U.S. patent application number 12/095165 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for power line communication system and communication device used in the system.
Invention is credited to Hyung Suk Choi, Kwan Hee Han, Sung Wook Moon, Dong Young Park.
Application Number | 20080279199 12/095165 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39592970 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080279199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Dong Young ; et
al. |
November 13, 2008 |
Power Line Communication System and Communication Device Used in
the System
Abstract
A lock device having a lever is disclosed, in which the lever is
released to rotate a latch bolt only if a correct electronic key is
authenticated while the latch bolt is hooked over the lever at
normal times. In the lock device of the present invention, having a
latch bolt which is placed to rotate for opening a door once an
electronic key is authenticated by its recognition or entering a
password, the lock device comprises a motor rotated in one
direction by a signal input after the electronic key is
authenticated; a pinion assembly connected with a rotation axis of
the motor and rotated by an operation of the motor; a lever having
one end hooked over a projection formed in the latch bolt so as not
to rotate the latch bolt at normal times, connected with the pinion
assembly, and rotated by rotation of the motor to release binding
state of the latch bolt once the electronic key is authenticated;
and the latch bolt not rotated at normal times as its projection is
hooked over the lever, and rotated as the projection is released by
rotation of the lever once the electronic key is authenticated.
Therefore, the lock device makes the manufacture easy and improves
reliability of the operation.
Inventors: |
Park; Dong Young;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; Han; Kwan Hee; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Moon; Sung Wook; (Seoul, KR) ; Choi;
Hyung Suk; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JONES DAY
222 EAST 41ST ST
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
39592970 |
Appl. No.: |
12/095165 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
November 29, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR06/05007 |
371 Date: |
May 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/400 ;
370/466 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 10/272 20130101;
H04L 12/2801 20130101; H04B 2203/5425 20130101; H04B 2203/5437
20130101; H04B 3/542 20130101; H04B 2203/5445 20130101; H04B
2203/545 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/400 ;
370/466 |
International
Class: |
H04L 12/28 20060101
H04L012/28; H04J 3/16 20060101 H04J003/16 |
Claims
1. A power line communication (PLC) Digital Subscriber Line Access
Multiplexer (DSLAM), comprising: a first communication port unit
connecting with a predetermined Internet Protocol (IP) network and
receiving a data signal via the IP network; a second communication
port unit connecting with a predetermined telephone line, the
telephone line being coupled with each of at least one telephone
line that connects an exchange and at least one subscriber
location; a PLC converter converting the data signal into a PLC
frame signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC protocol; and a
transmission control unit controlling the PLC frame signal to be
transmitted to a predetermined coupling device, which is installed
in each of the at least one subscriber location, via the telephone
line that connects with the second communication port unit, wherein
the coupling device connects with each of the telephone line and a
predetermined power line, couples the PLC frame signal, which is
received via the telephone line, with the power link, and transmits
the PLC frame signal to at least one communication terminal that is
installed in the subscriber location.
2. The PLC DSLAM of claim 1, wherein the PLC converter comprises: a
Media Access Control (MAC) address converter converting a MAC
address of the data signal into a MAC address corresponding to the
PLC protocol; and a physical layer converter converting the data
signal into a PLC frame signal, the data signal including the
converted MAC address, and the PLC frame signal including a
physical layer corresponding to the PLC protocol.
3. The PLC DSLAM of claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit
converts the PLC frame signal into an analog signal and transmits
the analog signal to the coupling device of the subscriber location
via the telephone line.
4. A PLC coupling device installed in a subscriber location,
comprising: a telephone line port unit connecting with a
predetermined telephone line and receiving a PLC frame signal from
a predetermined PLC DSLAM connected via the telephone line; a power
line port unit connecting with at least one communication terminal,
which is installed in the subscriber location, via a power line;
and a coupling control unit coupling the PLC frame signal with the
power line and transmitting the PLC frame signal to the at least
one communication terminal, wherein the PLC DSLAM converts a data
signal, which is received from a predetermined IP network, into a
PLC frame signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC protocol, and
transmits the PLC frame signal to the telephone line port unit via
the telephone line.
