information from passing between a terminal device and an information service passing to another terminal device. The private circuitry may include a central data node having multiple ports coupled to the terminal devices and a port coupled to the data network and the central data node includes circuitry to inhibit the transmission of data received on a port that is docked to a terminal device to ports coupled to other terminal devices. The central node, furthermore, may include circuitry to inhibit the transmission of data directed to a terminal device that is received in the port coupled to the data network to ports other than the port to which the device from the terminal to the terminal is coupled. that is directed. The system may include circuitry to reduce the degradation of signals that pass over the wiring network. On a few numbers of conductors and the media converter includes circuitry to receive information from the information service about the number of conductors and the transmission of that information in the wiring network over a few numbers of conductors. The media converter can convert lOBaseT signals received on two pairs of wires to a signal transmitted on a pair of wires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 shows telephones, computers and televisions coupled through separate wiring networks in a building to a telephone network, a data network, and a television distribution system; Figure 2 shows telephones, computers and televisions coupled through the common UTP network in a building to a telephone network, a data network and a television distribution system; Figure 3 shows a UTP network that includes a branching cabling route and telephones, computers and televisions coupled directly to the plugs in the cabling path; Figure 4 shows a UTP network that includes multi-unit cabling networks, each of which is coupled directly to a main information interface; Figure 5 shows a UTP network in which multi-unit cabling networks are coupled through an intermediate cabling network and multiple intermediate distribution interfaces to a main information interface; Figure 6 shows a distribution of bandwidth in pairs of wires; Figure 7a-c illustrates the spectrum for three approaches to signaling 10 Mb / s in a UTP; Figure 8 shows a central voice, data and video node that couples computers and televisions to external information services; Figure 9 shows a path of voice, data and video signals for a UTP connection; Figure 10 shows the detailed signal paths for a UTP connection; Figure 11 shows a media converter that couples two lOBaseT signals from UTP to a single UTP; Figure 12 shows a media converter for converting lOBaseT signals for communication over a single active UTP; Figure 13 shows an alternative media converter for converting lOBaseT signals for communication over a single active UTP; Figure 14 shows a media converter for converting lOBaseT signals for communication with multiple devices on a single active UTP; Figure 15 shows a media converter to convert 100VG signals to three active UTPs; Figure 16 shows a media converter for converting signals from 100BaseT4 to three UTP; Figure 17 shows a central security node; Figure 18 shows physical layer circuitry for a central node of extended scale; Figure 19 shows a simple wiring network; Figure 20 shows a wiring network with divisions and branches; Figures 21a-b show a joint; Figures 22a-c show passive high frequency junctions; Figures 23a-b show active high-frequency junctions; Figures 24a-d show an alternative approach for connecting a central voice, data and video node to a cabling network; Figures 25a-b show a wall pin; Figures 26a-c show an alternative wall pin; Figure 27 shows a central data node in an interface; Figure 28 shows a central data node in an intermediate distribution interface; Figures 29a-b illustrate a modality that includes central data nodes in intermediate distribution interfaces; and Figures 30a-c illustrate a modality of a video selector that includes a WebTV interface. DESCRIPTION 1 GENERAL REVIEW (FIGURES 2-5) The systems described below, in general, multiple external information services coupling to various devices through bidirectional communication links within a building. External information services include telephone, data, and television systems and devices include telephones, computers, and televisions. Within the building, communication links share a common infrastructure centered on a network of unshielded twisted pair wires (UTPs) of a type used for telephone communication. Although it was described in terms of communication within a building, versions of the systems can also be used to link devices within a multi-building field. Also, in some versions of the systems, communication is supported between devices within a building, in addition to, or in lieu of, communication between external devices and information services. For example, multiple computers in the building can communicate with one another without necessarily being coupled to an external data network. Referring to Figure 2, several external information services are attached to a building 100b. These services include public switched telephone network 120, data network 122, such as the Internet, and television distribution system 124, such as a cable information system. These services are connected to a main information interface 200 in the building. In this case, the main information interface 200 is coupled to PSTN 120 over UTP cables 121, and to the television distribution system over the broadband connection 125, such as a coaxial or optical cable. A main information interface 200 is coupled to the data network 122 either through PSTN 120 or through the television distribution system 124, shown as a logical connection 123. The main information interface 200 is coupled to a UTP 250 network within the building 100b. In accordance with the invention, the UTP 250 network provides a common communication link to the telephones 134, computers 144, and televisions 154 that are distributed around the building. It should be noted that "telephones" can be any of a variety of devices intended to be connected to a telephone line, including sets of telephones, answering machines and fax machines. The "computers" can be any device that has a data communications interface. In addition to desktops and laptops, these devices can include devices and other devices that have data communication capabilities. "Televisions" may include television receivers as well as the combination of a television receiver, a wireless remote control and a fixed overhead box that can provide interactive television (ITV) services to a user. In said ITV services, the wireless remote control commands pass back to the television distribution system to affect the television signal provided to the user. Referring to Figure 3, the UTP network 250a (an example of UTP network 250 in Figure 2), illustrates a branching structure as it can be found in a single-family residence. In this example, a UTP cable (a bundle of one or more pairs of wires, typically one or two pairs in a residence) provides wiring connections to the main information interface 200. In order to provide service in wall plugs multiple 300a-c, the cable can be chained by a daisy to the pins, and can be divided into one or more points along its route forming a three-dimensional structure. In Figure 3, pin 300a is a plug that provides a daisy chain connection. The pin 300b is at a dividing point in the cable. The pins 300c are at the termination points on the cable. The telephones 134, the computers 144, and the televisions 154 are coupled to the pins 300a-c. Referring to Figure 4, another UTP 250b network is of a type of wiring network that could be found in a larger building, such as a hotel or an apartment building. The UTP networks of separate units 400 provide a separate unit service. In this case, each UTP 400 unit network is coupled to an intermediate distribution interface 520. The intermediate distribution interfaces 520 are then coupled through a network of UTP intermediate 500 to the main information interface 200. For example, an intermediate distribution interface 520 can be located on each floor of the building and provide service to units on that floor. The intermediate distribution interface 520 can be located on each floor of the building and provide service to the units on that floor. The intermediate distribution interface 520 provides a point at which a physical connection can be formed between a cable leading to a unit UTP network 400 and a cable that leads through the intermediate UTP network 500 for the main information interface 200. 2 SIGNALING (FIGURES 6-7) The general signaling approach in the UTP 250 network, (Figure 29 is multiplexing signals on UTP cables used for telephone communication (ie, active UTP). A long frequency band of frequencies above the frequencies used for common telephone communication The frequency band used for common telephone communication extends to approximately 3.3 kHz The high frequency band may extend from the telephone band to 32 MHz or higher While it still provides adequate signal transmission inside the building, UTP cables that are not used for telephone communication can use Also, if available, in addition to, or in lieu of, UTP cables used for telephone communication. Referring to Figure 6, a preferred distribution of the frequency bands used in this system in active UTPs is as follows: • 0-3.3 kHz: the telephone band 610 used for bi-directional communication between 134 and PSTN 120 telephones . • 2-2.5 MHz: a control band 620 used to pass the control signals of terminal des, such as from the remote control to a telion, for the main information interface 250. • 3-15 MHz: a data band 630 used for bi-directional communication between computers 144 and the main information channel 250. • 17-32 NHz: a 640 telion band to pass a modulated telion signal, aunt as a mixed signal of FM modulated NTSC, the primary information interface 250 to the telions 154. In inactive UTP, a portion of the telephone band 610 may also be used as part of the data band 630. In particular, certain data pointing approaches (e.g. , 10Base2), described below, use low frequencies for collision detection. 2.1 Data signaling (Fig. 7) In several versions of the system, the signaling in data band 630 is based on the IEEE 802.3 standard of "Ethernet" or the related standard 802.12. In particular, the signaling in one or two UTPs is related to the standards of lOBaseT and 10Base2 that provide data communication of 10Mb / s between des such as computers and central data communication nodes and route routers. The signaling in one or more of two UTPs refers to the 100BaseT4 and 100VG 100 Mb / s standards. 2o 2.1 .1 10 Mb / s over a UTP System versions can use one of several signaling approaches to transfer data at 10Mb / s over a single UTP. These approaches include: 1. Signaling of 10Base2 Normal; 2. Modified 10Base2 signaling that inhibits transmission in the telephone band; and .3. Modified 10Base2 signaling that inhibits transmission in the telephone band and in which each de sends a transmission notification tone in the data band. Referring to Fig. 7a, in the first approach, the data is passed over a single UTP using signaling defined by the 10Base2 standard. According to the norm, CD near low frequencies 710 is used for collision detection. This approach to signaling is useful in UTPs that are not also used for telephone communication, since low frequencies 710 could interfere with telephone communication. Referring to Figure 7b, a modified 10Base2 signaling approach inhibits transmission at low frequencies. As fully described below, the collision detection approach with this signaling approach uses only signals in data band 630. Since this modified signaling does not use the telephone band, it can be used in an active UTP.

