Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RECONFIGURABLE ON-DEMAND TELEPHONE AND DATA LINE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to the field of telephone and data
communication. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of
a non-
telephone network, such as a low voltage power line distribution network, as
reconfigurable on demand telephone and data lines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present day telephone network provides telephone and data
communication services to a number of individual users. Each user is assigned
a unique
telephone number and is provided with a dedicated line or subscriber loop from
the user's
location to the telephone company central office. Typically, the distance from
the user
location to the central office is on the order of a few miles. The central
office provides
the connectivity between the individual users and the rest of the telephone
network.
Each user subscriber loop may have a number of telephones and other
communications devices, e.g., fax machines and modems, connected to it.
However,
= 25 since these devices are all connected to the same telephone line, only
one telephone call
may be placed at any one time. For example, when using a combined phone/fax
machine,
either a voice call via the telephone or a fax communication via the fax
machine may be
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maintained at any one given time. Similarly, when a combined phone/modem is
used,
either a voice call via the telephone or a data call via the modem may be
maintained at
any one time. Oftentimes, it is desirable to be able to place a voice call and
either a data
call or a fax call simultaneously, such as when two people are talking on the
phone and
then one wishes to transmit to the other either a fax or a data file which is
to be discussed
further. With a single line assigned to each user, the only solution is to
terminate the
voice call, transmit the fax or data, and then initiate a subsequent voice
call. This
approach is extremely inconvenient.
A further solution to the above problem of simultaneous communication is
to provide each user with more than one dedicated line. When a user is
provided with
two dedicated lines, one may be used for voice communication while the other
is
simultaneously used for fax or data communication. The provision of multiple
dedicated
lines to each user also addresses the problem of simultaneous voice
communication with
different parties. This situation arises when more than one person located at
the user
location wishes to conduct a voice call with a different party. Each person
can then
initiate a different voice call on each of the different subscriber lines.
One disadvantage of providing multiple lines to each user is the added
system complexity and bandwidth required to administer such a system. A
further
significant disadvantage to the user is the added cost associated with the
extra line(s)--
particularly in view of the fact that the second (or additional) line may only
be used very
infrequently and for very short periods of time. The cost disadvantage
associated with a
second line is equally applicable to a single line configuration in many
instances. This
is due to the fact that the installation and activation of a telephone line is
a fairly involved
bureaucratic procedure. This inconvenience for the user is greatly amplified
when the
telephone line is only needed for a short, temporary time. For example, in the
case of
a temporary residence, college dormitory, summer house or the like, it is
often
inconvenient to have a telephone line installed and activated, only to have it
removed a
short while later.
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OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for providing
telephone line service using non-telephone line wires, such as the existing
power line
distribution network.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for
dynamically providing reconfigurable telephone line service using non-
telephone line
wires, such as the power line distribution network.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a system for
dynamically providing one or more "on-demand" telephone lines to a user by way
of non-
telephone line wires, such as the power line distribution network.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for a system which uses a non telephone wiring
network, such as the existing electrical low voltage wiring of the power line
distribution
network to provide telephone line service to individual users. The low voltage
wiring
referred to herein is that used to distribute power to individual businesses
and residences,
e.g., 120 V single phase residential service. The telephone line service is
"on demand"
in the sense that any user can interface a telephone, or other communications
device, to
the electrical wiring and thereby instantly obtain telephone line service. The
system of
the present invention may be used to provide primary telephone service to
those users who
do not wish to pay the expense for dedicated line service. Alternatively, the
system of
the present invention may be used to provide secondary telephone service,
i.e., second,
third, ... line, telephone service for those users who do not wish to pay the
expense for
dedicated secondary line service.
The power line telephone service of the present invention utilizes digital
communications over the electrical wiring. When used as primary telephone
service, the
telephone number associated with the line may be assigned by the telephone
company, or
utility company, or may be a uniquely assigned telephone number hardwired into
each
particular telephone to be connected to the electrical wiring. This may also
be the case
for secondary phone service. Alternatively, for secondary telephone service,
the telephone
number associated with the power line may be the same number for all
telephones
connected at a particular user location. The additional "on-demand" telephone
lines may
be assigned an identifier, such as a suffix appended to the number associated
with the
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particular user location, for use in routing calls to and
from the particular "on-demand" line.