5. The PLC coupling device of claim 4, wherein the coupling control
unit performs impendence matching with respect to the received PLC
frame signal in correspondence to a frequency band of the power
line.
6. A PLC system comprising: a PLC DSLAM converting a data signal,
which is received from a predetermined IP network, into a PLC frame
signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC protocol, and
transmitting the PLC frame signal to at least one subscriber
location that is connected via a predetermined telephone line, the
telephone line being coupled with each of at least one telephone
line that connects an exchange and at least one subscriber
location; and a PLC coupling device connecting with each of the
telephone line and a predetermined power line, coupling the PLC
frame signal, which is received via the telephone line, with the
power line, and transmitting the PLC frame signal to at least one
communication terminal that is installed in the subscriber
location.
7. The PLC system of claim 6, wherein the PLC DSLAM comprises: a
first communication port unit connecting with the IP network and
receiving the data signal via the IP network; a second
communication port unit connecting with the telephone line, the
telephone line being coupled with each of at least one telephone
line that connects an exchange and at least one subscriber
location; a PLC converter converting the data signal into the PLC
frame signal corresponding to the predetermined PLC protocol; and a
transmission control unit controlling the PLC frame signal to be
transmitted to a predetermined coupling device, which is installed
in each of the at least one subscriber location, via the telephone
line that connects with the second communication port unit.
8. The PLC system of claim 6, wherein the PLC coupling device
comprises: a telephone line port unit connecting with the telephone
line and receiving a PLC frame signal from a predetermined PLC
DSLAM that is connected via the telephone line; a power line port
unit connecting with at least one communication terminal, which is
installed in the subscriber location, via a power line; and a
coupling control unit coupling the PLC frame signal with the power
line and transmitting the PLC frame signal to the at least one
communication terminal.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a power line communication
(PLC) system which includes a PLC Digital Subscriber Line Access
Multiplexer (DSLAM) and a PLC coupling device, and a communication
device used in the PLC system. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a PLC system where a data signal is received
from an Internet Protocol (IP) network via a PLC DSLAM, which is
generally installed in a telephone office, the received data signal
is converted into a PLC frame signal according to a predetermined
PLC protocol, and the converted PLC frame signal is transmitted to
at least one subscriber location via a telephone line, and a PLC
coupling device of the subscriber location receives the PLC frame
signal via the telephone line, couples the PLC frame signal with a
power line, and transmits the coupled PLC frame signal to at least
one communication terminal, and a communication device used in the
PLC system.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A power line communication (PLC) indicates a communication
method which transmits/receives a data signal via a power line,
wired in a house or an office to supply power. Specifically, the
PLC may be embodied by modulating a data signal into a high
frequency signal, transmitting the modulated high frequency signal
to an alternating current (AC) line, and separating and receiving
the transmitted high frequency signal via a high frequency filter.
In this instance, the high frequency filter has a cutoff frequency
of about 50 Hz or about 60 Hz.
[0003] Since a network utilizing PLC technology can be constructed
utilizing an existing wiring, a cost burden, which may be caused by
a construction with additional wiring, may be reduced. Also, an
expansion that can install an additional device to a network with
only a plug-in, even after constructing the network, is guaranteed.
Thus, the PLC technology is widely utilized for any type of
wired/wireless network solutions.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
network including a subscriber network using a telephone network
and a home PLC system according to a conventional art.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a telephone office 110 includes a
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) 111 and a
private branch exchange (PBX) 112. The DSLAM 111 corresponds to a
multiplexing device which can collect data, transmitted/received by
any type of Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL), and transmit the
collected data to an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Specifically,
the DSLAM 111 functions as an interface between an xDSL subscriber
and a service provider and thus may provide the xDSL subscriber
with various types of network functions.
[0006] In FIG. 1, the DSLAM 111 receives a data signal from a video
on demand (VOD) system, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
system, or an Internet network, multiplexes the data signal, and
transmits the multiplexed data signal to an xDSL modem 123 of a
subscriber location via a telephone line 114. In this instance, the
telephone line 114 may be coupled with another telephone line,
connecting with the PBX 112, by a coupler 113. Specifically, the
data signal transmitted from the DSLAM 111 and a voice signal
transmitted from the PBX 112 are coupled with each other by the
coupler 113, and transmitted to another coupler 121 installed in
the subscriber location 120.
