A METHOD FOR THE DISTRIBUTION AND TRANSFER OF COMMUNICATION AND MULTIMEDIA SIGNALS, AS WELL AS A SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER OF THE COMMUNICATION AND MULTIMEDIA SIGNALS

Abstract: In a method and a signal distribution arrangement for use in private dwellings or offices, communication and multimedia signals are distributed by means of a connection arrangement (27) which is connected to a plurality of terminals (1-8) in the rooms (25, 26) of the dwelling or the office. The individual terminals are preferably identical and may be connected between the terminals and the consuming apparatus via a cable with a plug at each end which is adapted to the terminals and a consuming apparatus, respectively. The signal distribution arrangement includes a plurality of signal processing circuits (31-33) which have wire connections (patch cables) that may be connected to a patch panel (1-23), each of which is either connected to the terminals or is prepared to be connected to the new terminals. Hereby, the power distribution may be adapted to the needs of the individual user in a simple manner at any given occasion without requiring expensive installation changes, as the various signal types may be converted from one signal type to another signal type either in the signal processing circuit or after the terminals.

Description: A method for the distribution and transfer of communication and multimedia signals, as well as a signal distribution arrangement for the transfer of the communication and multimedia signals The invention relates to a method for the distribution and transfer of communication and multimedia signals, preferably in private dwellings and offices with one or more rooms, wherein the distribution may be provided from a control unit connected to a plurality of terminals from which the communication signals may be transferred to consuming installation equipment. The invention moreover relates to a signal distribution arrangement for the transfer of communication and multimedia signals, preferably in private dwellings and offices with one or more rooms, where a connection arrangement is connected via wired equipment to a plurality of terminals in the individual rooms. Usually, various electrical terminals are installed in private dwellings and offices for ordinary power supply for lighting, refrigerators, etc. In addition, separate terminals for radio and TV signals as well as separate terminals for telephone signals are provided. In offices in particular, there are moreover often terminals for data connections, which may also be installed via a modem to a telephone connection. With several separate connections, many different terminals are required of course. In practice, terminals for radio, TV, data and telephone, however, have typically just been installed in one, perhaps 2 rooms. The number of this type of terminals must be expected to increase strongly in the dwellings of the future, so that all types of terminals, even in several specimens, are de- sired in several rooms, which will mean a very comprehensive diversified installation. It has therefore been attempted to combine radio, data and telephone connections via the same system of transmission lines, but with different terminals corresponding to the type of desired connections. Hereby, some wiring may be saved for the installation, but the flexibility with respect to switching between the individual installation types cannot be provided without changing the composition of the terminals. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a method and a signal distribution arrangement which are more flexible than before. The object of the invention is achieved by a method of the type stated in the introductory portion of claim 1 which is characterized in that several types of signals are adapted, by conversion, to be transmitted via a data main distribution frame and via a transmission installation common to all signal types which connects the main distribution frame with a plurality of distributed ter i- nals, and that at least some of the transmitted signals are reconverted after the terminals. It is hereby simple to adapt every terminal to an individual need. When, as stated in claim 4, all the terminals are identical, and plugged cable connections are inserted between the individual terminals and the consuming installation equipment, said plugged cable connections being adapted to the terminals and the consuming installation equipment, the flexibility is enhanced additionally since the numb i of terminals in a dwelling or an office can be reduced in future . When, as stated in claim 5, separate circuits are in- serted in the control unit for the conversion and transfer of data signals, radio/TV signals, telephony in the form of electrical or optical communication signals, it is ensured that all the feed units to routing installations are positioned centrally, which additionally means that it is easier to change signal type in the individual terminals for other applications. As mentioned, the invention also relates to a signal distribution arrangement as stated more fully in the intro- ductory portion of claim 6. This signal distribution arrangement is characterized in that the connection arrangement comprises a plurality of signal adaptation circuits and comprises a patch panel which is connected to the signal adaptation circuit via patch cables, and which is connected to the terminals via the wired equipment. Such an arrangement, of course, provides the advantages which are already mentioned above. To ensure user-friendliness and flexibility, it is an advantage, as stated in claims 8 and 9, respectively, that the circuits contain conversion circuits for the conver- sion of one signal type to another signal type, and that conversion circuits for the conversion of one signal type to another signal type are connected or inserted in the wires, respectively. With a view to an additionally simple installation structure it is an advantage if, as stated in claim 12, the signal distribution arrangement is mounted on a DIN rail, which is preferably countersunk. Expedient embodiments of the signal distribution arrange- ment are defined in claims 7-12. The invention will now be explained more fully with ref ¬ erence to an embodiment shown in the drawing, in which figs. 1 and 2 schematically show two rooms with terminals, fig. 3 shows a signal distribution arrangement according to the invention, figs. 4 and 5 show the rooms according to figs. 1 and 2 with different installations, and fig. 6 shows an example of the electrical coupling of the signal distribution arrangement of fig. 3. Figs. 1 and 2 schematically show two rooms with terminals 1-8. The terminals might e.g. be telephone terminals, data connection terminals, radio/TV terminals and the like, depending on the installations desired by a user. Normally, the terminals are provided as fixed installations, each terminal being intended for a task of its own. Fig. 3 shows a connection arrangement 27 which is adapted for use by implementation,. of the principles of the invention. The board is provided with electrical adaptation circuits A - D and connection points (patch panel) 1 - 23 for communication signals, whose function will be ex- plained in connection with figs. 4 - 6 below. Figs. 4 and 5 again show the same two rooms as are shown in figs. 1 and 2, but now equipped with an electrical appliance, such as a modem, a EC, a printer, a fax, a telephone and a TV. This appliance today requires a number of different types of plug connections for the transfer of communication signals, as is well-known. It is quite evident that with this prior art it is not easy to change the position of the signal-consuming de- vices in the rooms, as they are dependent on the positions of the terminals, and/or will require the use of extension wires whose access to precisely a special electrical terminal for special electrical communication signals is required. According to the invention, the terminals of the rooms for communication and multimedia signals are the same. This means that the individual electrical devices are therefore provided with a wire which fits into every ter- minal. This wire may either be an extension wire which is connected to the device, or a permanently installed wire in the individual devices . It should be mentioned in this connection that if all the terminals are e.g. of the coaxial type, which is normally used for the transfer of radio and TV signals, and it is desired to connect a computer, the wire may be provided with a conversion circuit which converts the data signals transferred in the coaxial cable into a form which is adapted precisely to the computer. For example, it may be a matter of converting .signals from serial to parallel form. It should moreover be mentioned that this conversion can also be performed in the main distribution frame board, e.g. if the terminals were data plugs which were to transfer radio and TV signals. Fig. 6 again shows the main distribution frame board of fig. 3, but now coupled electrically. As will be seen, the main distribution frame board consists of a number of connection circuits 31 - 33, here shown as a number of modules, of which the module 31 is a TV/radio module, 32 is a data module, and 33 is a telephone module. As shown at e.g. the wire connections 28, 39 and 30 (e.g. patch cables which are cables with the same type of plug at each end) , the individual terminals are connected to the schematically shown terminal blocks (patch panel) 1 - 23, the wire 28 being connected to the terminal block 7, the wire 29 to the terminal block 3 and the wire 30 to the terminal block 8. The terminal blocks 1 - 23 are connected in full or in part to the terminals 1 - 8, e.g. as shown in figs. 5 and 6. If now a terminal, e.g. the terminal 8 shown in fig. 3, which is a telephone terminal, is to be used as a radio terminal for antenna signals, this may take place merely by removing the connection 30 shown in fig. 7 and establishing a connection between the connections of the module 31 and the terminal block 8. The invention thus provides a new way of coupling installations in private homes and offices, which, in addition to being easy to switch, is future-proof. For example, nothing prevents an optical transmission from being installed either directly or by means of a fibre which is connected to a circuit for the conversion of optical signals into electrical signals.