Referring to Figure 7c, another signaling approach that can be used in active UTPs uses tones within the data band 630 for collision detection. When two des communicate using this modified 10Base2 signal, each uses a tone (or some other narrow band signal) to indicate that it is transmitting. The two des are assigned different frequencies for their tones, in this system, 4.5 MHz 720a and 5.5 MHz 720b. A de transmits on one of the two frequencies and listens on the other of the two frequencies to determine if a collision has occurred. Although the transmission tone frequencies of 4.5 MHz and 5.5 MHz are within the frequency band of the encoded data that is transmitted by the des, these frequencies are chosen since inexpensive ceramic filters are available at these frequencies. The filters have bandwidths of approximately 0.3 MHz. Since this relatively narrow bandwidth filters this bandwidth at the two tone frequencies, it does not significantly affect the encoded data signal. In some versions of the system that use this modified 10Base2 signal, two or more des share the same frequency of transmission tones. For example, multiple computers in a unit can use a frequency of tones and a distant central node can use the other frequency. In such systems, devices that share the same transmission tone frequency shall concurrently transmit a tone at this frequency and detect the possible transmission of a tone on the same frequency by another device. As an alternative for using the transmission tone frequencies within the data band 630, the tone frequencies can be chosen below 3MHz to avoid overlapping with the data band. 2.1.2. 10 Mb / s over two UTP Data communication over two UTPs uses the signaling of the lOBaseT standard. According to the lOBaseT standard, collision detection is achieved without the use of any low frequency signal, therefore the data communication in each of the two UTPs does not interfere with the telephone voiceband in any UTP. 2.1.3100 Mb / s on three or more UTP. With the signaling of the standard of 100BaseT4 and 100 VG, four UTP are needed for communication between two devices.

Unfortunately, wiring in multi-unit buildings sometimes includes more than three UTPs reaching each unit and some structures include only two. According to the invention, the system versions use less than four UTP. In the 100BaseT4 standards systems in which two devices (ie a computer and a central node) are communicating, only three UTPs are used at any time to transmit data from one device to the other, and a different subgroup of three UTP are used to receive data from the other device. When they are transmitted, the device listens in the fourth UTP to detect a collision. In the first signaling approach of 100 Mb / s, only three UTPs are used for data transmission as well as collision detection. When transmitted, a device transmits data in three UTPs in the data band 630 according to the signaling approach used in 100BaseT4. The device also applies a deviation in one of three UTPs and detects whether the other device also applies a CD deviation to the same UTP. The other two UTPs can use the telephone band for telephone communication since the signaling of 100BaseT4 data in each UTP does not interfere with the telephone band. An alternative to using a CD offset for collision detection uses a transmission tone approach similar to that used in one of the modified 10Base2 signaling approaches described above. The second signaling approach of 100 Mb / s is based on the 100VG standard (IEEE 802.12). in 100VG systems, four differential signals are transmitted in four UTPs. In our second 100 Mb / s approach, only three UTPs were used. The four differential signals are coded using a combination of differential and common mode signals in the three UTPs. In a case of this signaling approach, a differential signal is transmitted as the difference between the common mode signals in two of the UTPs. The three remaining differential signals are transmitted unmodified as differential signals in the three UTPs. Note that in principle, up to five different signals can be transmitted on the six wires forming the three UTP. Note that in principle, up to five different signals can be transmitted on the six wires forming the three UTPs, and only four signals are needed. According to the 100VG standard, the telephone band is not used and therefore the three UTPs used for this 100 Mb / s signal can also be used as active telephone lines. 2.1.4 10 Mb / s over multiple UTPs The general approach of dividing a data stream for multiple UTP transmission can also be used to send a 10 Mb / s signal over a large distance. In general, the approach involves dividing a normal 10 Mb / s data stream into parallel N currents. These currents are sent over a communication path consisting of UTP N + 1. N of UTP are used to send the data stream divided. Due to the lower data rate, a lower frequency scale is needed for the transmission, thus increasing the scale and strength of the signaling. During the transmission, the 1st. UTP N + is monitored to detect collisions. For example, using five UTPs, a data stream of 10 Mb / s is demultiplexed from 1: 4 into four streams of 2.5 Mb / s and transmitted as separate UTPs using a Manchester dosing scheme similar to that used in lOBaseT or 10Base2. Due to the reduced data rate, the spectrum is extended, in this demultiplexing approach from 1: 4, to approximately 3.75 MHz. 2.2 Television signal Referring again to Figure 6, the transmission of signals in the television band 640 uses an FM modulation approach of a mixed NTSC signal. The mixed NTSC signal includes a video signal with a spectrum up to about 4.5 MHz. The mixed signal FM broadcasts modulated the resulting spectrum approximately on the scale of 17 MHz to 32 MHz. The lower end of that scale, 17 MHz, is chosen to provide sufficient separation of the data band extending to approximately 15 MHz. The upper end of this scale, 32 MHz, is chosen to avoid conflict with US FCC rules. The transmission of signals by alternative television can be used. In particular, digitally encoded television signals can be used. For example, using a Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) approach, an encoded digital television signal can occupy a frequency band of 1 MHz to 3 MHz. Therefore, as an alternative to use a television band at higher frequencies than the data band, a digital television band can be at frequencies between the telephone band and the data band, without interfering with any of the other bands. 3. DISTRIBUTION OF SIGNALS (FIGURES 8-10) According to the preferred modalities of the system, telephone, data and video signals are multiplexed on the frequency using the signaling approaches described above. The multiplexed signals are distributed from the main information interface 200 on the UTP 250 cabling network (Fig. 2). 3.1 Simple Pairs Distribution Referring to Figure 8, a preferred system mode uses a single UTP to distribute the multiplexed signals. The main information interface 200 includes a central voice, data and video node 800 which couples the telephone, data and video services to the UTP network 250. The central node 800 connects to the UTP network 250 through the a wiring block 805. In the UTP 250 network, the pins 300 provide points at which the terminal devices are coupled to the UTP 250 network. The terminal devices, including 134 telephones, 144 computers, 154 televisions, and as remote controls 834, they are connected to the pins 300 through wall adapters 830 and fixed top boxes 832. The central node 800, wall adapters 830 and fixed top boxes 832 work together to perform the media conversion and the functions of multiplexing and frequency demultiplexing to provide communication services to terminal devices. The central voice, data and video node 800 has three connections to external telephone, data and television services. The central node 800 is connected to the UTP cables 121 which provide PSTN 120 telephone services. The central node 800 is also connected to a central data node 815 and a video source 820. The central data node 815 allows the computers 144 communicate over data network 122. In some versions of the system, central data node 815 also allows computers 144 to communicate with each other. In other versions of the system, the central data node 815 inhibits data communication between the computers 144 as a security measure. The video source 820 accepts control information that originates from remote controllers 834 and provides television signals that are displayed on corresponding television sets 154. In this version of the system, the computers 144 and the central data node 815 have data interfaces. Normal OBaseT. Also, the data communication within the UTP 250 network uses a single active UTP for data communication with each computer. Referring to Figure 9, the central voice, data and video node 800 includes separate converters 900, one for each active telephone line 810. In this version of the system, the converter 900 communicates with a particular wall adapter 830. For example, the converter 900 is coupled to the wall adapter 830 and coupled to a wall adapter 830. For example, the converter 900 is coupled to the wall adapter 830 and coupled to a UTP 121 providing telephone communication to PSTN 120. converter 900 connects to a pair of UTP l OBaseT, reception UTP 82 and a transmission 804 UTP, providing communication of the OBaseT with the central data node 815 l OBaseT. The converter 900 connects to a UTP 806 to accept video signals from the video source 820 and provides control signals to the video source. Still referring to Figure 9, the video source 820 includes video converters 920, each connected on UTP 806 to a corresponding converter 900. The signals pass in both directions on UTP 806. Each video converter 920 accepts the information from control of the corresponding converter 900 and provides the control information to a video selector 930, which in turn provides a television signal back to the video converter. Referring to Figure 10, the detailed signal paths for a UTP 810 in the UTP 250 network can be followed from the converter 900 through the wall adapter 830 and the fixed top box 832. The telephone signals in the band of The PSTN 120 telephone passes over UTP 121 to the 900 converter. The telephone signal passes through a slow-pass filter (LPF) 1020 that passes the telephone band. The telephone signal, which is passed through LPF 1020, continues through the UTP network 250 and eventually reaches the wall adapter 830. In the wall adapter 830, the signal passes through an LPF 1040 which passes the signal from telephone to telephone 134.

LPF 1020 also passes CD. PsTN 120 provides CD power over UTP 121 and therefore LPF 1020 passes this power through UTP 810. An LPF 1054 passes very low frequencies allowing the recovery of CD power to energize the 830 wall adapter and the upper case Fixed fix 832. Telephone signals 124 pass to PSTN 120 on the same path in the opposite direction. Referring again to Figure 10, the computer 144 is coupled to the wall adapter 830 by two UTP 1082 and 1084 in accordance with the lOBaseT standard. In the wall adapter 830, a medium converter 1044 converts the communication of these two UTP to transmit it in a single UTP. In this illustrated system mode, single-UTP data communication uses transmission notification tones within the data band for collision detection. The data signal passes from the media converter 1044 to a bandpass filter / balancer (BPF) 1042. The balancer / BPF 1042 passes the data band and balances the signal applied to UTP 810. Within the adapted wall 830, the data signal is blocked by LPF 1040, a BPF 1046, an HPF 1040 and LPF 1054. i The signal data passes over UTP 810 to the converter 900. In the converter 900, the data signal passes through a balancer / BPF 1010 to a media converter 1012. The media converter 1012 converts the data signal to an IOBaseT signal. and applies it to UTP 804. The signal of lOBaseT is received and processed by the central data node 815. In the converter 900, LPF 1020 prevents the data signal in the data band from passing over UTP 121 to PSTN 120. The central node 815 sends a data signal to the computer 144 by first sending an IOBaseT signal to the media converter 1012 over UTP 802. After the media converter 1012 converts the lOBaseT signal to a data signal for signaling over a UTP, it sends the converted signal over the reverse route through of the balancer / BPF 1010, on UTP 810, through the balancer / BPF 1042 to the media converter 1044 where it is converted back to an OBseT signal and passed to the computer 144 over UTP 1082. | Still referring to the Figure 10, the television and control signals pass between the remote control 834 and the television 154 and the video converter 920. A user (observer) uses remote control 834 to send a control signal, for example, by selecting a television program particular. The remote control 834 passes an infra-red signal (IR) 1090 to the fixed upper case 832. In the fixed upper case 832, an IR receiver 1062 accepts the IR signal and converts it to an electrical signal that encodes the information of control. This signal is applied to a control modulator 1060 that modulates the control signal so that its spectrum is in the control frequency band. This control signal is passed to the wall adapter 830 on UTP 1086. In the wall adapter 830, the modulated control signal passes through the BPF 1045 passing the control band. The modulated control signal passes over UTP 810 to the converter 900. The control signal is blocked by LPF 1020 and by the balancer / BOPF 1010. The control signal is passed to the video converter 920 in UTP 806 where it passes through the BPF 1030, which passes the control band, to a control demodulator 1036 which recovers the control signal produced by the IR receiver 1062. The recovered control signal is passed to the video selector 930 (Fig. 9). In response to the reception of a control signal through the video converter 920 of a remote control 834, the video selector 930 transmits a television signal to the video converter 920. The video selector 930 includes a group of tuners ( not shown) that select particular broadcasters provided over the broadband connection 125 from the television distribution network 124 based on the received control signals. Still referring to Figure 10, the video converter 920 accepts a television signal from the 930 video selector. This signal is in a mixed NTSC format. In the video converter 920, the video modulator 134 modulates the frequency of the mixed NTSC signal so that the resulting signal is in the television band. This FM signal passes through the high-pass filter 132, which passes the television band, to the converter 900. The signal then passes over UTP 810 to the wall adapter 830.

