CA2423326C - Telephone communication system and method over local area network wiring - Google Patents

Telephone communication system and method over local area network wiring Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2423326C
CA2423326C CA2423326A CA2423326A CA2423326C CA 2423326 C CA2423326 C CA 2423326C CA 2423326 A CA2423326 A CA 2423326A CA 2423326 A CA2423326 A CA 2423326A CA 2423326 C CA2423326 C CA 2423326C
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Prior art keywords
signal
connector
digital data
cable
local area
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CA2423326A
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CA2423326A1 (en
Inventor
Yehuda Binder
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Mosaid Technologies Inc
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Mosaid Technologies Inc
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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L5/00Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path
    • H04L5/20Arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path using different combinations of lines, e.g. phantom working
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M11/00Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
    • H04M11/06Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M11/00Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
    • H04M11/06Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
    • H04M11/062Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors using different frequency bands for speech and other data
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04MTELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M11/00Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
    • H04M11/06Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
    • H04M11/066Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04BTRANSMISSION
    • H04B3/00Line transmission systems
    • H04B3/54Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
    • H04B3/542Systems for transmission via power distribution lines the information being in digital form
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/66Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/64Hybrid switching systems
    • H04L12/6418Hybrid transport
    • H04L2012/6421Medium of transmission, e.g. fibre, cable, radio, satellite
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/64Hybrid switching systems
    • H04L12/6418Hybrid transport
    • H04L2012/6424Access arrangements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L12/00Data switching networks
    • H04L12/64Hybrid switching systems
    • H04L12/6418Hybrid transport
    • H04L2012/6432Topology
    • H04L2012/644Star
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S439/00Electrical connectors
    • Y10S439/95Electrical connector adapted to transmit electricity to mating connector without physical contact, e.g. by induction, magnetism, or electrostatic field

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling a local area network wiring structure to simultaneously carry digital data and analog telephone signals on the same transmission medium. It is particularly applicable to a network in star topology, in which remote data units (e.g. personal computers) are each connected to a hub through a cable comprising at least two pairs of conductors, providing a data communication path in each direction. Modules at each end of the cable provide a phantom path for telephony (voice band) signals between a telephone near the data set and a PBX, through both conductor pairs in a phantom circuit arrangement. All such communication paths function simultaneously and without mutual interference. The modules comprise simple and inexpensive passive circuit components.

Description

Telephone communication system and method over local area network wiring FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of common networks for data communication and telephony, and, more specifically, to the networking of telephone sets within a building over digitally oriented local area network wiring, simultaneously with the data transmission.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Small office and business environments commonly employ a multiplicity of work cells, each equipped with a telephone set and a computer.
Two separate networks are usually employed for communication among the cells and between them and the outside world - a telephone network, connecting between the telephone sets and outside telephone lines, and a so-called local area network (LAN), connecting the computers among themselves and to outside network lines.
The teen computer or personal computer will be understood to include a workstation or other data terminal equipment (DTE) or at least one digital device capable of inputting and outputting data, whereby each computer includes an interface for connection to a local area network (LAN), used for digital data transmission; any such device will also be refereed to as a remote digital device. The teen telephone set will be understood to include any device which can connect to a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), using telephony band signals, such as fax machine, automatic answering machine or dial-up modem; any such device will also be refereed to as a remote- or local telephone device.
-2-Such an environment is depicted in Figs. 1 a and 1b, which show a typical small office/business configuration, requiring two separate and independent networks. Fig. 1a shows a telephony network 10 comprising a PABX (Private Automatic Branch Exchange) 11, connected via lines 12a, 12b, 12c and 12.d to telephone devices 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d respectively. The telephone are of the POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) type, requiring each of the connecting lines 12 to consist of a single pair of wires.
Fig. 1b shows a local area network (LAN) 15 for allowing communication between computers. Such a network comprises a hub (or switching hub) 16, connected via lines 17a, 17b, 17c and 17d to computers 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d respectively. Popular types of LANs are based on the IEEE802.3 Ethernet standard, using lOBaseT or 100BaseTX interfaces and employing, for each connecting line 17, two twisted pairs of wires - one pair for transmitting and one pair for receiving.
Installation and maintenance of two separate networks is complicated and expensive. It would therefore be advantageous, especially in new installations, to have a combined wiring network system that seines both telephony and data communication requirements.
One approach is to provide a LAN only, which serves for normal inter-computer communication, and malce it seine also for telephony. One general method for this approach, in common usage today, utilizes so-called Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) techniques. By such techniques, lmown in the ant, telephone signals are digitized and canied as data in any existing LAN.
Systems employing such techniques are, however, complex and expensive, and the quality of the voice carried by currently available technology is low.
Another, opposite approach is to utilize an existing telephone infrastructure for simultaneously serving as both telephone and data networking. In this way, the task of establishing a new local area network in a
-3-home or other building is simplified, because there are no additional wires to install.
U.S. Patent 4,766,402 to Crane teaches a way to fomn a LAN over two-wire telephone lines, but without the telephone service.
The concept of frequency division multiplexing (FDM) is well-known in the art, and provides a means of splitting the inherent bandwidth of a wire into a low-frequency band, capable of carrying an analog telephony signal, and a high-frequency band, capable of carrying data or other signals. Such a tecluique, sometimes referred to as 'data over voice', is described, for example, in U.S. Patents 5,896,443, 4,807,225, 5,960,066, 4,672,605, 5,930,340, 5,025,443 and 4,924,492. It is also widely used in xDSL systems, primarily Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop (ADSL) systems.
A typical system employing FDM is illustrated in Fig. 2, which shows schematically a combined telephony/data networlc 20, providing in this case connections to two work cells by means of corresponding two cables 12a and 12b, each comprising a single twisted pair of wires. The lower part of the spectrum of cable 12a is isolated by Low Pass Filters (LPF) 22a and 22b, each connected to a respective end of the cable. Similarly, the higher part of the spectrum is isolated by respective High Pass Filters (HPF) 21a and 21b. The telephony network uses the lower spectrum pant by connecting the telephone 13a and the PABX 11 to the respective LPFs. In order to use the higher part of the spectrum for data communication, telephone-line modems 23a and 23b are respectively connected to the HPFs 21a and 21b at both cable ends. Hub 16 connects to modem 23a, while, on the user side, modem 23b connects to computer 18a, thus offering connectivity between the computer and the hub.
The spectrum of the other cable 12b is similarly split and cable 12b corrects telephone set 13b to PABX 11 via LPFs 22c and 22d, while computer 18b connects to hub 16 via modem 23d, coupled to HPF 21d, and modem 23c, coupled to HPF 21c. Additional telephones 13 and computers 18 can be added
-4-in the sa~nae manner. ibis prior-art concept is disclosed in U.S. I~atcot 4,7$5,445 to heichert et al. (hereinafter referred to as "Reicher, t") az~d U.S. Patent
5,841,847. to I~odds et al.. (hereinafter referred to as "Dodd~s"). ~atb.
~eichcxt anal Dodds suggest a noethod and apparatus i'or applying ~requenay t S do~nainldavisioz~ multiplexing (FDM~ technique for residential tel.epbone wixing, enabling simultanEously carrying telephone and data ~corx~znu~icataon si~aals, as described above.
U.S. Patent 5,610,922 to Balatozii discloses a method and apparatus for traiasfeizing analog voice telephone , signals and digital data. service siigztals siinultaraeously from a telephone coaopauy location. to a customer premises over.
a si~glc twisted. paaur telephone lxx~e. The apparatus in.cIudes an easzly ixa.stalxed voice plus digital data service rerrtote terminal and voice plus digital data service central o:~ce terminal. 'i'b,e apparatus cara provide a 3-to-1 pair gain by .
multiplexing sighs representz~ug the ax~a.log voice telephone signals and 4-wire digital data service signals.
Networlc 20, employiaag an FD1VZ method, typically reduires two xnvd.ems (sucli as 23a and 23b in Fig. 2) for each connected cell. Sucks modems .
are complex and expensive. In addition, the low coznmunicativn quality of a typical telephone line, whic)t was designed to carry low-frequency (tel.Epl:~c~ny) _ signals only, li.~aoits both: the data rate and the distance of die data rora~,nunical;.on.
. The concept of ~oz~ing a phantom channel to serve as an additianaJ. patl.~.
in a two wire-par-s communication system. is known iu, tl~.~ art of telephony, and disel.osed in severat patents, class'~'aed under U_S. Class 37x/200. Commonly, ZS such. a phantot~. channel path. is used to carry power. to feed remote cquilaruent or. intermediate repeatErs. Frt some prior.-a~.-t systems, exemplified by ,U.S
Paxezxts 4,1.73,714, 3,975,594, 3,806,8L4, 6,026,U7$ and 4,937,811, :~ the pk~antom channel i.s med. to caz~y additional signals, such as xn.eteririg and othex awtiliary signals. Ti~.us, all such systems use the phantom channel only as l Empfang;AMENDED SHEET

