Apparatus and methods for home networking

Abstract

A multimedia data distribution system comprises a distribution system adapted to distribute and deliver Asynchronous Transfer Mode signals to the level of an individual home network bus, a micro-PBX connected to the distribution system and to the home network bus; and a converter connected to the home network bus and having an outlet adapted for connecting to conventional single media and multimedia electronic devices, such as telephones, personal computers, fax machines, television sets, and the like. The micro-PBX is adapted to translate between the public network data protocol and a Local Area data protocol on the home network bus, and to manage the home network bus as a Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detect (CSMA/CD) type bus, and the converter is adapted to convert signals on the home network bus to a form required by one of the single media and multimedia electronic devices. In an alternative embodiment of the invention signals on the home network are provided as high-frequency, spread-spectrum signals.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A home networking system comprising: 
 conventional telephone wiring connected to telephone jacks in a customer's premises; and    a customer demarcation unit at a customer's premise, having a port connected to outside telephone wiring and a port connected to the conventional telephone wiring in the customer's premise;    wherein the customer demarcation unit is adapted to receive signals on the outside telephone wiring, and to drive the conventional telephone wiring in the customer's premises as a local-area network (LAN) using a spread-spectrum high-frequency signal, converting the signals received to the protocol required by the LAN.    
     
     
         2 . The home networking system of    claim 1    further comprising a connection unit at a connection point for a customer's device to receive signals on the LAN, wherein the connection unit comprises: 
 a sensor for sensing signal strength on the network;  
 a microprocessor;  
 a stored program executable by the microprocessor;  
 a path from the LAN to a connection to a customer's device; and  
 a delay line;  
 wherein the microprocessor, sensing a minimum signal strength threshold, is adapted to switch the delay line into the path to the customer's device, thereby improving signal strength to the customer's device.