(12) United States Patent
`US 6,404,761 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Snelling et al.
`*Jun. 11,2002
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`
`IJS006404761B1
`
`(54) COMMUNICATIONS WEBS WITH
`PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS LINKS FOR
`PSTN SUBSCRIBERS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Richard K. Snelling, Alpharetta; P.
`Stuckey McIntosh; John C. W.
`Taylor, both of Atlanta; Mark Tucker,
`Norcross, all of GA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Home Wireless Networks, Inc.,
`Norcross, GA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/084,113
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`May 22, 1998
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`(63)
`
`Continuation—in—part of application No. 08/843,200, filed on
`Apr. 16, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,058,104, which is a continu—
`ation of application No. 08/709,597, filed on Sep. 9, 1996,
`now Pat. No. 5,805,582, which is a continuation of appli—
`cation No. 08/262,214, filed on Jun. 17, 1994, now Pat. No.
`5,555,258.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................. H04J 15/00
`(51)
`(52) US. Cl.
`........................................ 370/352; 370/338
`(58) Field of Search ................................. 455/422, 557,
`455/558, 517, 419, 420, 421; 370/328,
`338, 493, 536, 537, 535, 542, 352, 401,
`419; 375/220, 222, 257
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`Primary Examiner—Ajit Patel
`Assistant Examiner—Roberta Stevens
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—James L. Ewing,
`Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP
`
`IV;
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Systems for connecting telecommunications infrastructure
`lines to telephones, handsets, computers, telecopy machines
`and other end user interfaces or consumer electronics
`devices in a residence or business. Systems according to the
`present
`invention include Network Control Units which
`form the center of a star topology and which communicate
`via RF link with Wireless Access Units and handsets.
`Wireless Access Units feature an interface, such as, for
`example, a standard telephone jack, for accommodating a
`telephone, a fax machine, a compute modem or other device.
`Computers or other devices may also be accommodated by
`Wireless Access Units having other physical and virtual
`interfaces, including, for instance, serial ports or network
`interfaces. The Wireless Access Units may also be digital to
`accommodate ISDN or any other digital standard. Wireless
`control/monitoring accessories may also be employed to
`communicate with the Network Control Unit and provide
`additional functionality such as entrance monitoring, baby
`monitoring, HVAC control and other services. Personal
`Communication Links provide wireless handset and speak-
`erphone services. The Personal Communication Links
`include independent talk/listen paths from the unit to the
`Network Control Unit. In addition, each Personal Commu-
`nication Link includes circuitry for automatically adjusting
`from high-volume/high-microphone sensitivity for speaker-
`phone operation to low-volume/low-microphone sensitivity
`for conventional handset operation.
`
`(List continued on next page.)
`
`29 Claims, 20 Drawing Sheets
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`

`US 6,404,761 B1
`
`Page 2
`
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`* cited by examiner
`2
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 1 0120
`
`US 6,404,761 B1
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`
`FIG.1
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 11,2002
`
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 14 0f 20
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`US 6,404,761 B1
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 15 0f 20
`
`US 6,404,761 B1
`
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 16 0f 20
`
`US 6,404,761 B1
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 17 0f 20
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`US 6,404,761 B1
`
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 18 0f 20
`
`US 6,404,761 B1
`
`530
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`

`US. Patent
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 11,2002
`
`Sheet 20 0f 20
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`US 6,404,761 B1
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`

