(19)
`
`(12)
`
`Europäisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
`
`Office européen des brevets
`
`&




`EP 1 675 309 A1
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`(11)
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`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(43) Date of publication:
`28.06.2006 Bulletin 2006/26
`
`(21) Application number: 06075228.4
`
`(22) Date of filing: 28.10.1998
`
`(51) Int Cl.:
`H04L12/28(2006.01)
`H04M1/72(2006.01)
`
`H04M11/06(2006.01)
`
`(84) Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU
`MC NL PT SE
`Designated Extension States:
`AL LT LV MK RO SI
`
`(30) Priority: 10.11.1997 US 966926
`
`(62) Document number(s) of the earlier application(s) in
`accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
`98957397.7 / 1 031 211
`
`(71) Applicant: AMERITECH CORPORATION
`Hoffman Estates, IL 60196-1025 (US)
`
`(72) Inventor: Gorman, Michael George
`Lemont, Illinois 60439 (US)
`
`(74) Representative: McLeish, Nicholas Alistair
`Maxwell
`Boult Wade Tennant
`Verulam Gardens
`70 Gray’s Inn Road
`London WC1X 8BT (GB)
`
`Remarks:
`This application was filed on 02 - 02 - 2005 as a
`divisional application to the application mentioned
`under INID code 62.
`
`(54)
`
`System and method for distributing voice and data information over wireless and wireline
`networks
`
`(57)
`A method and device for distributing both high-
`speed data service, such as digital computer, video and
`multimedia data, and lower speed data service, such as
`POTS voice telephone signals, throughout a customer
`premises. High-speed digital data and lower speed
`
`POTS voice signals are separated by a POTS splitter
`and distributed throughout the customer premises on
`separate distribution networks. The lower speed POTS
`is carried on a wireless distribution network and the high-
`speed data carried on the existing customer premises
`wiring ordinarily used for POTS.
`
`Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
`
`Samsung Exhibit 1027
`Samsung v. Affinity
`IPR2014-01181
`Page 00001
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`EP1 675 309A1
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`EP 1 675 309 A1
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`Description
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A. Field of the Invention
`
`[0001] The present invention relates to a method and
`device for distributing high-speed digital data information
`and lower speed data including Plain Old Telephone
`Service ("POTS") voice signals throughout a customer
`premises.
`
`B. Description of the Related Art
`
`[0002] The Internet is a worldwide interconnection of
`computers that offers a vast array of multimedia audio,
`video, graphics, and text information accessible from a
`user’s home computer. The available multimedia content
`on the Internet requires millions of bits of digital data to
`be transmitted or downloaded to the user’s computer.
`Conventional voiceband data modems used to access
`the Intemet, however, use a serial telephone line con-
`nection transmitting data at less than 56 kilobits per sec-
`ond. The user’s ability to quickly obtain and view infor-
`mation using a conventional telephone line connection
`is thus substantially limited.
`[0003] The desire to bring large amounts of multimedia
`digital data from the Internet into the home has increased
`the demand for high-speed data services such as Inte-
`grated Digital Services Network ("ISDN") and Digital Sub-
`scriber Lines ("DSL") to the home or small business of-
`fice. In addition to Plain Old Telephone Service ("POTS"),
`telephone operating companies are now offering these
`high-speed data services to bring digital data from the
`telephone company central office to the telephone sub-
`scriber’s home or office. High-speed data and POTS are
`often carried to the home at different frequencies on the
`same physical wire pair.
`[0004] Once to the telephone subscriber’s home,
`these high-speed data services must be distributed
`throughout the home or office to the locations where com-
`puter users are located. Existing homes typically do not
`have wiring facilities to distribute high-speed data. At a
`typical customer premises, such as the family home, the
`telephone company delivers conventional POTS and
`high-speed data services to a network interface device
`("NID") located outside of the building. From the NID, a
`pair of conductive telephone wires delivers POTS to the
`rooms in the home where telephones are located. To
`distribute high-speed data services in addition to supply-
`ing POTS, however, additional wiring must ordinarily be
`installed throughout the customer premises. Installing
`additional wiring to each desired location throughout the
`premises, however, can be expensive and disruptive to
`those living or working there.
