WO2001028215A1

WO2001028215A1 - Digital multi-line telephone jack

Info

Publication number: WO2001028215A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/028401
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott R. Bullock; Ryan Hoobler
Original assignee: Phonex Broadband Corporation
Priority date: 1999-10-13
Filing date: 2000-10-13
Publication date: 2001-04-19
Also published as: AU1432501A

Abstract

A system and device for providing multi-line telephone access simultaneously in a residence or building with inadequate dedicated telephone lines is provided. This invention makes use of a power-line and/or an RF communication channel between a base unit (102), which is connected electrically to an external signal source/destination (101), and an extension unit (107), which is connected electrically to one or more telephone communication devices (108, 109, 110). This invention specifically addresses the growing need for additional telephone lines in existing buildings, where dedicated telephone line are limited. This invention provides the means for distributing multiple lines over a single communication channel, by sampling each signal, digitizing, and modulating each signal on a single carrier frequency, suitable for transmission over either an AC power line channel (113) or an RF over-the-air channel (112). This invention is further innovative in that it provides a cost-effective method for communication, which employs sophisticated digital modulation techniques for improved signal to noise ratio as well as being compatible with established standard power line and RF frequencies.

Description

DIGITAL MULTI-LINE TELEPHONE JACK

SPECIFICATION

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that Scott R. Bullock and Ryan Hoobler citizens of the United States of America, have invented a new and useful invention entitled DIGITAL MULTI-LINE TELEPHONE JACK of which the following comprises a complete specification.

DIGITAL MULTI-LINE TELEPHONY JACK

Background of the Invention Field of the Invention. This invention relates to the telephone communication devices which make use of the power line communication channel. More specifically, this invention relates to multi-line communications over the AC power line. Description of Related Art. A variety of AC power line communications system has been proposed and are becoming more widely used. Also, telephone equipment adapted for use with multi-line telephone circuits are well known. However, typically AC power line communication systems are capable of communicating only one channel of information at a time. Because of the increasing use of such telephone devices as telephones, modems, fax machines, set top boxes, Web TV and alarm systems, the ability to distribute additional lines in a building pre-wired for two-lines at the most, is critical. For general background material, the reader is directed to the following United

States Patents, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for the material contained therein.

U.S. Patent No. 4,788,710 describes a method and apparatus for selecting a single telephone line from among multiple line pairs at a location remote from the central office and isolating that line form the respective subscriber line to allow the performance of line tests on same.

U.S. Patent No. 4,817,132 describes a multiline access module for connection of a number of telephone lines to a station set. U.S. Patent No. 4,945,473 describes a communications controller interface for emulating the previous system employing a plurality of line units in which data is transmitted and received.

U.S. Patent No. 4,998,275 describes a multi-line telephone communications system where the need for the hundreds of conductors that are necessary to connect each station to the control and switching equipment is eliminated.

U.S. Patent No. 5,090,052 describes an improved telephone system in which a plurality of telephone units connected to a common telephone line is directly connected to an outside telephone line. U.S. Patent No. 5,119,366 describes a call processing method for distributing switching which substantially increases the percentage of call that are intra-module calls by distributing the members of trunk groups among a plurality of switching modules and biasing the processing of a call originating on one switching module such that an available trunk group member on that same switching module is assigned to the call if possible.

U.S. Patent No. 5,159,626 describes an answering machine that is coupled to a multi-line switching system which in turn is coupled to a plurality of incoming telephone lines in parallel with the telephone equipment or the like which is also connected to the incoming telephone lines. U.S. Patent No. 5,200,996 describes a station controller for use with a centrix exchange in which the controller provides sampling signal control for the lamps of telephone stations forming multi-station pick-up groups and wherein the controller further provides cable pair information for use in establishing and updating an equipment port/cable pair/telephone station correlation table in the centrex exchange.

U.S. Patent No. 5,214,691 describes a virtual private line key telephone system, that includes a console having a plurality of line keys each associated with a party that can be reached via a switched trunk line.