`US 6,404,761 B1
`
`1
`COMMUNICATIONS WEBS WITH
`PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS LINKS FOR
`PSTN SUBSCRIBERS
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
`
`This document is a continuation-in-part of US. Ser. No.
`08/843,700, filed Apr. 16, 1997, entitled “Communications
`Webs for PSTN Subscribers”, Snelling, McIntosh & Tucker,
`inventors, now US. Pat. No. 6,058,104 which is in turn a
`continuation of US. Ser. No. 08/709,597 filed Sep. 9, 1996
`entitled “Home Personal Communications System,” now
`US. Pat. No. 5,805,582 having the same inventors, which is
`in turn a continuation of Ser. No. 08/262,214, filed Jun. 17,
`1994, now US. Pat. No. 5,555,258 issued Sep. 10, 1996
`having the same inventors, all three of which applications
`and patent are incorporated into this document as if fully set
`forth herein.
`
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`Demand for access to voice and data communications on
`
`the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”) is growing
`exponentially. Not only is the subscriber base expanding
`logarithmically, but even more significantly, individual sub-
`scribers are beginning to require more than one connection
`and frequently multiple connections. In addition to cellular
`telephones, pagers, and other mobile devices, residence-
`based connectivity is a significant factor in this exponential
`growth of the PSTN. Subscribers have begun in recent times
`and in significant volume to require second and third con-
`nections as a matter of course, such as for Global Informa-
`tion Infrastructure (so-called “Internet”) connectivity, fac-
`simile and data communications and for childrens’ lines.
`
`Although it is conventional for a residence to contain
`standard telephone devices in various rooms supported by
`one line and perhaps a computer supported by another, the
`days of standard analog “plain old telephone service” or
`“POTS” are being overshadowed by the demand for con-
`nections with sufficient capacity to support graphics, video,
`interactive applications and devices, and the so-called “push
`technology.” In 1995, for instance, the Regional Bell Oper-
`ating Companies (“RBOC’s”) began transporting more data
`than voice communications. Accordingly, not only are sub-
`scribers employing more lines; the nature of the connection
`is also changing. The rate of change will only increase over
`time.
`The increased demand for
`
`residential subscriber
`
`connections, and the ever changing nature of those connec-
`tions as new standards emerge for new and different
`services, confront a serious physical obstacle: the permanent
`physically limited nature of the residential wiring plant.
`Twisted pair is a small pipe. Standards such as ADSL aim to
`break through these physically-imposed limitations by
`delivering multiple channels on a single line and splitting
`analog and digital channels at the customer demarcation
`point in a manner that allows digital signals to be delivered
`to a nearby computer. Standards have also evolved, such as
`100-base-T,
`to squeeze performance from the installed
`twisted pair plant, but limits dictated by the non-shielded
`nature of that medium will always exist. In any event, any
`physical wiring plant or medium, present or future, will
`suffer electrical and thus transport
`limitations due to
`wireline, coaxial, fiber or other medium physical properties
`and characteristics. Connectivity in the residence which
`avoids such physically-imposed pipe constrictions would
`therefore be beneficial.
`
`Inevitably, subscribers will require an ever increasing
`array of computers and other connected electronic devices
`
`10
`
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`
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`
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`
`30
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`2
`throughout the residence. Such devices will include not only
`those which resemble computers or televisions in nature
`which require a large data pipe to support graphics, video
`and audio content. They may also be any electronic device
`one wishes to access remotely, many of which will tax the
`infrastructure in their own way with, for instance, new
`consumer electronics standards and interactive require-
`ments. For example, the anticipated 128 bit Internet protocol
`address format can, it is estimated, support every light bulb
`in the world, each with its own IP address. Residential
`connectivity must accordingly take into account not only the
`magnitude and nature of additional capacity demand
`imposed by each new device, but also the increasing volume
`of the new devices with which subscribers will inevitably
`populate their residences and small businesses.
`Presently, most residences feature only twisted pair wir-
`ing in the walls. Even at the time of this writing, that plant
`is often insufficient for the requirements imposed by certain
`conventional residence based computer equipment. Rewir-
`ing for additional lines throughout the house, whether via
`today’s twisted pair or perhaps coax standard, is trouble and
`expense enough, as well as a great disincentive which
`constricts demand for increased residential bandwidth. As
`
`time passes and the rate of technology change increases,
`however, subscribers could find themselves needing to
`rewire every several years in order to accommodate chang-
`ing standards and the need for an ever greater distribution
`pipe. Although fiber plants could theoretically provide a
`solution, cost considerations rule them out as a practical
`solution for most residences and small businesses.
`
`These factors create a need for connectivity in the resi-
`dence between the PSTN customer demarcation point and an
`ever increasing array and volume of telephones,
`fax
`machines, bandwidth-intensive devices such as computers
`and televisions, and any other device which may be con-
`nected to the PSTN or feature an IP address. Such connec-
`
`tivity must suffice not only for today; it must alleviate the
`need to rewire the residence in order to accommodate new
`
`changes. It must accommodate new devices, formats, pro-
`tocols and standards, whether analog or digital. It must be
`flexible and modular in design in order to accommodate a
`wide-ranging, ever changing, ever evolving set of needs and
`preferences among the subscriber base. It cannot afford to be
`constricted by the physically imposed limitations inherent in
`wireline, coaxial, fiber, or other physical residential plants.
`Yet it must be a reasonably priced solution in order to avoid
`imposing a constriction on growth and evolution of the
`telecommunications distribution infrastructure.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention feature a
`Systems according to the present
`Network Control Unit or Web Control Unit (“NCU”) which
`interfaces to any desired number of PSTN connections.
`Where the connections are analog, a Network Interface in
`the NCU digitizes the signals and otherwise renders them
`compatible for delivery to a cross-connect switch, which
`may be internal. The switch may be programmed in the
`residence or remotely to connect signals from each PSTN
`connection via radiofrequency link efficiently and in a
`frequency spectrum-conservative manner to any number and
`combination of wireless jacks or wireless access units. These
`wireless access units accompany and connect to the sub-
`scriber’s telephones, computers, fax machines, and other
`electronic devices in the residence or small business. Sub-
`
`therefore, configure their communications
`scribers can,
`webs to accommodate their own communications needs by
`programming the switch based on the number and nature of
`23
`
`23
`
`