-4a-xx~eans for. helping the cvmmunicatiox~ service over. tb~c main channels. None of tlse xx~.ent~ioned prior-arr uses the pha~~tom cha.~uoel for carrying a~n.
additxo~aal cauununzcation type of service, or for fuxzctzooally combining two distinct netwoxlcs.
~ It would thus be desirable to allow a data networlting system to simu.ltaneoasly also provide telepho~o.e service witJtout any additional wiring.
S"IaIVIMA,T~Y ~F '~ INY~N'J,'IOIY
It i.s are object oi' the ix3verrtion to alJ.ow a data networlcing system. to szrriul'taneously also provide tcl.ephone service without any additional.
wzri~tg.
!d This object is realized. i». accordance witb. a broad aspect of tl~e invex~ti~on by a circuit for use with a bundle containing at least two pairs of eonduclors, tlae circuit corrzprising:
~.rst connections for coupling to an end of said bundle;
second connections fvr coupliung to at least one digital device; and I 5 third connections far coupling to at !.east one tel.cphone device;
c)taracter. ized in fihat:
two of. said circuits, coupled by respective ox~.es of said ixrst connections to opposite elands of a respective pair ox conductors in said bundle.
cooperate to form at least one phantom chaxaz~el allowing for telepbon,e comnauz~acation 2U hetweez~. respective telephone devices connected at opposite Ends thereof via respective ones of the third connections sianultaneous with digital.
connmunica-tion betweco. respective di.gi~ta.I devices each coupled at .opposite ends of the bundle ta~ the second connections of a respective one of sand circuits.
Conventional data networks use a four-cox~,ductor ciu-cuit arrangeoa~,ent 25 providing two comx~nunticatioxi channels betwec~a two units. For oxa~ple"
in a local. a~~ca networlE based can Ethernet i013aseT or I.UU$aseT~, two pairs of conductors are employed between a hub and D'1.~ such as a compuCer. F3y means of the i.~awention~ ~'OTS connecta.om, such, as between exchange and EmpfangsAMENDED SHEET

_g_ telephone aplaarat~us, is accorxtplished simultaneously over the same four cozi~Iuctors used fot tLle two coixununication~ cba~anels without interference. The POTS service combaunication is accomplished via a phantom' cizcuit arrangement over the ibur, conductors.
Such configuxati.on can be employed within small office or small business, wbe~cein single wiring infrasf~,ucture is used for distributitzig botli data and telephone signals fxo~u a central location, including a hub and an o~ehan~,.~. a to a remote station, each such station comprising a teleph4ne unit aad a data unit (e.g. desl~top computer).
7 o 'fhe present invenl~.on provides a circuit arrangenaerat wherein a cable ' that includes two twisfied-conductor pairs p~ovi.d~s both a two-way data.
com~:unication ck~annel for a ccmnected co~mput~r and, sitxcultaneously, a path.
for POTS signal to and i~om a. connected telephone set, usirxg the phantom.
channel. method. Jn. the preferred embodixoent, the data coz~amunication chaxuael 1.5 consists of an Etheznet IEEE8a2.3 LAN chapel and lOBaseT, or 100I3ase'f.~, interfaces.
~.ccvrdutg to a specif c ernbodxmerwt of the invention, each. two-cO~duCtor pair is tezna~ated at each of its ends with a center tapped primary transformer wiradir.~,g (hereir~nfter cable-side winding), whereby each rondnctor 20 of the pair i.s connected to a respective end of the cable side winding.
each winding is inductively coupled to a secondary winding (hereimaftex referred to as equipment side windsng), whose ends are connected to another pair o1'' conductors that form the continuation channel. for the data carrying signal, wliereio. the equipment side winding is connected to the data communication 25 equipxn,ent. 'flae center. tap$ of each of the two primary wix~.ding at any end of ti,e cable are connectable to the respective eo~aductors of a telephone circuit, to carry the PO'f5 signals. Thus, the two pairs of c,~ndvatars at opposite et~.ds of the cable, ti~rougli the center. taps of the respective prixnaxy transforrn.er Em a f a n g s AMENDED SHEET ' windings, Form first aad second connectiazxs o>' the two conductor phantom ci~annel, which is used fbr cazxying the telephone signal..
Tlae .iu'voation. can be implemented by Pneans o~ two .nodules each ~;nntain.ing a respective circuit - ox~e at eacli end of the two-conductor-pairs cable. Each circuit cotxzprises two transfortne~-s, with a center tap in the primary (cable side) winding. ~e module retains tlae t~vo-pair data cornmunicatiozz capability, while simultaneously including a phantazn channel. via the center-tap ~conoeotions, for telephone service. 'Flie pl~.antom channel can be accessed via a connector in. tl~e .module. 'The xxaodute Can be a stand aJ.vz~c unit, or 1 Q integrated within any unit iz~. the network, such. as a digital network l3ub. a telephone excbar~.ge, a server computer or telephone set. ,~,Iternat~ively, the module~can be ixttegrated within a wall outlet connected to one or both ends of tt~.e cable.
In anotber exx~.bodirnent, t'be modules form. a lrit, which. is . used. to I 5 upgrade an existing local area n.etworh to support telephone r~ctworking aJ.so.
The inventlox~ can be used in a small o~~xce or small business environment, whi.cl~ has a central location that comprises a telephone exchange arid a digital n.etworl~ concentration unit (such as 2c I~ub, a switcI'. or a rontez), coru~.~cted. to multiple reznc~te work stataoz~.s via L.~ wiring.
20 8)~T DEACON O)H".>rklE DT~t.A,WIrIGS
In order to understand the inver~tian and to sec how it may be carried out i»~ practi.cc, a, preferred etnbodim,ent will now be described, by way of noz~~
limiting example only, with. re~'erence to the accompanying drawings, in whJ.cb.:
Figs. 1a and 1.b show respectively a common prior art telephone and 25 Local, t~.rea lVelworlc con.~.guratian. as used within a s~x~alt office or a small busxmss;
l~'ig. Z shows a prior art telep'b.one anal local area networl~s using the telepbone.wiring .i».fxastnzcture;
Ea~u~fangs AMENDED SHEET

-'- ? --.. Fig. 3 shows a combined telephone and data cornmunica~,on nEtworlc according to tlae pxesc~at inveal~on;
Fig. 4 shows schematically a data cotnbaunications networi~ b.aving multiple phantom. claannels according to the present ix~.ventxan alI sharing a common return; .