`[0005] To avoid the cost and disruption of installing
`new wiring, wireless data distribution systems have been
`proposed to distribute high-speed digital data throughout
`
`the customer premises location without such disruption
`or installation costs. Wireless distribution systems, how-
`ever, typically have less bandwidth capacity than a wire-
`line system. Wireless distribution systems may also cre-
`ate or be susceptible to interference with other electronic
`devices that are commonly found in an office environ-
`ment. Thus, higher performance wireless systems that
`are less susceptible to interference and have higher
`bandwidth capacity are more complex and considerably
`more expensive than a wireline distribution system. Ad-
`ditionally, high-speed data terminals are typically placed
`at a fixed location, whereas voice and portable low-speed
`data terminals would often benefit from mobility in and
`near the customer premises.
`[0006]
`In accordance with an illustrative embodiment
`of the present invention, the problems of distributing both
`high-speed data and POTS signals throughout a custom-
`er premises can be addressed without the cost and dis-
`ruption of installing new wiring or cost and complexity of
`wireless data networks.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features and
`advantages of the present invention will be more readily
`appreciated upon reference to the following disclosure
`when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings, in which:
`
`Figure I shows a system diagram of the local loop
`between the customer premises and telephone serv-
`ice provider central office in accordance an aspect
`of the present invention;
`Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the method ac-
`cording to an aspect of the present invention;
`Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the customer
`premises location of the system of figure 1;
`Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the POTS splitter
`of the system of Figure 1; and
`Figure 5 shows a block diagram of the backup power
`feature in accordance with another aspect of the
`present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM-
`BODIMENT
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`[0008] While the invention is described below in some
`detail with reference to certain illustrated embodiments,
`it is to be understood that it is not limited to those em-
`bodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all mod-
`ifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the
`spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the ap-
`pended claims.
`[0009] The present embodiment provides an informa-
`tion distribution system within a customer premises lo-
`cation using a wireline distribution network for distributing
`high-speed data and a separate wireless distribution net-
`work for distributing POTS and lower speed data. The
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`customer premises location receives high-speed digital
`data such as computer, video, multimedia data contain-
`ing audio, graphics, and text, and lower speed data in-
`cluding POTS voice band frequencies from the public
`switched telephone network ("PSTN"). The PSTN in-
`cludes those public switched telephone networks provid-
`ed by AT&T, Regional Bell Operating Companies (e.g.,
`Ameritech, U.S. West, Bell Atlantic, SBC, Bell South,
`NYNEX, and Pacific Telesis Group) and others. A POTS
`splitter separates the high-speed digital data from the
`lower speed POTS signals. Lower speed POTS signals
`are distributed throughout the customer premises on the
`wireless distribution system rather than the existing wire-
`line distribution system. The wireless system may also
`have multiple channels to provide additional POTS lines
`and distribute lower speed data. The wireline distribution
`network can then be used to distribute the high-speed
`digital data throughout the customer premises.
`[0010] The present embodiment provides the distribu-
`tion of high-speed data and lower speed POTS signals
`on separate wireless and wireline network distribution
`facilities to avoid the cost and disruption of installing ad-
`ditional wiring at the customer premises. The wireless
`distribution system carries lower speed data and has rel-
`atively lower bandwidth requirements, reducing the com-
`plexity and cost of the wireless distribution system. The
`wireless distribution system also provides cordless op-
`eration allowing users to access the telephone in different
`areas throughout the customer premises and freely move
`about while speaking on the telephone. The existing tel-
`ephone wiring is free from carrying POTS and can be
`utilized to carry high-speed data typically associated with
`digital computer data or multimedia information. Using
`the wireline distribution network, the high-speed data is
`available at outlets throughout the customer premises
`for connection to computers, computer peripherals, and
`video display devices.
`[0011] The present embodiment also provides for the
`distribution of POTS signals and lower speed data over
`the existing wireline system in the event of a power failure
`or outage. During a loss of power, the wireless distribution
`network is typically out of service. Lower speed POTS is
`thus switched over to the wireline distribution network to
`provide service in the event of a power failure.