`

`US 6,404,761 B1
`
`3
`their PSTN connections, their present and future telephones,
`computers, fax machines and other devices, and their per-
`sonal preferences about, for instance, what lines should ring
`and be connected where in the residence.
`
`Handsets, Wireless Access Units, Personal Communica-
`tions Links and/or wireless jacks employed in communica-
`tions webs of the present invention may comprise relatively
`simple and inexpensive electronics to receive and process
`the radiofrequency link based signals and connect them to
`the subscriber equipment. The handsets include a
`transceiver, multiplex/demultiplex circuits, analog/digital
`conversion circuits such as so-called “codec’s” and control
`
`10
`
`circuitry with a combination of, for instance, microphone
`and earphone for voice communications, and perhaps a jack
`for data communications.
`
`15
`
`Wireless Access Units contain circuitry similar to the
`handset in analog environments, plus additional circuitry for
`delivery of the signal to a standard interface such as an RJ-11
`jack. Such Wireless Access Units can be made available,
`according to the present invention,
`to accommodate any
`physical and electrical interface standard, such as Wireless
`Access Units for ISDN interfaces and any other desired
`digital services. When a subscriber decides to connect a new
`computer to the PSTN via an ISDN line, for example, the
`subscriber can simply buy a new, relatively inexpensive
`digital Wireless Access Unit with RS 232 port, connect that
`unit to the computer, reprogram the Network Control Unit to
`connect the new ISDN connection and new Wireless Access
`
`Unit, and thereby be connected via an efficient RF link rather
`than needing to call a contractor to tear the walls out.
`Personal Communications Links provide wireless handset
`and speakerphone services. The PCL is a small, slim,
`portable unit operated by rechargeable batteries. The PCL
`includes independent talk/listen paths from the PCL to the
`NCU. Duplexing circuitry either within the NCU or the PCL
`allow the speakerphone capability to be added. In addition,
`the PCL automatically adjusts from high-volume/high-
`microphone sensitivity for speakerphone operation to low-
`volume/low-microphone sensitivity for conventional hand-
`set operation. The PCL may include a conductive strip along
`its side that, when gripped, automatically adjusts the gain to
`the speaker and microphone elements.
`The PSTN connections may therefore terminate in the
`residence at a Network Control Unit which may be physi-
`cally small and innocuous in appearance, perhaps placed on
`a table or counter or mounted on a wall and, if desired,
`coupled to a nearby electrical outlet and to a controller such
`as a personal computer or other interface if the user desires
`control other than by interfaces on the Network Control Unit
`itself. The unit may feature a stub antenna, enclosed planar
`antenna or other desired antenna. Throughout the residence,
`any device desired to connect to the PSTN can connect to or
`contain its own Wireless Access Unit which may be battery
`powered and connect
`to the NCU via the RF link. No
`additional physical medium need be provided.
`The present
`invention accordingly makes possible
`wireless, efficient,
`flexible and modular connectivity
`between any desired device and the PSTN (or other tele-
`communications infrastructure) within the residence or
`small business. The Network Control Unit itself may be
`modular in design to accommodate various circuit boards for
`various changing and evolving standards and protocols.
`Multiple NCU’s may be employed, or multiple NCU func-
`tionality may be incorporated into a unit, in order to accom-
`modate objectives such as, for instance, diversity, hand-off
`capability and additional capacity. New Wireless Access
`
`4
`Units may be purchased for whatever particular devices a
`particular subscriber desires, and he or she may update the
`system with new circuit boards and new Wireless Access
`Units and perhaps new handsets as time passes, new devices
`and services evolve, and standards change.
