WO2001028164A1 - System and method for enabling simultaneous multi-channel analog communications - Google Patents

Abstract

A system (10) for communicating with multiple devices (18) over a shared communication link (16) within a premises is disclosed. The system includes a host device (20) and a plurality of peripheral node interface circuits (22) couplable to the shared communication link (16). The host device (20) transmits and receives analog information over the shared communication link (16) using a plurality of first communication channels. Each peripheral node interface circuit (22) is associated with a particular first communication channel, and transmits analog information to the host device (20) over that first communication channel. A device may be coupled to each peripheral node interface circuit (22 for receiving analog information from the host device (20) through that peripheral node interface circuit (22), and for transmitting analog information to the host device (20) through that peripheral node interface circuit (22).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING SIMULTANEOUS MULTI-CHANNEL ANALOG COMMUNICATIONS

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

Embodiments of the present invention claim priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/159,378, filed October 14, 1999, and are related to a U.S. utility patent application entitled "System and Method for Enabling

Simultaneous Multi-Channel Digital Communications with Multiple Customer Premises Devices Over a Shared Communication Link," attorney docket No. 080632/0113, filed October 13, 2000, a U.S. provisional patent application entitled "Synthetic Delay Line for Mitigating the Effects of Quarter- Wave Shorts Caused by Branched Wiring on Communications Over a Shared Communication Link," attorney docket No. 080632/0117, filed October 13, 2000, and U.S. Utility Patent Application Serial No. 09/137,074, filed August 20, 1998, which is a continuation- in-part of U.S. Patent No. 5,737,400. The contents of each of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to a customer premises communication system and, in preferred embodiments, to such systems and processes for enabling simultaneous multi-channel analog communications with multiple customer premises devices over a shared communication link.

2. Description of Related Art

In conventional household telephone systems, a two-wire twisted pair telephone line is used to bring a single analog audio commumcation channel into the home to provide Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). Additional channels may be added by connecting additional twisted pair telephone lines into the home. Within the home, each channel may be connected to multiple telephone extensions by connecting multiple telephones to the twisted pair telephone line corresponding to that channel.

Subsequent innovations enable special telephone jacks to be coupled to household AC power wiring for providing telephone capability where no conventional telephone jacks exist. Communication between a main communication module and the special telephone jacks occurs through signaling over the AC power wiring. However, such systems do not add multiple independent telephones, but merely add extensions to an existing single telephone channel. In households where POTS satisfies the communication needs of its residents, the above-described methods of providing telephone service are usually sufficient.

At the other extreme, businesses having a need for large numbers of independent telephone lines cannot practically or efficiently run additional twisted pair telephone into their premises for each desired channel. In many organizations using more than just a few telephone lines, calls are delivered by specialized switching equipment, often located on the organization's premises. Calls are carried to the switching equipment from the telephone company via special high capacity circuits such as Tl lines. These circuits are time division multiplexed (TDM) to support 24 individual telephone signals, with each signal occupying a specific time slot in each TDM frame. The Tl line is connected to the on-premises switching equipment such as a private branch exchange (PBX), which reconstructs the individual telephone signals and makes them available to standard telephone devices.

A PBX could connect the 24 reconstructed telephone signals directly to 24 individual telephones, but this would be an inefficient use of the corresponding telephone lines because the telephone circuits are idle most of the time. To maximize the usefulness of Tl delivery, on-premises switching equipment typically connects the telephone devices to a circuit only when a call is present. To do this, the switching equipment is provided with a method for determining which telephone is to be connected to a particular call. For incoming calls, for example, a caller might be prompted to enter an extension. For outgoing calls, the caller might have to enter a selected digit (e.g., "8" or "9") to request an available circuit (i.e., a line for placing an outgoing call, referred to as an "outside line"). While such call connection activity is basic, it requires a significant amount of logic devices. Accordingly, many telephone switches are implemented using relatively large and powerful computers or processing devices.

