System and method for carrying a wireless based signal over wiring

Abstract

A device, network and method wherein a standard wireless modem is coupled to wiring for carrying a wireless baseband signal that may be OFDM based, and may be directly generated by the wireless IF modem, or extracted from the modem RF signal. The wiring may be a building utility wiring, such as telephone, AC power or CATV wiring. The baseband signal is carried simultaneously with the utility service signal over the utility wiring using Frequency Division Multiplexing. The device may be enclosed with a data unit, a standalone dedicated enclosure, within an outlet or as a plug-in outlet adapter. Data units may couple the device by a wiring port such as standard data connector, or via wireless connection. The device may be locally powered or via a power signal carried over the wiring. This abstract is not intended to limit or construe the scope of the claims.

1 . A device for configuring a network over a telephone wire pair in a building, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone frequency band, and the network carrying a spread-spectrum digital data signal in a digital data frequency band separate from, and higher than, the analog telephone frequency band, said device comprising: 
 a first telephone connector connectable to the telephone wire pair;    a high pass filter coupled to said first telephone connector for passing only signals in the digital data frequency band;    a multi-carrier modem coupled to said high pass filter, said modem being constructed to conduct a first OFDM modulated digital data signal in the digital data frequency band over said telephone wire pair for conducting bi-directional packet-based digital data communication;    a data connector connectable to a data unit; and    a transceiver coupled between said data connector and said modem, said transceiver being constructed for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication with said data unit.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , said device being constructed for coupling the analog telephone signal to an analog telephone unit, and said device further comprising: 
 a second telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone unit; and    a low pass filter coupled between said first and second telephone connectors and for passing only the analog telephone signal.    
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the first digital data signal is wireless-based signal.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said modem comprises at least one of: a wireless baseband processor; a wireless I/Q modulator; and a wireless RF-IF converter.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said modem comprises: 
 a wireless modem constructed to receive and transmit signals in a radio frequency band; and    an up/down converter coupled to said wireless modem and constructed to convert from the radio frequency band to the digital data frequency band.    
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein said up/down converter is heterodyne-based.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a single enclosure housing said first telephone connector, said modem, said data connector and said transceiver, wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall, or is integrated in a telephone outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from a telephone outlet.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 . wherein the telephone wire pair concurrently carries a power signal, and said device is connected to the telephone wire pair to be powered by the power signal.  
     
     
         9 . A network for enabling communication between first and second digital data units over telephone wiring in a building using spread-spectrum based digital data signals, the network comprising: 
 a telephone wire pair at least in part in a wall within the building, said wire pair being connected for carrying an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone signal frequency band frequency multiplexed with an OFDM modulated packet-based digital data signal carried bi-directionally in a digital data signal frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone signal frequency band;    a first single enclosure;    a first device housed within said first single enclosure and connected to said telephone wire pair, said first device being connectable to the first data unit and being constructed to couple the digital data signal to the first data unit;    a second single enclosure; and    a second device housed within said second single enclosure and connected to said telephone wire pair, said second device being connectable for bidirectional packet-based communication with the second data unit and being constructed to couple the digital data signal to the second data unit.    
     
     
         10 . The network according to  claim 9  further constructed for analog telephony, wherein at least on of said first and second devices is connectable to an analog telephone device and constructed to couple the analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device.  
     
     
         11 . The network according to  claim 9  wherein the digital data signal is a frequency up/down converted wireless signal.  
     
     
         12 . The network according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of said first and second enclosures is attachable to a wall, or is integrated in a telephone outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from a telephone outlet.  
     
     
         13 . The network according to  claim 9  wherein the telephone wire pair concurrently carries a power signal, and at least part of at least one of said devices is constructed to be powered by the power signal.  
     
     
         14 . A device for transferring a digital data signal between a wireless medium and a wired medium, the wired medium being a telephone wire pair in a building, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone frequency band frequency multiplexed with the digital data signal carried in a wired digital data signal frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone signal frequency band, the digital data signal being carried in the wireless medium in a wireless radio frequency band, said device comprising: 
 a first telephone connector connectable to the telephone wire pair;    a high pass filter coupled to said first telephone connector for passing only signals in the wired digital data frequency band in the wired medium;    an antenna connected for radiating and receiving signals in the wireless radio frequency band in the wireless medium; and    an up/down converter coupled between said antenna and said high pass filter and constructed to transfer the digital data signal from the radio frequency band to the wired digital data frequency band,    wherein the digital data signal is communicated bi-directionally as a packet-based data signal.    
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , further constructed for coupling the analog telephone signal to an analog telephone unit, said device further comprising: 
 a second telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone unit; and    a low pass filter coupled between said first and second telephone connectors for passing only the analog telephone signal.    
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the digital data signal is spread-spectrum multi-carrier modulated in the wireless medium.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the digital data signal is modulated with one of: OFDM; DMT; and CDMA in the wireless medium.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a single enclosure housing said first telephone connector and said up/down converter.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18  wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall, or is integrated in a telephone outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from a telephone outlet.  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the telephone wire pair concurrently carries a power signal, and said device is further constructed to be powered by the power signal.  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 14  wherein the radio frequency band is a license free band that is one of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, and the digital data signal is IEEE802.11 standard based.  
     
