Patent ID: 7873062

Claim:
A media converter outlet that is part of a local area network in a building, the network including at least part of a fiber optic cable that is at least in part in walls of the building and is terminated at a wall opening or outlet cavity, said outlet comprising: a first fiber optic connector for connecting said outlet to the fiber optic cable; a fiber optic transceiver for bidirectional digital data communication of a digital data signal with a transceiver of the same type as said fiber optic transceiver over the fiber optic cable; a power port connectable to receive a power signal from a power source; a power supply, comprising an AC/DC converter or a DC/DC converter, coupled between said power port and said fiber optic transceiver for DC powering said fiber optic transceiver by the power signal; a data port for coupling at least part of said digital data signal to a first unit; a multi-port unit including one of: a hub; a switch; a router; and a gateway, coupled to pass data between said data port and said fiber optic transceiver; and at least one enclosure housing said first fiber optic connector, said fiber optic transceiver, said power port, said power supply, said data port and said multi-port unit, wherein: said outlet is mountable into the wall opening or outlet cavity; and said outlet is addressable in the local area network.