In the wall adapter 830, the FM-modulated television signal passes through HPF 1048 and is amplified in a 1050 amplifier. The wall adapter 830 provides power to the fixed upper case 832 by applying DC power obtained from UTP 810 to through LPF 1054 to the video connection coupling wall adapter 830 and fixed upper case 832. In particular, the output of the amplifier 1050 passes through an HPF 1052 that blocks CD. The output of HPF 1052 that blocks CD. The output of HPF 1052 is connected to the output of LPF 1054 and passes to the fixed upper case 832 on UTP 1088. The fixed upper case 832 accepts the combined FM modulated television signal and the power of CD over UTP 1088. In the fixed top box 832, FM modulated television signal passes through HPF 1064 blocking the CD. The FM signal is fed to the video demodulator 1066 which recovers the mixed NTSC signal. The mixed NTSC signal is then AM modulated in NTSC modulator 1068 at a normal television frequency and television 154 is provided which internally retrieves the video and audio components of the NTSC signal in its receiver section. Also in the fixed top case 82, the DC power signal input on UTP 1088 passes through LPF 1072 to provide power to the active components in the fixed top case. 3.2 The distribution of data of multiple pairs Another preferred modality of the system uses multiple UTPs to distribute multiplexed signals. The arrangement is similar to that shown in Figures 8.10. Referring to Figure 11, two UTP 810 couple a converter 900a and a wall adapter 830a. The converter 900a is similar to the converter 900 in FIG. 1 1 except that the media converter 1012a communicates data on two UTPs, for example, using normal OBaseT signaling, whereas in FIG. 10, the media converter 1012 communicates data about a single UTP. In the converter 900a, the media converter 1012a is coupled to the data node 820 on UTP 802 and 804. The media converter 1012a is coupled to two UTP 810 through separate BPFs 1010. The two UTPs 810 are coupled to PSTN 120 through respective LPFs 1020. The wall adapter 830 is connected to both UTPs 810. Each UTP 810 can be coupled to a separate telephone 134 through an LPF 1040. Both UTP 810s are connected to a media converter 1044a through two BPF 1042. The media converter 1044a communicates with the media converter 1012a and p signals the OBaseT l back and forth with the computer 144. If 10BseT signaling is used normal , the media converter 1044a can be a particularly simple media converter 1044a simply pass signals directly between BPF 1042 and the computer 144 without any processing. In this case, BPF 1042 can be located on a wall plug and computer 144 is then connected directly to the wall plug with a two-UTP cable. If the plug has an RJ-45 plug wired according to the lOBaseT standard, the computer 144 is connected to the wall plug exactly as if it were connected directly to a central node of lOBaseT. Still referring to Figure 11, the fixed upper case 832 is connected to the wall adapter 830a in a similar manner since it is connected to the wall adapter 830 in Figure 10. The wall adapter 830 is attached to the fixed upper case to only one of the two UTP 810 since the video and control signals are multiplexed into a single UTP. The video signals pass from one of the two UTP 810, through HFP 1048, amplifier 1050, and HPF 1052 to the fixed upper case 832. The control signals pass from the fixed upper case 832 through BPF 1046 to the same. UTP 810. Other multiple UTP provisions follow the same approach. For example, in a three-UTP data signaling approach that provides 100 Mb / s data communication with a 144 computer, the computer is coupled to a media converter in a four-UTP wall adapter using 100BaseT4 signaling or 100VG. The media converter converts this signaling to a three-UTP signaling format. These three signals are coupled over the three UTP 810s to a corresponding media converter which is coupled to a central node of 100 Mb / s. 4 MEDIA CONVERSION (FIGS 12-16) Referring again to Fig. 10, media converters 1012 and 1044 convert two UTP lOBaseT signals for communication over a single UTP into the UTP 250 network. Types of media converters can be used in various versions of the system. 4.1 Conversion of lOBaseT to a single active UTP (Fig. 12 = Referring to Fig. 12, a media converter 1012a couples a transmission UTP 804 of normal lOBaseT and UTP receiver 802 to a UTP 1280 which uses the signaling of 10Base2 Modified shown in Figure 7c Internally, the media converter 1012a uses a normal media converter of 10BaseT-10Base2 1220, such as a number of LXT906 integrated circuit parts manufactured by Leel One Corporation, as well as associated circuitry, for the interface with a pair of wires 1280. The media converter 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 accepts the lOBaseT signals on UTP 802 from the central data node 815 which supports the lOBaseT communication, and provides lOBaseT signals over UTP 802 to the central node of The media converter 1012a applies signals to the pair of wires 1280 in the following manner: The media converter 1220 of 10BaseT-10Base2 accepts a signal on UTP 802 which then or stops a 10Base2 1230 complaint signal. If the transmission notifier 1234 detects a transmission of the media converter 1220 of 10BaseT-10Base2, a generator 1236 passes through the bandpass filter 1238, a ceramic filter which limits its external energy at a bandwidth of 0.3 MHz around 4.5 MHz. The output of bandpass filter 1238 is passed to amplifier 1266 where it is added to the output of slot filter 1232 and amplified. When not transmitting, the amplifier 1266 has a very high output impedance in order not to load the pair of wires 1280. When it is transmitting, the amplifier 1266 applies its amplified output to the directional coupler 1260. The directional coupler 1260 suppresses the transmission of amplifier signals 1266 back to the 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 media converter through an amplifier 1262. The directional coupler 1160 passes the amplified signal to UTP 1180. Note that the signal passing on the wire pair 1280 always includes an "overvoltage" of energy centered at 4.5 MHz.

This harmony is used by a corresponding media converter (e.g., 1044, Fig. 10), also coupled to a pair of wires 1280 to detect when the media converter 1012a is transmitting. The media converter 1012a passes signals from the pair of wires 1280 to the pair of wires 10BaseT in the following manner. The signals from the pair of wires 1280 pass through the directional coupler 1260 to the amplifier / equalizer 1262.

The amplifier / equalizer 1262 has high input impedance so as to detect signals flowing on the pair of wires 1280 without unloading the pair of wires. The amplifier / equalizer 1262 tilts the spectrum of the signal it receives to flatten the spectrum. This process is commonly referred to as equalization. The amplifier / equalizer 1262 also reinforces the energy of the signal at the level expected by the media converter 10BseT-10Base2 1220. The signal from the amplifier / equalizer 1262 passes through a slotted filter 1240, a ceramic filter that blocks energy in the 0.3 MHz band centered around 5.5 MHz. The grooved filter 1240 therefore blocks the harmonic "transmission notification" to . 5 MHz, which was applied by the transmission media converter.

The amplifier / equalizer signal 1262 also passes to a transmission detector 1250. In the transmission detector 1250, a ceramic bandpass filter 12252 blocks all of the energy outside the 0.3 MHz band centered at 5.5 MHz. "transmit notification" of the transmission medium converter passes to the detector 1254 which detects the signal. After a short temporary period, the detector 1254 determines that a transmit notification signal is present and applies a signal "signal reception" to the collision detection port of the media converter of 10BaseT-10Base2 1220. If the media converter of 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 receives the "signal reception" signal at the same time that it is transmitting a signal 1230, determines that a collision has occurred. When a media converter of 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 determines that a collision has occurred, it sends an appropriate signal in UTP lOBaseT 804 to the signal to the lOBaseT device connected to the media converter 1012a that a collision has occurred. The media converter 1012a is designed to communicate with an associated media converter, the slotted filter 1240 and the bandpass filter 1252 are tuned to 4.5 MHz and the slotted filter 1232, the bandpass filter 1238 and the generator 1236 and they are tuned to 5.5 MHz. 4.2 Conversion of an alternative lOBaseT to a single active UTP (Fig. 13). Referring to Fig. 13, the media converter 1012 is an alternative to the media converter 1012a (Fig. 12). The media converter 1012b couples the transmission UTP of normal 80B and receiving UTP 802 to a UTP 1280 using the modified 10BaseT signaling shown in FIG. 7b. The media converter 1012b operates in the following manner. The flow of input signals from UTP 1280 through the directional coupler 1260 to the amplifier / equalizer 1262. The amplifier / equalizer 1262 adjusts the energy level of the signal and equalizes the signal through the data band. The resulting signal is passed to the receiving port of the 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 media converter.

