Wave transmission lines and networks – Coupling networks – Frequency domain filters utilizing only lumped parameters
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-29
2001-05-29
Bettendorf, Justin P. (Department: 2817)
Wave transmission lines and networks
Coupling networks
Frequency domain filters utilizing only lumped parameters
C333S181000, C333S185000, C333S177000, C379S399010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239672
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general to the field of digital subscriber line (xDSL) network filters and, more particularly, to a wall mount filter for a digital subscriber line (xDSL) network and methods of installation and manufacture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) was originally designed for carrying analog voice communication signals. However, users are increasingly using the PSTN to transmit digital data. A typical PSTN network includes numerous central offices. Communication between the central offices can be accomplished through high speed switched digital links. Local loops couple the central offices to the customer premises. The local loops can be analog networks of twisted pair copper wiring. These analog local loops are often referred to as the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS). A “customer premises network”, “premises network”, or “premises wiring” typically connects electronic devices within the customer premises to the local loop. For example, a typical premises network can comprise twisted pair wiring coupled to RJ-11 phone jacks.
The central office typically includes, among other elements, a bandpass filter that can limit the bandwidth of the local loop to approximately 3.3 kHz (between 300 Hz and 3.4 kHz). This is done so that numerous voice-grade local loop lines can be digitized and multiplexed together for transmission between central offices over the switched digital links.
Current computing environments necessitate the need for digital transmission of data. Several services such as leased or switched lines enable such data traffic, but can be prohibitively expensive. Similarly, replacing the telephone infrastructure with a medium that is more conducive to digital traffic can also be prohibitively expensive. Therefore, users desire to use POTS lines to transmit digital data.
Conventional modem technology is one such method of transmitting digital data over POTS lines. This technology attempts to transmit high speed data over POTS lines within the limits of the allocated voice bandwidth, or below 3.4 kHz.
Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) technology, on the other hand, can apportion the transmission of data over POTS lines into a voice channel and a digital channel. The voice channel can include signals below 4 kHz while the digital channel can include signals above 4 kHz. As such, xDSL can provide a method to increase the bandwidth of the existing telephone network infrastructure. Furthermore, xDSL technology can allow conventional electronic devices that use the voice channel, and xDSL devices such as transceivers, to couple to the same POTS network. Furthermore, the conventional devices and the xDSL devices can communicate simultaneously over the same wiring, using the respective channels. To accomplish this task, splitters or filters can be used to separate the two channels. Typically, a splitter or filter is placed both at the central office and the customer premises of an xDSL network.
One conventional filter architecture used at the customer premises end of an xDSL network is a distributed filter. With a distributed filter architecture, a low pass filter is coupled between the premises network and each electronic device that uses signals in the voice channel. For example, each telephone, facsimile machine, and other conventional telephony device would be coupled first to a low pass filter which would then be coupled to the telephone network of the customer premises (e.g., via a standard telephone line). Each low pass filter allows signals in the voice channel to travel to and from the conventional devices, while filtering out traffic and noise that can be caused by devices using the digital channel. In this scheme, devices using the digital channel, such as xDSL transceivers, can connect directly into the premises network.
Conventional distributed filter systems typically couple a box containing a low pass filter between a wall mount outlet and each conventional electronic device. However, such conventional systems can be disadvantageous because they involve an additional piece of electronic equipment. Such equipment can be positioned in the open, and can be interfered with, for example, by passing foot traffic. Such conventional systems can also require additional monitoring to ensure that the low pass filter box does not become uncoupled from the wall mount outlet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a wall mount filter for a digital subscriber line network and methods of installation and manufacture are disclosed that provide significant advantages over prior developed filter systems.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the wall mount filter includes a wall mount plate having a front surface and a back surface. A connection port is coupled to the front surface of the wall mount plate. The connection port is operable to electrically couple to an electronic device. The filter also includes a low pass filter circuit coupled to the back surface of the wall mount plate. The low pass filter circuit is in electrical connection with the connection port and is operable to be electrically coupled to a premises network. The wall mount plate is operable to couple to a wall mount outlet with the front surface outward and the low pass filter circuit contained inside the wall mount outlet.
It is a technical advantage of the present invention that the wall mount filter allows voice and digital traffic in an xDSL network to travel on the same premises network without the need for an additional device coupled between a wall mount outlet and a conventional electronic device.
It is a further technical advantage of the present invention that the risk of a conventional electronic device being uncoupled from the premises network is reduced.
Other technical advantages should be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the specification, claims and drawings.
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pat
Ham Ronald E.
Lutz, Jr. Ronald D.
Sisk James Randolph
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Bettendorf Justin P.
Cisco Technology Inc.
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