For some organizations, customer contact via telephone is the primary business activity. For example, a customer support unit might have dozens of technicians available to answer calls, or a catalog sales company might have a hundred order entry clerks answering the telephone. In such organizations, the switching equipment makes more sophisticated routing decisions than simply ascertaining an extension, as described above. These kinds of telephone switches are called automatic call distributors or ACDs, and the organizations using them are known as call centers. The primary task of the ACD is to minimize the time between the arrival of an incoming call, and the call being answered by an agent. In addition, an ACD can route calls to different groups of agents, depending on the incoming line, the time of day, or other conditions. An ACD might also prompt the caller for information and then use this information to further refine the ACD routing decision. Moreover, in a call center environment, the number of idle lines (i.e., trunks) is intended to be minimized. Most call centers consequently have a high ratio of trunks to agents.

The systems described above represent the extremes of telephone service. Homes may be satisfactorily provided with telephone service through one or two telephone lines, while large businesses may use Tl lines and PBX equipment to meet their telephone service needs. However, these extremes may not be sufficient for modern households or small offices and home offices (SOHOs), where multiple computers, independent telephones, facsimile machines, and the like may be present within the premises. With the advent of digital subscriber line (DSL) technology, it is now possible to receive multiple channels of digital information over a single twisted pair telephone line. Thus, the ability to receive multiple independent telephone channels over a single two-wire twisted pair telephone line is now a reality.

However, conventional systems for distributing multiple independent telephone lines within the home or office require the use of dedicated telephone wiring that must be installed on the premises. For example, conventional systems employ a main commumcation module, which includes multiple RJ-11 telephone jacks. Each independent telephone line must plug directly into one of the RJ-11 telephone jacks.

More recently, attempts have been made to operate multiple independent telephones over non-dedicated standard two-wire household telephone wiring by transmitting digitized voice data in accordance with the Home Phone Network

Alliance (HomePNA) data transmission standard. The digital data is then reconverted to analog voice signals at the receive (telephone) end. Such products are analogous to recently developed voice-over Internet Protocol (voIP) telephony products that are capable of converting a telephone call to digital data using a special telephone, and transmitting the data over a standard non-dedicated lOBase-T twistedpair network connection. However, such systems consume bandwidth and thus interfere with the simultaneous communication of other digital data, such as computer-to-computer communications .

A need therefore exists for a call processing device which can simultaneously receive DSL communications, POTS, and other information, and distribute this information to and from devices within the customer premises over a single twisted pair telephone line without interference, and without interfering with HomePNA or other communications that may also be present on the single twisted pair telephone line. A need also exists for a call processing device for use at customer premises which distributes communications (e.g., telephone calls, data transfers, appliance or other device commands and status signaling) to and from different types of customer premises equipment (CPE) and controllable devices via different media such as power lines, other network wiring, or wireless systems, using various types of commumcation protocols.

Summary of the Disclosure

Therefore, it is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention to provide a system and method for simultaneously receiving DSL communications, POTS, and other information, and distributing this information to and from devices within the customer premises over a single twisted pair telephone line without interference, and without interfering with HomePNA or other communications that may also be present on the single twisted pair telephone line. It is a further advantage of embodiments of the present invention to implement the aforementioned system and method in a manner that utilizes existing twisted pair household telephone wiring and thereby minimizes the need for rewiring customer premises. It is a further advantage of embodiments of the present invention to implement the aforementioned system and method in devices that need not be placed outside, thereby reducing physical robustness and durability requirements, and need not be installed by professional installers, thereby minimizing the number of truck rolls and installation and maintenance costs. It is a further advantage of embodiments of the present invention to provide a system and method for distributing communications (e.g., telephone calls, data transfers, appliance or other device commands and status signaling) to and from different types of CPE and controllable devices via different media such as power lines, fiber optic links, coaxial cable, wireless links, and other network wiring, using various types of communication protocols.