U.S. Patent No. 5,255,264 describes a communication switching system with distributed control processing, that includes a digital switching network having a modular array of intelligent digital switching elements.

U.S. Patent No. 5,384,773 describes a multi-media switching apparatus for performing digital, analog, and/or optical communications amongst multiple nodes over switching networks.

U.S. Patent No. 5,550,905 describes a method and apparatus for delivering calls and caller identification information to multi-line users.

U.S. Patent No. 5,555,258 describes a wireless telephone subsystem for coupling line type telephone equipment to the public switched telephone network.

U.S. Patent No. 5,592.538 describes a telecommunication device that permits mixed voice communication and data communication during a single telephone call.

U.S. Patent No. 5,692,031 describes a method for configuring a telephone base station having base station channels that are coupled to a public switched telephone network via subscriber channels.

U.S. Patent No. 5,721,762 describes a system and method for using the brief time intervals between cellular telephone calls on a primary cellular network to transmit and receive data over a second data-only network. U.S. Patent No. 5,727,055 describes a system for distributing electronic information signals throughout a structure, particularly a residential dwelling, which adapts a plurality of electronic information signals into a signal, which can be received by one or more information utilizing devices located throughout a structure. U.S. Patent No. 5,761 ,294 describes a method and system of enabling incoming and outgoing call capability for a digital telephone that is limited to analog transmissions that includes providing a converter that locally support the protocol of the digital telephone.

U.S. Patent No. 5,805,582 describes a wireless telephone subsystem for coupling line type telephony equipment to the public switched telephone network.

U.S. Patent No. 5,809,431 describes a local multi-point distribution system having a head end coupled to a plurality of base stations with each base station constituting a cell.

U.S. Patent No. 5,841 ,854 describes a system and method for automatic call distribution targeting users in workgroups wherein the users utilize either wired or wireless communications tools.

U.S. Patent No. 5,848,053 describes a method or apparatus for offering multiple switch access to selected lines and trunks of a multiple telecommunications switch complex. U.S. Patent No. 5,859,596 describes a communications system having a plurality of monitoring devices connected to respective pieces of switchyard equipment and associated with a common communication network. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,883,944 and 5,887,054 describe a distributed processing telephone system for providing "plug-and-play" capability.

U.S. Patent No. 5,901,205 describes an adaptive voice and data bandwidth management system that is implemented in a subscriber loop to permit higher data rates and adaptive allocation of this increased capacity between multiple applications.

U.S. Patent No. 5,911,123 describes a system and method for supporting digital communications for a single-premises wireline digital telephone that includes converting between a first signaling format that is compatible with conventional bidirectional wireline telecommunications and a second signaling format that is compatible with bidirectional wireless telecommunications.

U.S. Patent No. 5,925,101 describes a telecommunications system that provides telephone functions to be accessed through a client computer system.

U.S. Patent No. 5,930,258 describes an electric data system that allows unified access to many currently available information provider services, and that gives the information provider services a way to access potential users without the requirement that they have their own infrastructure.

U.S. Patent No. 5,930,727 describes a method and apparatus that allows a multi-line telephone user in a cellular network to notify a fixed cellular terminal supporting both analog and digital voice channels and/or its controller to request an analog channel for an incoming or outgoing modem, prior to the call.

Summary of the Invention

It is desirable to provide a digital multi-line phone jack that is capable of communicating multiple phone lines simultaneously using the AC power lines. In particular, this invention provides a means of providing telephone access for communication devices, such as telephones, modem, fax machines, set-top boxes, and the like, for multiple lines in buildings or other structures where wired telephone lines are either limited or unavailable. Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a digital multiline telephone jack which is able to transfer multiple telephone lines simultaneously using the AC power line as a communication channel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that is adapted to work with standard telephone, modem, fax machines, set-top boxes and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that uses a base unit to sample analog signals coming from the central office or other source, to receive, modify or reformat received digital data and to transmit the received analog or digital data to an extension unit, where the signals are detected, demodulated, and separated into the different multiple lines for reception by multiple extension units.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that has the ability to transfer and distribute multiple telephony signals to telephone connection devices from a wide variety of sources, including: a central office, fixed wireless source, cable, fiber optics, satellite antennas, or like devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that makes use of a digital data link to transfer the multiple telephony signals that come into the structure either as an analog or digital signal. Another object of this invention is to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that digitizes, formats and combines multiple signals into one date link. A still further object of this invention is to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that provides and interface to the power lines or, alternatively, a RF propagation channel for transferring multiple digital signals between the base station and the extension units.