The signals sent from the transmission port of the 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 media converter flow through the amplifier 1266. The amplifier 1266 reinforces the energy of the signal before applying it through a 1320 hybrid. The signal passes through the hybrid 1320 to the directional coupler 1260 and then to the UTP 1280. The directional coupler 1260 attenuates signals from the hybrid 1320 that can cross the amplifier / equalizer 1262. However, some power could leak out through the amplifier / equalizer 1262 and reach the receiving port. of the 10BaseT-20Base2 1220 media converter. When the 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 media converter is transmitted, however, it ignores the signals at its receiving port. As a result, the transmissions will not be misinterpreted as incoming data. When they are transmitted, the media converter of 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 must attend to signals arriving at its collision port. The key to the collision detection mechanism is the hybrid 1320, which is a 3-port transformer. The signals flow freely through the hybrid 1320 between the amplifier 1266 and the directional coupler 1260. The hybrid 1320 passes only a narrow frequency band of signals input from the directional coupler 1260 to the transmission detector 1350. The hybrid 1320 attenuates the signals of 1266 amplifier input.

A narrow band is chosen since if the width of this band is increased while the sharp steering capability is retained, the cost of hybrid 1320 is dramatically increased. In this version of the system, the directional band extends between 5 MHz and 6 mHz . This narrow band is located at the lower end of the data band, since the interference energy of the surrounding wires is reduced with the decrease in frequencies. The reduction of interference is important since the purpose of the hybrid is to pass only the energy transmitted from the converter at the opposite end of the transmission line and to block any energy that crosses from the transmission port of the 10BaseT- media converter. 10Base2 1220. The transmission detector 1350 therefore receives signals in the 5-6 MHz band of the 1320 hybrid. The received signals are data signals sent from another media converter and are data signals that are sent by this converter. means, but attenuated by the hybrid 1320. The transmission detector 1350 measures the energy in the received signal and with a few bits of data can detect the presence of a data signal. The 1350 transmission detector also receives the output from the transmission port of the 10BaseT-10Base2 media converter 1220 is transmitting a signal. Whenever the transmission detector 1350 detects a transmission of the media converter 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 and a transmission from the associated converter at the opposite end, it signals the collided port of the media converter 10BaseT-10Base2 1220 that a collision is taking place. . 4.3 Conversion of lOBaseT to a single active UTP for multiple devices (Figure 14) Referring to Figure 14, the media converter 1012c is very similar to the media converter 1012a shown in Fig. 12. The media converter 1012c has the additional ability to detect a collision with a transmission of another media converter having the same frequency of transmission tones. This allows, for example, that several devices in a unit share the same frequency of transmission tones and the central data node to have a second frequency of transmission tones. The media converter 1012c differs in one aspect from the media converter 1012a. The media converter 1012c includes a transmission detector 1450 having signals on both transmission tone frequencies. The BPF 1252 passes tones at 5.5 MHz to a detector 1454, while a 1456 BPF passes tones at 4.5 mHz, the transmission tone frequency of the 1012c media converter. The detector 1454 also receives the output from the transmission notifier 1234. When the media converter 1012c transmits a signal in UTP 1280, the transmission tone of 4.5 MHz is passed from the amplifier 1266 to the directional coupler 1260. Since the directional coupler 1260 does not attenuate the tone completely, the attenuated 4.5 MHz tone generated by the transmission notifier 1234 is passed through BPF 1456 to the detector 1454. The 4.5 MHz tone also passes directly from the transmission notifier 1234 to the detector 1454. In a The second station transmits at 4.5 MHz, however, the power level at the output of BPF 1456 is increased while the output of the transmission notifier 1234 does not. Therefore, the detector 1454 can detect the presence of the second transmission device and declares that a collision has occurred. 4.4 The conversion of media of 10 and 100 Mb / s to three active UTPs (Figs 15-16) 4.1.1 100VG media converter (Fig. 15) Fig. 15 shows a media converter 1510 used to convert four UTPs 1530, 1532, 1534, which are coupled to a normal 100VG device, to only three UTP 1540, 1542 that carries a converted data signal. The media converter 1530 includes a transformer 1520 that couples three of the four UTP 1530, 1532 of 100VG and two of the three UTP 1540. UTP 1534 passes directly passes directly through the media converter 1530 to UTP 1542. The transformer 1520 is denominates a transformer of "3 entrances-2-exits". The transformer 1532 to the differential components of the signals in the UTP 1540. The differential signal in UTP 1530 is coupled to UTP 1540 so that the differential signal was expressed as the difference in the signals in the common mode of the two UTP 1540. The 100VG signals in UTP 1530, 1532, and 1534 do not use the telephone band for data signaling. Therefore, the signals converted to UTP 1540 do not use the telephone band for data signaling. Therefore, the signals converted to UTP 1540 and 1542 also do not use the telephone band for signaling data. This allows the three UTP 1540 and 1542 to be active telephone lines without interference between telephone and data signals. An alternative for the media converter 1510 also uses common mode signals to transmit data. Instead of coding the differential signal s (t) into two common mode signals C1 (t) and C2 (t) as C1 (t) = s (t) / 2 C2 (t) = -s (t) / 2 , Three common modes can be used. The differential signal s (t) can be expressed as C1 (t) = s (t) / 6 C2 (t) = s (t) / 6 C3 (t) = -s (t) / 3. This has the advantage that the maximum amplitude of the common mode signals was reduced, thus reducing the radiated energy. This allows higher signal levels to be used.

One factor to consider is that this type of common mode signaling requires termination not only of three UTP 1540 and 1542 to avoid reflections in a transmission line, but also requires the termination of common mode transmission lines. For termination modes, you can convert the return signals to four UTPs and then finish each of the four UTPs separately. 4.4.2 100BaseT4 media converter (Fig. 16) Referring to Figure 16, the media converter 1600 is connected to four UTP 1601, 1602, 1604, and 1606 that is coupled with the media converter 1600 to a device of 100BaseT4. Three of the four UTP 1601, 1602, 1604 are used by the 100BaseT4 device to transmit data. When they are transmitted, the device detects collisions by monitoring the UTP 1606. The 100BaseT4 device receives data in three UTP 1601, 1602, and 1606. In order to convert the signals in the four UTPs of 100BaseT4 to the signals in three UTPs , the three UTP 1607, 1608, and 1610 are one for bidirectional data communication in the data band. In addition, UTP 1610 is used for collision detection. The signals received by the media converter 1600 on UTP 1601 and 1602, pass through the directional couplers 1628, amplifiers 1624, directional couplers 1622, and HPF 1620, and finally are transmitted in UTP 1607 and 1608.

The signals received in UTP 1607 and 1608 follow the reverse path except that the signals pass through the amplifiers 1626 instead of the amplifier 1624. | the signals received by the media converter 1600 in UTP 1604 pass through the amplifier 1624 , Directional coupler 1622 and HPF 1620 and then transmitted in UTP 1610.

The data signals received in UTP 1610 pass through HPF 1620 and the directional coupler 1622 to amplifier 1638 and are then transmitted to the 100BaseT4 device over UTP 1606. When the media converter 1600 receives a signal from the 100BaseT4 device in UTP 1604 , a transmission notifier 1634 detects the signal and applies a CD signal through LPF 1630 in UTP 1610. When the media converter 1600 receives a UTP signal 1507, 1608, 1610, the transmission media converter has applied a signal from CD to UTP 1610. This CD signal passes through LPF 1632 and is detected by transmission detector 1636. When transmission detector 1636 detects a CD offset that is not due to transmission notifier 1634 by applying a deviation of CD, sends a signal to amplifier 1638. This signal has the characteristics of a data transmission. This data-like signal is sent in UTP 1606 which causes the connected 100BaseT4 device to detect a collision. 5 CENTRAL DATA NODES (FIGS 17-18) Referring again to Fig. 8, when a computer 144 transmits data, the data signal passes through the UTP 250 network to the central voice, data, and data center node. video 800 and then to the central data node 815. The normal central data nodes re-transmit signals received at a port on all other ports, often regenerating and amplifying the signal. The transmitted signal is therefore available to other computers 144 coupled to the central data node 815. 5.1 Central Security Node (Fig. 17) In many situations, communication between the computers 144 and the data network 122 is desired, but privacy is desired so that computers can not intercept communication between other computers and data network 122. Referring to Figure 17, a central security enhanced node 1700 includes a repeater 1710 and physical layer circuits 1720, one of each port 1701, 1704 of the central node 1700. Port 1702 is the port of the "base structure" that provides a connection to the data network 120 while the ports 1704 provide connections to the computers 144. The central node 1700 it also includes security circuitry 1730 coupled with each of the physical layer circuits 1720. The enhanced central security node 1700 operates in the following manner. In order to avoid the interception of signals sent by a computer 144 to other computers 144, if the data being received by the central node, the security circuitry 1730 detects whether the data is being received by the central node 1700 through the port of the base structure 1702 or through one of the station ports 1704. If the data is being received from a station port, the security circuitry 1730 signals the circuits of the physical layer 1720 of the other station ports to modify the output signals, for example, by sending a predetermined character pattern in where a stream of characters is being received. Note that by sending a modified data signal to the other computers, collisions are avoided since the other computers know that the data is being sent by another computer. If the data is being received from the port of the base structure, the security circuitry 1730 determines the Ethernet (MAC) address of each data packet and then signals the physical layer circuits 1720 of all but one station port 1704 blocks the transmission of the packet. The port to which the targeted computer connects sends the given packet as it is being received from the port of the base structure. Again, the signals are blocked by the physical layer circuits by sending a predetermined character pattern or other signal instead of sending a signal encoding the data packet. Note that in this arrangement, the broadcast packets received from a computer 144 are sent only to the port of the base structure without modification. Broadcast packets received from the port of the base structure are provided to all station ports. 5.2 Extended Scale Central Nodes When the central data node 185 connects to computers more than 99 meters away, the normal 10BaseT signaling, over two UTPs may not work due to a variety of factors, including signal attenuation. Also, if the distance is less than 90 meters, but there are multiple junctions in the route that attenuate the signal, this shorter but attenuated route has characteristics similar to a route that is very long. One solution is to equip each computer 144 with an IOBaseT adapter whose minimum reception level is to adhere to the 10Base2 standard, that is, 6 dB less than the IOBaseT standard and modify the physical layer circuits at the central node in a similar way. The drawback of this provision, of course, is the cost and inconvenience of providing special lOBaseT hardware on each computer. If, on the other hand, special electronics can be confined to the side of the central node, the drawback of extra cost is much more limited. 5.2.1 Transmission and Reception Levels Referring to Fig. 18, each physical layer circuit 1830 and an extended-scale central node uses an increased transmission level and a reduced minimum reception compared to a central node of normal IOBaseT.