[0007] The other coupler 121 installed in the subscriber location
120 receives the coupled data signal and voice signal via the
telephone line 114. Also, the coupler 121 splits the voice signal
and the data signal respectively, and then transmits the voice
signal to a telephone 122 and transmits the data signal to the xDSL
modem 123.
[0008] The xDSL modem 123 transmits the data signal to a PLC modem
124. The PLC modem 124 converts the data signal into a signal
corresponding to a predetermined PLC protocol, couples the
converted signal with a power line 126, and transmits the coupled
signal to at least one communication terminal.
[0009] In this instance, each of the at least one communication
terminal includes another PLC modem 125. The other PLC modem 125
extracts a data signal from a PLC signal transmitted via the power
line 126, and transmits the extracted data signal to each of the at
least one communication terminal. In this instance, the
communication 30 terminal may include a home automation device, a
personal computer (PC), a television (TV), a security system, and
the like.
[0010] In a PLC system according to the conventional art, a home
network and various types of communication services may only be
provided by utilizing a previously installed power line, without
installing an additional wiring to a subscriber location. However,
as described with FIG. 1, only when an xDSL modem and a PLC modem
are separately installed in the subscriber location, a subscriber
of a PLC service may utilize the PLC service. Also, only when the
xDSL modem and the PLC modem perform protocol conversion according
to a communication protocol between the xDSL modem and the PLC
modem in the subscriber location, the xDSL modem and the PLC modem
may transmit/receive a signal with an external location.
[0011] Also, in the case of an xDSL communication, a frequency band
between an uplink and a downlink is different. Therefore, the at
least one communication terminal, which is installed in the
subscriber location, may not communicate with each other. So that a
communication terminal installed in a first subscriber location may
communicate with another communication terminal installed in a
second subscriber location, a protocol conversion has to be
performed via a PLC modem installed in each subscriber location.
Also, the communication terminal of the first subscriber location
may communicate with the other communication terminal of the second
subscriber location only via a DSLAM.
[0012] As an example, in the conventional art, when an xDSL modem
is installed in a subscriber location, although a communication
between subscribers is performed in the same apartment area, a data
signal has to pass through a DSLAM of a telephone office to perform
the communication. Also, in a line configuration according to the
convention art, a plurality of subscriber locations may not perform
a one-to-N communication and may perform only a one-to-one
communication.
[0013] Accordingly, a development of a PLC system which can
outperform the conventional art, utilize an existing telephone line
and a power line as is, and can apply a PLC frame in each
subscriber location without performing a PLC protocol conversion,
and enables a one-to-N communication between a plurality of
subscriber locations when communication terminals of subscriber
locations are connected to each other, is required.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Goals
[0014] The present invention provides a power line communication
(PLC) Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) which
enables a PLC frame signal to be utilized as is in each subscriber
location without performing a PLC protocol conversion with respect
to a data signal in the each subscriber location via an xDSL modem
and a PLC modem by receiving the data signal from a predetermined
Internet Protocol (IP) network, converting the data signal into the
PLC frame signal, and transmitting the converted PLC frame signal
to at least one subscriber location via a telephone line.
[0015] The present invention also provides a PLC coupling device
which can embody a PLC using an existing telephone line and a power
line without a protocol conversion of a data signal and additional
power supply, by coupling a PLC frame signal, which is transmitted
via a telephone line of a subscriber location, with the power line,
and then transmitting the PLC frame signal to at least one
communication terminal installed in the subscriber location.
[0016] The present invention also provides a PLC system where a PLC
DSLAM, which is generally installed in a telephone office, converts
a data signal into a PLC frame signal and transmits the converted
PLC frame signal to each subscriber location, and thus, when
performing a communication between a plurality of closely-located
subscriber locations, such as subscribers in the same apartment
area, and the like, a protocol conversion of a PLC frame signal via
a PLC modem and a PLC DSLAM are not required, and the plurality of
subscriber locations can directly transmit/receive the PLC frame
signal.
