Patent ID: 8325691

Claim:
A communication system, comprising: a lightning protection element; a distribution module; a plurality of wall outlet assemblies; a plurality of conduit stems; each conduit stem being connected to a respective wall outlet assembly and being operable to carry signals between the respective wall outlet assembly and a location at which the distribution module obtains the signals; the distribution module and each wall outlet assembly having an operating relationship between each other such that both a bridging signal and a separate task signal are carried between the distribution module and the respective wall outlet assembly with the particular signal being carried on the respective conduit stem connected to the wall outlet assembly; the distribution module and the lightning protection element being operatively connected to one another such that bridging signals pass therebetween; the lightning protection element being operable to transmit or receive wireless signals; each wall outlet assembly having a capability to transmit a wireless signal to, or receive a wireless signal from, a wireless signal device and in the event that the wall outlet assembly transmits a wireless signal, the wall outlet assembly generates the wireless signal in response to a bridging signal provided to the wall outlet assembly via the distribution module, and in the event that the wall outlet assembly receives a wireless signal, the wall outlet assembly sends a corresponding bridging signal along its conduit to ultimately reach the distribution module; and each wall outlet assembly having an access portion for access between the wall outlet assembly and a separate task executing device such that separate task signals are passed between the wall outlet assembly and the separate task executing device; the distribution module includes a first signal power booster for increasing the power of bridging signals on a first frequency band received from the lightning protection element; a second signal power booster for increasing the power of bridging signals on a second frequency band received from the lightning protection element; and an isolating device for isolating the first signal power booster and the second signal power booster from one another; the isolating device includes a diplexer having a common input port and a pair of output ports; the common input port of the diplexer being operable to receive both bridging signals on the first frequency band and bridging signals on the second frequency band; one of the pair of output ports being operable to permit bridging signals on the first frequency band to exit the diplexer but not bridging signals on the second frequency band; and the other of the pair of output ports being operable to permit bridging signals on the second frequency band to exit the diplexer but not bridging signals on the first frequency band.