For example, in the event that the signals arriving at the central node have suffered sufficient attenuation to be 2 dB below the minimum level required by the 10BaseT standard, the minimum required level imposed by the physical layer circuit 1830 is reduced by 3 dB. In this way, these attenuated signals are received with a reliability that is approximately the same as the reliability required by Ethernet standards. We now consider the level of a signal that is transmitted from the physical layer circuit 1830 and is received in a normal lOBaseT adapter in a computer 144. This signal will also be below 2dB of the minimum required, given that the transmission loss in the opposite direction is the same. The transmit level of amplifier # 1850 of the physical layer circuits is 3dB above the norm of lOBaseT. Therefore, the signal received by the normal adapter will also have an excess of 1dB. 5.2.2 Spectral tilt Also, the attenuation suffered by a signal as it transmits it through the wires in twisted pairs is not uniform across the frequencies, while the frequencies are higher, they attenuate more quickly. As a result, there is an "inclination" in the spectrum of the signal and this inclination increases as the length of the wire increases. As a result, the tilt, when it is in communication through 180 meters, is probably much higher than when communicating through 90 meters of wiring.

Spectral tilt can degrade the ability of an electronic receiver to reliably retrieve data from signals on the transmission line. One solution to this problem is to adjust the spectrum in the # 1850 amplifier. In this case, the challenge is to amplify the higher frequencies vis-a-vis the lower frequencies so that the signal spectrum will be flat when it reaches the receiving end. This is sometimes called prior emphasis. 5.2.3. Interference The signals received by the physical layer circuits, in larger general quantities, will suffer from interference due to the increased transmission level. If the crossing of energies from the transmission line to the receiving line is strong enough, the physical layer circuits will react as if they will receive a signal each time it transmits. This could cause a collision that will be declared every time a transmission begins, completely canceling the communication process. The possibility of false collisions imposes a limit on the amount of the transmission and the minimum reception levels can be adjusted. To illustrate why this is done, it must be considered that the growth of the transmission level by 3dB increases the interference collected by the receiving part of the physical layer circuit by 3dB. Similarly, the decrease in the minimum reception level by this amount decreases by 3 dB, the level at which the interference energy will appear to be a genuine signal. The result is that the threat of interference has increased by 6 dB. In other words, if the interference power in an ordinary lOBaseT system were only 5 dB lower than the minimum necessary to create interference, then making the adjustments of 3dB, described above, would cause false collisions. The experiments have been carried out with the product of XL600 +, described above, wherein the signals were transmitted on a pair of wires and were received, simultaneously, on a pair of surrounding wires. This product transmits at levels that are approximately equal to the normal transmission level of lOBaseT, but which uses minimum reception levels that are lower 6dB. So the confrontation to the XL600 + interference is 6dB greater than the ordinary lOBaseT Ethernet confrontation. However, the experiments show no evidence of false collisions. This is evidence that the 3dB settings can be made for the transmission level as well as for the minimum hardware reception level of ordinary lOBaseT and will not result in false collisions. Interference can also create problems by reducing the signal-to-noise ratio at a receiving port. It is assumed that the signals are received in a circuit of physical layers and are routed through the other circuit of physical layers and transmitted outside the associated pairs. In this situation, signals are being received in a port while they are being transmitted, with a slight delay, through other surrounding ports. If the twisted pairs that are connected to these ports are tied in the same cable, the energy of the three transmission pairs will cross and be collected by the receiving port. Experiments were carried out with XL600 + in which the level of transmitted signal was left in the standard of lOBaseT, although the communication was successful in 219 meters of UTP. (The extra length was possible since the minimum acceptable reception level was reduced by 6dB). Therefore, the SNR at the reception port was reduced, during these experiments, by the extra attenuation suffered in the transmission on extra 120-meter wire. According to the normal graphs that indicate how the energy is attenuated in the wires in twisted pairs, the extra attenuation is on average about 6 dB above the frequency scale in question. To observe how this experiment refers to an ordinary lOBaseT central node, consider the case of an ordinary central node that drives signals over a wire length of 159 meters. This distance is only 60 meters higher than the normal lOBaseT, instead of 120 meters as in the previous experiment. The level of SNR in the central node, as a result, only 3dB (in average) below what is transmitted over the wires that are 99 meters long. If there is an increase in the 3 dB transmission level, then a total SNR degradation of approximately 6dB will be experienced. This amount, according to the previous experiments, will still be sufficient for reliable communication. As a result, the preferred increase in the signal level is 3 dB. As explained before, the decrease in the minimum reception level should be the same. Additional factors reducing the effects of interference. One refers to the physical proximity of UTP that may have interference. The second factor relates to the blocking effects of signals, in the manner in which they are used in the central security node described above. First, in this system, the UTP cable connected to the port of the ase structure is never attached to the cables connected to the other ports. As a result, there is no possibility of significant interference implying that the signals flow in or out of the port of the base structure. The only possibility of interference is between one local port and another. The second factor refers to the signals that flow out from the station ports of the central node. In an approach similar to that used in the central security node described above, in general, a data signal only flows from a single station port at a time. In particular, if the central node receives a data packet from the port of the base structure, based on the MAC address, only the station port sends the packet, the other station ports send "blank" packets that allow that the computers connect to the other station ports to capture that the central node is busy and that if they are transmitted, a collision could occur. Similarly, if the central node receives a data signal at a station port, a "blank" signal is redistributed at the other station ports and the data signal is retransmitted at the base structure port . The only requirement imposed on these blank signals is that they are sufficient to indicate to the connected PC that a transmission is taking place. In particular, these blank signals are chosen to minimize the effects of interference. One technique is to eliminate, that is, filter, the higher frequencies in the blank signal, and to increase the energy to the lower frequencies. This greatly reduces the interference, since the signals tend more to cross at higher frequencies. The elimination of higher frequencies will still leave blank packets with enough power to trigger the transmission detection mechanism on the remote computer. It is easy to meet this criterion, however, because lower frequencies are less attenuated, thus contributing to higher energy. This improves the performance of the detection mechanism on the adapter at the end of the line. Consider now the case that a valid signal is being transmitted through a local port. The receiving parties of the other local ports, in this situation, do not need to correctly interpret the signals that were transmitted from their associated adapters at the opposite ends of the lines. Instead, they should only be able to detect the fact that the associated computer is being transmitted. To this end, the signal detection circuit in the physical layer circuit is more sensitive to lower frequencies in which less interference occurs. 6 WIRING NETWORKS (FIGS 19-28) 6.1 Divisions and Termination (Figs 19-20) In the previous discussion of transmission of signals in UP 810, all the devices communicate by the connection to the transmission lines (ie , the UTP). The transmission line may have junctions in which branches are formed. We call these points "divisions". A division in a transmission line introduces an impedance inequality. As a result of the impedance inequality, when a signal finds a division, part of its energy is reflected back to the source. This reflection may interfere with the clean reception of the signals. Reflections can also occur at the end of a transmission line if the wires at the end of the line are left unconnected. Such unfinished end of a transmission line again can cause reflections due to an impedance inequality. Signal reflections occur to some degree at all frequencies. In this system, reflections at the high frequencies of the data band or the video band are particularly important, for example, due to the possible loss of data or degradation of video signals.

Various techniques are used to improve this high frequency transmission. These include: • Use of terminators at the ends of the main transmission line and at the end of branches that carry high frequency signals; • Use of slow-pass filters to avoid high frequency transmission in branches; and • Use of joints and divisions to pass high frequencies in branches while reducing reflections at the point of the branch. Referring to Figure 19, a telephone 134 and a computer 144 are coupled to PsTN 120 and the central data node 815, respectively, on UTP 810. UTP 810 forms an unbranched transmission line from the "head end" 1900 to wall adapter 830. A wall plug is located at point 1920 on the line. In this simple example, there is only a single plug on the line and, therefore, the UTP simply passes through the plug of the wall adapter. UTP 810 consists of a single UTP if one of the data signaling approaches for a UTP is employed, or consists of two UTPs (ie, four wires) if two signaling UTPs are employed. For example, the signaling of lOBaseT could use two UTP 810 while the signaling of modified 10Base2 could use a single UTP 810.