[0017] The present invention also provides a PLC system where
telephone lines installed in a section between a PLC device and a
PLC DSLAM with respect to a plurality of closely-located subscriber
locations, such as subscribers in the same apartment area, and the
like, are coupled to be parallel with each other and thus a
one-to-N communication is enabled between closely-located
subscribers without a PLC protocol conversion.
Technical Solutions
[0018] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a power line communication (PLC) Digital Subscriber Line
Access Multiplexer (DSLAM), including: a first communication port
unit connecting with a predetermined Internet Protocol (IP) network
and receiving a data signal via the IP network; a second
communication port unit connecting with a predetermined telephone
line, the telephone line being coupled with each of at least one
telephone line that connects an exchange and at least one
subscriber location; a PLC converter converting the data signal
into a PLC frame signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC
protocol; and a transmission control unit controlling the PLC frame
signal to be transmitted to a predetermined coupling device, which
is installed in each of the at least one subscriber location, via
the telephone line that connects with the second communication port
unit, wherein the coupling device connects with each of the
telephone line and a predetermined power line, couples the PLC
frame signal, which is received via the telephone line, with the
power link, and transmits the PLC frame signal to at least one
communication terminal that is installed in the subscriber
location.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a PLC coupling device installed in a subscriber
location, including: a telephone line port unit connecting with a
predetermined telephone line and receiving a PLC frame signal from
a predetermined PLC DSLAM connected via the telephone line; a power
line port unit connecting with at least one communication terminal,
which is installed in the subscriber location, via a power line;
and a coupling control unit coupling the PLC frame signal with the
power line and transmitting the PLC frame signal to the at least
one communication terminal, wherein the PLC DSLAM converts a data
signal, which is received from a predetermined IP network, into a
PLC frame signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC protocol, and
transmits the PLC frame signal to the telephone line port unit via
the telephone line.
[0020] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a PLC system including: a PLC DSLAM converting a
data signal, which is received from a predetermined IP network,
into a PLC frame signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC
protocol, and transmitting the PLC frame signal to at least one
subscriber location that is connected via a predetermined telephone
line, the telephone line being coupled with each of at least one
telephone line that connects an exchange and at least one
subscriber location; and a PLC coupling device connecting with each
of the telephone line and a predetermined power line, coupling the
PLC frame signal, which is received via the telephone line, with
the power line, and transmitting the PLC frame signal to at least
one communication terminal that is installed in the subscriber
location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a
network including a subscriber network using a telephone network
and a home PLC system according to a conventional art;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network of a PLC
system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
PLC DSLAM according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
PLC DSLAM according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
PLC coupling device according to an embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0026] FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a circuit of a PLC
coupling device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in
order to explain the present invention by referring to the
figures.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a network of a power
line communication (PLC) system according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0029] The PLC system according to the present embodiment includes
a PLC Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) 211, a
private branch exchange (PBX) 212, a telephone line 213, and a
coupler 214, which are installed in a telephone office 210, and a
PLC coupling device 222, a power line 223, and a PLC modem 224,
which are installed in a subscriber location 220.
[0030] The PLC DSLAM 211 may be installed in a telephone office. In
this instance, the telephone office includes a private telephone
office, such as an external communication room, a Main Distribution
Frame (MDF), and the like, in which the PBX 212 is installed for a
large number of subscribers in a company, an apartment area, and
the like. In FIG. 2, the private telephone office installed with
the PBX 212 is utilized.
[0031] The PLC DSLAM 211 connects with a predetermined Internet
Protocol (IP) network. The PLC DSLAM 211 receives a data signal via
the IP network, and converts the data signal into a PLC frame
signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC protocol, which will be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
PLC DSLAM 300 according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0033] The PLC DSLAM 300 according to the present embodiment
includes a first communication port unit 310, a medium converter
320, a switch 330, a PLC converter 340, a transmission control unit
343, and a second communication port unit 350. The PLC converter
340 includes a Media Access Control (MAC) converter 341 and a
physical layer converter 342.
