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A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telepho

A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and a wall-mounted telephone outlet

What is claimed is: 1. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and a wall-mounted telephone outlet connected to the telephone wire pair, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying the wired digital data signal and the telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, said module comprising: a telephone connector that is electrically and mechanically connectable to the telephone outlet for connecting to the telephone wire pair; a high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the wired digital data signal; a telephone modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the telephone wire pair using a wired digital data protocol; a radio frequency modem operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol; a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and the wired digital data protocol; and a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter. 2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the module is further mechanically detachable from the telephone outlet. 3. The module according to claim 1, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard. 4. The module according to claim 1, wherein said module is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises: a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit. 5. The module according to claim 1, wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises: a data connector connectable to a wired data unit; and a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit. 6. The module according to claim 5, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface. 7. The module according to claim 1 wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of: a WLL network, a LMDS network, and a satellite network. 8. The module according to claim 1, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to the telephone wire pair. 9. The module according to claim 1, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol. 10. A telephone outlet for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and extending to a wall cavity for a wall-mounted telephone outlet, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and a telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, said telephone outlet comprising: a telephone connector for connecting to the telephone wire pair; a high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the wired digital data signal; a telephone modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the telephone wire pair using a wired digital data protocol; a radio frequency modem operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol; a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and said wired digital data protocol; and a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter, wherein said enclosure is mountable to the telephone outlet cavity. 11. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said enclosure is dimensioned to fit an existing standard telephone outlet cavity. 12. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard. 13. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein the outlet is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises: a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit. 14. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein the outlet is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises: a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit. 15. The outlet according to claim 14, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface. 16. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of: a WLL network, a LMDS network, and a satellite network. 17. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to the telephone wire pair. 18. The outlet according to claim 10, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol. 19. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with a telephone wire pair and a service wire pair, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying a first wired digital data signal and a telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the first wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, and the service wire pair concurrently carries a second wired digital data signal in a data signal frequency band and a service signal in a service signal frequency band using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the data signal frequency band is distinct from the service signal frequency band, said module comprising: a telephone connector that is electrically and mechanically connectable to a telephone outlet for connecting to the telephone wire pair; a first high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the first wired digital data signal; a telephone modem coupled to said first high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the first wired digital data signal with one or more identical telephone modems over the telephone wire pair using a first wired digital data protocol; a service connector for connecting to the service wire pair; a second high pass filter coupled to said service connector for passing only the second wired digital data signal; a service wiring modem coupled to said second high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the second wired digital data signal with one or more identical service wiring modems over the service wire pair using a second wired digital data protocol; a radio frequency modem operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with one or more wireless data units employing a radio frequency wireless digital data signal conforming to a wireless digital data protocol; a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled to said telephone modem, said service wiring modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and said first and second wired digital data protocols; and a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said first and second high pass filters, said telephone modem, said service wiring modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter. 20. The module according to claim 19, wherein said enclosure is structured to be mechanically externally attachable to the telephone outlet. 21. The module according to claim 19, wherein the module is further mechanically detachable from the telephone outlet. 22. The module according to claim 19, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard. 23. The module according to claim 19, wherein said module is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises: a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit. 24. The module according to claim 19, wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises: a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit. 25. The module according to claim 24, wherein said standard data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface. 26. The module according to claim 19, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to establish a wireless communication link that is part of one of: a WLL network, a LMDS network and a satellite network. 27. The module according to claim 19, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to said telephone wire pair. 28. The module according to claim 19, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems, employing the radio frequency wireless digital data signal, and the radio frequency wireless digital data signal conforms to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol. 29. The module according to claim 19, wherein the service wire pair is a component of one of an AC power service, a telephone service, and a cable television service, the service signal is correspondingly one of an AC power signal, a telephone signal, and a cable television signal. 30. A module for coupling a wired digital data signal to a wireless data unit, for use with an existing electrical telephone distribution infrastructure at least in part in a building, the infrastructure having a telephone wire pair carrying a telephone signal and a wall-mounted telephone outlet connected to the telephone wire pair, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying a wired digital data signal and the telephone signal using frequency division multiplexing, wherein the wired digital data signal is carried over a high frequency band and the telephone signal is carried over a low frequency band, said module comprising: a telephone connector for connecting to the telephone wire pair; a high pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the wired digital data signal; a telephone modem coupled to the high pass filter and operative for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of the wired digital data signal over the telephone wire pair using a wired digital data protocol; a radio frequency modem operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication of a wireless digital data signal using a wireless digital data protocol; a packet-based digital protocol adapter consisting of one of a bridge, a router and a gateway, coupled between said telephone modem and said radio-frequency modem for converting data between the wireless digital data protocol and the wired digital data protocol; and a single enclosure containing said telephone connector, said high pass filter, said telephone modem, said radio frequency modem and said protocol adapter, and wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative to communicate with an outdoor broadband service. 31. The module according to claim 30, wherein the outdoor broadband service is based on one of: satellite, LMDS and WLL service. 32. The module according to claim 30, wherein the wireless digital data signal is based on IEEE802.11 standard. 33. The module according to claim 30, wherein said module is further connectable to a telephone unit, and said module further comprises: a low pass filter coupled to said telephone connector for passing only the telephone signal; and a second telephone connector coupled to said low pass filter and connectable to the telephone unit, for coupling the telephone signal to the telephone unit. 34. The module according to claim 30, wherein said module is further connectable to a wired data unit, and said module further comprises: a data connector connectable to the wired data unit; and a data transceiver coupled between said data connector and said packet-based digital protocol adapter, for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with the wired data unit. 35. The module according to claim 34, wherein said data connector and said data transceiver are operative to constitute a standard IEEE802.3 interface. 36. The module according to claim 34, wherein said telephone modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical telephone modems coupled to other telephone outlets connected to the telephone wire pair. 37. The module according to claim 34, wherein said radio frequency modem is further operative for conducting standard-based bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with two or more identical radio frequency modems employing the wireless digital data signal, and the wireless digital data signal is a radio frequency signal conforming to a standard-based wireless digital data protocol.