It is another object of this invention to provide a digital multi-line telephone jack that uses TDMA, FDMA, CDMA or a combination or derivative of these, such as OFDM, in order to transfer multiple lines in a single data link. These and other objects of this invention are achieved by the system described herein and will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings, detailed description and claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a top-level block diagram of the digital multi-line telephony jack of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram of the preferred base unit of this invention.

Figure 3 is a detailed block diagram of the preferred extension unit of this invention. Figure 4a is a detailed block diagram of the single channel base unit of this invention.

Figure 4b is a detailed block diagram of the single channel extension unit of this invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

This invention is a digital multi-line telephone jack adapted specifically to be able to transfer multiple phone lines over the AC power line carrier, or alternatively over an over-the-air RF channel, simultaneously. Essentially, this invention uses a base unit to sample analog signals originating from a central office, cable, fixed wireless, satellite, fiber optic, or other telephony source to a residence or other building having a limited amount of direct wired telephone lines, thereby digitizing the received signals. If the signal received by the base unit is already digital, the base unit receives, modifies, and/or reformats the received digital signal as necessary to be compatible with the digital data link. The digital and digitized signals are formatted and arranged in a time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), or code division orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), modulation scheme to allow the multiple lines to be sent to the extension unit and the end user. The modulated digital data link transfers, via a power line carrier interface and AC power lines, the digital data to the extension unit, where it is detected, demodulated, and separated into each of the different multiple lines for use with and by the multiple customer premise equipment (CPE). A return path is provided, whereby the extension unit samples signals received from the multiple CPE, reformats and combines them, using time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), or code division multiple access (CDMA), or a combination or derivative or this modulation techniques, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), to permit the multiple communication lines to be sent back to the base unit, across the AC power line carrier channel. The base unit then detects and separates the signals received from the extension unit into multiple lines. The base unit then sends the detected received signals to the external signal source or destination. This external signal source or destination may be selected from a wide variety of sources, including but not limited to a central office (CO), cable, fixed wireless, satellite, fiber optics, or any other means to send telephony type signals.

Since the digital data link requires a carrier to transfer data between the base unit and the extension unit, the selected RF carrier signal can be any radio signal, available for this purpose with the preferred system using the 2 to 10 MHz band of power line carriers, the 900 MHz ISM band or the 2.4 GHz ISM band for use in the United States. In other areas, alternative frequency bands may be substituted, as necessary for International regulations, without departing from the concept of this invention.

Figure 1 shows the top-level block diagram of the preferred digital multi-line telephony jack of this invention. External signal sources 101 , including but not limited to a central office (CO), cable, fixed wireless, satellite, fiber optics and/or like methods of sending telephony type signals, are connected to the base unit 102. The base unit 102 interfaces with the multiple lines from the external devices 101 and provides the required circuitry to communicate with the external devices 101 , as well as modulating and demodulating data, and multiplexing and demultiplexing the multiple signal lines so that only one signal is passed between the power line carrier (PLC) interface or RF conversion circuit 103 and the base unit 102. The PLC interface or RF conversion circuit 103 provides the required up/down frequency conversions as well as the interface to the AC power line for the PLC data link

