Patent ID: 7625249

Claim:
A field communication distribution apparatus for use with a plurality of cables, each cable formed by a plurality of cable conductor pairs to enable temporary connection of communication devices to said conductor pairs, said cable terminating in a cable connector including pairs of terminals for each of said conductor pairs, said apparatus comprising: (a) a weatherproof housing; (b) a panel positioned in said housing and having a plurality of groups of connector devices mounted thereon; (c) each of said connector devices including a pair of insulation displacement connectors therein which enable connection thereto of unstripped insulated conductors of a communication device; (d) a plurality of interconnection groups, each interconnection group corresponding respectively with one of said groups of connector devices on said panel and including: (1) a box connector having a plurality of box conductor pairs, each of said box connector pairs being connected to a respective pair of insulation displacement connectors of one of said connector devices, said box connector being compatible with said cable connector to enable removable connection of said cable to said box connector; (2) an electrical data connector mounted on said panel and configured to carry an electrical data signal; (3) an optical connector mounted on said panel and configured to carry an optical data signal; and (4) media converter circuitry coupled between said electrical data connector and said optical connector and bilaterally converting between an electrical data signal received at said electrical data connector to an optical data signal at said optical connector or between an optical data signal received at said optical connector to an electrical data signal at said electrical data connector.