In addition to using the existing power line
distribution network, the telephone service of the present
invention may be provided using any wiring system, such as
the cable or CATV network wiring.
The low voltage power distribution network
includes power transformers which typically connect to
approximately twelve locations in the U.S. system. The
number of locations connected to each transformer may be
higher or lower, depending on the particular system in
place. These power transformers have associated with them a
system controller for routing calls to the primary phone
lines associated with the particular locations connected to
the transformer, as well as to the additional "on-demand"
lines associated with each location. Since multiple
telephones may be used on a single physical communications
medium, a multi-access method, such as token passing, is
used to control access to the communications medium. A
power line communications apparatus, such as that disclosed
in U.S. Patent No. 4,815,106 or the like, is used to
interface the power line to the telephone devices.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of providing communication channels
between one or more communication devices at a user location
and a telephone network using a non-telephone wiring
network, comprising the steps of: using a controller
connected to said non-telephone wiring network for
controlling incoming and outgoing communications over said
non-telephone wiring network; using a non-telephone wiring
network interface device to connect each communication
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device at a user location to the non-telephone wiring
network; assigning a telephone number to a first
communication device connected to said non-telephone wiring
network at said user location, and providing said first
communication device with a communication channel over said
non-telephone wiring network; providing additional
communication channels over said non-telephone wiring
network for each additional communication device connected
to said non-telephone wiring network at said user location;
and dynamically assigning a secondary telephone number to
each said additional communication device connected at said
user location, each said secondary telephone number
comprising said telephone number and an identifier
identifying the particular additional communication device
connected at said user location.
A further aspect of the invention provides a
method of providing communication channels between a
communication device at a user location and a telephone
network using a non-telephone wiring network, comprising the
steps of: using a controller connected to said non-
telephone wiring network for controlling incoming and
outgoing communications over said non-telephone wiring
network; using a non-telephone wiring network interface
device to connect a communication device at a user location
to the non-telephone wiring network; assigning at least one
telephone number to said communication device connected to
said non-telephone wiring network at said user location, and
providing said communication device with one or more
communication channels over said non-telephone wiring
network.
There is also provided a method of providing
identification numbers to one or more communication devices
at a user location communicating with a telephone network
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using a non-telephone wiring network, comprising the steps
of: using a controller connected to said non-telephone
wiring network for controlling incoming and outgoing
communications over said non-telephone wiring network; using
a non-telephone wiring network interface device to connect
each communication device at a user location to the non-
telephone wiring network; and dynamically assigning an
identification number to each communication device connected
to said non-telephone wiring network at said user location.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the
invention, there is provided a method of providing
communication channels between one or more communication
devices at a user location and a telephone network using a
non-telephone wiring network, comprising the steps of:
using a controller connected to said non-telephone wiring
network for controlling incoming and outgoing communications
over said non-telephone wiring network; using a non-
telephone wiring network interface device to connect each
communication device at a user location to the non-telephone
wiring network; and assigning an identification number to
each communication device connected to said non-telephone
wiring network at each user location, and dynamically
providing each said communication device with a
communication channel over said non-telephone wiring
network, when each said communication device requires a
communication channel.
According to another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a method of providing communication
channels between one or more communication devices at a user
location and a telephone network using a non-telephone
wiring network, comprising the steps of: using a controller
connected to said non-telephone wiring network for
controlling incoming and outgoing communications over said
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non-telephone wiring network; using a non-telephone wiring
network interface device to connect each communication
device at a user location to the non-telephone wiring
network; and dynamically assigning an identification number
and a communication channel to each communication device
connected to said non-telephone wiring network at said user
location, when each said communication device requires a
communication channel.