`[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the subscriber location
`or customer premises 20 is in communication with the
`telephone service provider central office 24 using a local
`loop 22 carrying both POTS analog voice signals and
`high-speed digital data traffic between the customer
`premises 20 and the telephone service provider central
`office 24. The local loop 22 may take different forms but
`is typically a twisted pair of copper wires providing plain
`old telephone service ("POTS") or 1 measured business
`service to the customer location. The local loop 22 may
`also provide high-speed communication services such
`as integrated services digital network ("ISDN") or higher
`rate services such as Primary Rate Interface ("PRI") or
`24 channel T1 service. In the present embodiment, the
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`local loop preferably includes a high-speed digital sub-
`scriber line 26 ("DSL" or "XDSL") such as a high-speed
`digital subscriber loop ("HDSL"), asymmetric digital sub-
`scriber loop ("ASDL") or rate adaptive digital subscriber
`line ("RADSL"). Alternatively, a digital carrier system 26
`provides digital data lines which enable subscribers 28
`to transmit large amounts of digitally multiplexed data
`traffic over the POTS twisted pair telephone line 29. The
`remote terminal 27 combines a plurality of subscribers
`28 onto a digital multiplexed data line 25 for transmission
`between the subscriber location 28 and the central office
`24. For example, a 24-channel digital multiplexed T1 line
`is commonly used in North America for the multiplexed
`data line 25. T1 typically uses wire pairs using 16 to 24
`gauge cable carrying data at the 1.544 Mbps DS1 line
`rate. In addition, fiber optic cable carrying a number of
`multiplexed channels of information may also be used in
`accordance with the present embodiment.
`[0013] Preferably, ADSL is used to implement a sub-
`scriber loop with high-speed data capacity. ADSL imple-
`ments a digital subscriber line 22 with asymmetric data
`rates between the customer premises and the central
`office, meaning the maximum available "downstream"
`data rate from the central office 24 to the subscriber lo-
`cation 20, 28 is greater than the maximum "upstream"
`data rate from the subscriber 20, 28 back to the central
`office 24. ADSL can provide data rates of up to 8 mega-
`bits-per-second ("Mbs") over 2 miles of twisted-pair wir-
`ing to provide a variety of digital data signals supporting
`computer, multimedia and video data, while providing
`POTS over the same line. A typical ADSL system pro-
`vides a 1.5 Mbs rate from the central office 24 to the
`subscriber 20, 28 and about 640 kilobits-per-second
`("Kbs") in the reverse direction from the subscriber loca-
`tion 20, 28 to the central office 24. ADSL may use discrete
`multi-tone ("DMT"), carrierless amplitude and phase
`("CAP") or even quadrature amplitude modulation
`("QAM") line coding. The American National Standards
`Institute’s T1E1.4 committee has selected DMT as the
`ADSL standard.
`[0014] Alternatively, the local loop may also include a
`wireless local loop (currently being deployed primarily in
`developing countries without existing communication in-
`frastructure facilities and now available in the United
`States). The wireless local loop 30 provides communi-
`cation from the central office 24 to the customer premises
`32 without requiring new cable plant between the central
`office 24 and the customer premises 32. A wireless local
`loop 30 may use a transmitter 34 at the central office 24,
`transmitting microwave radio frequencies to a radio fre-
`quency receiver using an antenna 36 at the customer
`premises 32. The wireless local loop 30 can implement
`any of the ISDN, PRI, DSL, or high-capacity 24 channel
`T1 lines described above. In addition, fixed-satellite wire-
`less communication systems allowing communication
`service to be directly received at the subscriber location
`from earth orbiting satellites are also available from com-
`panies such as Hughes Network Systems and Motorola
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`Inc. Such systems are currently being deployed in devel-
`oping countries.
`[0015] The local loop, in its various forms 22, 26, 30,
`carries POTS and high-speed data signals between the
`subscriber locations 20, 28, 32 and the telephone service
`provider central office 24. POTS signals are typically an-
`alog voice band signals within the 200 Hz to 4 KHz fre-
`quency range. In comparison, high-speed digital data is
`usually carried at carrier frequencies several orders of
`magnitude higher than the voice band frequency range.