These and other advantages are accomplished according to a system for communicating with multiple devices over a shared communication link within a premises. The system includes a host device and a plurality of peripheral node interface circuits (PNIs) couplable to the shared communication link. The host device transmits and receives analog information over the shared communication link using a plurality of first communication channels. Each PNI is associated with a particular first communication channel and receives analog information from the host device over that first communication channel, and transmits analog information to the host device over that first communication channel. A device may be coupled to each PNI for receiving analog information from the host device through that PNI, and for transmitting analog information to the host device through that PNI.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, when read with the drawings and appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a customer premises communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the frequency spectra of the communication platforms that may be present on the internal communication link according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a customer premises communication system for communicating signals over an internal communication link according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an example interface circuit and

CODECs within the host device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a spreadsheet which demonstrates that in the frequency plan according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the second harmonic of the transmit frequencies and the second harmonic of the receive frequencies do not interfere with the transmit frequencies and the receive frequencies.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example transmitter and receiver within a PNI according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the frequency spectra of the communication platforms that may be present on the internal communication link, and the suck-out that results from ties-ins having a length of about 100-200 feet, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a delay line added to the distal end of each internal communication link tie-in that is connected to a PNI according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a customer premises communication system for communicating signals over AC power wiring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments In the following description of preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a customer premises communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a telephone company central office

(telco CO) 14 is connected to a customer premises 10 via an external communication link 12. In preferred embodiments, the external communication link 12 comprises a twisted pair (TP) telephone line. However, in alternative embodiments the external communication link 12 can comprise other types of communication media (e.g., Tl line, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, satellite feeds from communications satellites, and the like), and can support protocols and services such as a digital subscriber line (i.e., xDSL), Internet Protocol (IP) transmissions, POTS, and the like.

The customer premises 10 can be, for example, a residence, home office, or business (e.g., a small business) that is provided with one or more internal communication links 16 such as a TP telephone line, an AC power line, a fiber optic link, coaxial cable, a wireless link, and the like. In accordance with the present invention, a number of devices 18 (e.g. telephones, personal computers (PCs), facsimile machines, appliances, and the like) can share one of the internal communication links 16 by coupling to the internal communication link 16 through a corresponding peripheral node interface (PNI) 22. In alternative embodiments, the

PNI 22 may be incorporated as part of the device 18. The PNIs 22 may be specifically configured to accept a particular type of device 18, or may be adaptable to accept different types of devices 18. For example, a PNI 22 configured to accept a telephone may provide AC power, battery power, ringing, voice amplification, and the like, such that the telephone will appear to be a normal POTS telephone to the user. Any telephone jack in the premises can be connected to a PNI, and one telephone can be connected to each PNI. Each telephone connected to a PNI may have its own telephone number and operate essentially as an independent phone line. It should be understood that although the descriptions given herein may primarily refer to the devices 18 as telephones and the internal communication link

16 as a TP telephone line for purposes of illustration only, it should be understood that other devices and other types of internal communication links may also be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Generally speaking, embodiments of the present invention cover the distribution of any type of digital data transmitted over the external communication link to multiple PNIs connected to a common internal communication link.

In FIG. 1, a host device 20 is coupled to the external communication link 12 and the internal communication link 16, and enables communications to be transferred between the external communication link 12 and the internal communication link 16. For example, the external communication link 12 may carry POTS and DSL transmissions for communicating regular audio telephone signals and high speed internet access, respectively. The host device 20 and the PNIs 22 operate in accordance with the present invention to allow multiple telephones, facsimile machines, modems, computers, and the like to communicate independently with respect to each other over the internal communication link 16. With the advent of ADSL and other emerging standards for DSL and IP communication, the present invention is advantageous in fulfilling the need for businesses (e.g., call centers), and homes (e.g., personal telephone use and home office use) to use the existing telephone wiring for multiple device communication. The host device 20 and the PNIs 22 of the present invention are also advantageous because they are simple, reliable, scalable, and inexpensive. Although in preferred embodiments the host device 20 resides within the premises, in alternative embodiments the host device 20 may reside outside the premises.