     
         22 . A network for communication between first and second wireless digital data units over pre-existing telephone wiring in a building, said network comprising: 
 a telephone wire pair at least in part in a wall within the building, said wire pair being connected for concurrently carrying an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone signal frequency band frequency and a digital data signal in a digital data signal frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone signal frequency band, the digital data signal being packet-based and being communicated bi-directionally over the telephone wire pair;    a first single enclosure;    a first device housed within said first single enclosure and connected to said telephone wire pair, said first device being couplable for bi-directional packet-based wireless communication with a first wireless digital data unit and being constructed to couple the digital data signal to the first wireless digital data unit;    a second single enclosure; and    a second device housed within said second single enclosure and connected to said telephone wire pair, said second device being couplable for bi-directional packet-based wireless communication with a second wireless digital data unit and being constructed to couple the digital data signal to the second wireless digital data unit;    wherein the digital data signal is an up/down frequency converted wireless signal.    
     
     
         23 . The network according to  claim 22  further constructed for analog telephony, wherein at least one of said first and second devices is connectable to an analog telephone device and constructed to couple the analog telephone signal to the analog telephone device.  
     
     
         24 . The network according to  claim 22  wherein at least one of said single devices enclosure is attached to a wall, or is integrated in a telephone outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from a telephone outlet.  
     
     
         25 . The network according to  claim 22  wherein said telephone wire pair concurrently carries a power signal, and at least part of at least one of said devices is further constructed to be powered by the power signal.  
     
     
         26 . The network according to  claim 22  wherein said digital data signal is spread-spectrum multi-carrier modulated, and the modulation is one of: OFDM; DMT; and CDMA.  
     
     
         27 . The network according to  claim 22  wherein the wireless communication is carried over a radio frequency license free band that is one of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, and the wireless communication is IEEE802.11 standard based.  
     
     
         28 . A device for transferring a digital data signal between a wireless medium and a wired medium, the wired medium being an AC power wire pair in a building, the AC power wire pair concurrently carrying an AC power signal in an AC power frequency band frequency multiplexed with the digital data signal carried in a wired digital data signal frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the AC power frequency band, the digital data signal being carried in the wireless medium in a radio frequency band, said device comprising: 
 a first AC power connector connectable to the AC power wire pair;    a high pass filter coupled to said first AC power connector for passing only signals in the wired digital data frequency band in the wired medium;    an antenna connected for radiating and receiving signals in the radio frequency band in the wireless medium; and    an up/down converter coupled between said antenna and said high pass filter and constructed to convert the digital data signal from the radio frequency band to the wired digital data frequency band,    wherein the digital data signal is communicated bi-directionally as a packet-based data signal.    
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , further constructed for coupling the AC power signal to an AC power unit, said device further comprising: 
 a second AC power connector connectable to the AC power unit; and    a low pass filter coupled between said first and second AC power connectors and for passing only the AC power signal.    
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 28  wherein the digital data signal is spread-spectrum multi-carrier modulated in the wireless medium.  
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 30  wherein the digital data signal is modulated with one of: OFDM; DMT; and CDMA in the wireless medium.  
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 28  and further comprising a single enclosure housing said first AC power connector and said up/down converter.  
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 32  wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall, or is integrated in an AC power outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from an AC power outlet.  
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 28  wherein the device is further constructed to be powered by the AC power signal.  
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 28  wherein the radio frequency band is a license free band that is one of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz, and wherein the digital data signal in the radio frequency band is IEEE802.11 standard based.  
     
     
         36 . A network for communication between first and second wireless digital data units over pre-existing AC power wiring in a building, said network comprising: 
 an AC power wire pair at least in part in a wall within the building, said wire pair being connected for concurrently carrying an AC power signal carried in an AC power signal frequency band frequency multiplexed with a digital data signal carried in a digital data signal frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the AC power signal frequency band, the digital data signal being packet-based and being communicated bi-directionally over the AC power wire pair;    a first single enclosure;    a first device housed within said first single enclosure and connected to said AC power wire pair, said first device being couplable for bi-directional packet-based wireless communication with a first wireless digital data unit and being constructed to couple the digital data signal to the first wireless digital data unit;    a second single enclosure; and    a second device housed within said second single enclosure and connected to said AC power wire pair, said second device being couplable for bi-directional packet-based wireless communication with a second wireless digital data unit and being constructed to couple the digital data signal to the second wireless digital data unit,    wherein the digital data signal is an up/down frequency converted wireless signal in the wireless medium.    
     
     
         37 . The network according to  claim 36 , further constructed for AC powering, wherein at least one of said first and second devices is connectable to an AC power device and is constructed to couple the AC power signal to the AC power device.  
     