`For example, lower speed POTS signals may be carried
`in the 0 to 10 KHz frequency range, while ADSL carries
`high-speed data in the frequency range from 100 KHz
`up to 1 MHz or at even higher. Thus, POTS signals and
`high-speed data are carried over the same local loop
`facility at different frequencies.
`[0016] Figure 2, summarizes the present method of
`implementing the described embodiment. At step 110,
`combined high-speed and lower speed POTS signals
`from the local loop is separated onto separate facilities.
`Preferably, the high-speed data is separated from the
`lower speed POTS signals onto physically separate lines
`as described in connection with the description of the
`POTS splitter of Figure 3. At step 120, the separated
`lower speed POTS signals are distributed over a wireless
`distribution system, rather than the conventional in-
`house POTS telephone wiring. At step 130, high-speed
`data is distributed over the existing wireline ordinarily
`used for distributing POTS within the customer premises.
`The details of the present method are further described
`below in connection with the present embodiment.
`[0017] Figure 3 shows a diagram of a telephone sub-
`scriber location or customer premises 20 such as a typical
`home or small business office. The local loop 22 between
`the customer premises 20 and the central office 24 is
`terminated at the network interface device ("NID") 40 con-
`necting the customer premises 20 to the public switched
`telephone network ("PSTN"). Typically, the NID 40 pro-
`vides a common wiring point for the customer premises
`and the telephone service provider to connect and inter-
`face their equipment. The NID 40 serves as a convenient
`place to connect the local loop 22 to the customer premis-
`es 20 and demarcates customer premises equipment
`from telephone service provider equipment. In the pre-
`ferred embodiment, on the customer premises side of
`the NID 40, a POTS splitter 42 is installed to separate
`high-speed data signals from lower speed POTS signals.
`Preferably, the POTS splitter 42 separates high-speed
`ADSL signals from lower speed POTS signals. The
`POTS splitter 42 has an input/output 44 from the local
`loop 22. The splitter 42 separates the high-speed data
`and the lower speed POTS signals into two separate out-
`puts/inputs 46, 48 for distribution within the customer
`premises 20. One of the outputs/inputs 48 supplies high-
`speed data traffic and the other output/input 46 supplies
`POTS voice frequency signals. From the POTS splitter
`44, the POTS voice frequency signals 46 are connected
`to the wireless distribution system 50 while high-speed
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`data is connected to the wireline distribution network 60.
`Alternatively, the POTS splitter 42 may be provided in-
`ternally within the NID 40.
`[0018] Now referring to Figure 4, the operation of a
`POTS splitter 42 separating voice frequency signals from
`the data signals is described. Combined POTS and high-
`speed data signals carried by the local loop 22 to the
`customer premises are terminated at the input/output 44
`of the POTS splitter 42 with an 600-800 ohm impedance.
`In the present embodiment, the POTS splitter 42 includes
`a high-pass filter 45 and a low-pass filter 43 to separate
`the different frequency signals. The high-pass filter 45
`separates the high-speed data 48 to splitter output/input
`48 and the low-pass filter 43 separates the lower speed
`POTS signals to output/input 46. To separate high-speed
`data, the high-pass filter 45 attenuates lower frequency
`signals and passes only higher frequency signals. The
`high-speed data signals are typically at higher signal fre-
`quencies, such as above 80 KHz. Thus, the high-pass
`filter 45 outputs only these high-speed data signals to
`output/input 48. To separate POTS voice signals, the
`low-pass filter 43 blocks high frequency signals, for ex-
`ample, signals above 10 KHz, passing only lower fre-
`quency voice band signals in the 200 Hz to 4 KHz range
`to the output/input 46. Thus, the high-pass 45 and low-
`pass 43 filters have separate outputs with the low-pass
`filter outputting POTS signals 46 and the high-pass filter
`outputting high-speed data traffic 48. It is to be under-
`stood that the POTS splitter 42 also operates in the re-
`verse "upstream" direction to combine high-speed data
`48 and lower speed signals 46 from the customer premis-
`es for transmission to the telephone service provider’s
`central office 24. High-speed data destined for the central
`office 24 is input to the splitter 42 at output/input 48 and
`the lower speed data is input to the splitter at output/input
`46. The high-speed data and the lower speed POTS sig-
`nals are combined at input/output 44 for transmission to
`the central office 24. POTS splitters are available from
`suppliers of DSL telephone equipment such as NetSpeed
`of Austin, Texas.
