Patent ID: 7852874

Claim:
A device for use with AC power wiring, the wiring being connected to carry an AC power signal, said device comprising: an AC power connector configured for connecting to the AC power wiring; a first data port configured for coupling to a first Digital Terminal Equipment (DTE); a first data transceiver coupled to said first data port for bi-directional, serial digital data communication with the first DTE, said first data transceiver being operative to communicate with a mating data transceiver of substantially the same type; a power supply comprising an AC/DC converter connected between said AC power connector and said first data transceiver, said power supply being connected to be powered by the AC power signal and to supply DC operating power to said first data transceiver; a visual indicator connected to said power supply for indicating a status; and a single enclosure housing said AC power connector, said first data port, said first data transceiver, said power supply and said visual indicator; wherein said first data transceiver is a Local Area Network (LAN) transceiver, and said device is addressable in a LAN, and wherein said device further comprises: a second data port for coupling to a second Digital Terminal Equipment (DTE); and a second data transceiver coupled to said second data port for bi-directional packet-based serial digital data communication with the second DTE, wherein said first data transceiver and said second data transceiver are coupled to each other for passing at least part of the digital data between the first DTE and the second DTE.