Power adapter and broadband line extender system and method

A power adapter, in a presently preferred embodiment, includes a power converter and multiple data ports, and is configured for ease of coupling the power converter into pre-existing premises power connectors. Thus, premises power can be supplied from the power converter and a first data port, via data cabling, to a network terminating device for an external network. Multi-protocol adapters, such as an HPNA (Home Phoneline Network Alliance protocol compliant)/Ethernet adapter, may also be included to provide extension of a protocol (such as Ethernet) over pre-existing premises wiring. A back-up battery is optionally provided, as well as appropriate switches and indicators. Specialized male-female connectors may also be used.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention in general relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to premises broadband communication systems.

BACKGROUND

One of the key challenges in the communications industry today is how to provide a cost effective, broadband solution for getting multiple services, such as telephony, video, and high speed data, to users in such diverse premises as homes and business buildings. The existing telephone service, sometimes known as plain old telephone service (POTS), even with advance solutions such as digital subscriber loop (DSL) technologies, may suffice for some telephony and data requirements, but is bandwidth constrained and inadequate for video provisioning. Cable television (CATV) systems do provide a broadband solution for delivering digital and video data, but the reliance on coaxial cable for the final distribution to homes and other premises remains a bandwidth limited solution. Thus, because of the superior bandwidth of fiber optic solutions, a variety of systems have been proposed to provide fiber to the home/business (FTTH/B) as the best overall solution for broadband services.

The leading FTTH/B solutions rely on passive optical networks (PONs), in which the optical network is terminated at the premises in some form of optical network terminator (ONTs). However, two key problems are present in today's solutions for coupling the optical networks, via the ONTs, to the local premises network. These existing solutions typically involve some form of customized cabling for linking the two networks. This happens because there are several different types of cabling found in premises today. A need also exists for a new power cable to be run to the ONT from the premises power supply. However, this approach is both cost prohibitive and time consuming. Not only does it drive up the installation time, but the power cabling may also require specialized installation services such as those of a registered electrician. Using different parts for different premises also drives up parts costs, and increases the risk of a mistake being made when configuring the equipment during the installation process.

Thus, there remains a need for a more standardized, cost effective, and efficient solution for coupling broadband optical and local premises networks, and providing power to the network terminating devices. Just such a solution to these and other problems noted above, is made possible by my invention.

SUMMARY

An illustrative summary of the invention, with particular reference to the detailed embodiment described below, includes a power adapter, having a power converter and multiple data ports, being configured for ease of coupling the power converter into pre-existing premises power connectors. Thus, premises power can be supplied from the power converter and a first data port, via data cabling, to a network terminating device for an external network. Multi-protocol adapters, such as an HPNA (Home Phoneline Network Alliance protocol compliant)/Ethernet adapter, may also be included to provide extension of a protocol (such as Ethernet) over pre-existing premises wiring. A back-up battery is optionally provided, as well as appropriate switches and indicators. Specialized male-female connectors may also be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A presently preferred embodiment according to our invention includes a universal power adapter and broadband line extender (for convenience, referred to as an UPAX). The UPAX provides a convenient solution for powering network termination devices by coupling premises network services with an external network. This preferred solution can be packaged in a single module for ease and speed of installation, yet it is easily configured to handle different types of premises wiring so as to provide a near-universal solution. This unique approach of the UPAX enables a cost effective and rapid deployment of FTTH/B solutions, while minimizing the risk of configuration mistakes during installation.

This preferred embodiment of the invention may be better understood by considering first the illustrative diagram of the premises, shown inFIG. 1. Premises1may be any type of residential dwelling or business building or group of buildings, in which a local network solution is implemented and needs to be coupled to an external network. In the illustrated case the external network is an optical distribution network such as a passive optical network (PON) implementing a fiber to the home/building (FTTH/B) architecture. The fiber optic PON is terminated in a terminating device such as an optical network terminator (ONT)10, which is typically installed externally to, or just inside, the premises. Because the fiber optic PON does not distribute power to its terminating devices ONT10, ONT10must be powered from the local premises. While other non-optical networking solutions such as high-speed CATV data/video networks can supply power through their cabling, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the UPAX discussed herein may also be used in these architectures where the external network is unable to provide sufficient power for the operation of an external network terminating device.

In the preferred embodiment, optical line12is coupled via an RJ-45 port to Ethernet line14in the premises via ONT10, although other cabling (such as a CAT3phone line) could be readily used. For purposes of coupling the ONT10an ethernet line14is presently preferred in FSAN (Full-Service Access Network) compliant PON ONTs, in part due to the broad implementation of Ethernet solutions for broadband networking. Established protocols also exist for delivering Power over Ethernet (PoE), although a skilled artisan will appreciate that other forms of wiring and protocols may be readily implemented for alternative premises networking solutions.

The UPAX20receives its power from the local premises. In the illustrated case, it is conveniently adapted to plug into a standard wall outlet22, which is in turn connected via wiring24to the premises power distribution box (breaker panel26). These are in turn connected to the Mains power distribution grid via power meter28at the premises boundary. In a typical residential dwelling, outlet22will be a standard15A (amp) power outlet, providing 120 V AC. Where different power and/or plug configurations are present, such as in industrial applications or outside the United States, the UPAX20can be readily adapted so that it interfaces with the power outlets found in any given premise.