Within the host device 20 is an interface circuit 152. The interface circuit 152 communicates with the PNIs 22 through a bi-directional radio frequency (RF) link. In embodiments of the present invention, analog signals transmitted by the PNIs 22 and received by the interface circuit 152 are demodulated, converted to digital signals using an encoder/decoder (CODEC), converted to digital data conforming to DSL protocols, and then applied as DSL signals to the external communication link 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates the frequency spectra of communication platforms that may be present on the internal communication link 16 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. First, some existing communication standards will be described. As indicated in FIG. 2, POTS communication occurs from about 0 to 4 kHz, while ADSL communication occurs in a frequency band from about 25 kHz to 1 MHz. HomePNA II communication, which can be viewed as a half-duplex Ethernet, occurs in a frequency band from about 4.5 MHz to about 9.5 MHz. The HomePNA frequency band may be used to enable computers to communicate with each other over the twisted pair telephone lines. However, unlike full duplex communications where computers can simultaneously transmit and receive, with HomePNA a computer can transmit and receive communications, but cannot transmit and receive simultaneously.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, communication between the host device 20 and the PNIs 22 preferably occurs in a frequency range that does not interfere with the frequency spectra allocated to known communication platforms such as POTS, ADSL, and HomePNA. FIG. 2 illustrates that the ADSL frequency spectrum ends at about 1 MHz, and that the frequency spectrum for HomePNA II starts at about 4.5 MHz, leaving a frequency range from about 1 to 4 MHz in which to implement communications between the host device 20 and the PNIs 22. In preferred embodiments, 2.5 MHz was chosen as an approximate midpoint in the available frequency range, and two frequency bands on either side of that 2.5 MHz midpoint were chosen to transmit and receive signals. Thus, in preferred embodiments, a frequency band between about 1.5 to 2 MHz was chosen for transmitting signals from the PNIs 22 to the interface circuit 152. Similarly, a frequency band between about 3 to 3.5 MHz was chosen for transmitting signals from the interface circuit 152 to the PNIs 22.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention enable communications between the host device 20 and four PNIs 22, and thus there are actually four discrete channels of commumcation that occur within each of these frequency bands, corresponding to the four PNIs 22. Each frequency channel occupies a different frequency range. In other words, within the frequency range of about 1.5 to 2 MHz, there are four distinct frequency channels for PNI transmissions to the host device, and within the frequency range of about 3 to 3.5 MHz, there are four distinct frequency channels for host device transmissions to the PNIs. However, in alternative embodiments which enable simultaneous communications with a different number of PNIs, a different number of discrete channels of communication may exist within each frequency band.

As noted above, FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention, including the frequency bands chosen for communications between the host device 20 and four PNIs 22. It should be understood, however, that although in preferred embodiments communications between the host device 20 and the PNIs 22 occur between about 1 MHz to 4 MHz, in alternative embodiments the 4 MHz upper limit may be increased to overlap somewhat with HomePNA. The overlap is possible because embodiments of the present invention employ FM receivers that rely on a 20 dB capture point, and thus low energy amplitude modulated signals from HomePNA will not affect the FM receivers. In addition, in alternative embodiments the frequency bands may be changed to different frequencies. For example, although FIG. 2 illustrates that in preferred embodiments of the present invention a guard band 24 of about 1 MHz is used to separate the two frequency bands, in alternative embodiments the guard band could be changed or the frequency bands for transmitting and receiving could be changed. In further alternative embodiments, it is also possible to interleave the various transmit and receive frequencies. It should be further understood that in preferred embodiments of the present invention, a tuned LC circuit is used as part of the oscillator in the PNIs 22 and the interface circuit 152, and thus the PNIs and interface circuit must be tuned to a fixed transmit and receive frequency range. In other words, the PNIs and interface circuit are not frequency agile. However, by using a tuned LC circuit in the oscillator, the spectral purity of the oscillator and all of the harmonics are much lower in power compared to the center frequency, making for a less noisy design.

In alternative embodiments, however, an RC circuit may be employed in the oscillator to make the PNIs and the interface circuit frequency agile and therefore adjustable over the entire frequency band from about 1 to 4 MHz. The transmit and receive frequencies for the PNIs may be assigned through a control channel. For example, when a telephone connected to a PNI is on-hook and a call for that telephone is received (the telephone is ringing), the corresponding PNI would read information from the control channel and determine the transmit and receive frequency being assigned by the host device 20. However, by using an RC circuit in the oscillator, square waves are generated and the spectral purity of the oscillator and all of the harmonics are much higher in power compared to the LC circuit, making for a noisier design. FIG. 3 illustrates a customer premises communication system including a simplified block diagram of the host device 20 and a PNI 22 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As noted above, the external communication link 12 may contain voDSL, high-speed DSL Internet access, POTS, and other DSL- based communications.

