Patent ID: 6522662
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H03M,H04L

Abstract:
A converter unit which converts differential signals from a network interface card (NIC) associated with a first device to single data signals to be provided over a two-wire telephone line to a second device, comprising:an encoder/decoder coupled to said NIC and transmitting and receiving said differential signals, said encoder/decoder decoding said differential signals received from said NIC and encoding said differential signals provided to said NIC; an electronic switch coupled to said two-wire telephone line, said single data signals being transmitted through said switch to the telephone line and received from said telephone line; a first differential converter coupled to said encoder/decoder and said electronic switch, said first differential converter receives said decoded differential signals from said encoder/decoder and converts said differential signals to single data signals; a modulator coupled to said first differential converter and receiving said single data signals from said first differential converter, said modulator using a carrier signal having a frequency to modulate said single data signals and provide said modulated single data signals to said switch; a second differential converter coupled to said encoder/decoder and said electronic switch, said second differential converter receives said decoded single data signals from said switch and converts said single data signals to differential signals and provides said differential data signals to said encoder/decoder where said differential data signals are encoded and provided to said NIC; and carrier sense and control logic coupled to said electronic switch; wherein a plurality of other devices that are incompatible with said first and second devices communicate with one another over said two-wire telephone line; wherein said carrier sense and control logic determines whether said two-wire telephone line is available for said converter unit to transmit said single data signals to said second device over said telephone line; and wherein said carrier frequency used to modulate said single data signals is different than frequencies associated with signals transmitted between said plurality of other devices.