Fig. ~a shows schematically a computer modih.ed according to the , invention for direct coupling to a telephone set;
li'ig. 5b shows schematically a telephone set modified according to the .
ix~ventzo~a. for, direct coupling to a computer; .
1 o Fig. G shows modified wall outlet that adds a phanto~a. channel telephoz~.e ser vice to a~a. e~istixag data comxnuz~icatxon systems according to the .
present invention; anal . ~ ~ rigs. 7a to 7d shove different views of an attachable wall plug connector that adds a phantom. cbanxrel telepboztc service to a~a. existing data comrncani canon system according to the present i~aventior~.
DFT Eb T.?FSCR . TXUI~ 4F TFIE INTV~1~TTION
ba the followizzg description it is to be noted that the drawings and descriptions az'e conceptual only. In actual prac;t~ce, a single component can implement one or. more functions; alternatively, each function can be ' inc~plemeated by a plurality of co~npvncz~ts and circuits. In the drawings and .
descxiptivns, identical reference numerals are use to indicate those com~,laonents that are common to differe»t ~aabodiraaents or configurations.
Fig. 3 illustrates a pncfcrred embodiment of the present invention. "fhe network 3U is a. part o~ an I:I;E~802.3 local area net~worl~,r usi~tg lOBaseT
s interfaces. .~i hub 7.GS dcf~aain.g a central location, is connected to a typical computer 1Sa via a cable that includes two wire pairs 17x1 and 1.7x2. Each pair.
is operative to carry data zn on.e direction only, one pair, say l7al, cax~ying .
data from the hub ~.6 to the computer ~.ga, while tla.e other pair, 17x2, ca;
ies EmPfan~;AMENDED SHEET

data in tlae other direction. rig. 3 also slows a. telephone set 1.3a, associated with computer 7.8a and preferably near it, anal a tel.epllone private autoxn.atic branch exchange (P~3~) ~,1, which is preferably also at the central Ivcation.
J~c term. hub is used herein. to represent any digital networlz concentrating unit and naay equally refer to a switching hub, a routex. a server computer or to any digital device having multiple data portsa any of these being also referred to 1.l.erEin as a central digital device. SvxaiJaxly, T.' .A.l3X is used herein to represent gray type of central telephone switclting unit and will also be referred to as a central telepllone device.
lg according to the invention. a sigr~a1 transformer is inserted at eacl3.
erzd of each. wire pair, whereby, for. example, transfoz~.cr 31.a~ is inserted at the end.
of wire pair 1.7a1. that is near hub ~6 and transformer 31.b7. is iz~ezted at the end of wire pair 17x3, tl.~,at is near cor~oputer. ~Sa. Similarly, transfozx»ers 3Xa2 at~d 3~.b2 are ix~5c7.'ted at the ~z~ds of wire pair X?a2 that are near hub 1~ and computer. lSa, respectively. The signal transformers bearing th.c prefix 3~
are designed so that the signal attenuation via. Lbese traasformers is negligible.
Hen.cc, the performance of the data co~nrnunicatiort networl~ is fully retained, and the hub 16 continues to communicate fully with the computer 18a in the usual manner. Such. transFonlaers are lcnawn in. the art and are often used tan ~.~.Ns, in order to meet i.sol.ation and commotl-na4de relec~on rccluizena.ents.
Commonly, such signal tran.stormers are equipped with a pri.~oary winding and a secvudary wiu~.ding both being untapped. coils. lzt the invention, each.
signal transfor~n.er. bearing tlae prefix 31, say 3Xa2 has a laxixnary winding 35, whose ends are connected to th.e respective wires oi' the cable, and a sec;ondaxy windatn~ 3G, whose Ends are cannccted to the respective system. component (hub. ~.G or. computer X8a).
However, .unl.ilce the conventional eonfg~uxation for signal transformers, aecorda.ng to the present x~avention. each primary winding 35 has a center-tap sla.own as 37x1, and 37a~, for the two signal t~ransfozrners 31a1 and 31! a2, EmpfangsAMENDED SHEET

_g_ respect~vcly. Ti~.e ends of tile prixtaaxy windings 35 constitute first connectiozts of a cxxcuit co~aaprisu2g tlae two tb,e two signal transfor.~aExs 3la.i and 3~,aZ and.
serve for. coupling to respective pairs of conductors in the bundle. The ends of tlae secondary windings 36 eoxistitute second connECtions ior. coupling to at least one digital device such. as 16 or 18; and the center~taps 37x1 and 37a2 serve as third connectioz~.s for coupling to apt Least one telephone device such as 11 ox x3. Thus, PAF3~ 11 is connected, via two respective wires 3Sa, to the center~taps 37a1 and 3'7a2 of transformers 31a1 and 31x2. SimilaxLy, the telephone set ~.3a is connected, via two~respective wia-es 38b, to the center-taps .
l.0 37b1 oral 37b2 of transfonners 31b1 and 31b2, respectively. T.n this coaatiguration, the telephony signals are carried in. a 'phantom' way togetiaez~
wzth the data comr~a~ication. signals, without: any interference between the two. ~. practice, tile huh side transformers 31x1 and 31x2 may be integrated to form. a modul.c 3Za, while the computer, side transfo~rners 31b1 axed 31b2 play be integrated to form a module 32b. Wlai.le the network 30 fas so far been .
EmPfa~Bsp,MENDED SHEET

described as supporting a single computer and a single telephone, additional work cells, each comprising a telephone and a computer can be supported, whereby each computer is connected with hub 16 through a cot-responding two wire pairs cable, by inserting an additional set of modules 32a and 32b in each such cable.
While the invention has been described specifically for lOBaseT
(lOMb/s) interfaces, the invention can be equally applied to 100BaseTX
(100Mb/s) interfaces. Furthermore, the invention can be equally applied in any wired networking system using at least two wire pairs. Transformers can be used in all wired communication systems whose signals do not include direct current (DC) components. In systems that use four or more pairs of wires, such as those based on the evolving 1000BaseTX Ethernet standard, each two pairs can be used to form a single phantom channel. Thus, four pairs can form two phantom channels, each carrying one POTS circuit, by terminating each pair with a transformer as described above. Alternatively and preferably, as shown in Fig. 4, three pairs 17a1, 17a2 and 17a3 can each form a phantom channel with the fourth pair 17a4, which serves as the common return path. In this case, each telephone circuit 13a, 13b and 13c has one of its two wires connected to the center-tap 37b1, 37b2 and 37b3 of the respective transformer 31b1, 31b2 and 31b3 at the corresponding end of the respective pair and the other wire -to the center-tap 37b4 of the transformer 31b4 at the corresponding end of the common pair. More generally, with N pairs of conductors, each pair serving as a data channel, it is possible to similarly provide N-1 phantom channels for telephone service.
hl the configuration shown in Fig. 3 the modules 32a and 32b are stand-alone modules, mechanically separate from other components in the network.
However, also other configurations are possible. For example, the hub side module 32a can be integrated, fully or in part, within the hub 16. In such a case, the hub's existing data connection-unit (such as a distribution frame -for connecting thereto all line pairs) is preferably substituted by one that includes module 32'a; in addition, a telephone connector is provided, for comlecting all telephone lines (whose other ends are connected to their respective center taps in module 32a) to the PABX. Alternatively, module 32a can be similarly integrated within PABX 11, whereby an appropriate connection with the hub is provided.
Fig. 5a shows schematically an arrangement where the computer side module 32b is integrated, fully or in pant, within the computer 18a. Thus, the secondary windings 36 of the transformers 31a1 and 31a2 are connected to receiver and transmitter circuitry 39a and 39b within the computer 18a. The ends of the primary windings 35 of the transformers 31a1 and 31a2 are connected to a standard socket outlet 40 for connecting to the network. The center-taps 37a1 and 37a2 are connected to a standard telephone outlet 41, enabling connection thereto of a telephone set such as designated 13a in Fig.
3.
Fig. 5b shows schematically the complementary arrangement where the module 32b is integrated the telephone set 13a. Thus, the secondary windings 36 of the transformers 31a1 and 31a2 are connected to a standard outlet 42 for connecting thereto a computer such as designated 18a in Fig. 3. The ends of the primary windings 35 of the tTallSfOrlllel"S 31a1 and 31a2 are connected to a standard socket outlet 43 for connecting to the network. The center-taps 37a1 and 37a2 are connected to telephone circuitry 44, within the telephone set 13a.
Alternatively, the computer side module 32b can be integrated within a wall connector allowing direct or indirect connection to an existing wall socket outlet. Thus, such a wall connector can be constituted by a substiW to wall socket having integrated therein a pair of signal transformers and two female outlets for connecting a computer and telephone thereto, respectively.
Alternatively, the wall connector can be constituted by a plug connector having integrated therein a pair of signal transformers and two female outlets for connecting a computer and telephone thereto, respectively. Such a plug - 12, -connector allows a computer and telephone to be connected to an existing wall socket outlet without requiring any modification thereto.
Fig. 6 shows the faceplate of a modified socket outlet 45 according to the invention. Two conductor pairs are connected to the outlet at the rear (not shown in the Figure), connected to the primary windings of two signals transformers housed in it (not shown in the Figure). The secondary windings of the transformers are connected to RJ-45 data connector 46, while the center taps are connected to the RJ-11 telephony connector 47. Such an outlet is physically similar in size, shape, and overall appearance to a standard outlet, so that such an outlet can be substituted for a standard outlet in the building wall.
No changes are required in the overall LAN line layout or configuration. Such an outlet can easily substitute an existing standard data outlet to thus additionally provide telephony support. Thus a conventional outlet has a single female connector having two pairs of wiper contacts connected to the respective twisted-wire pairs for data transmission and reception. A computer is plugged into such a conventional outlet via a single male connector (plug) having four pins: two for handling data transmission and two for handling data reception. On inserting the plug into the socket outlets, the pins brush against the wiper contacts in the socket outlet, thus establishing electrical connection between the two.
The invention allows for the conventional outlet to be replaced by a modified outlet having therein a pair of signal transformers, the ends of whose respective primary windings are adapted to be connected to the ends of a respective conductor pair in the network. The secondary winding of each signal transformer is connected interlally to a respective pair of wiper contacts of a first female connector. Thus, the ends of both secondary windings are connected to first female connector by means of four wiper contacts in total.
The respective center-taps of each of the two primary windings are connected to a pair of wiper contacts in a second female connector proximate the first female connector. Thus, a computer can be connected, via four pins of a suitable jack plug, to the first female connector, while a telephone can be connected, via two pins of a suitable jack plug to the second female connector.
The two wire pairs 17a1 and 17a2 are routed and connected to such an outlet, which will now comprise two faceplate connectors - a data connector (e.g. RJ-45 for lOBaseT) and a telephone connector (e.g. RJ-11).
Such an implementation requires that the socket outlets in an existing data network be replaced by a modified outlet according to the invention.
Figs.
7a to 7d show various views of a plug assembly 50 according to the invention for operation in lOBaseT or 100BaseTX environment that allows the invention to be implemented without requiring any modification to the data network or to the existing socket outlet. In use, the plug assembly 50 is plugged into a standard socket outlet and is retained therein by means of a latch 51. The plug assembly 50 contains the module 32b connected to separate data- and telephony socket outlets 52 and 53 in a similar manner to the modified socket outlet 45 described above with reference to Fig. 6. A standard RJ45 jack plug 54 is connected to the module 32b for mating with the wall outlet when plugged into its socket. The jack plug 54 thus includes two pairs of pins each connected to the primary winding of a respective signal transformer within the module 32b. The secondary windings of the two signal transformers are connected to respective wiper contacts in the data-telephony socket outlet 52.
The respective center-taps of each of the primary windings are connected to a pair of wiper contacts in the telephony socket outlet 53 proximate the data-telephony socket outlet 52. Cables from the computer and the telephone set terminate in standard jaclc plugs that are plugged into the respective data-and telephony socket outlets 52 and 53 within the plug assembly 50. Thus, the plug assembly 50 obviates the need for any changes to be made to the existing infrastructure.