`The Network Control Unit may be programmed by the
`subscriber using an interface on the unit. It may be con-
`nected via network or PSTN link to a remote programming
`source, either for the subscriber’s control or control by a
`service bureau. Such programming of the Network Control
`Unit, and other control and signaling, may occur via con-
`nectivity to the PSTN signaling and control infrastructure,
`including the so-called “Advanced Intelligence Networks.”
`It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
`provide a flexible, modular system which provides connec-
`tivity between the PSTN or other telecommunications infra-
`structure and any desired electronic devices a subscriber
`wishes to connect, via RF link.
`invention to
`It
`is an additional object of the present
`provide business and residential wireless connectivity
`between the PSTN and computers, handsets, and other
`devices which eliminates the need to rewire businesses and
`residences in order to accommodate new standards and
`services.
`
`invention to
`is an additional object of the present
`It
`provide RF-based connectivity between any number of
`PSTN lines and any number of now existing or future
`electronic devices, in a modular and flexible manner.
`Other objects, features and advantages of the present
`invention will become apparent with respect to the remain-
`der of this document.
`
`20
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`25
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`30
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`35
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a residence which features
`
`one embodiment of a system according to the present
`invention.
`
`40
`
`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
`
`FIG. 2 is a schematic, greatly simplified, representation of
`a Time Division Multiplex Access (“TDMA”) frame having
`eight slots supporting four bi-directional channels in accor-
`dance with one embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 3A is a high level functional block diagram of a
`Network Control Unit according to one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram, at a lower level than FIG.
`3A, of a Network Control Unit according to one embodi-
`ment of the present invention in which four coder/decoder or
`“codec’s” are employed in connection with four analog
`POTS lines.
`
`FIG. 3C is a functional block diagram of a single codec
`which may accommodate the four lines, for instance, shown
`in FIG. 3B as an alternative design for purely analog POTS
`lines.
`
`FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment
`of a handset according to the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment
`of a Wireless Access Unit according to the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a Network Control
`Unit which is adapted to accommodate the ISDN standard,
`alone or in connection with other analog PSTN connections.
`FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of a Network Control
`Unit according to the present invention adapted to accom-
`modate three analog and one digital PSTN connections.
`FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment
`of a digital Wireless Access Unit according to the present
`invention.
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`24
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`24
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`

`

`US 6,404,761 B1
`
`5
`FIGS. 9A and 9B are functional block diagrams as one
`embodiment of switching/processing circuitry contained in
`one embodiment of a Wireless Access Unit or handset
`
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 10 is a high level functional block diagram of
`transceiver circuitry which may be employed in the present
`invention if desired.
`
`FIG. 11A is a simplified flow diagram illustrating one
`configuration sequence of the Network Control Unit of FIG.
`3.
`
`FIG. 11B is a table showing configuration of the Network
`Control Unit of FIG. 3 resulting from the configuration
`sequence shown in FIG. 11A.
`FIGS. 12A a