In the 830 wall adapter, an LPF 1930, which passes to the telephone band, and an HPF 1940, which passes to the data band, essentially connects to a single point in the transmission line. Telephone 134 connects to LPF 1930 and computer 144 is connected through HPF 1940. Other components of the 830 wall adapter, such as a media adapter that couples the HPF and the computer, are not shown. In the following discussion, a video signal is not transmitted in UTP 810. High-pass filters, instead of bandpass, are used to couple the computers to the transmission line. If video or other high-frequency signals are also present in the transmission line, the bandpass filters could be used as in the previous discussion. The simple wiring arrangement shown in Fig. 19 is not typical in many buildings. Referring to Fig. 20, a more normal situation involves divisions and branches in UTP 810. The upper end 1900 is coupled to multiple telephones 134 and computers 14. In this example, the transmission line is divided into points 2032, 2034 , and 2036 and ending at a point 2038. This example shows several methods of dealing with said branch wiring network. One method to deal with a division is simply to form an electrical connection. At point 2032, a simple branch 2033 in the line is last connecting the corresponding conductors of the branch to the conductors of the main line. At the end of branch 2033, a computer 144 and telephone 1034, are connected to the branch via LPF 1930 and H PF 1940, respectively, as illustrated in Figure 19. Since no explicit measures are taken in At division point 2032, the high-frequency signals that reach this dividing point are partially reflected back to their source. For example, a data signal from computer 144 in branch 2033 will reach point 2032 and will be reflected back to the computer, as well as sent over the other connection lines at point 2032. The reflected signal is attenuated and can be be tolerated by the computer 144. The upper end 1900 receives an attenuated signal. While steps are taken to avoid any signal directed away from the upper end 1900, from mirroring back to the upper end, division in 2032 does not prevent communication. A second division of this kind could result in such reflections. Therefore, a division of this type can be used at most. At point 2034, a branch 2035 is connected to the main line through an LPF 2010. High frequency reflections are eliminated by placing the slow-pass filter (LPF), for its acronym in English) 2010 in the branch, near the point in the division. If this technique is used at all branch points along with a transmission line, then at high frequencies, the transmission line acts as if it has no branches. However, this approach prevents any adapter from communicating on the high-frequency bins by connecting to the branches. A telephone 134 is shown connected to branch 2 2035. The signals in the telephone voice band pass between these telephones through LPF 2101 to the upper end 1900. At point 2036, the potential problems caused by the division are addressed using a junction 2040 that couples the branch 2037, and the two parts of the main line that converge in the division. The junction 2040 is equal to the impedance of the line, thus avoiding the reflections of the signals arriving at the division. Several types of joints that can be used are described below. In it, the passive junctions attenuate the signal by approximately 3 dB when they pass through the junction. Therefore, there is a limit to how many passive junctions can be on a path that joins a computer and a central data node without resulting in much attenuation of the signal. At point 2038, the end of the main line, a terminator (a resistor) 2044 is placed behind an H PF 2042. This terminator is matched to the impedance of the transmission line and prevents the signals from being reflected again. along the transmission line. 6.2 Joints (Figures 21-23) Various types of joints 2040 are used at division points, such as division point 2036 in Figure 20. Referring to Figure 21 a, a 2040a junction couples its three input lines 2120a-ca through respective LPF 2130 in a single electrical connection of corresponding conductors at point 2120. The junction 2040a is also coupled into the input lines at a high frequency (HF) junction 2110 through high-pass filters ( HPF) 2140. The binding of HF 2110 follows the impedance of the lines and avoids signal reflections. Various types of HF bonds can be used as described below. Referring to Figure 21b, the junction 2040a can be a passive circuit. The low frequency signals pass through inductors 2130, which provide low pass filter. The high frequency signals pass through the capacitors 2132, which provide high pass filter. A value of .01uF is a good choice to separate the data band from the telephone band. The resistors 2134 form the HF junction by coupling the high frequency signals of the three ports. Resistors 2134 have a value of 16 ohms. The resistors work together to match the impedance of the input and output paths. The high frequency signals coming from any path are divided cleanly and continue outside the other two routes. Each output signal has less power of 6dB than the signal that flows to the junction. Referring to Figure 22a, an alternative HF coupler 2110a uses a directional coupler 2210. In this HF coupler, the high frequency signals pass between ports 2102a and 2102b and 2102a and 2102c, but not between ports 2102b and 2102c. The directional coupler 2210 is matched to the impedances of the line and attenuates the signals by approximately 3 dB as they pass through the coupler. Referring to Figure 22b, three directional couplers 2210 may be arranged in a fully connected arrangement for coupling high frequency signals between each pair of ports. This arrangement is matched to the impedances and attenuates the signals by approximately 6db as they pass through the HF coupler. In Figures 21a-b, only a single wire pair (UTP) is shown. Since the junctions are composed of passive components, the signals pass in a few directions, as is necessary for the signaling of data about a UTP. When two (or more) pairs of wires are used to pass the high frequency signals bidirectionally, for example when using the approaches to signal 100 Mb / s over three UTPs described above, each pair uses an equivalent union. When two UTPs are used to signal lOBaseT, each pair is used for unidirectional communication in the data band a different arrangement is needed for certain types of unions. A joint composed of a parallel arrangement of the coupler shown in Figure 22a forms a two-UTP junction in which each branch can communicate with the main line. However, if the communication is desired between each pair of ports, since it is at the junction shown in Figure 22b for a single UTP system, a different arrangement of the couplers as necessary. Referring to Figure 22c, a high-frequency junction 2110c has res ports, each with two UTPs. In each of the ports, two directional couplers 2210 divide and merge signals to and from the other two ports. The couplers are arranged so that a signal received in the input UTP in a port is sent to the output UTP in one of the other two ports. In this way, the HP 2110c junction effectively forms a passive 3-way central node to divide the IOBaseT signals sent in the data band into two UTPs.

Active bonds can also be used. Referring to Figure 23a, an active HF junction 2300 is shown which accepts two unidirectional lines in each port. For example, this union could be useful for a system that uses lOBaseT signaling in the data band. The amplifiers 2310, 2312 are arranged to amplify the high frequency signals. These amplifiers have input and output impedances that are equal to the transmission line, thus avoiding reflections. The inputs and outputs of the amplifiers are arranged so that a signal in a UTP of input in one of the three ports is amplified and transmitted in the output UTP in each of the all ports. Referring to Figure 23b, when a single bidirectional transmission line is used, the directional couplers 2320 are used to separate and then combine two directions and the active HF junction 2300 is used to amplify the signals. This arrangement is useful, for example, when using one of the modified 10Base2 signaling approaches in a single UTP that are described above. 6.3 Connectors. According to the invention, the signal devices and paths can be easily introduced into an existing wiring system in a building using particular types of connectors and wiring arrangements. These include a method of joining the voice, central data and video nodes, as well as various types of wall plugs that house signal junctions. 6.3.1 Connection voice, central data and video node 800 (Fig. 24) Referring earlier to Fig. 8, in this version of the system, the central voice, data and video node 800 is housed in a simple structure and has five connectors of the RJ-21 standard in the industry. Each RJ-21 provides up to 25 UTP connections. An RJ-21 connector is used to connect 24 transmit and 24 receive UTP cables 802 and 804 from the data node 815. The fifth connector connects 24 UTP 806 cables to the video source 820. A connector provides a connection to the data block. 805 cable the central connection node 800 to 24 UTP network UTP 250 UTP 250 cables. In some applications, one can not find a point where the UTP 121 of the PSTN 120 converges on a pair 25 RJ-21 connector that can be connected to the node central voice, data and video 800.

While 25 pin connectors are not always present, one can always find a point where the UTP 121 is punched on the wiring blocks. It may be easier, in these situations, to add the voice next to the other right signs in these blocks. Figs. 24a-d illustrates a technique for doing this. The 2410 connection block is designed according to a very popular style called "66", as it is modalized by part no. 343569, of the Siemens Corporation of Westbury Connecticut. The model shown in Fig. 24b consists of a column with 50 rows. There are two connection opportunities on each row, and they are connected metallicly. A twisted pair connected to PSTN 120 drills on the first connection opportunity on the first two rows. The two drilling opportunities on the right are used for a twisted pair that loads a subscriber, by this means the telephone service is provided. Due to the telephone signals are provided in this way, the port on the central node 800 to which the cables UTP 121 normally connects is left open. A special adapter connects on the surface of the drilling opportunity on the right of each row. This provides a third connection opportunity for that row. (The use of such adapters has been a common practice in the telephone industry for some time). Each pair of wire 2412 that is loaded from the central node 800 connects to the third drilling opportunity, by this means the data, video and control signals are added to the conductive path. Referring to Fig. 24a, LPF 2420 prevents the high frequency signals from flowing to PSTN 120. Referring to Fig. 24b, LPF 2420 consists of individual filters applied to each UTP wire 121. Referring to Fig. 24c-d, each 2420 filter can consist of a 100 uH 2422 inductor stored in a very small plastic box that has a slot through the middle through which one can lie down a copper wire gauge22 or 242410. The enclosure includes 2450 and 2452 contacts, and is designed according to the same principles as the Scotchlock wire pair connectors manufactured by the 3M company.