105a,b, 113, or the RF data link, using the base antenna 104, the over-the-air RF channel 112, and the extension antenna 11 1. The digital information passed between the base unit 102 and the extension unit 107 provides a wireless multi-line distribution throughout the premises. The extension unit 107 is connected to a PLC interface / RF converter 106 to provide the up/down frequency conversions as well as the interfaces to the AC power line connections 105b, for a PLC data link 113, or the antenna 1 11 for an RF data link 1 12. Typically and preferably, the RF data link 1 12 makes use of the 900 MHz carrier frequency. Alternative RF frequencies can be substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. For the PLC data link 113, preferably, 120 v AC standard household power is employed. Connections are made by simply by plugging into standard two-prong AC plugs 105a,b. Other power line connections, such as direct connection or connection through light sockets or the like, can similarly be employed without departing from the concept of this invention. The extension unit 107 of this invention interfaces with the multiple lines received from the multiple telephone lines, originating from one or more telephones 108, 109 and/or other telephone equipment devices 1 10. Such other telephone equipment devices, include but are not limited to computer modems, fax machines, and the like. The telephones 108, 109 and other telephone equipment devices are customer premise equipment (CPE). The extension unit 107 also provides modulation/demodulation and multiplexing/demultiplexing circuitry for selecting among the multiple lines so that only one signal is passed between the PLC interface 105a,b and 113, or the RF communication channel 104, 111 , 112, thereby providing the necessary channel between the extension unit 107 and the base unit 102.

Figure 2 shows a detailed block diagram of the preferred base unit 102 of the digital multi-line telephony jack of this invention. The external signal sources 101 , including signals from a central office, cable, fiber optics, fixed wireless, satellite, and the like, are connected to dedicated central office line interface circuits (COLIC) 202a-n. These COLIC circuits 202a-n provide the necessary electrical interface to the external signals 101. The multiple lines from the COLIC circuits 202a-n are connected to multiple line interface circuits 203a-n where the signals are formatted and processed. The outputs from the line interface circuits 203a-n are connected to the multiple access modulator/demodulator 204 where the multiple signals are combined into one signal and then fed to the PLC interface / RF converter 103, which up-converts the combined signal and transmits it either across the AC power line 105a or an RF link, via the base antenna 104. Figure 3 shows the detailed block diagram of the preferred extension unit 107 of this invention. Signals are received from the base unit 102 either from the PLC channel 1 13, via the outlet 105b, or the RF channel 112, via the extension antenna 1 1 1. The PLC interface or RF Converter 106 down converts the signal and sends it to the multiple access modulator/demodulator 304, where the signal is demodulated and separated into multiple lines. Each multiple line is sent to a line interface circuit

305 a-n where the signals are further detected, processed and then each sent to a serial line interface circuit (SLIC) 306a-n. The SLIC's 306a-n interface each individual signal with a CPE 108, 109, 110. The signal path from the CPE 108, 109, 110 through the extension unit 107 to the base unit 102 to the external signals 101 goes through the above components in a like manner, only in the reverse order.