A further aspect of the invention provides a
method of providing communication channels from one or more
communication devices at a user location and a telephone
network using a non-telephone wiring network, comprising the
steps of: using a controller connected to said non-
telephone wiring network for controlling incoming and
outgoing communications over said non-telephone wiring
network; using a non-telephone wiring network interface
device to connect each communication device at a user
location to the non-telephone wiring network; assigning a
telephone number to said controller; and assigning said
telephone number and an identifier to each communication
device connected to said non-telephone wiring network and
associated with said controller, and dynamically providing
each said communication device with a communication channel
over said non-telephone wiring network, when each said
communication device requires a communication channel.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the
invention, there is provided a system for providing
communication channels between one or more communication
devices at a user location and a telephone network using a
non-telephone wiring network, comprising: a controller
connected to said non-telephone wiring network for
controlling incoming and outgoing communications over said
non-telephone wiring network; a non-telephone wiring network
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interface device to connect each communication device at a
user location to the non-telephone wiring network; said
controller including a telephone assignment circuit adapted
to assign a telephone number to a first communication device
connected to said non-telephone wiring network at each user
location, and a communication channel assignment circuit
adapted to provide each said first communication device with
a communication channel over said non-telephone wiring
network; said communication channel assignment circuit also
adapted to provide additional communication channels over
said non-telephone wiring network for additional
communication devices connected to said non-telephone wiring
network at said user location; and said controller also
adapted to dynamically assign a secondary telephone number
to each said additional communication device connected at
said user location, each said secondary telephone number
comprising said telephone number and an identifier
identifying the particular additional communication device
connected at said user location.
According to another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a system for providing communication
channels between a communication device at a user location
and a telephone network using a non-telephone wiring
network, comprising: a controller connected to said
non-telephone wiring network for controlling incoming and
outgoing communications over said non-telephone wiring
network; a non-telephone wiring network interface device to
connect a communication device at a user location to the
non-telephone wiring network; said controller including a
telephone assignment circuit adapted to assign at least one
telephone number to said communication device connected to
said non-telephone wiring network at said user location, and
a communication channel assignment circuit adapted to
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provide said communication device with one or more
communication channels over said non-telephone wiring
network.
A further aspect of the invention provides a
system for providing communication channels between one or
more communication devices at a user location and a
telephone network using a non-telephone wiring network,
comprising: a controller connected to said non-telephone
wiring network for controlling incoming and outgoing
communications over said non-telephone wiring network; a
non-telephone wiring network interface device to connect
each communication device at a user location to the non-
telephone wiring network; and said controller comprising an
identification number assignment circuit adapted to
dynamically assign an identification number to each
communication device connected to said non-telephone wiring
network at said user location.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the
invention, there is provided a system for providing
communication channels between one or more communication
devices at a user location and a telephone network using a
non-telephone wiring network, comprising: a controller
connected to said non-telephone wiring network for
controlling incoming and outgoing communications over said
non-telephone wiring network; a non-telephone wiring network
interface device to connect each communication device at
each user location to the non-telephone wiring network; and
said controller comprising an identification number
assignment circuit adapted to assign an identification
number to each communication device connected to said non-
telephone wiring network at each user location, and a
communication channel assignment circuit adapted to
dynamically provide each said communication device with a
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communication channel over said non-telephone wiring
network, when each said communication device requires a
communication channel.
Yet another aspect of the invention provides a
system for providing communication channels between one or
more communication devices at a user location and a
telephone network using a non-telephone wiring network,
comprising: a controller connected to said non-telephone
wiring network for controlling incoming and outgoing
communications over said non-telephone wiring network; a
non-telephone wiring network interface device to connect
each communication device at a user location to the non-
telephone wiring network; and said controller comprising an
identification number and communication channel assignment
circuit adapted to dynamically assign an identification
number and a communication channel to each communication
device connected to said non-telephone wiring network at
said user location, when each said communication device
requires a communication channel.