`[0019] The described embodiment of the POTS splitter
`is representative, and there are numerous other embod-
`iments in accordance with the present invention. The de-
`scribed embodiment of the POTS splitter may be suitable
`for any of the local loop systems described in connection
`with Figure I which combine high-speed and lower speed
`signals on the same local loop at different frequencies.
`The POTS splitter may also be implemented according
`to the requirements of the local loop. For example, a local
`loop that carries high-speed data and lower speed voice
`band frequencies on separate lines to the customer
`premises may eliminate the need for the POTS splitter
`altogether. Because the high-speed and lower speed sig-
`nals are already carried on separate lines, there is no
`need for a POTS splitter to separate the signals onto
`separate lines. The high-speed data line can be directly
`fed to the wireline distribution network 60 and the lower
`speed signals can be directly fed to the wireless distri-
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`bution system 50.
`[0020] Referring again to Figure 3, a diagram of the
`wireless distribution system 50 carrying POTS and lower
`speed data within the customer premises 20 is repre-
`sented schematically. To provide access to the wireless
`distribution system 50, the low-pass output/input 46 of
`the POTS splitter 42 is connected to a wireless controller
`52. The wireless controller 52 transmits the lower speed
`signal output of the POTS splitter 42 to the various remote
`receivers 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 in the range of wireless
`distribution network 50. Preferably, the wireless control-
`ler 52 is located near the POTS splitter 42 to receive the
`lower speed data or POTS voice signals from the low-
`pass output/input 46 of the splitter. The wireless system
`50 preferably carries voice telephone signals associated
`with POTS, but may also carry lower speed data such
`as that associated with a modem or other relatively low
`baud rate data systems. For example, an output 80 of
`the ADSL modem 62 may be supplied to the wireless
`controller 52 of the wireless distribution system 50. The
`wireless controller 52 may have a low-speed data input
`51 that can receive a connection 80 from the wireline
`distribution system 60 using a conventional RJ-11 tele-
`phone jack. The wireless distribution system 50 can thus
`distribute a lower speed data channel from the wireline
`distribution system over one of its wireless channels. For
`example, the wireless controller 52 may provide a multi-
`ple number of 64 Kbs to 128 Kbs data channels. The
`wireless channels may carry a number of POTS lines but
`may also be used to carry a lower speed data channel
`from the ADSL modem 62. Thus, lower speed data from
`the ADSL modem 62 is also available for use by devices
`on the wireless distribution system 50.
`[0021] The wireless controller 52 has a radio frequency
`("RF") interface to communicate with the various remote
`receivers using a small antenna 53. The antenna 53 may
`be driven by a low power transmitter broadcasting with
`less than an 0.1 watt of power to provide wireless service
`with a range from a few feet to a few hundred feet of the
`wireless controller 52. Of course, higher power wireless
`distribution systems may transmit with greater power to
`provide greater usable range. The wireless controller 52
`may use the household alternating current ("AC") elec-
`trical wiring (not shown) as a transmitting antenna. Such
`systems may use a capacitor to block the AC line current
`while passing a frequency modulated carrier with a center
`frequency ranging from 1.6 to 1.8 MHz through its AC
`power cord to the household electrical wiring. Smaller
`whip antennas (less than one meter in length) can also
`be used in accordance with this exemplary embodiment.
`The various remote receivers 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 in
`the wireless distribution network 50 may also use similar
`whip antennas to transmit with low power.