Figure 4a provides the details of a single channel of the base unit 102 of the digital multi-line telephony jack of this invention. The central office line interface circuit (COLIC) 401 provides the appropriate signal to the central office, or other external signal source 101. The COLIC 401 also sends and receives data from the A/D and D/A converters 402. If the data is already digital, then the A/D and D/A converters 402 are not required and the data is transferred to or received directly from the processor 403. The processor 403 is preferably a digital device, and may be selected from, but not limited to, a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD); a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA); a Digital Signal Processor (DSP); and/or a micro-controller, as well as other standard digital devices. An RF modulator may also be incorporated into the processor 403. A sampling / bit synchronizer 404, receives the digital data from and is preferably controlled by the processor 403. Alternatively, the sampling / bit synchronizer 404 may be incorporated into the design of the processor 403. This sampling / bit synchronizer 404 serves to detect the beginning of the data packet and synchronizes the sample clock in the middle of the data bits of the packet. If RF modulation is done in the processor 403, the up/down converter 405 up converts the transmitted signal to the RF carrier frequency while down converting the received RF carrier to a frequency that the processor 403 can manage. If the processor 403 does not generate the RF modulation then the up/down converter 405 receives a bit stream from the processor 403 and modulates the carrier frequency while down converting the received signal to the base-band for the sampling / bit synchronizer 404. The RF modulation can be selected from any appropriate modulation scheme, including but not limited to FSK, BPSK, QPSK, DSK and the like. Figure 4b provides the details of a single channel of the extension unit 107 of the digital multi-line telephony jack of this invention. The subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) 406 provides the appropriate signal to the CPE 108, 109, 110. The SLIC 406 also sends and receives data from the A/D and D/A converters 407. If the data is already digital, then the A/D and D/A converters 407 are not required and the data is transferred to or received directly from the processor 408. The processor 408 is preferably a digital device, and may be selected from, but not limited to, a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD); a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA); a Digital Signal Processor (DSP); and/or a micro-controller, as well as other standard digital devices. An RF modulator may also be incorporated into the processor 408. A sampling / bit synchronizer 409, receives the digital data from and is preferably controlled by the processor 408. Alternatively, the sampling / bit synchronizer 409 may be incorporated into the design of the processor 408. This sampling / bit synchronizer 408 serves to detect the beginning of the data packet and synchronizes the sample clock in the middle of the data bits of the packet. If RF modulation is done in the processor 408, the up/down converter 410 up converts the transmitted signal to the RF carrier frequency while down converting the received RF carrier to a frequency that the processor 408 can manage. If the processor 408 does not generate the RF modulation then the up/down converter 410 receives a bit stream from the processor 408 and modulates the carrier frequency while down converting the received signal to the base-band for the sampling / bit synchronizer 409. The RF modulation can be selected from any appropriate modulation scheme, including but not limited to FSK, BPSK, QPSK, DSK and the like. The preferred manner of handling multiple telephone lines, both in the base unit 102 and the extension unit 107, is TDMA. A start bit synchronizes the sampling clock. Data for each of the multiple telephone lines follows the start bit. Off-hook signaling may be interleaved in the bit stream. In this manner the command executed as shown below, is commandl concatenated with command2, up to command#n. Preferred packet structure:

The described embodiment of this invention is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive. Although the embodiment described in detail here, includes certain specific components and connections, the invention is not limited thereto. The scope of this invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes, alternatives and modifications which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be considered as embraced as within their scope.

Claims

We claim:

1. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, comprising: (A) an external signal source;

(B) a base unit, electrically connected to said external signal source, to receive signals from said external signal source;

(C) a base interface, electrically connected to said base unit;

(D) a telephone communication device; (E) an extension unit electrically connected to said telephone communication device, to send signals to said telephone communication device; (F) an extension interface, electrically connected to said extension unit and in communication with said base interface. 2. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base interface, further comprises a power line interface communicating with said extension interface over an AC power line channel.

3. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension interface further comprises a power line interface communicating with said base interface over an AC power line channel.

4. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base interface, further comprises an RF interface communicating with said extension interface over an over-the-air channel. 5. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension interface further comprises an RF interface communicating with said base interface over an over-the-air channel.

6. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said external signal source is selected from the group consisting of a central office, cable, fiber optics, fixed wireless, and a satellite receiver.

7. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base unit further comprises a central office line interface circuit.

8. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base unit further comprises a line interface circuit.

9. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises a multiple access modulator / demodulator. 10 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises a multiple access modulator / demodulator

11 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises a line interface circuit

12 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises a subscriber line interface circuit 13 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base unit further comprises an A/D converter

14 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1, wherein said base unit further comprises a D/A converter

15 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base unit further comprises a processor

16 A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base unit further comprises a sampling bit synchronizer

17. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said base unit further comprises an up/down converter.

18. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises an A/D converter.

19. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises a D/A converter. 20. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises a processor.

21. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises a sampling bit synchronizer.

22. A system for communicating multiple telephone lines simultaneously over a wireless communication link, as recited in claim 1 , wherein said extension unit further comprises an up/down converter