[0034] The first communication port unit 310 connects with a
predetermined IP network. Also, the first communication port unit
310 receives a data signal from a predetermined server or a
terminal via the IP network. As an example, the first communication
port unit 310 may receive moving picture data from a predetermined
video on demand (VOD) server via the IP network. Also, the first
communication port unit 310 may receive a Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) call from a VoIP system via the IP network. Also,
the first communication port unit 310 may receive various data
signals from various types of servers or terminals that connect
with the Internet. In this instance, the first communication port
unit 310 may include various types of ports corresponding to a
standard of each of various types of communication lines to connect
with the various types of communication lines corresponding to an
IP network standard.
[0035] When the IP network is constructed as a Metropolitan Area
network (MAN), the medium converter 320 performs a medium
conversion between an Ethernet signal and any type of Digital
Subscriber Line (xDSL) signal using an existing copper line. The
MAN connects a local area network (LAN) of a company, an
organization, an individual user, and the like, with a public
network of a local communication provider via an optical cable,
constructs a single communication network based on a metropolitan
area, and transmits data using Ethernet. In this case, the medium
converter 320 may convert a signal according to a different
communication protocol.
[0036] The switch 330 multiplexes/demultiplexes the data signal,
which is received from the IP network via the first communication
port unit 310, and switches the data signal. Specifically, the
switch 330 may perform any function of a DSLAM in a general PLC
system.
[0037] The PLC converter 340 converts the data signal, which is
received from the IP network via the first communication port unit
310, into a PLC frame signal corresponding to a predetermined PLC
protocol. In this instance, the PLC converter 340 may include the
MAC address converter 341 and the physical layer converter 342.
[0038] The MAC address converter 341 converts a MAC address of the
data signal into a MAC address corresponding to the PLC protocol.
In this instance, the PLC protocol may include any type of protocol
utilized as a PLC protocol in the related arts. Therefore, the MAC
address converter 341 may convert the data signal into a data
signal which includes various types of MAC addresses corresponding
to each PLC protocol.
[0039] The physical layer converter 342 modulates the data signal
into a PLC frame signal. In this instance, the data signal includes
the converted MAC address, and the PLC frame signal includes a
physical layer corresponding to the PLC protocol. Specifically, the
physical layer converter 342 may couple, and modulate or demodulate
a channel of the data signal, which includes the converted MAC
address, according to the PLC protocol. As described above, the
physical layer converter 342 may convert the data signal into the
PLC frame signal corresponding to the PLC protocol by performing
channel coupling, and modulation or demodulation.
[0040] The transmission control unit 343 transmits the PLC frame
signal to a predetermined coupling device, which is installed in
each of the at least one subscriber location, via the telephone
line that connects with the second communication port unit 350. In
this instance, the transmission control unit 343 may couple the PLC
frame signal, as an analog signal, with the telephone line, and
transmit the coupled PLC frame signal. In this case, the
transmission control unit 343 may include a predetermined
coupler.
[0041] As described above, the second communication port unit 350
connects with a predetermined telephone line. The second
communication port unit 350 may include at least one telephone line
port to connect with at least one telephone line. Specifically, a
plurality of PLC converters 340 may be provided in the PLC DLSAM
300. In this case, PLC frame signals transmitted from each of the
plurality of PLC converters 340 may be transmitted to each
subscriber location via each of the at least one telephone line
port which is included in the second communication port unit 350.
Also, a plurality of transmission control units 343 may be provided
corresponding to the plurality of PLC converters 340 and a number
of telephone line ports.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
PLC DSLAM 400 according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0043] The PLC DSLAM 400 according to the present embodiment may
include a first communication port unit 410, an Ethernet switch
420, a PLC converter 430, a transmission control unit 435, and a
second communication port unit 440.
[0044] The first communication port unit 410, the transmission
control unit 435, and the second communication port unit 440 may be
configured to be the same as each component of the PLC DSLAM 300
described above.
[0045] The Ethernet switch 420 multiplexes/demultiplexes a data
signal, which is received from an IP network via the first
communication port unit 410, and switches the data signal.
Specifically, the Ethernet switch 420 may perform any function of a
DSLAM in a general PLC system.