As mentioned above, lOBaseT and 100BaseTX interfaces, as well as other data communication interfaces, often include signal transformer s in the line connection circuitry, in order to meet isolation and common-mode rejection requirements. In such cases, additional transformers, though possible, are not required and the method of the present invention can be implemented by adding center-tap connections to the respective windings of the existing transformers and using them to form a phantom channel, to serve for telephone connection in the manner described above. Alternatively, the existing transformers can be substituted by ones with center-taps as specified above.
It is noted that, while a phantom channel has been lmown in the art, its use in the system and method disclosed herein is novel, because:
(a) Local area networl~s (LANs) in general, and Ethernet networlcs in paz~ticular, currently do not employ phantom channels, nor is any configuration employing such channels specified in the IEEE802.3 standards; the concept is lalown in tile realm of telephony only, which is very different from that of data communication LANs.
(b) Using a phantom channel itself to cany POTS service is not l~nOWl1 in tile art; rather, phantom channels are used only to cany power to remote units and/or management- or control signals to support the main service that is provided by the two conductor pairs.
While the invention is described above relating to hub units, it is clear that any other multi-poet data communication device can be used, such as switch, muter or gateway.
The present invention also embraces a method for upgrading an existing local area networl~ (LAN) installation that includes a two-conductor pair cable between two digital devices, to also and simultaneously convey signals between two telephone devices, the method comprising:
(a) inserting a first pair of signal transformers having center-tapped primary windings at a first end of the cable, with respective ends of the primary windings connected to respective conductors of tile cable; and (b) inserting a second pair of signal transformers leaving center-tapped primary windings at a second end of the cable, with respective ends of the primary windings connected to respective conductors of the cable;
thereby allowing respective secondary windings of each signal transformer to be connected to the digital devices and allowing the respective center-taps of the signal transformers to be connected to telephone equipment.
If the LAN alieady includes signal transfomners that do not have center-taps, they are, in step (a) above, replaced by the specified transfomners or, alternatively, a center-tap is added to each primary winding.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims (193)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A device for use with a local area network (LAN) cable in a building having at least first and second twisted wire pairs, the LAN cable being connected to simultaneously carry first and second signals, said device comprising:
a first connector for connecting to the LAN cable;
a second connector coupled to said first connector for passing the first signal;
a third connector coupled to said first connector for passing the second signal; and a single enclosure housing said first, second and third connectors, wherein the second signal is carried over a phantom channel formed between the first and second twisted wire pairs of the LAN cable.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the first signal between said first and second connectors.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the second signal between said third and first connectors.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal is a digital data signal.
and said first connector is a digital data connector.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the first signal is a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first signal, said first connector and said first cable are Ethernet-based substantially based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT
or 1000BaseTX standards, and wherein said first connector is an RJ-45 type connector.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein said second connector is RJ-45 type connector connectable for communication of Ethernet-based substantially based IEEE802.3 10BaseT, 100BaseTX or 1000BaseT standards with a digital unit.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said connectors are connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
9. The device according to claim 8, further comprising at least two signal transformers connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein said connectors are connected for providing a DC path for passing DC signals between said first and third connectors.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the second signal is an analog telephone (POTS) signal and wherein said connectors are connected for providing an analog telephone (POTS) path between said first and third connectors.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said third connector is an analog telephone connector.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said third connector is an RJ-11 type connector.
14. The device according to claim 10, further comprising:
two center tap transformers coupled between said first and third connectors, and wherein said third connector is connected to said center taps of said transformers.
15. The device according to claim 1, in combination with an outlet in which at least a part of said device is housed.
16. The device according to claim 1, wherein said device is pluggable into, or attachable to, an outlet.
17. The device according to claim 1, wherein said single enclosure is wall mountable, or mountable into an outlet opening, or structured to at least in part replace an existing outlet.
18. The device according to claim 1, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following: a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;
wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet; a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
19. A device for use with a cable at least in part in walls of a building, the cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs and being connectable in an outlet cavity or outlet opening and carrying at least first and second signals, said device comprising:
a first connector for connecting to the cable; a second connector coupled to said first connector for passing the first signal;
a third connector coupled to said first connector for passing the second signal; and a single enclosure housing said first, second and third connectors, wherein the second signal is carried over a phantom channel formed between the first and second twisted wire pairs of said cable, and said device is pluggable into or attachable to an outlet, or mountable into an outlet opening or cavity.
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the first signal between said first and second connectors.
21. The device according to claim 19, wherein said connectors are connected for passing only the second signal between said third and first connectors.
22, The device according to claim 19, wherein the first signal is a digital data signal, said first connector is a digital data connector, and the cable is a Local Area Network (LAN).
23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the first signal is a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal.
24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the first signal, said first connector and the cable are Ethernet-based substantially based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseTX
standards, and wherein said first connector is an RJ-45 type connector.
25. The device according to claim 23, wherein said second connector is an RJ-45 type connector connectable for communication of Ethernet-based substantially based IEEE802.3 10BaseT, 100BaseTX or 1000BaseT standards with a digital unit.
26. The device according to claim 19, wherein said connectors are connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
27. The device according to claim 26, further comprising at least two signal transformers connected for passing only digital data signals between said first and second connectors.
28. The device according to claim 19, wherein said connectors are connected for providing a DC path for passing DC signals between said first and second connectors.
29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the second signal is an analog telephone (POTS) signal and wherein said connectors are connected for providing an analog telephone (POTS) path between said first and third connectors.
30. The device according to claim 29, wherein said third connector is an analog telephone connector.
31. The device according to claim 30, wherein said third connector is an RJ-11 type connector.
32. The device according to claim 28, further comprising:
two center tap transformers coupled between said first and third connectors, and wherein said third connector is connected to said center taps of said transformers.
33. The device according to claim 19, in combination with an outlet in which at least a part of said device is housed.
34. The device according to claim 19, wherein said single enclosure is wall mountable or structured to at least in part replace an existing outlet.
35. The device according to claim 19, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following: a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;
wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet; a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
36. An apparatus for coupling a first device and a second device to a local area network cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs, the cable being connected for simultaneously carrying first and second signals, the apparatus comprising;
a first connector connectable to the local area network cable;
a second connector connectable to the second device for coupling the second signal to the second device; and a third connector connectable to the first device for coupling the first signal to the first device, wherein each of the first and second twisted pairs is operative to carry the second signal, and the at least two twisted pairs cooperatively form a phantom channel operative to carry the first signal.
37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the second device is a digital data device, the second signal is a digital data signal, and said second connector is a digital data connector.
38. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the second signal is a local area network signal, and said second connector is a local area network connector.
39. The apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said first and second connectors are RJ-45 type, and the digital data signal is local area network packet-based and is based on 10/10BaseT according to IEEE802.3 protocol.
40. The apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said first signal transformer being connected between said first connector and said second connector, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said first signal transformer being operative to pass the second signal; and a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said second signal transformer being connected between said first connector and said second connector, said primary winding of said second signal transformer having a center-tap connection, and said second signal transformer being operative to pass the second signal, wherein said center tap connections of said first and second signal transformers are connected to said third connector.
41. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said apparatus has the external dimensions of an outlet.
42. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said apparatus is configured as a plug-in to an outlet.
43. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said apparatus is further attachable to a surface of a building.
44. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said apparatus is further enclosed in a single enclosure constructed to have at least one of the following; a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet; wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet; a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity;
and a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
45. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the first signal is an information signal.
46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the first signal is an analog signal, and said third connector is an analog connector,
47. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the information signal is bi-directionally carried between the first connector and the third connector.
48. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the information signal is an analog voice signal, and said third connector is an analog voice connector.
49. The apparatus according to claim 48, wherein the analog voice signal is a telephone signal and the analog voice connector is a telephone connector.
50. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said phantom channel is connected to concurrently carry a DC power signal.
51. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the local area network cable comprises N twisted wire pairs cooperatively forming N-1 phantom channels, where N is equal or greater than 3.
52. A system in a building for simultaneously carrying a fust signal between first and second devices and a second signal between third and fourth devices, said system comprising:

a cable at least in part in a wall of the building and accessed via outlets, said cable having first and second ends and comprising at least two twisted wire pairs connected for carrying a first signal, and said at least two twisted wire pairs cooperatively forming a phantom channel simultaneously operative to carry the second signal;
a first apparatus connected to said first end of said cable, said first apparatus being connectable to the first device for coupling the first signal to the first device, and being further connectable to the third device for coupling the second signal to the third device;
and a second apparatus connected to said second end of said cable, said second apparatus being connectable to the second device for coupling the first signal to the second device, and being further connectable to the fourth device for coupling the second signal to the fourth device.
53. The system according to claim 52, wherein the first signal is a digital data signal and the first and second devices are digital, data units.
54. The system according to claim 53, wherein the first signal is a packet-based, full-duplex local area network signal.
55. The system according to claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses comprises, a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said first signal transformer being connected between said cable and one of the first and second devices, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said first signal transformer being operative to pass the first signal; and a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said second signal transformer being connected between said cable and the other one of the first or second devices, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said second signal transformer being operative to pass the first signal, wherein said center tap connection of each of said first and second signal transformers is coupled to a respective one of the third or fourth device.
56. The system according to claim 52, wherein said cable is a local area network cable.
57. The system according to claim 56, wherein said first and second apparatuses are connected to the local area network cable via RJ-45 type connectors, and the first signal is a local area network packet based digital data signal based on 10/100BaseT
according to IEEE802.3 protocol.
58. The system according to claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses has the external dimensions of an outlet.
59. The system according to claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses is configured as a plug-in to an outlet.
60. The system according to claim 52, wherein at least one of said first and second apparatuses is further attachable to a surface of the building.
61. The system according to claim 52, wherein at last one of said first and second apparatuses is enclosed in a single enclosure, said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following; a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet; wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet; a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity, and a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
62. The system according to claim 52, wherein the second signal is an information signal.
63. The system according to claim 62, wherein the information signal is an analog signal.
64. The system according to claim 62, wherein the information signal is an analog voice signal.
65. The system according to claim 64, wherein the analog voice signal is a telephone signal and at least one of said third and fourth devices is sn analog telephone device.
66. The system according to claim 62, wherein the information signal is carried bi-directionally between the third and fourth devices.
67. The system according to claim 52, wherein a DC power signal is concurrently carried over said phantom channel.
68. The system according to claim 52, wherein said cable comprises N wire pairs cooperatively forming N-1 phantom channels, where N is equal or greater than 3.
69. The system according to claim 52, wherein said first apparatus and the first device are housed in a single enclosure.
70. A device for coupling local area network packet-based digital data signals between first and second network cables each having first and second wire pairs, the first and second wire pairs of the first cable also defining a phantom channel for carrying a first signal, the device comprising:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, said first signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;