Minnesota. After inserting the conductor, the two halves of the box are adjusted under pressure. This creates connections between the conductor and contacts 2450 and 2452, and effectively inserts the inductor in series with the wire. This remains to eliminate the short circuit around the inductor created by the connection of the wire to the contacts 2450 and 2452. This is completed by the edge of a knife 2430. Due to the way it is positioned, the edge 2430 serves the driver in a point between the two points of contact, eliminating the short circuit. 6.3.2. wall plugs Various types of wall plugs provide connection points for wall adapters and provide points at which wiring networks are separated. Usually, a telephone wiring network is separated in the wall plugs and therefore these points are accessible to introduce particular types of connections to improve communication. Referring to Fig. 25a, a schematic view of the wall plug 2500 shows a RJ-11 2532 plug for connecting one or two telephones and an RJ-452530 plug for connecting a wall adapter (or a computer directly if it is not necessary the wall adapter). The 2500 plug has a connection to two UTP 2502 (four wires) which allow the main end of the system. This also has a connection of two UTP 2504 which extends to the main line. All signals received from the UTP 2502 are passed through a UTP 2504. The plug 2500 has a third connection to four UTP 2506 to connect a branch behind a slow-pass filter 2520. This branch does not receive high-frequency signals from The main line can be used to connect telephones to the system. A plug of RJ-11 2532 is connected in parallel to UTP 2506 for the direct connection of one or two telephones. The 2500 plug has a RJ-45 2530 plug connected to the main line through a high-pass filter 2510. A computer is connected to an RJ-45 2530 plug for data communication. If the 2500 plug can be connected to the line using a 2528 manual switch on the plug.

Referring to Figure 26b, a wiring diagram of pin 2500 shows three connection points 2503, 21505, 2507 for the connection of UTP 2502, 2504, and 2506 respectively. Note that in Figure 25b, each line represents a single wire while in Figure 25a, each line represents a pair of wires. H PF 2510 is composed of four capacitors and LPF 2520 is composed of four inductors. A second plug is shown in Figures 26a-b. Note that each line in Figure 26a represents two UTP, that is, four wires, while it is in Figure 26b, each line represents a single wire. Two UTP 2602 provide a connection to the upper end, two UTP 2604 continue the main line and two UTP 2606 are a branch. Referring to Figure 26a, the low frequency path flows from UTP 2602 through LPF 2602 and 2522 to UTP 2604, the continuation of the main line. Another low-frequency route flows through LFP 2620 and 2522 to UTP 2604, the continuation of the main line. Another low frequency path flows through LFP 2620 and through LPF 2624 to UTP 2606, the branch line. The RJ-1 1 2630 jack also connects to a low frequency route to connect a telephone to the wall jack. If nothing is connected to the RJ-45 plug 630, the switch 2638 is closed and the high frequency path flows from UTP 2602 through H PF 2610, the switch 2628, H PF 2612, and then to UTP 2604.

The RJ-45 2630 plug includes two groups of connections, in the set connected to each side of the switch 2628. If a device is plugged into the RJ-45 2630 plug, the switch 2628 is opened a device is plugged into the plug RJ-45 has the possibility of joining the switch. When a device is connected to the RJ-45 jack, the high frequency route passes through HPF 2610 and then through one of the connection groups in the RJ-452630 jack. There is also a high-frequency route for the other set of connections on the plug from RJ-45 1630 to UTP 2604. Therefore, a device plugged into the RJ-45 2630 plug can "bridging" the high-frequency path is separated by the commutator 2628. In addition, a fourth connection 2608 is provided to pin 2600. This connection can be used to provide high frequency signal to branch 2606. The use of these two aspects is described below. Referring to Fig. 26b, an implementation of the wall plug 2600 using single pass and slow pass filters each consists of a single inductor or capacitor on each wire shown. Another aspect of the plug involves the RJ-11 2630 plug. Only four of the six connectors available are used for telephone lines. An additional connection 2633 is made to the RJ-11 connector. This connection and the 2634 connection used for telephone connections provide connections to both sides of one of the inductors of the LPF 2622. Since the DC current is generally flowing from PSTN 120 through UTP 2602 and the low path Frequency that is charged through the inductor, the voltage between connections 2634 and 2633 can be used to determine whether the plug is properly installed, or if ports 2602 and 2604 are returned. Referring to Fig. 26c, an interface # 2680 can be connected to the RH-45 # 2630 jack in order to provide a connection to a computer and a fixed top box. An interface # 2630, an LPF 2650 passes the data band and blocks the video band. In the preferred frequency distribution, the transmission band of this filter is 13 MHz at 15 MHz. U n H PF 2652 passes the video band. The data signals flow to the junction of H F and # 2670, such as the central node of the passive OBaseT which provides a connection # 2672 to a computer. The data signal also passes through the junction of H F and # 2670 and LPF # 2650 retracts through the RJ-45 plug. The separate video signal can pass through H PF 2652 on each of the wire pairs. A signal is separated in the directional coupler 2660 and is provided to a fixed upper case on UTP 2662. In this way, the video and control signals can be handled separately from data signals by separating the high frequency band into separate signals. Referring to Fig. 27, an example of the use of the plug 2600 shown in Figs. 26a-b uses a RJ-45 2630 plug to join an active quad-port central node of lOBaseT 2700. The central node 2700 is connected through its port 2702 through a RJ-45 2630 to UTP 2602 pin. central 2700 connects through second port 2704 to UTP 2604 and provides communication services to the continuation of the main line. It is noted that an HPF 2710 is included in the connection between the central node 2700 and the RJ-45 2630 plug in order to block the signals of the telephone band from interference with the central node. Through its connections through the RJ-45 pin 2630, the central node 2700 acts as a continuous repeater from the IOBaseT signal passing through the pin 2600. A computer 144 can also be connected to a central node 2700 for communicate with computers bound to either UTP 2602 or UTP 2604. An additional port 2706 of the central node 2700 can optionally be used to provide data communication service to branch 2606. In particular, port 2706 is connected at point 2608 of the plug. HPF 2720 blocks the telephone band signals coming from the branch 2606. Finally, still referring to Fig. 27, the computer 144 can optionally provide a gate service between the data signals coupled through the central node 2700 and UTP-coupled telephone devices 2602, 2604 and 2606. An example of such a gateway service in an "Internet by telephone" service in which telephone calls can be routed through a data network 122 instead of PSTN. 120. A computer 144 has a 2750 telephone connection to the RJ-45 2630 jack in such a way that a telephone band signal path goes through the RJ-45 to UTP 2602 jack, 2604 and 2606. 6.3.3 Cabling nodes Intermediary. Referring again to Fig. 5, in certain buildings the wiring of each unit passes through an intermediate distribution interface 520, also known as an intermediate distribution frame (IDF). These intermediate distribution interfaces provide a point at which high frequency signals can be coupled to particular units. For example, a central data node can be located at each of the intermediary interfaces. One reason to locate the central node in this location is to reduce the distance between the central node and the computers. Fig. 28 shows a system of electronics and connectors located in an intermediary distribution interface. The video signals applied at a main distribution interface 200 flow to the IDF 520. As described above, the video signals transmit over the single UTP, each of which provides a telephone service line to the subscriber at the end of the wire. The control signals flow in the opposite direction. In the IDF, the lOBaseT signals are added to the pair of wires, in harmony with the video signals. Special connectors are provided to facilitate the connection process, thereby reducing costs. The key for I DF is a connection block 2850 and box 2855.

The 2850 connection block consists of four columns of "1 10" connectors of twisted pairs. Each column consists of 50 rows.

Because a twisted pair requires two connectors, a total of twisted pairs can be connected to each column. A slot 2810 between the first and second contact columns, and between the third and fourth contact columns, There are 50 contacts of each edge of this slot. Each contact on the right of the slot is electrically connected to connector 1 10 on its left. The same true fasteners for the connectors on the right side of the slot. Normally, the opposite contacts on the right and left of the slot remain pressed together.

Establishing a conductive connection between the connectors on the right and on the left. The purpose of the slot, however, is to allow the insertion of a printed circuit board. Such a table can be designed to insert, with a certain level of pressure in the groove, by means of this the connection between the contacts is broken.

The table can also have electrical contacts aligned in such a way that they fit, exactly, with the 50 contacts on the right and left sides of each slot, by this means an electrical connection is established. When such a PC board is inserted, signals can now flow from the first column of connectors to the second column of the connectors under full electronic control over the table. An example of block 150 is part of ST-9877 from Siemens Corporation, of Westbury, Connecticut, USA. The cover 2855 is made of a PC board material similar to a rectangular box with one of the faces removed. Four edges are created, as a result. Two of these edges are exactly the same size as the slots in the connection block 110, and can be inserted as described above. The metallic contacts on these edges, moreover, are arranged, as described above, to coordinate with the contacts on the right and left of the slot. These contacts put the electronics, mounted on the cover 2855, on the metal contact with all 200 connectors on the 2850 block. As a result, one can mount electronic and electric paths on the 2855 cover in such a way to implement many different varieties of processing and ignition signal. Another set of wire pairs also converges on block 2850. There are pairs of load wire from the central node of lOBaseT 2860 to an RJ-21 2858 connector on the cover 2855. A port on the central node 2860 is dedicated to each of the 12 subscribers connected to block 2850. The conductive paths on deck 2855 complete the route between central node 2860 and contacts on block 2850 where the other wire pair dedicated to the same subscriber is connected. The cover 2855 includes electronics necessary to couple the data signals of the central node 2860 on the pairs of load wires to each of the units. ILLUSTRATIVE MODE An exemplary embodiment of the system provides signal distribution in a multiple floor that is constructed with a wiring arrangement shown in Fig. 5. The main information interface 200 can be located in the building and an intermediate distribution interface 520 located on each floor that serves the UTP unit of networks 400 on that floor. In this example the distance between the main information interface 200 and at least some of the intermediary distribution interfaces 520 may be greater than 330 feet, the range of the standard lOBaseT signaling. 7.1.1 Signal distribution Referring to Fig. 29a, in this mode, each UTP 400a network unit is wired with two UTPs, one of which provides telephone service to the unit. The UTP network unit 400a has a branched structure. Joints and terminations are incorporated into the pegs to reduce reflections. The multiple network unit of UTP 400a, such as those on a single floor of the building, are served by an intermediate distribution interface 520a. The intermediate distribution interface 520a includes a central data, video, voice node 2950 which provides multiple signals over two UTP 2906 to each unit.

