Configurable telephone line distribution modules for...

Details Configurable telephone line distribution modules for... Configurable telephone line distribution modules for...

2000-11-02

2003-05-27

Woo, Stella (Department: 2643)

Telephonic communications

Telephone line or system combined with diverse electrical...

Having transmission of a digital message signal over a...

C379S399010, C379S413020

Reexamination Certificate

active

06570965

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to communications, and more particularly to telephone communications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A demarcation point, referred to as a network interface device (NID), is typically provided between a telephone subscriber's premises line and an incoming line from a telephone service provider. A device typically used at a NID for physically connecting subscriber telephone line(s) with incoming telephone provider line(s) is referred to as a subscriber bridge. A subscriber bridge typically includes a jack connected to an incoming telephone line. A plug connected to the subscriber's telephone line is generally located nearby. When the plug of the subscriber's line is inserted into the jack, an interconnection is made between the subscriber's telephone line and the incoming telephone service provider line.
Increasingly, existing homes and homes under construction are being “networked” wherein communications cables (video, data, and telephone) are being extended to multiple rooms. The benefits of “home networking” may include the ability to network multiple computers, printers and peripherals throughout a home; to access the Internet through a single high-speed connection in multiple locations in the home; to watch an internally modulated video signal such as a video cassette recorder (VCR), digital video disk (DVD), or satellite television receiver from any room in the home; to use a digital phone system, such as an ISDN line, throughout the home; to add security video cameras in the home and view them on any television; and to add future equipment that may allow a homeowner to use the same hand-held remote control in any room.
Home networking conventionally utilizes a central distribution panel that serves as a gateway or interface to various communications services. Within a conventional central distribution panel, cable distribution modules are typically utilized to receive a cable from a service provider and to distribute the service provided through the cable among various distribution cables that are routed throughout the home. For example, a telephone line distribution module may be configured to distribute an incoming telephone service provider line into multiple cables routed within a home.
A conventional central distribution panel
10
for receiving and distributing various telecommunications services is illustrated in
FIG. 1. A
telecommunications service entering a home is typically routed into the central distribution panel
10
via a cable. From the central distribution panel
10
, telecommunications cables are routed to wall taps in various locations throughout a home to distribute the various telecommunications services.
A series of telephone connection interfaces (receptacles and plugs) referred to as “RJ” (registered jacks) are conventionally utilized to interconnect an incoming telephone service provider line with multiple cables routed within a home. An RJ-14 jack conventionally has four contacts which usually make electrical connections to a red and green pair of wires, and a black and yellow pair of wires. One wire in each pair is conventionally referred to as a “tip” wire, and the other wire in each pair is conventionally referred to as a “ring” wire.
A conventional RJ-14 plug
20
is illustrated in
FIG. 2A
, and a conventional RJ-14 receptacle
22
configured to receive an RJ-14 plug is illustrated in FIG.
2
B. As is known to those skilled in the art, wires (not shown) terminate at the illustrated RJ-14 plug
20
at respective pins
1
-
4
. Similarly, and as known to those skilled in the art, wires (not shown) terminate at the illustrated RJ-14 receptacle
22
at respective pins
1
-
4
. As is understood by those skilled in the art, pins
1
-
4
in an RJ-14 plug
20
are configured to electrically connect with pins
1
-
4
in an RJ-14 receptacle
22
receiving the RJ-14 plug therein.
By convention, wires terminating at pins
2
and
3
in an RJ-14 plug
20
and receptacle
22
represent the primary telephone line, wherein one pin (
2
or
3
) is the tip wire and the other pin (
2
or
3
) is the ring wire of the primary telephone line. By the same convention, wires terminating at pins
1
and
4
in an RJ-14 plug
20
and receptacle
22
represent the secondary telephone line, wherein one pin (
1
or
4
) is the tip wire and the other pin (
1
or
4
) is the ring wire of the secondary telephone line.
A conventional RJ-45 plug
24
is illustrated in
FIG. 3A
, and a conventional RJ-45 receptacle
26
configured to receive an RJ-45 plug is illustrated in FIG.
3
B. As is known to those skilled in the art, wires terminate at the illustrated RJ-45 plug
24
at respective pins
1
-
8
. Similarly, and as is known to those skilled in the art, wires terminate at the illustrated RJ-45 receptacle
26
at respective pins
1
-
8
. As is understood by those of skill in the art, pins
1
-
8
in an RJ-45 plug
24
are configured to electrically connect with pins
1
-
8
in an RJ-45 receptacle
26
receiving an RJ-45 plug therein.
By convention, wires terminating at pins
4
and
5
in an RJ-45 plug
24
and receptacle
26
represent the primary telephone line, wherein one pin (
4
or
5
) is the tip wire and the other pin (
4
or
5
) is the ring wire of the primary telephone line. By the same convention, wires terminating at pins
3
and
6
in an RJ-45 plug
24
and receptacle
26
represent the secondary telephone line, wherein one pin (
3
or
6
) is the tip wire and the other pin (
3
or
6
) is the ring wire of the primary telephone line. Wires terminating at pins
1
and
2
in an RJ-45 plug
24
and receptacle
26
represent the third telephone line, wherein one pin (
1
or
2
) is the tip wire and the other pin (
1
or
2
) is the ring wire of the third telephone line. Wires terminating at pins
7
and
8
in an RJ-45 plug
24
and receptacle
26
represent the fourth telephone line, wherein one pin (
7
or
8
) is the tip wire and the other pin (
7
or
8
) is the ring wire of the fourth telephone line.
It may be desirable for a subscriber to be able to designate which line, from two or more incoming lines, is the primary telephone line. Exemplary situations where this may be desirable include where an office is maintained in the home, where high speed internet service is provided via one the incoming lines, and where telephones utilized are designed to accept only one or two incoming lines. Unfortunately, for a subscriber having multiple telephone lines, the above-described convention may make it difficult to designate different lines as the primary and secondary lines. For example, a subscriber wishing to switch the primary and/or secondary line designations within an RJ-14 (or RJ-45) jack may be required to physically alter the positions of the respective tip and ring wires (either at the plug or receptacle) to conform to the above-described convention. For example, the subscriber using the RJ-14 plug of
FIG. 2A
may be required to physically switch the respective wires terminating at pins
1
and
2
, and would also have to physically switch the respective wires terminating at pins
3
and
4
. Because the physical reconfiguration of RJ plugs and/or receptacles is generally undesirable, a need exists for a convenient and easy way of redesignating primary and secondary telephone lines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above discussion, telephone line distribution apparatus that permit easy user-selection of primary and secondary telephone lines without requiring physical rewiring of RJ plugs or receptacles are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a telephone line distribution apparatus includes a first RJ connector, one or more second RJ connectors, and a switching device that allows a subscriber to designate which of a plurality of incoming telephone lines is the subscriber's primary line and secondary line. The first RJ connector includes first tip and ring pins that are electrically connected to respective tip and ring wires of a firs

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