a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, said second signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a first local area network connector having a first contact pair coupled to said primary winding of said first signal transformer, and a second contact pair coupled to said primary winding of said second signal transformer, for connecting said primary windings of said first and second signal transformers to respective ones of the first and second wire pairs of the first local area network cable;
a second standard local area network connector having a first contact pair coupled to said secondary winding of said first signal transformer, and a second contact pair coupled to said secondary winding of said second signal transformer, for connecting said secondary windings of said first and second signal transformers to respective ones of the first and second wire pairs of the second local area network cable;
a third connector having a first contact coupled to said center tap connection of said primary winding of said first signal transformer and a second contact coupled to said center tap connection of said primary winding of said second signal transformer, for connecting said center tap connections to the phantom channel defined by the first and second wire pairs of the first cable; and a single enclosure housing said first and second signal transformers and said first, second and third connectors.
71. The device according to claim 70, wherein said first and second local area network connectors are RJ-45 type, and the local area network packet-based digital data signals are based on 10/100BaseT per IEEE802.3 standard.
72. The device according to claim 70, wherein the device has the external dimensions of a standard outlet.
73. The device according to claim 70, wherein the device is configured as a plug-in to a standard outlet.
74. The device according to claim 70, wherein the device is attachable to a surface of a building.
75. The device according to claim 70, wherein the first signal is an analog signal and the third connector is a standard analog connector.
76. The device according to claim 75, wherein the analog signal is a telephone signal and the analog connector is a standard telephone connector.
77. The device according to claim 70, wherein the first signal is a power signal and the third connector is a power connector.
78. A device for coupling first signals cooperatively forming a single data signal and second and third signals to or from a local area network (LAN) cable carrying the data signals over four wire pairs, the second signal over a first phantom channel and the third signal over a second phantom channel, said device comprising:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said first signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said second signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a third signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said third signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a fourth signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said fourth signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a first standard local area network connector having first, second, third and fourth contacts pairs for connecting said first standard local area network connector to respective ones of first, second, third and fourth wire pairs of the LAN
cable, each of the wire pairs of the LAN cable carrying a respective local area network packet-based digital data signal, and the first and second wire pairs cooperatively form the first phantom channel carrying the second signal, and the third and fourth wire pairs cooperatively form the second phantom channel carrying the third signal;
a LAN connector connected to said secondary windings of said first, second, third and fourth signal transformers, for connecting each of said secondary windings to a respective one of the four wire pairs of the LAN cable for coupling respective local area network packet-based digital data signals between said secondary windings and the wire pairs;
a first port having first and second contacts for coupling to the second signal, said first contact being connected to said center-tap connection of said second signal transformer, and and second contact being connected to said center-tap connection of said third signal transformer, for providing the first phantom channel over the LAN cable for carrying the second signal;
a second port having first and second contacts for coupling to the third signal, said first contact being connected to said center-tap connection of the third signal transformer, the second contact connected to said center-tap connection of said fourth signal transformer, for providing the second phantom channel over the LAN cable for carrying the third signal; and a single enclosure housing said first, second, third and fourth signal transformers, said LAN connector, said first standard local area network connector and said first and second ports.
79. The device according to claim 78, wherein said LAN connector is an RJ-45 connector, and the LAN cable and the packet-based digital data signals are based on IEEE802.3 Ethernet standard.
80. The device according to claim 78, wherein said LAN connector, the LAN
cable and the packet-based digital data signals conform to IEEE802.3 1000BaseT
standard.
81. The device according to claim 78, wherein said single enclosure has the dimensions of a standard outlet.
82. The device according to claim 78, wherein said single enclosure is dimensioned as a plug-in to a standard outlet.
83. The device according to claim 78, wherein at least one of the second and third signals comprises a power signal.
84. The device according to claim 78, wherein the second and third signals are signals of the same type.
85. The device according to claim 78, wherein the second and third signals are information signals and said first and second ports are connectors.
86. The device according to claim 85, wherein the second and third signals comprise analog signals.
87. The device according to claim 86, wherein the second and third signals comprise voice signals.
88. The device according to claim 87, wherein the second and third signals comprise mutually independent analog telephone signals and said first and second ports are telephone connectors.
89. The device according to claim 78 in combination with a PBX or an analog telephone set, wherein at least one of the second and third signals is an analog telephone signal, and said device is connected to said PBX or analog telephone set for passing the analog telephone signal.
90. The device according to claim 78 in combination with one of: an Ethernet hub;
Ethernet switch; an Ethernet gateway; and an Ethernet data unit connected to said device for passing the local area network packet-based digital data signals.
91. A Local Area Network (LAN) for carrying a LAN signal simultaneously with a second signal channel and a third signal channel, said network comprising:
a 1000BaseT-based LAN cable comprising a first group and a second group of twisted-wire pairs, each group comprising two twisted-wire pairs, said cable having first and second ends;
first and second RJ-45 connectors each connected to terminate a respective one of said first and second ends of said cable for carrying full-duplex serial digital data according to IEEE802.3 1000BaseT Ethernet standard;
a first system connected to said first RJ-45 connector; and a second system connected to said second RJ-45 connector, wherein said first and second systems communicate over said LAN cable using IEEE802.3 1000BaseT signals, said first group of twisted-pairs cooperatively form a first phantom channel for carrying the second signal between said first and second systems, and said second group of twisted-pairs cooperatively form a second phantom channel for carrying the third signal between said first and second systems.
92. The network according to claim 91, wherein said first and second systems and said LAN cable are in a building, said LAN cable is at least in part in a wall of the building, and at least one of said first and second RJ-45 connectors is part of a LAN
outlet.
93. The network according to claim 91, wherein at least one of the second and third signals is not a digital data signal.
94. The network according to claim 91, wherein the second and third signals are carried from said first system to said second system.
95. The network according to claim 91, wherein the second and third signals are bi-directional.
96. The network according to claim 91 wherein at least one of the second and third signals comprises a power signal.
97. The network according to claim 91 wherein the second and third signals are signals of the same type.
98. The network according to claim 91 wherein the second and third signals are information signals.
99. The network according to claim 99, wherein the second and third signals comprise analog signals.
100. The network according to claim 99, wherein the second and third signals comprise voice signals.
101. The network according to claim 100, wherein the second and third signals comprise mutually independent analog telephone signals.
102. The network according to claim 91, wherein at least one of the second and third signals is an analog telephone signal, and said first system comprises a PBX
or an analog telephone set.
103. The network according to claim 91, wherein at least part of said first system is wall mounted.
104. The network according to claim 103, wherein at least part of said first system is mechanically attachable and electrically connectable to a standard outlet.
105. The network according to claim 91, wherein said first system comprises one of an Ethernet hub; an Ethernet switch; an Ethernet gateway; and an Ethernet data unit.
106. The network according to claim 91, further operative to carry a fourth signal, wherein said first and second phantom channels cooperatively form a third phantom channel for carrying the fourth signal between said first and second systems.
107. An apparatus for coupling first signals in the form of data signals and second and third signals to or from a local area network (LAN) cable carrying the data signals over four wire pairs, the second signal over a first phantom channel and the third signal over a second phantom channel, the apparatus comprising:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said first signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said second signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a third signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said third signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a fourth signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap connection, said fourth signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals;
a first local area network port having first, second, third and fourth contacts pairs for connecting said first local area network port to respective ones of first, second, third and fourth wire pairs of the LAN cable, each of the wire pairs of the LAN
cable carrying a respective local area network packet-based digital data signal, and the first and second wire pairs cooperatively form the first phantom channel carrying the second signal, and the third and fourth wire pairs cooperatively form the second phantom channel carrying the third signal;