`[0022] The wireless distribution system 50 can take
`many different forms and have different RF interfaces as
`compatible with regulatory agencies as the Federal Com-
`munications Committee ("FCC") and applicable industry
`standard protocols. For example, a simple consumer
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`cordless telephone system that provides a base unit
`transmitting and receiving at the 45 to 50 MHz frequency
`range to receivers such as a cordless, battery-powered
`telephone handset 54 can be used. Such cordless tele-
`phone systems provide full-duplex operation between
`the base station 45 and the handset 54 by transmitting
`at one frequency and receiving at second frequency. A
`typical cordless telephone system transmits signals at
`about a 46 MHz frequency and receives signals at around
`49 MHz. Half-duplex wireless systems transmitting over
`a single frequency are less desirable for voice operation.
`In these wireless systems, the signals are typically ana-
`log signals modulated using amplitude modulation or fre-
`quency modulation techniques. Often a number of differ-
`ent channels at different frequencies in the 45 to 50 MHz
`range are made available for multiple channel capability
`for operation under noisy electrical conditions.
`[0023] Most preferably, the wireless distribution sys-
`tem operates in the higher 800 to 900 MHz frequency
`band now being used in a variety of consumer wireless
`applications such as the latest generation of wireless tel-
`ephones, pagers, and the like. The preferred system is
`a digital communication system having multiple channel
`capacity to provide a plurality of POTS lines and lower
`speed data channel(s). Multi-channel digital wireless
`systems using time-division multiple access ("TDMA"),
`frequency-division multiple access ("FDMA") and spread
`spectrum techniques such as code division multiple ac-
`cess ("CDMA") feature provide greater bandwidth capac-
`ity and may be less prone to interference in electrically
`noisy environments such as the typical business office.
`The remote receiver may be a wireless handset or a fixed-
`wireless telephone station 55, similar to a conventional
`style telephone, except using an antenna and transceiver
`rather than a wireline to receive signals. The fixed-wire-
`less telephone station may use battery or AC power and
`provide the telephony functions of receiving, transmitting,
`DTMF generation/detection, on and off-hook detection
`and voice coding. Of course, all the features of conven-
`tional telephones such as wireless paging, intercom,
`speakerphone, security codes, volume controls, and the
`like may be incorporated. The wireless system may also
`have wireless headsets 56, wireless modems 57, or other
`home devices that are connected to receive lower data
`rate information, such as an alarm system 58.
`[0024]
`In another example, a kitchen counter display
`device 59 with a liquid crystal display may use a channel
`of the wireless distribution system 50 to access a recipe
`page on the Internet via a modem connection. To find a
`recipe, a user may use the kitchen display device 59 to
`connect to a host computer containing recipes, such as
`a web page on the Internet, using a lower speed data
`connection over the wireless distribution system 50. Pref-
`erably, the wireless distribution system 50 provides a low-
`er speed data connection that uses a lower speed data
`connection from the ADSL modem 62. A data connection
`on the ADSL modem 62 has the advantage over a con-
`ventional telephone modem in that the ADSL modem 62
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`always has a data connection without having to establish
`a new connection, i.e., a telephone call and connection
`does not have to be established for each call. Thus, a
`considerable amount of call setup time can be saved to
`allow quick access to information. It should be under-
`stood, of course, that a conventional facsimile, computer
`modems, wireless modems, paging systems, alarm sys-
`tems and other lower speed data systems may also utilize
`the wireless distribution system.
`[0025] Other wireless communication systems or mo-
`bile telephones operating at higher frequency ranges,
`such as the 1.5 GHz frequency range used by personal
`communication systems ("PCS"), are also suitable for
`the wireless distribution system in accordance with the
`present invention. A personal communication network
`("PCN") may also implement a wireless telephone sys-
`tem from the telephone service provider central office
`that bypasses the local loop. PCN uses light, inexpensive
`handheld handsets and communicates via lower power
`antennas than cellular telephone systems, therefore hav-
`ing longer battery life. PCN systems typically operate in
`the 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz frequency range. The PCN
`implementation of the wireless distribution system sim-
`plifies the embodiment of the invention. Using the PCN
`system, voice telephony is carried from the telephone
`service provider’s central office on a wireless distribution
`system, however, high-speed data traffic may still be car-
`ried from the telephone service provider on a DSL local
`loop. Because PCN carries the lower speed voice data
`separately from the high-speed data, the need for a
`POTS splitter may be eliminated. The high-speed data
`carried by the local loop from the telephone service pro-
`vider central office is sent directly to the customer premis-
`es wiring for distribution on the wireline network. PSC
`and PCN systems may also provide a wireless private
`branch telephone exchange ("WPBX") providing teleph-
`ony functions within or in close proximity to a customer
`premises location.