There is also provided a system for providing
communication channels from one or more communication
devices at a user location and a telephone network using a
non-telephone wiring network, comprising: a controller
connected to said non-telephone wiring network for
controlling incoming and outgoing communications over said
non-telephone wiring network, said controller being assigned
a telephone number; a non-telephone wiring network interface
device to connect each communication device at a user
location to the non-telephone wiring network; and said
controller comprising a telephone number and identifier
assignment circuit adapted to assign said telephone number
and an identifier to each communication device connected to
said non-telephone wiring network and associated with said
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controller, said assignment circuit being adapted to
dynamically provide each said communication device with a
communication channel over said non-telephone wiring
network, when each said communication device requires a
communication channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the
invention discussed in the above brief explanation will be
more clearly understood when taken together with the
following detailed description of an embodiment which will
be understood as being illustrative only, and the
accompanying drawings reflecting aspects of the embodiment,
in which:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a prior art
telephone network wiring;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of a power line
distribution network used to provide "on-demand" telephone
service; and
Figure 3 is a block diagram of a user location
illustrating the connection of "on-demand" telephone lines
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, therein is shown a portion
of the wiring of a conventional telephone network. A
central office 100 is connected to individual users or
subscribers 110 via dedicated subscriber loops 120. Each
user 110 that desires additional
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telephone lines for communication must install and pay the monthly service
charge for
additional subscriber loops 120. This requires that a dedicated wire pair be
provided from
the central office 100 to the subscriber 110. As discussed above, a full
service charge
must be paid for the additional subscriber loop, even though it is used only
infrequently.
5
Figure 2 shows the use of a power line distribution network via transformer
200 for providing telephone service to individual user locations 210 via the
electrical low
voltage wiring or power line 220 which connects each user location 210 to the
power line
network transformer 200 via line 204. Transformer 200 is connected to the
higher voltage
network by way of line 240. Connected to transformer 200 is controller 202,
which
performs the necessary control functions to implement the present invention,
as will be
discussed in greater detail. The controller 202 may be placed on line 204 or
on any of
lines 220. A power line interface device 230 is placed between each user
location 210
and the power line 220. Interface device 230 may be a power line
communications device
constructed in accordance with U.S. Patent No. 4,815,106 which enables digital
data
communication over power lines. Alternatively, interface device 230 may be
provided
as an internal component of the telephone apparatus, such that telephone
service may be
obtained by plugging the telephone apparatus into a power socket. Interface
device 230
may also be configured to provide the conventional BORSCHT functions (Battery,
Overvoltage, Ringing, Supervision, Coding, Hybrid and Test) that are commonly
provided
by a SLIC (Subscriber Line Interface Circuit), as well as optional battery
backup
functionality.
Controller 202 performs the local power line network management and
control functions. These functions include local address allocation and
management, such
as dynamic address assignment and network address/phone number association,
and
administering network access using dynamic voice/data channel allocation and
management. Additionally, controller 202 performs local network monitoring,
including
= performance monitoring, error/fault detection, fault location monitoring and
remote node
diagnostics. Controller 202 also provides high speed multiplexing to
multiplex/demultiplex voice/data packets to and from higher level switching
systems.
Additional operational, administrative, maintenance and provisioning (OAM + P)
functions, such as unit diagnostics and signalling translation (to local
addresses) may be
performed by controller 202.
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In one embodiment according to the present invention, each user location
210 is assigned a conventional telephone number. This number is associated
with the
primary telephone apparatus 212 at location 210. Additional "on-demand"
telephone lines
required at the user location are assigned the conventional phone number of
location 210,
in addition to a suffix identifying the particular "on-demand" telephone line
at each
location 210. The assignment of the "on-demand" telephone lines may be
dynamically
performed by controller 202 each time an additional telephone is connected.