In one example application of preferred embodiments of the present invention, within the telco CO 14 up to four channels of analog audio information 164 representing four telephone conversations may be received by a voDSL provider 166 and converted to DSL digital voice data 168. The DSL digital voice data 168 is then communicated over the external communication link 12 and is received by the host device 20. The DSL digital voice data 168 (a form of ATM protocol data) is converted by a DSL modem 258 to digital ATM data. Processor 150 takes the digital ATM data and separates it into AAL5 protocol data (Internet/network data) and up to four channels of AAL2 protocol data (voice). The voice data is then converted by a CODEC 162 (one CODEC for each channel) into up to four separate analog audio transmit signals 170. Each analog audio transmit signal 170 is then modulated by an FM transmitter 154 in the interface circuit 152 to generate a host transmit signal 216. Each host transmit signal 216 is then broadcast to the PNIs 22 over the internal communication link 16 at a transmit frequency corresponding to a particular channel. The communication of multiple telephone conversations over a single communication link is known as derived voice or distributed voice.

The host transmit signals 216 are then received by each PNI through a transfer relay 228 (explained in further detail below) and delay line 234 (explained in further detail below). The host transmit signals are then filtered by a diplexer 252 and demodulated by an FM receiver 160 tuned to a particular receive frequency unique to that PNI 22. The demodulated host transmit signal is then passed through a station line interface circuit (SLIC) 230 (explained in further detail below) and the transfer relay 228, and finally sent to the telephone (device 18) connected to the targeted PNI 22. Note that only the PNI 22 having a receiver tuned to the proper channel will actually recover the analog audio information.

Continuing the present example, an overview of the return communication path from each telephone to the telco CO 14 will now be described. Again referring to FIG. 3, for each of up to four telephones, an analog audio signal 254 is received by a corresponding PNI 22, and passed through the transfer relay 228 and SLIC 230. The analog audio signal then modulates an FM transmitter 158 to generate a PNI transmit signal 298. The PNI transmit signal 298 is filtered by diplexer 252, passed through delay line 234 and transfer relay 228, and broadcast to the host device 20 over the internal communication link 16. The PNI transmit signals 298 for each of the PNIs 22 are then received in the host device 20 by four FM receivers 156, each FM receiver tuned to a particular receive frequency, demodulated into up to four separate analog audio signals 172, and converted by the CODEC 162 into AAL2 protocol data. The AAL2 protocol data is then converted by processor 150 into digital ATM protocol data, converted by the DSL modem 258 into up to four voDSL signals 174, and communicated over the external communication link 12. The voDSL signals 174 are then received by the voDSL provider 166, where they are converted back to analog audio information.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an example interface circuit 152 and CODEC 162 within the host device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A description of the receive path will now be provided. A PNI transmit signal 298, which may include communications from multiple PNIs, is received by the host device 20 over the internal communication link 16. In preferred embodiments, up to four communication channels may be received from four PNIs, with carrier frequencies of 1.5925 MHz, 1.6835 MHz, 1.7745 MHz, and 1.8655

MHz, providing a channel separation of 91 kHz from the carrier frequencies of adjacent channels. It should be understood, however, that in alternative embodiments the carrier frequencies and channel separation may be different.

The PNI transmit signal 298 is first filtered by a diplexer 180 which splits out the receive band frequencies to produce an RF receive signal 182. The RF receive signal 182 is amplified by an RF receive low noise amplifier (LNA) 184, then filtered by an RF receive image reject filter 186 to filter out image noise generated by the RF receive low noise amplifier (LNA) 184. The filtered RF receive signal is then amplified by a buffer 188 to produce a buffered RF receive signal 196, and the buffered RF receive signal 196 is then communicated to four narrowband FM receivers 190, one narrowband FM receiver 190 for each communication channel.