     
         38 . The network according to  claim 36  wherein at least one of said first and second devices enclosure is attached to a wall, or is integrated in an AC power outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from an AC power outlet.  
     
     
         39 . The network according to  claim 36  wherein at least part of at least one device is further constructed to be powered by said AC power signal.  
     
     
         40 . The network according to  claim 36  wherein the digital data signal is spread-spectrum multi-carrier modulated.  
     
     
         41 . The network according to  claim 36  wherein the digital data signal is modulated with one of: OFDM; DMT; and CDMA.  
     
     
         42 . The network according to  claim 36  wherein the wireless communication is carried over a radio frequency license free band that is one of 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz and wherein the wireless communication is IEEE802.11 standard based.  
     
     
         43 . A device for configuring a network over a telephone wire pair in a building, the telephone wire pair carrying an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone frequency band, and the network carrying a wireless-based digital data signal in a digital data frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone frequency band, said device comprising: 
 a data connector connectable to a data unit;    a transceiver coupled to said data connector, said transceiver being constructed to conduct packet-based wired digital data communication bi-directionally with the data unit;    a wireless modem coupled to said transceiver, said wireless modem being constructed to convey an up/down frequency converted wireless signal in the digital data frequency band over the telephone wire pair, and being further constructed for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication via a first telephone connector connectable to the telephone wire pair; and a high pass filter coupled between said first telephone connector and said wireless modem for passing only signals in the digital data frequency band.    
     
     
         44 . The device according to  claim 43  further constructed for coupling the analog telephone signal to an analog telephone device, said device further comprising: 
 a second telephone connector connectable to an analog telephone device; and    a low pass filter coupled between said first and second telephone connectors and for passing only the analog telephone signal.    
     
     
         45 . The device according to  claim 43 , wherein said wireless modem is constructed to receive and transmit signals in a radio frequency band, and said device further comprises an up/down converter coupled to said wireless modem and constructed to transfer signals from the radio frequency band to the digital data frequency band.  
     
     
         46 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein said up/down converter is heterodyne-based.  
     
     
         47 . The device according to  claim 43 , further comprising a single enclosure housing said first telephone connector, said wireless modem, said data connector and said transceiver.  
     
     
         48 . The device according to  claim 47  wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall, or is integrated in a telephone outlet, or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from a telephone outlet.  
     
     
         49 . The device according to  claim 43  wherein the telephone wire pair concurrently carries a power signal, and said device is further constructed to be powered by the power signal.  
     
     
         50 . The device according to  claim 43  wherein said wireless digital data signal is spread-spectrum multi-carrier modulated, and the modulation is one of OFDM, DMT and CDMA.  
     
     
         51 . A device for configuring wired and wireless networks, the wired network including a telephone wire pair in a building, the telephone wire pair concurrently carrying an analog telephone signal in an analog telephone frequency band, and the network carrying a wired digital data signal in a wired digital data frequency band distinct from, and higher than, the analog telephone frequency band, said device comprising: 
 a data connector for connectable to a data unit;    a transceiver coupled to said data connector and constructed for receiving digital data packets from the data unit;    an antenna for radiating signals in a radio frequency band;    a wireless modem coupled between said antenna and said transceiver and constructed to transmit packet-based digital data;    a first telephone connector connectable to the telephone wire pair; and    a high pass filter coupled between said first telephone connector and said transceiver for passing only signals in the wired digital data frequency band;    wherein packets received from the data units are concurrently passed to said wireless modem to be transmitted as a wireless signal by said antenna and to said high pass filter to be carried over the telephone wire pair.    
     
     
         52 . The device according to  claim 51  further comprising an up/down frequency converter coupled between said high pass filter and said wireless modem, wherein the wired digital data signal carried over the telephone wire pair is obtained by up/down conversion of the wireless signal.  
     
     
         53 . The device according to  claim 52 , wherein said up/down converter is heterodyne-based.  
     
     
         54 . The device according to  claim 51  further constructed for coupling the analog telephone signal to an analog telephone unit, said device further comprising: 
 a second telephone connector connectable to the analog telephone unit; and    a low pass filter coupled between said first and second telephone connectors for passing only the analog telephone signal.    
     
     
         55 . The device according to  claim 51 , further comprising a single enclosure housing said first telephone connector, said wireless modem, said data connector and said transceiver.  
     
     
         56 . The device according to claim  61 , wherein said enclosure is attachable to a wall, or is integrated in a telephone outlet; or is mechanically and electrically attachable to and detachable from a telephone outlet.  
     
     
         57 . The device according to  claim 51 , wherein the telephone wire pair concurrently carries a power signal, and said device is further constructed to be powered by said power signal.  
     
     
         58 . The device according to  claim 51  wherein the wireless signal is spread-spectrum multi-carrier modulated, and wherein the wireless signal is IEEE802.11 standard based and the modulation is one of OFDM, DMT and CDMA.