For example, location 210 may be assigned telephone number "555-1212"
with additional "on-demand" lines assigned "555-1212-1 "; "555-1212-2" and so
on. Calls
to location 210 are then routed to the first available telephone. Thus, when
no calls are
active at location 210, and a call is routed to location 210, it will activate
primary
telephone apparatus 212. For the next call, controller 202 senses that the
primary number
is in use, so the call will be routed to the first "on-demand" line, i.e.,
"555-1212-1". An
analogous procedure is applied for outgoing calls. The first call originating
from location
210 is treated as originating from the primary telephone number. The next call
is treated
as originating from the first "on demand" line "555-1212-1". In this way,
telephone lines
are available at each location 210 in an "on-demand" fashion, with the
temporary
administration of these lines being coordinated by controller 202. User
billing for the
"on-demand" lines may be calculated taking into account various factors such
as the total
time a telephone is connected, the total time a connected telephone is off-
hook, and the
number and duration of inbound and/or outbound calls, including the use of
simultaneous
comuunication channels.
In an alternative embodiment according to the present invention, each
telephone is dynamically assigned an identification number when it is plugged
in. When
an incoming call is received, the controller 202 rings all telephones
connected at a
particular user location 210, i.e., those telephones whose identification
numbers map to
a specific phone number. The call is routed to the first telephone to answer.
When the
next incoming call is received, all telephones not in use are rung by the
controller 202.
This call is then routed to the first telephone that answers. This same
procedure is carried
out for subsequent incoming calls. A similar procedure is carried out for
outbound calls,
i.e., the first telephone at user location 210 to place a call is dynamically
assigned a line.
All subsequent telephones at location 210 are dynamically assigned lines as
they place
further calls.
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Alternatively, a single telephone number may be assigned to transformer
200, with all of the telephones connected to transformer 200 being assigned a
suffix
identifier appended to the telephone number of transformer 200. In this
embodiment,
locations 210 do not have to pay for a continuous, dedicated subscriber loop.
Rather,
whenever a telephone line is needed at any of locations 210, the plugging in
of the
telephone apparatus results in the assignment of an "on-demand" telephone
line.
In an alternative embodiment according to the present invention, the use of
suffixes may be eliminated altogether and replaced with a system of unique
telephone
apparatus identification numbers embedded within each telephone. This is
similar to the
use of telephone apparatus serial numbers commonly used in cellular telephone
systems.
Since multiple devices are accessing a common physical communications
channel, a multi-access method, such as that employed by local area networks
(LAN) or
wide area networks (WAN) is used to coordinate access. The communications
system
used with the present invention may be a packet-type digital messaging system,
wherein
each data packet includes header information specifying the intended
recipient. This
header information may be the conventional telephone number, the logical
network
address associated with the conventional telephone number, or it may also
include the
suffix information, depending on the particular system being implemented. In
order to
be substantially transparent to the rest of the public switched telephone
network (PSTN),
the header information would include standard header information, e.g., the
phone
number. The management of the packet data on a suffix level is then carried
out by each
controller 202. Alternatively, the header information may include the suffix
information,
or the unique telephone serial number.
Referring now to Figure 3, therein is shown a user location 210 which is
connected to a power distribution network via a power line. Network interface
device 230
may be internal or external to the user location, as long as it provides the
necessary
interfacing function. Additionally, network interface device 230 may be
configured to
interface only one telephone terminal 300 on one line, or alternatively may be
configured
to interface a number of telephone terminals 300 on one line. Alternatively,
network
interface device 230 may be configured to interface a number of lines.
Connected to
power line 220 via network interface devices 230 are one or more telephone
terminals
300. As more telephone lines are required, additional telephone terminals 300
may be
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connected. Additional data communications equipment, such as modems, fax
machines,
and the like may similarly be connected to network interface devices 230.
The network-side connection 206 of controller 202 (Figure 2) may be
directly connected to a conventional telephone company central office, or
alternatively
may be connected to a higher level switching apparatus associated with
controller 202,
which in turn is connected to the telephone network. This connection may be
via wire,
cable, microwave, radiowave or optical link. Alternatively, the connectivity
may be via
the higher voltage line, such as line 240. These approaches allow the system
of the
present invention to provide a system approaching, and possibly equivalent, to
that of a
local telephone operating company.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those
skilled in the
art the various changes in form and details may be made therein without
departing from
the spirit and scope of invention.