In some implementations, UPAX20may be coupled via convenient pre-existing data jacks16to ONT10, using cables14and18. Cables14and18, as well as the additional premises network cabling, will typically include voice grade category (CAT3) or data (CAT5or CAT6) cabling.

Turning now toFIGS. 2A and 2B, respectively, a front and side elevational view of UPAX20is further illustrated. In the preferred configuration two RJ-45 female ports34,36are provided, connecting the UPAX20to the ONT10and to the LAN/Ethernet premises network, respectively. An RJ-11 phone port38is also included. The UPAX20is configured to plug into the standard outlet22and secured via a screw to the standard screw hole in outlet22. Because the UPAX20may cover outlet22, an optional outlet40may also be provided to supply standard power to other electrical devices that might otherwise have been connected to outlet22.

Two configuration switches are also conveniently provided. Line power switch44is, in the preferred implementation, a three position switch. In position1, it controls the power converter (52ofFIG. 3) to convert the standard premises power (120 V AC) to the appropriate power for the ONT20. In position2, no power is provided to the line. This may be used, for example, in MDU (multiple dwelling unit) deployments where HPNA service is required. In position3, proprietary power solution may be used (e.g., powering pins7/8with −48 V DC/GND at 0.3A maximum and 14W, at 12 V DC, or other appropriate characteristic/value). A GFI breaker may also be optionally used. A further selection switch46is used to provide power when a first position (in Ethernet) is selected, and remove power when UPAX20is connected to an HPNA network.

UPAX20also includes a back-up battery tray32and indicator lights48. As noted above, the back-up battery can be used to provide telephony lifeline support power and other emergency power in the event of an outage to the premises power supply. Indicators48conveniently provide status and/or power information to a user, and may be LEDs or any other convenient device for presenting such information to a user.

FIG. 3illustrates a block diagram of the internal components of UPAX20. Ports34and36are 8-pin female RJ-45 ports, and port38is a female 4-pin RJ-11 jack. In the preferred embodiment, pins4,5,7, and8of port34are coupled via power switch44to a power adapter52. The power adapter can selectively supply 48V DC at 0.3A, 24V DC at1A power, 12V DC or other appropriate power, via RJ-45 socket34to the ONT10. As noted above, this could be in the form of an industry standard power such as PoE (e.g., conforming to IEEE Standard 802.3af Standard), or a proprietary power solution for the ONT10. In the illustrated case, power adapter52receives its power (120V AC) via plug54, adapted to fit into standard outlet22. Battery tray32is also coupled to power selector switch44and power adapter52, to provide an emergency power in the event of a premises power outage.

Because the premises may include several different types of cabling, at least two ports for use with coupling to the premises network are provided, in this case RJ-45 port36and RJ-11 port38. These ports are both coupled to an HPNA/Ethernet adapter56via lines62,64and66, and the HPNA/Ethernet adapter56is in turn coupled to the power adapter52via selector switch46so as to be enabled when the alternative network (e.g. HPNA compliant) is desired. Selector switch46can be used to ensure that power is appropriately enabled in the case of MDU deployments where HPNA service is required. The illustrated configuration inherently supports line extension functions for Ethernet over HPNA 2.0 and similar specifications. This is used, for example, where the premises subscriber desires Ethernet service, but the local premises cabling does not include CAT5or6cabling. In this case, the adapter appropriately connects the data to the correct lines for use in a CAT3premises cabling. On the other hand, should Ethernet cabling already exist in the premises, the HPNA function can be turned off (using switch46) and Ethernet port36can be utilized on the adapter as the local Ethernet interface. By pairing the RJ-11 adapter with the power function in HPNA, a service provider can effectively locate an Ethernet interfaced inside the premises, while at the same time supplying power to the network adapter on the side of the house.

Finally, the UPAX20may conveniently provide additional features such as a periodic load test of the batteries32and activation of an audible tone when the batteries no longer support the minimum required power. The battery back-up32should be designed to provide an appropriate minimum amount of power—e.g., one hour of Ethernet interface support, while concurrently supporting differing minimum amounts of power, e.g., four hours, for POTs line support for up to four telephony lines. The battery tray32may be of any appropriate and convenient size according to the design requirements, such as a tray of standard off-the-shelf 9V batteries in an easily replaceable tray.

Turning now toFIG. 4, a safety adapter20is illustrated. This adapter is provided to ensure that the wrong pins are not energized in the event that premises cabling18coupling to RJ-45 port34is a CAT3cable. In this event, safety adapter70conveniently provides an RJ-11 female port71for receiving the CAT3cable and securely routing the four leads to the appropriate pins of male RJ-45 adapter72. This ensures, for example, that access to the power on pins7and8is always correctly coupled via pins1and4on the RJ-11 CAT32cable connector. While this could alternately be performed in UPAX20, if a switch is not set correctly the power could be applied to an Ethernet device such as ONT10on the wrong pins and damage the Ethernet device.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while certain specific embodiments have been discussed above, such as the use with specific RJ-45 and RJ-11 ports and an HPNA adapter, other components may be used with readily understood design trade-offs based upon specific premises network configurations. While the foregoing constitutes certain present, preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, and that in light of the present disclosure various other embodiments should be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Thus, while the preferred embodiment is illustrated in connection with a PON ONT network termination, the invention may be used in connection with other types of network terminators needing premises-supplied power. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the appended claims which should be construed to encompass all legal equivalents thereof.