Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A local area network within a building for transporting data among a plurality of data units, the local area network comprising at least one wired segment and at least one non-wired segment, wherein said at least one wired segment includes: (a) at least one electrically-conducting line within the building, said electrically-conducting line having at least two conductors and operative to transport data communication signals; (b) at least two outlets, each installed in a wall of the building and each operative for coupling to said electrically-conducting line; and (c) at least one wired modem coupled to said electrically-conducting line and operative to communicate over said electrically-conducting line; and wherein said at least one non-wired segment is operative to communicating data without electrically-conducting media and includes at least one non-wired modem, wherein at least one of said outlets couples said at least one wired segment to said at least one non-wired segment, and wherein said at least one electrically-conducting line is furthermore operative for concurrently distributing a service other than the transport of data communication signals, and further wherein said non-wired segment is furthermore operative to communicate data by sound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A local area network within a building for transporting data among a plurality of data units, the local area network comprising at least one wired segment and at least one non-wired segment, wherein said at least one wired segment includes: (a) at least one electrically-conducting line within the building, said electrically-conducting line having at least two conductors and operative to transport data communication signals; (b) at least two outlets, each installed in a wall of the building and each operative for coupling to said electrically-conducting line; and (c) at least one wired modem coupled to said electrically-conducting line and operative to communicate over said electrically-conducting line; and wherein said at least one non-wired segment is operative to communicating data without electrically-conducting media and includes at least one non-wired modem, wherein at least one of said outlets couples said at least one wired segment to said at least one non-wired segment, and wherein said at least one electrically-conducting line is furthermore operative for concurrently distributing a service other than the transport of data communication signals, and further wherein said non-wired segment is furthermore operative to communicate data by sound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The local area network as in claim 1 wherein said service is one of a telephone service, an electrical power service, and a cable television service.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting lines is a telephone line and wherein at least one of said outlets is a telephone outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The local area network as in claim 3 , wherein said telephone line is furthermore operative to provide telephony service concurrently with data communications.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting lines is a power line and wherein at least one of said outlets is a power outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The local area network as in claim 5 , wherein said power line is furthermore operative to carry electrical power concurrently with data communications.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said electrically-conducting lines is a cable television line, and wherein at least one of said outlets is a cable television outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The local area network as in claim 7 , wherein said cable television line is furthermore operative to carry television signals concurrently with data communications.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein said non-wired segment is furthermore operative to communicate data by light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The local area network as in claim 9 , wherein said light is infrared.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein said non-wired segment is furthermore operative to communicate data by electromagnetic transmission.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The local area network as in claim 11 , wherein said electromagnetic transmission is radio-frequency transmission.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein said sound is audible sound.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The local area network as in claim 1 , wherein said sound is inaudible sound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
142 words
An adapter module for use in upgrading existing wiring of a building so as to support a local area network having at least one wired segment coupled to an outlet and at least one non-wired segment, the adapter module comprising: means for detachably electrically and mechanically coupling said module to the outlet, at least one non-wired modem operative for transporting data communication signals to and from said wired segment, when said module is coupled to the outlet, over said at least one non-wired segment, and at least one wired modem for transporting data communication signals over the at least one wired segment to enable the at least one wired segment to concurrently distribute data communication signals and a service other than data communication signals, and the service is one of a telephone service, an electrical power service, and a cable television service.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
142 words
An adapter module for use in upgrading existing wiring of a building so as to support a local area network having at least one wired segment coupled to an outlet and at least one non-wired segment, the adapter module comprising: means for detachably electrically and mechanically coupling said module to the outlet, at least one non-wired modem operative for transporting data communication signals to and from said wired segment, when said module is coupled to the outlet, over said at least one non-wired segment, and at least one wired modem for transporting data communication signals over the at least one wired segment to enable the at least one wired segment to concurrently distribute data communication signals and a service other than data communication signals, and the service is one of a telephone service, an electrical power service, and a cable television service.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The adapter module as in claim 15 , wherein the wired segment includes a telephone line and wherein the outlet is a telephone outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The adapter module as in claim 16 , wherein said telephone line is furthermore operative to provide telephony service concurrently with data communications.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The adapter module as in claim 15 , wherein the wired segment includes a power line and wherein the outlet is a power outlet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The adapter module as in claim 18 , wherein said power line is furthermore operative to carry electrical power concurrently with data communications.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adapter module as in claim 15 , wherein the wired segment includes a cable television line, and wherein the outlet is a cable television outlet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The adapter module as in claim 20 , wherein said cable television line is furthermore operative to carry television signals concurrently with data communications.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The adapter module as in claim 15 , wherein said non-wired segment is operative to communicate data by light.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adapter module as in claim 22 , wherein said light is infrared.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The adapter module as in claim 15 , wherein said non-wired segment is operative to communicate data by electromagnetic transmission.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The adapter module as in claim 24 , wherein said electromagnetic transmission is radio-frequency transmission.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
96 words
An adapter module for use in upgrading existing wiring of a building so as to support a local area network having at least one wired segment coupled to an outlet and at least one non-wired segment, the adapter module comprising: means for detachably electrically and mechanically coupling said module to the outlet, and at least one non-wired modem operative for transporting data communication signals to and from said wired segment, when said module is coupled to the outlet, over said at least one non-wired segment, wherein said non-wired segment is operative to communicate data by sound.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
An adapter module for use in upgrading existing wiring of a building so as to support a local area network having at least one wired segment coupled to an outlet and at least one non-wired segment, the adapter module comprising: means for detachably electrically and mechanically coupling said module to the outlet, and at least one non-wired modem operative for transporting data communication signals to and from said wired segment, when said module is coupled to the outlet, over said at least one non-wired segment, wherein said non-wired segment is operative to communicate data by sound.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The adapter module as in claim 26 , wherein said sound is audible sound.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The adapter module as in claim 26 , wherein said sound is inaudible sound.