`[0026]
`It should be understood that unlike typical home
`cordless telephone systems, which are used in conjunc-
`tion with a standard telephone connected to the in-house
`telephone wiring, the present embodiment does not re-
`quire use of the in-house wiring. The wireless controller
`52 can be directly connected to the POTS splitter 42 and
`the lower speed data transmitted without being carried
`by the existing wireline system.
`[0027] As described above, conventional POTS sig-
`nals are separated by the POTS splitter 42 to be distrib-
`uted on a wireless network 50 without using the existing
`telephone wiring. The existing telephone wiring 61 can
`thus be used to carry high-speed data. To implement the
`wireline distribution system 60, the high-speed data out-
`put/input 48 of the POTS splitter 42 is connected to the
`existing telephone wiring 61. For example, the tip and
`ring pair of the conventional telephone wiring 61 is used
`to distribute high-speed computer data such video, mul-
`timedia audio, graphics and text or computer data asso-
`ciated with a local area network. Once connected to the
`
`5
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`6
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`existing telephone wiring 61, the high-speed signal is
`available throughout the customer premises 20, wherev-
`er the telephone cabling 61 runs. Typically 4 wire or
`"quad" telephone cable is used for the telephone wiring
`in most homes. Preferably, the telephone wiring 61 is
`twisted pair 22 gauge copper wire, however, 18, 19, 24
`or 26 gauge copper wire is also suitable for customer
`premises wiring. If necessary, a line boost amplifier 68
`can also be used to amplify the signal for longer cable
`runs. It should also be understood that other types of
`shielded cable or coaxial cable are also suitable for the
`wireline system.
`[0028] Still referring to Figure 3, the wireline system
`60 uses the existing telephone wiring 61 in the subscriber
`home, business or small office to distribute high-speed
`data throughout the customer premises 20. In one em-
`bodiment, the high-speed data output/input 48 of the
`POTS splitter is connected to the wireline distribution net-
`work via an ASDL modem to demodulate and decode
`the ADSL local loop. The ADSL modem 62 can also be
`provided on a network interface card ("NIC") 82 as a com-
`ponent of a personal computer 84. The personal compu-
`ter 82 can then terminate the ADSL line and be used as
`a high-speed data connection in any room of the house
`where the wireline distribution system 60 is available.
`Alternatively, the ADSL modem 62 may also be a stan-
`dalone device providing outputs connected to other com-
`puter devices or a network switch, router 63, or network
`server 64 providing access to local area network of com-
`puters 65, peripherals, or video display devices 69. The
`ADSL modem 62 may have a number of different outputs,
`such as an output 80 connected to the wireless controller
`52. It should be understood that the video display device
`69 may require an appropriate interface device to the
`ADSL modem, typically in the form of a set-top box.
`[0029] Using the existing wireline 61, high-speed dig-
`ital data services can be delivered to multiple access
`points 66 throughout the home 20 for a laptop computer
`67 or other customer applications. Most new and existing
`buildings presently have either 2 wire or 4 wire telephone
`cabling to each area of the building. The wiring is typically
`terminated to a modular RJ-11 type jack in each room of
`the building where access to telephone service was pro-
`vided. The computer devices 65 preferably interface the
`wirelines using a NIC of the appropriate network protocol
`type for accessing the incoming data. For example, if the
`data carried on the wireline 61 implements the Ethernet
`protocol the NIC implements an Ethernet Interface. If the
`data carried on the wireline distribution network uses the
`asynchronous transfer mode ("AT