a LAN port connected to said secondary windings of said first, second, third and fourth signal transformers, for connecting each of said secondary windings to a respective one of the four wire pairs of the LAN cable for coupling respective local area network packet-based digital data signals between said secondary windings and the wire pairs;
a first port having first and second contacts for coupling to the second signal, said first contact being connected to said center-tap connection of said second signal transformer, and said second contact being connected to said center-tap connection of said third signal transformer, for providing the first phantom channel over the LAN cable for carrying the second signal;
a second port having first and second contacts for coupling to the third signal, said first contact being connected to said center-tap connection of the third signal transformer, the second contact connected to said center-tap connection of said fourth signal transformer, for providing the second phantom channel over the LAN cable for carrying the third signal; and a single enclosure housing said first, second, third and fourth signal transformers, said LAN port, said first local area network port and said first and second ports.
108. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein said LAN port is an RJ-45 connector, and the LAN cable and the packet-based digital data signals are based on IEEE802.3 Ethernet standard.
109. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein said LAN port, the LAN
cable and the packet-based digital data signals conform to IEEE802.3 1000BaseT standard.
110. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein said single enclosure has the dimensions of a standard outlet.
111. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein said single enclosure is dimensioned as a plug-in to a standard outlet.
112. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein at least one of the second and third signals comprises a power signal.
113. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein the second and third signals are signals of the same type.
114. The apparatus according to claim 107, wherein the second and third signals are information signals and said first and second ports are connectors.
115. The apparatus according to claim 114, wherein the second and third signals comprise analog signals.
116. The apparatus according to claim 115, wherein the second and third signals comprise voice signals.
117. The apparatus according to claim 115, wherein the second and third signals comprise mutually independent analog telephone signals and said first and second ports are telephone connectors.
118. The apparatus according to claim 107 in combination with a PBX or an analog telephone set, wherein at least one of the second and third signals is an analog telephone signal, and the apparatus is connected to said PBX or analog telephone set for passing the analog telephone signal.
119. The apparatus according to claim 107 in combination with one of an Ethernet hub; Ethernet switch; an Ethernet gateway; and an Ethernet data unit connected to the apparatus for passing the local area network packet-based digital data signals.
120. A device for coupling digital data and a signal to first and second Local Area Network (LAN) cables, each cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs connected for carrying full-duplex packet-based digital data over the wire pairs and a signal over a phantom channel formed between the twisted wire pairs, said device comprising:
an Ethernet switch or router having at least first and second ports;
a first digital data connector for connecting to the first LAN cable;
a first signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said first port and said first digital data connector for passing only digital data signals between said first port and the first twisted wire pair of the first LAN cable;
a second signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said first port and said first digital data connector for passing only digital data signals between said first port and the second twisted wire pair of the first LAN cable;
a second digital data connector for connecting to the second LAN cable;
a third signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said second port and said second digital data connector for passing only digital data signals between said second port and the first twisted wire pair of the second LAN cable;
a fourth signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said second port and said second digital data connector for passing only digital data signals between said second port and the second twisted wire pair of the second LAN cable;
a first connector connected for receiving a first signal; and a single enclosure housing said Ethernet switch or router, said first and second digital data connectors, said first, second, third and fourth signal transformers, and said first connector, wherein said first connector is coupled to the center taps of said first and second signal transformers, for coupling the first signal onto a phantom channel over the first cable, and said first connector is coupled to the center taps of said third and fourth signal transformers, for coupling the first signal onto a phantom channel over the second cable.
121. The device according to claim 120, wherein said first and second digital data connectors are RJ45 type connectors, and the communication over said LAN
cables is based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseTX standards.
122. The device according to claim 120, wherein said connectors are connected for providing a DC path for passing DC signals between said first connector and each of said first and second digital data connectors.
123. The device according to claim 120, wherein the first signal is an analog telephone (POTS) signal and said connectors are connected for providing an analog telephone (POTS) path between said first connector and each of said first and second digital data connectors.
124. The device according to claim 123, wherein said first connector is an RJ-11 type connector.
125. The device according to claim 120 in combination with an outlet in which at least a part of said device is housed.
126. The device according to claim 120, wherein said device is pluggable into, or attachable to, an outlet.
127. The device according to claim 120, wherein said single enclosure is wall mountable, or mountable into an outlet opening, or structured to at least in part replace an existing outlet.
128. The device according to claim 120, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following: a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;
wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet; a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
129. A device for coupling digital data signals and a DC signal to first and second Local Area Network (LAN) cables, each cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs connected for carrying full-duplex packet-based digital data over the wire pairs and a signal over a phantom channel formed between the twisted wire pairs, said device comprising:
a single enclosure and, in said single enclosure:
i) a digital data packet-based component having first and second ports;
ii) a first LAN connector for connecting to the first LAN cable;
iii) a first signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said first port and said first LAN connector for passing only digital data signals between said first port and the first twisted wire pair of the first LAN
cable;
iv) a second signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said first port and said first LAN connector for passing only digital data signals between said first port and the second twisted wire pair of the first LAN
cable;
v) a second LAN connector for connecting to the second LAN cable;
vi) a third signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said second port and said second LAN connector for passing only digital data signals between said second port and the first twisted wire pair of the second LAN cable;
vii) a fourth signal transformer having a center tap and coupled between said second port and said second LAN connector for passing only digital data signals between said second port and the second twisted wire pair of the second LAN cable; and viii) a third connector connected for receiving a DC signals, wherein said third connector is coupled to the center taps of said first and second signal transformers, for passing the DC signal onto a phantom channel over the first cable, and said third connector is coupled to the center taps of said third and fourth signal transformers, for passing the DC signal onto a phantom channel over the second cable.
130. The device according to claim 129, wherein said first and second LAN
connectors are RJ-45 type connectors.
131. The device according to claim 130, wherein communication over said LAN
cables is based on IEEE802.3 10BaseT or 100BaseTX standards.
132. The device according to claim 129, wherein said digital data packet-based component is an Ethernet switch.
133. The device according to claim 129, wherein said digital data packet based component is a router.
134. The device according to claim 129, wherein the DC signal is part of an analog telephone (POTS) signal.
135. The device according to claim 134, wherein said connectors are connected for providing an analog telephone (POTS) path between said third connector and each of said first and second LAN connectors.
136. The device according to claim 135 wherein said third connector is an RJ-11 type connector.
137. The device according to claim 129, in combination with an outlet in which at least a part of said device is housed.
138. The device according to claim 129, wherein said device is pluggable into, or attachable to, an outlet.
139. The device according to claim 129, wherein said single enclosure is wall mountable, or mountable into an outlet opening, or structured to at least in part replace an existing outlet.
140. The device according to claim 129, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following: a form substantially similar to that of a standard outlet;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard wall outlet; a shape allowing direct mounting in an outlet opening or cavity; and a form to at least in part substitute for a standard outlet.
141. A communication local area network in a building for providing simultaneous packet based digital data and analog telephone communication between a central location in the building and at least one remote location in the building, the communication network comprising:
a central digital device, a central analog telephone device and, for each remote location, a remote digital device, a remote analog telephone device and a local area network cable having a remote end at the respective remote location and a near end at the central location, and said cable including at least two pairs of conductors, each pair operative as a data channel for carrying packet based digital data signals between said remote digital device and said central digital device and said at least two pairs cooperatively forming a phantom channel, operative to carry analog telephone signals between said remote analog telephone device and said central analog telephone device.
142. The network of claim 141, further comprising, for each remote location, two signal transformers at each end of said cable, each signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding and being operative to pass only packet based digital data signals, the primary winding having a center-tap, and the two conductors of each of said pairs are connected at each of their ends to the ends of the primary winding of a corresponding one of said transformers, and the ends of the respective secondary winding of each of said two transformers at the remote end of said cable are connected to the respective remote digital device, and the ends of the respective second winding of each of said two transformers at the near end of said cable are connected to the central digital device, and said center-taps of each of said two transformers at the remote end of said cable cooperatively form a remote port of said phantom channel and are connected to the respective remote telephone device, and said center-taps of each of said two transformers at the near end of said cable cooperatively form a central port of said phantom channel and are connected to the central telephone device.
143. The network of claim 142, further comprising, for at least one remote location, a wall outlet, directly or indirectly attached to a wall and containing said two transformers for connecting to the remote end of said cable.
144. The network of claim 143, wherein said wall outlet is dimensioned to be installed in a cavity for a wall connector of a data communication network.
145. The network of claim 142, wherein, for at least one remote location, said two transformers at the remote end of said cable are directly or indirectly attached to, or housed inside, the respective remote digital device.
146. The network of claim 142, wherein, for at least one remote location, said two transformers at the remote end of said cable are directly or indirectly attached to, or housed inside, the respective remote telephone device.
147. The network of claim 142, wherein said transformers at the near ends of each cable are directly or indirectly attached to, or housed inside, the central digital device.
148. The network of claim 142, wherein said transformers at the near ends of each cable are directly or indirectly attached to, or housed inside, the central telephone device.
149. The network of claim 141, wherein each of said data channels conforms to the IEEE802.3 standard.
150. A circuit for providing simultaneous packet based digital data and analog telephone communication between two locations in a building over a local area network wiring in the building, said circuit comprising:
a plurality of pairs of conductors, opposite ends of each pair of conductors being at respective ones of the two locations and each pair being operative as a respective data channel for carrying packet based digital data signals between the two locations;