[0046] The PLC converter 430 may include an RJ-45 connector 431, an
Ethernet physical layer converter ETH PHY 432, a MAC address
converter 433, and a physical layer converter 434. The RJ-45
connector 431 connects with the Ethernet switch 420 via an
Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable. Also, the RJ-45 connector 431
may be constructed as a jack including a receptacle and a plug. The
Ethernet physical layer converter 432 may perform a physical layer
conversion for a general Ethernet communication. A configuration
and operation of the MAC address converter 433 and the physical
layer converter 434 may be the same as the configuration and
operation described above with FIG. 3.
[0047] As described above, each of the PLC DSLAMs 300 and 400 may
include various types of configuration components according to a
construction method of the IP network.
[0048] Also, a telephone line connecting with each of the PLC
DSLAMs 300 and 400 may be coupled with at least one other telephone
line that connects a PBX with at least one subscriber location.
Descriptions related thereto will be made in detail with reference
again to FIG. 2.
[0049] Referring again to FIG. 2, the telephone line 213 connecting
with the PLC DSLAM 211 may be coupled with another telephone line
connecting with the PBX 212 via the coupler 214. In this instance,
the coupler 214 couples a voice signal with a PLC frame signal, and
transmits the coupled voice signal and the PLC frame signal to a
PLC coupling device 222. In this instance, the voice signal is
transmitted from the PBX 212, and the PLC frame signal is
transmitted from the PLC DSLAM 211.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, a single telephone line connecting with
the PLC DSLAM 211 may connect with each of a plurality of telephone
lines, which connects with the PBX 212, in parallel. Specifically,
the plurality of telephone lines connects with a plurality of
subscriber locations within a predetermined section from the PBX
212, and a plurality of the couplers 214 connects with the
plurality of telephone lines respectively. In this instance, the
single telephone line connecting with the PLC DSLAM 211 may connect
with each of the plurality of the couplers 214. The coupling of
telephone lines may be applied to a plurality of closely-located
subscriber locations, such as subscribers in the same apartment
area. In this case, a one-to-N communication of directly
transmitting a PLC frame signal between the plurality of subscriber
locations via the coupled telephone lines may be embodied.
[0051] Each configuration component and operation of the telephone
office 210 in the PLC system according to the present invention has
been described above. Hereinafter, each configuration and operation
of the subscriber location 220 will be described.
[0052] The coupled voice signal and PLC frame signal, coupled by
the coupler 214, of the telephone office 210 are transmitted to
another coupler 221 of the subscriber location 220. The coupler 221
extracts the voice signal from the coupled voice signal and PLC
frame signal, and transmits the extracted voice signal to a
telephone. Also, the coupler 221 extracts the PLC frame signal from
the coupled voice signal and PLC frame signal, and transmits the
extracted PLC frame signal to the PLC coupling device 222. In this
instance, a section between the coupler 221 and the PLC coupling
device 222 may be connected to each other via the telephone
line.
[0053] The PLC coupling device 222 receives the PLC frame signal
from the coupler 221 via the telephone line. The PLC coupling
device 222 couples the received PLC frame signal with the power
line 223, and transmits the coupled PLC frame signal to each PLC
modem 224. Descriptions related thereto will be made with reference
to FIG. 5.
[0054] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a
PLC coupling device 500 according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0055] The PLC coupling device 500 may include a telephone line
port unit 501, a coupling control unit 502, and a power line port
unit 503.
[0056] The telephone line port unit 501 connects with the coupler
221 via a telephone line 510. The telephone line port unit 501
receives a PLC frame signal from the coupler 221 via the telephone
line 510.
[0057] The power line port unit 503 connects with each PLC modem
224 of at least one communication terminal, which is installed in
the subscriber location 220, via a power line 520.
[0058] The coupling control unit 502 couples the PLC frame signal,
which is received via the telephone line port unit 501, with the
power line 520, and transmits the coupled PLC frame signal to each
of the PLC modems 224 of the at least one communication terminal.
The coupling control unit 502 may include any type of a power line
coupling control operation of a data signal, which is performed in
a general PLC modem. Also, the coupling control unit 502 may
perform impendence matching with respect to the PLC frame signal,
in correspondence to a frequency band of the power line 520.