Claims: P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. A method for the distribution and transfer of commu- nication and multimedia signals, preferably in private dwellings and offices with one or more rooms, wherein the distribution is provided from a control unit connected to a plurality of terminals from which the communication signals may be transferred to consuming installation equipment, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that several types of signals are adapted, by conversion, to be transmitted via a data main distribution frame and via a transmission installation common to all signal types which connects the main distribution frame with a plural- ity of distributed terminals, and that at least some of the transmitted signals are reconverted after the terminals . 2. A method according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that patch cables are used for the signal distribution between a plurality of conversion units and a patch panel in the main distribution frame. 3. A method according to claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that signal conversion and main distribution frame connections are performed by means of components which are mounted centrally on a DIN rail, preferably a countersunk DIN rail. 4. A method according to claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i e d in that all the terminals are identical, and that plugged cable connections are inserted between the individual terminals and the consuming installation equipment, said plugged cable connections being adapted at each end to the terminals and the consuming installation equipment. 5. A method according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that separate circuits are inserted in the control unit for the conversion and transfer of data signals, radio/TV signals, telephony in the form of electrical or optical communication signals. 6. A signal distribution arrangement for the transfer of communication and multimedia signals, preferably in pri- vate dwellings and offices with one or more rooms, where a connection arrangement is connected via wired equipment to a plurality of terminals in the individual rooms, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connection arrangement comprises a plurality of signal adaptation cir- cuits and comprises a patch panel which is connected to the signal adaptation circuit via patch cables, and which is connected to the terminals via the wired equipment. 7. A signal distribution arrangement according to claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the terminals connected to the main distribution frame board are preferably identical, and that the equipment connected to the terminals is connected to the terminals with a cable having plug connections adapted to the terminals and the equipment. 8. A signal distribution arrangement according to claims 4 and 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the circuits are adapted to transfer electrical or optical data, ra- dio/TV or telephone signals. 9. A signal distribution arrangement according to claims 4-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the circuits contain conversion circuits for the conversion of one signal type to another signal type. 10. A signal distribution arrangement according to claims 5-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that conversion circuits for the conversion of one signal type to another signal type are connected or inserted in the wires. 11. A signal distribution arrangement according to claims 4-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connection between the circuits and the connection arrangement consists of a plurality of wires adapted to connect the circuits to a patch panel which is connected to the individual terminals. 12. A signal distribution arrangement according to any one of claims 4-11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the signal distribution arrangement is mounted on a DIN rail, which is preferably recessed.

Inventors: BOLOURI-SARANSAR MASUD, BOLOURI-SARANSAR, MASUD
Applicants: BOLOURI SARANSAR MASUD, LK AS, BOLOURI-SARANSAR, MASUD, LK A/S
Application year: 1999
Main classification: H04M11
IPC codes: H02G3, H04L12, H04M11, H04N7