For each unit, the central voice, video, and data node 2950 is connected to UTP 2902 which loads the video and telephone signals to the unit. Due to the distance between the main information interface 200a and the intermediate distribution interface 520, the data signals are distributed to each separate intermediate distribution interface. In the intermediate distribution interface 520, a central node of lOBaseT 2940 is coupled to the central voice, video and data node 2950 that provides data signals that is carried out on the UTP 2906 to the unit. The central node 2940 of lOBaseT is a central security node as shown in Fig.17. Therefore, a computer in one of the units can not intercept data that passes between a computer in another unit and the data network. The main information interface 200a includes a video source 820 coupled to the television distribution system 124 and a central data node of lOBaseT 815 coupled to the data network 122. A UTP 121 provides telephone service for each unit. The central voice and video node 2910 couples each UTP 2902 to the video source 820. The central data node 815 is coupled through the average converters 2920 corresponding to the average converters 2930 in the intermediate distribution interface 520a. The average converters convert each pair of UTP IOBaseT to a bi-directional signal carried over a single UTP 2904 for each intermediate distribution interface 520a. In this instance, the average converters have the structure shown in Fig. 12 in which tone signals are used that are used for collision detection. Referring to Fig. 29b, the central voice and video node 2910 includes a converter 2912 for each unit. Each converter 2912 includes an LPF 2914 that passes only the telephone band. Each converter 2912 also provides a connection to the video source 2912. The central voice, video and data node 2950 includes a 2952 converter for each unit. A UTP 2902 coupled to the converter 2952 to a corresponding converter 2912 in the central voice and video node 2910. This UTP is coupled to one of the two UTP 2906 through an LPF 2954 which passes DC and the telephone band, and a HPF 2956 which passes to the video band. This UTP 2906 also couples to one of two UTP 2951 which couples the converter 2952 to the corresponding port to a central data node 2940. The other UTP 2951 of the data node 2951 is coupled to the other of the two UTP 2906. The unit The UTP 400a network includes a transmission path consisting of two UTPs. One UTP loads the telephone and data signals, as well as one lOBaseT data signal address, which the other UTP loads the other direction of the lOBaseT signal, The transmission path forms a branch on the 2960 pin. therefore, pin 2960 includes a high-frequency joint covered with two parallel directional couplers that couples high-frequency data and video signals over two load branches to pins 2964 and 2962. Pins 2964 and 2962 include terminations to reduce reflections of high frequency signals. A standard lOBaseT adapter on computer 144 is connected to pin 2960 by two UTPs that provide a connection to UTP 2906 through two bandpass filters that pass only the data band. The telephone 134 is coupled to one of the UTP 2906 through the low pass filter that passes the telephone band. The television 154 is coupled through the pin 2964 to one of the UTPs through the band pass and high pass filters i that pass the control band and the video band respectively.

In operation, the data communication of the computer 144 passes through UTP 2906, the central data node 2940 and the data node 815 to read the data network 122. The data node 2940 provides security without transmitting data sent by Computer 144 to other units, and without sending data arriving from the data network 122, the computer 144 is located in the other unit. The television 154 (and a corresponding remote control) communicates with the video source 820 through the central video, voice and data node 2950 and the central voice and video node 2910. 7.1.2 video selector. Referring to Fig. 30a, in the exemplary embodiment, the video source 820 includes a video selector 930. The video selector 930a includes a set of video source sequences 3014 which generates video signals that can be sent to the units, and a switch 3012 which connects sequences of appropriate sources to video converters 920 for transmission of video signals to the units. This arrangement allows here to be lower than the sequences of video sources that the units served by this video selector. A video source controller 3010 receives control signals from each of the video converters 920. Based on the control signals, the video source controller 3010 selects one of the video source sequences 3014 to fit the unit of requirement, and the command switch 3012 to connect the selected source sequence to the video converter. A variety of video source sequences may be used, In this exemplary embodiment, each source sequence 3014 includes a video changer 3024 and a "WebTV" 3022 as shown in Fig. 30b. The tuner 3024 selects particular programming available from the television distribution network 124 based on a command signal received from the video source controller 3010. The video source controller also controls a switch 3020 to select between the video source 3024 and WebTV 3022. The WebTV is a device that connects the data network 122 and provides audio-video output based on the available content on the data network 122. WebTV is controlled by an observer using an interface such as a mouse or a keyboard. Referring to Fig. 30c, in this embodiment, the fixed upper case 832 not only receives control input from the remote control 834, but also from the IR 3040 keyboard and the IR 3042 mouse. These signals are coupled through the IR receiver 1062b and the control modulator 1060 to the video source controller 3010. The video source controller 3010 passes to the keyboard input 3040 and the mouse 3042 to the WebTV 3022. The multiple WebTV 3022s are connected to a central node 3030 that couples the WebTV to the data network. Also coupled to the data node is a 3022 computer server. The 3032 computer server can provide services to which a user has access in a unit through the WebTV interface. 8 SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE MODALITIES Alternative modalities of the system include various combinations of elements described above. For example, in a system in which multiple computers in each unit communicate using OBaseT interfaces, passive couplers such as those shown in Fig. 22c are used on each plug, this allows a computer connected to the plug to both communicate with the data network and other computers in the unit that can both be upstream and downstream. Other types of information services may incorporate into a system of the type described above. For example, a satellite TV system can provide television programming instead of a cable television system. Other elements of the invention may also be used independently. For instance, the central security node has application in other circumstances than simply in twisted pair communication. The distribution of power and data signals over a single wire pair to a central node or other interface is also generally useful. Another type of central nodes or data concentrators can also be used instead of the central nodes described above. For example, the central "switching" nodes can be used in which the signals are only sent to ports to which a white computer is connected. Other types of interfaces to a data network can also be used. Although described above in terms of direct connections to the public telephone network, the system can be equivalently connected to a private switch (PBX) that provides PSTN functionality in order to provide telephone services to a set of telephones connected to a network. of wiring.

Claims (16)

1. REVIVAL NAME IS 1. A communication system for passing on a twisted pair of wire network communication between a plurality of terminal devices, including one or more telephones and a plurality of information services, including a telephone exchange and other information services, comprising: an interface of main information coupled with information services; a twisted pair cabling network coupled to the terminal devices and the main information interface, including a plurality of active telephone pairs for passing voice signals between the telephone exchange and one or more telephones; wherein the information interface includes circuitry to be combined into the active telephone pairs (a) telephone signals in a telephone frequency band that passes between the telephone exchange and one or more telephones and (b) high frequency signals in a high band of higher frequencies than those of the frequency band of telephones that pass information between the other information services and one or more of the terminal devices. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the other information services include a data network and a plurality of terminal devices include a computer and wherein the main information interface further includes a central data node for passing information between the computer and the data network. 3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the other information services further include a television distribution service. The communication system of claim 2, wherein the twisted pair cabling network includes a plurality of cables coupled to the main information interface and the terminal devices and the cables form branch routes from the main information interface to the terminal devices and the wiring network includes junctions at the branch points of the cables to reduce the degradation of the signals in the high frequency band. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of terminal devices, includes a television receiver and an associated remote control device and the main information interface includes a video selector that is coupled to one of the services of information and including a receiver to accept the control information sent from the remote control device over the twisted pair wiring network in the high frequency band and a transmitter to provide a television signal to the television receiver over the twisted pair wiring the network in the high frequency band in response to the control information. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the video selector includes a tuner for selecting a television broadcast. The system of claim 6, wherein the video selector includes a computer coupled to a data network, and the control information includes information that identifies a source of video information in the data network. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising private circuitry to prevent the information passing between a terminal device and an information service from passing to another terminal device. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of the information services includes a data network and the private circuitry includes a central data node having a plurality of ports coupled to the terminal devices and a port coupled to the data network and the central data node includes circuitry for inhibiting the transmission of data received in a port that is coupled to a terminal device to the ports coupled to another terminal device. The system of claim 9, wherein the central node further includes circuitry for inhibiting the transmission of data directed to a terminal device that is received at the port coupled to the data network to ports other than the port to which it is connected. It collects the terminal device directed. 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to reduce the degradation of signals passing over the wiring network. The system of claim 11, wherein the circuitry for reducing signal degradation includes circuitry for amplifying signals and circuitry for equalizing signals. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of information services includes a data network and the system further includes a central data node coupled through a plurality of ports to the wiring network and the circuitry to reduce the degradation of signals passing over the wiring network includes circuitry to reduce the interference between the pairs of wires coupled to the plurality of ports. The system of claim 1, further comprising a media competitor, wherein the media converter is coupled to an information service on a number of conductors and coupled to the wiring network on a smaller number of conductors and the media converter includes circuitry for receiving information from the information service about the number of conductors and transmitting that information in the wiring network about the least number of conductors. The system of claim 14, wherein the media adapter converts the LOBaseT signals received on two pairs of wires to a signal transmitted on a wire pair. 16. A method for passing communication over a twisted pair of wire network between a plurality of terminal devices, including one or more telephones and a plurality of information services, including a telephone exchange and other information services, the method comprising: passing signals of voice between the telephone exchange and one or more telephones over the pairs of active telephones of a network of braided wires that connect the information services and the terminal devices; combining in the pairs of active telephones (a) the telephone signals in a telephone frequency band that passes between the exchange of telephones and one or more telephones and (b) high frequency signals in a high band of frequencies higher than those of the telephone frequency band that passes information between the other information services and one or more of the terminal devices.