[0059] Specifically, the PLC coupling device 500 receives a PLC
frame signal via the telephone line 510, couples the PLC frame
signal with a power signal of the power line 510, and transmits the
coupled PLC frame signal to each PLC modem. Therefore, as shown in
FIG. 6, the PLC coupling device 500 may be embodied as a simple
circuit including a predetermined impendence matching circuit, a
coil, and a condenser.
[0060] Referring again to FIG. 2, the PLC frame signal coupled with
the power line 223 by the PLC coupling device 222 is transmitted to
each PLC modem 224 which connects with at least one communication
terminal installed in the subscriber location 220. In this
instance, the PLC modem 224 extracts the PLC frame signal from the
coupled PLC frame signal and power signal, converts the extracted
PLC frame signal according to a predetermined protocol, and
transmits the converted PLC frame signal to each communication
terminal. The PLC modem 224 may be utilized in a general PLC
system. Also, the communication terminal may include a home
automation device, a PC, a TV, a security system, and the like.
[0061] As described above, according to the present invention, an
xDSL modem is not required for a subscriber location. Also, a PLC
modem for converting the data signal into a PLC frame signal is not
required for the subscriber location. Therefore, a PLC system of
the subscriber location may be even more simply constructed.
[0062] Specifically, in a PLC system according to the present
invention, a PLC DSLAM converts a data signal, from a telephone
office section, into a PLC frame signal which is suitable for a PLC
and transmits the PLC frame signal to a subscriber location.
Therefore, the subscriber location is not required to convert the
data signal according to a PLC protocol. The subscriber location
may utilize a PLC service by only installing a PLC modem in a
communication terminal.
[0063] Also, in the PLC system according to the present invention,
a telephone line connecting with a PLC DSLAM may be coupled with
another telephone line connecting a PBX by installing at least one
coupler corresponding to a number of a plurality of subscribers in
a company, an apartment area, and the like, in a telephone line of
a telephone line section.
[0064] In this case, the plurality of subscribers in the company,
the apartment area, and the like, may perform a multilateral PLC
communication by constructing a one-to-N communication network.
Specifically, the plurality of subscribers may construct a
multilateral communication network where the plurality of
subscribers may directly transmit/receive PLC frame signals. In
this instance, only PLC frame signals are transmitted/received in
the constructed communication network. Therefore, a more stable
communication service not requiring a protocol conversion may be
embodied.
[0065] Also, when constructing a PLC system according to the
present invention, communication terminals of subscribers may be
connected to each other. Also, the PLC system may be constructed to
readily interoperate with a previously installed PLC network
without additional equipment.
[0066] According to the present invention, there is provided a PLC
DSLAM which enables a PLC frame signal to be utilized as is in each
subscriber location without performing a PLC protocol conversion
with respect to a data signal in the each subscriber location via
an xDSL modem and a PLC modem by receiving the data signal from a
predetermined Internet Protocol (IP) network, converting the data
signal into the PLC frame signal, and transmitting the converted
PLC frame signal to at least one subscriber location via a
telephone line.
[0067] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided
a PLC coupling device which can embody a PLC using an existing
telephone line and a power line without a protocol conversion of a
data signal and additional power supply, by coupling a PLC frame
signal, which is transmitted via a telephone line of a subscriber
location, with the power line, and then transmitting the PLC frame
signal to at least one communication terminal installed in the
subscriber location.
[0068] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided
a PLC system where a PLC DSLAM, which is generally installed in a
telephone office, converts a data signal into a PLC frame signal
and transmits the converted PLC frame signal to each subscriber
location, and thus, when performing a communication between a
plurality of closely-located subscriber locations, such as
subscribers in the same apartment area, and the like, a protocol
conversion of a PLC frame signal via a PLC modem and a PLC DSLAM
are not required, and the plurality of subscriber locations can
directly transmit/receive the PLC frame signal.
[0069] Also, according to the present invention, there is provided
a PLC system where telephone lines installed in a section between a
PLC device and a PLC DSLAM with respect to a plurality of
closely-located subscriber locations, such as subscribers in the
same apartment area, and the like, are coupled to be parallel with
each other and thus a one-to-N communication is enabled between
closely-located subscribers without a PLC protocol conversion.
[0070] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to
the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their
equivalents.
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