at least two of said pairs cooperatively forming at least one phantom channel, operative to carry analog telephone signals between the two locations; and circuitry connected to said plurality of pairs of conductors for supplying packet based digital data signals to each said data channel and analog telephone signals to said at least one phantom channel.
151. The circuit of claim 150, further comprising:
a signal transformer at each end of each of said at least two pairs of conductors, each signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap, and wherein said at least two pairs of conductors are connected at each of their ends to respective ends of the primary winding of a respective signal transformer, and respective ends of the secondary winding of each of said signal transformers form connection points to a corresponding one of said data channels and said center-taps form connection points to a corresponding one of said at least one phantom channel.
152. The circuit of claim 150, including at least two pairs of conductors and a single phantom.
153. The circuit of claim 150, wherein said plurality of pairs is N pairs and said at least one phantom channel is N-1 phantom channels, where N is equal to or greater than 3.
154. A kit for use in a digital data communication local area network that comprises at least one cable in a building between a first location and a second location in the building, each cable including at least two pairs of conductors, each pair providing a packet based digital data communication channel between respective digital devices at the two locations, and the kit for additionally and simultaneously providing, over said at least two pairs of conductors of the at least one cable, an analog telephone channel between respective analog telephone devices, the kit comprising:
at least two pairs of signal transformers, at least one pair for each end of the cable, and each transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding having a center-tap, and the respective ends of the primary winding of each of said signal transformers are adapted to be connected to a respective end of said pairs of conductors, respective ends of the secondary winding of two of said signal transformers are adapted for connection to a remote digital device, and respective center-taps of each pair of signal transformers are adapted for connection to a respective analog telephone device.
155. The kit of claim 154, wherein at least one pair of signal transformers is housed in a discrete module.
156. The kit of claim 155, wherein the discrete module is packaged in a wall connector which is directly or indirectly attachable to a surface of a building.
157. The kit of claim 156, wherein the wall connector is dimensioned to be installed in a cavity for a wall connector of a data communication network.
158. The kit of claim 156, wherein the wall connector includes a first female connector having at least two pairs of contacts and a second female connector having at least one pair of contacts disposed proximate the first female connector, at least one pair of signal transformers, each having a primary winding whose ends are adapted to be connected to respective conductor pairs, a secondary winding of each signal transformer connected to a respective one of the pair of contacts of the first female connector, and respective center-taps of each of the two primary windings connected to a corresponding pair of the at least one pair of contacts in the second female connector.
159. The kit of claim 158, wherein the wall connector is a substitute socket outlet.
160. The kit of claim 158, wherein the wall connector is a plug assembly further including a plug having at least two pairs of contacts, each connected to the primary windings of a respective one of the signal transformers for removably coupling with a socket outlet of a data network.
161. A digital device, connectable to at least two pairs of conductors for conveying packet based digital data therethrough to and from at least one other digital device in a local area network in a building, the digital device being also connectable to at least one local analog telephone device and operative to transmit analog signals between said at least one local analog telephone device and at least one other analog telephone device over said at least two pairs of conductors in a phantom channel mode.
162. The digital device of claim 161, further comprising at least two signal transformers, each having a center-tapped primary winding, whose ends are connectable to a corresponding one of said pairs of conductors and whose center-tap is connectable to said at least one local telephone device.
163. A combination outlet for pluggably connecting a digital device and an analog telephone device to respective ends of at least two conductor pairs so as to be able to simultaneously convey data signals to and from the digital device and analog telephone signals to and from the analog telephone device, the outlet comprising:
a wiring connector for connecting to the two conductor pairs;
a data connector having at least two pairs of contacts for connecting to the data device;
an analog telephone connector having at least one pair of contacts for connecting to the analog telephone device, said analog telephone connector being disposed proximate to said data connector; and at least one pair of signal transformers, each transformer having a primary winding provided with a center tap and a secondary winding, and the ends of each of said primary windings are coupled to said wiring connector, said secondary winding of each signal transformer is connected to a respective pair of contacts of said data connector, and respective center-taps of each of the two primary windings are connected to the pair of contacts in said analog telephone connector.
164. The combination outlet of claim 163, being dimensioned to conform to an existing wall connector of a data communication network.
165. The combination outlet of claim 163, wherein the combination outlet is disposed within a plug assembly that includes a plug having at least two pairs of contacts each connected to the primary windings of a respective one of the signal transformers for removably coupling with a socket outlet of a data network.
166. A method for enabling a bundle of at least two pairs of conductors, which are normally operative to convey packet based digital data between at least two digital devices in a local area network in building, to also and simultaneously convey analog signals between at least two analog telephone devices, the method comprising:
(a) providing a first connection of a phantom channel in association with the at least two pairs of conductors at a first end of said at least two pairs of conductors; and (b) providing a second connection of the phantom channel in association with the at least two pairs of conductors at a second end of the at least two pairs of conductors, thus allowing two analog telephone devices to be connected to the first and second connections, respectively.
167. The method of claim 166, wherein steps (a) and (b) comprise:
(i) inserting a fust pair of signal transformers having center-tapped primary windings at a first end of the cable, with respective ends of the primary windings connected to respective conductors of the cable; and (ii) inserting a second pair of signal transformers having center-tapped primary windings at a second end of the cable, with respective ends of the primary windings connected to respective conductors of the cable, thereby allowing respective secondary windings of each signal transformer to be connected to the digital devices and allowing the respective center-taps of the signal transformers to be connected to the analog telephone devices.
168. A circuit arrangement for coupling an information device and a digital data device to a local area network cable having at least first and second twisted wire pairs in a building, and simultaneously carrying a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal and an information signal, the circuit arrangement comprising:
a first local area network connector connectable to the local area network cable;
a second local area network connector connectable to a digital data device for coupling the full-duplex packet-based digital data signal to the digital data device; and an information port couplable to the information device for coupling the information signal to the information device, wherein each of the first and second twisted pairs is operative to carry a packet-based digital data signal, and the at least two twisted pairs cooperatively form a phantom channel operative to carry the information signal.
169. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, further comprising:
a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said first signal transformer being connected between said first local area network connector and said second local area network connector, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said first signal transformer being operative to pass the local area network packet-based digital data, signal; and a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said second signal transformer being connected between said first local area network connector and said second local area network connector, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said second signal transformer being operative to pass local area network packet-based digital data signals, wherein said center tap connections of said first and second signal transformers are connected to said information port.
170. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, wherein said first and second local area network connectors are RJ-45 type, and the local area network packet-based digital data signals are based on 10/100BaseT according to IEEE802.3 protocol.
171. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, wherein the circuit arrangement has the external dimensions of an outlet.
172. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168 configured as a plug-in to an outlet.
173. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168 further attachable to a surface of a building.
174. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, wherein the information signal is an analog signal, and said information port is an analog connector.
175. The circuit arrangement according to claim 174, wherein the information signal is an analog voice signal, and the information port is an analog voice connector.
176. The circuit arrangement according to claim 175, wherein the analog voice signal is a telephone signal and the analog voice connector is a telephone connector.
177. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, wherein a DC power signal is concurrently carried over said phantom channel.
178. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, wherein the local area network cable comprises N twisted wire pairs cooperatively forming N-1 phantom channels, where N is equal or greater than 3.
179. The circuit arrangement according to claim 168, wherein the information signal is bi-directionally carried between the first local area network connector and the information port.
180. A kit comprising first and second circuit arrangements, each according to claim 168, for use with a local area network cable connectable between first local area network connectors of said first and second circuit arrangements for simultaneously transporting information and digital data signals over a local area network comprising at least two twisted wire pairs, for transporting an information signal from a first information device connectable to the information port of said first circuit arrangement to a second information device connectable to the information port of said second circuit arrangement over the twisted wire pairs that form the phantom channel, simultaneously with transporting a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal from a first digital data device connectable to said second local area network connector of said first circuit arrangement to a second digital data device connectable to said second local area network connector of said second circuit arrangement over the twisted pairs.
181. A local area network in a building for simultaneously carrying a full-duplex packet-based digital data signal between first and second digital data units and an information signal between first and second information units, the network comprising:
a local area network cable at least in part in a wall of the building and accessed via outlets, having first and second ends and comprising at least two twisted wire pairs, each wire pair being operative to carry the packet-based digital data signal, and said at least two twisted wire pairs cooperatively forming a phantom channel simultaneously operative to carry the information signal;
a first device connected to said first end of said local area network cable, said first device being couplable to the first digital data unit for coupling the packet-based digital data signal to the first digital data unit, and being further couplable to the first information unit for coupling the information signal to the first information unit; and a second device connected to said second end of said local area network cable, said second device being couplable to the second digital data unit for coupling the packet-based digital data signal to the second digital data unit, and being further couplable to the second information unit for coupling the information signal to the second information unit.
182. The network according to claim 181, wherein at least one of said first and second devices comprises:

a first signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said first signal transformer being connected between said local area network cable and the digital data unit, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said first signal transformer being operative to pass the local area network packet-based digital data signals; and a second signal transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, said second signal transformer being connected between said local area network cable and the digital data unit, said primary winding having a center-tap connection, and said second signal transformer being operative to pass the local area network packet-based digital data signals; wherein said center tap connections of said first and second signal transformers are coupled to the information unit.
183. The network according to claim 181, wherein said first and second devices are connected to the local area network cable via RJ-45 type connectors, and the local area network packet-based digital data signals are based on 10/100BaseT according to IEEE802.3 protocol.
184. The network according to claim 181 wherein at least one of said first and second devices has the external dimensions of an outlet.
185. The network according to claim 181 wherein at least one of said first and second devices is configured as a plug-in to an outlet.
186. The network according to claim 181 wherein at least one of said first and second devices is further attachable to a surface of the building.
187. The network according to claim 181 wherein the information signal is an analog signal.
188. The network according to claim 181 wherein the information signal is an analog voice signal.
189. The network according to claim 188 wherein the analog voice signal is a telephone signal and at least one of the information units is an analog telephone device.
190. The network according to claim 181 wherein a DC power signal is concurrently carried over said phantom channel.
191. The network according to claim 181 wherein the local area network cable comprises N wire pairs cooperatively forming N-1 phantom channels, where N is equal or greater than 3.
192. The network according to claim 181 wherein the information signal is bi-directionally carried between the first and second information units.
193. The network according to claim 181 wherein said first device and the first digital data unit are housed in a single enclosure.
CA2423326A 2000-09-21 2001-05-01 Telephone communication system and method over local area network wiring Expired - Fee Related CA2423326C (en)

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US09/666,856 2000-09-21
PCT/IL2001/000388 WO2002025920A1 (en) 2000-09-21 2001-05-01 Telephone communication system and method over local area network wiring

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