Each narrowband FM receiver 190 receives a local oscillator (LO) frequency 192 from a local oscillator 194 (one for each channel). In preferred embodiments of the present invention, each local oscillator 194 is a phase-locked-loop (PLL) voltage- controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates mixing frequencies 455 kHz greater than the center frequencies of the receive channels and thus, in the example of FIG. 4, four local oscillators 194 will generate LO frequencies of 2.0475 MHz, 2.1385 MHz, 2.2295 MHz, and 2.3205 MHz (see reference character 192). In preferred embodiments, each local oscillator is configured to produce a single fixed frequency. In alternative embodiments, a processor may configure each local oscillator 194 to produce one of the above-identified frequencies. The local oscillator is phase-locked to a reference source 222 which, in preferred embodiments, generates a 11.648 MHz signal. It should be understood, however, that in alternative embodiments the reference source and mixing frequencies may be different to correspond with different channel frequencies.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, each narrowband FM receiver 190 demodulates the buffered RF receive signal 196 by subtracting the buffered RF receive signal 196 from the LO frequency 192 and filtering the result through a 455 kHz filter 198 with a passband of about 10 kHz. In preferred embodiments the filter 198 is an off-the-shelf ceramic filter, but in alternative embodiments, other types of filters may be used. It should also be noted that although in preferred embodiments the filter 198 has a center frequency of 455 kHz in accordance with the preferred frequency plan established by the channel frequencies and mixing frequencies assigned as illustrated in FIG. 4, if alternative frequency plans are employed, the center frequency of the filter 198 may change. In addition, in alternative embodiments the passband of the filter 198 may also vary from 10 kHz. The output of each narrowband FM receiver 190 is then amplified and low- pass filtered by element 202 to remove spurious frequencies generated by the narrowband FM receiver 190, producing an analog audio signal 172. The analog audio signal 172 is communicated to a CODEC 162, which converts the result to digital data. Again referring to FIG. 4, a description of the transmit path will now be provided. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, there are four FM transmitters 154 in each interface circuit 152, one FM transmitter for each channel. Within each FM transmitter 154 is a PLL VCO 210, configured to produce a unique host transmit frequency. In addition, up to four channels of digital data are converted by the CODEC 162 into four analog audio transmit signals 170. Each analog audio transmit signal 170 is then low-pass filtered by a filter 206 and amplified by a variable gain amplifier 208. Each amplified analog audio transmit signal is then used to control a PLL VCO 210. The amplified analog audio transmit signal causes dividers in the feedback path of the PLL VCO 210 to change, which modulates the host transmit frequency of the PLL VCO 210. In preferred embodiments, the host transmit frequencies are 3.1395 MHz, 3.2305 MHz, 3.3215 MHz, and 3.4125 MHz, providing a channel separation of 91 kHz from the center frequencies of adjacent channels. Each PLL VCO 210 is phase-locked to a reference source 222 which, in preferred embodiments, generates an 11.648 MHz signal. It should be understood, however, that in alternative embodiments the reference source and host transmit frequencies may be different to correspond with different channel frequencies. Each modulated host transmit frequency is then amplified by a narrowband variable gain amplifier 212, and summed together by a broadband suπ-ming amplifier 214 to produce a composite FM transmit signal 200. The FM transmit signal 200 is then bandpass filtered by filter 218 and amplified by an adjustable broadband RF amplifier 220 to generate a host transmit signal 216. The host transmit signal 216 is then filtered by the diplexer 180 and transmitted to the PNIs as over the internal communication link 16.

It should be understood that the signal level, gain, and attenuation values indicated on FIG. 4 are merely exemplary, and that in alternative embodiments other values may be used. It should also be noted that the overall frequency plan of the FM transmitter 154 and FM receiver 156 of FIG. 4 according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, including the selection of a 11.648 MHz reference source 222, was designed to make use of a 455 kHz off-the-shelf bandpass filter, provide channel spacings of 91 kHz, and produce local oscillator frequencies that could be divided down and phase-locked to a single reference source. In addition, the frequency plan of FIG. 4 is designed to accommodate a four PNI communication system. However, in alternative embodiments designed to accommodate a number of PNIs other than four, the frequency plan would be different. For example, because of the bandwidth required for voice communications, ADSL can support up to 16 voDSL channels for 16 telephones. However, if more than 4 voDSL channels are in simultaneous use, ADSL Internet service will have to cut back. The tradeoff between telephone service and Internet service is one of limited bandwidth resources. Thus, if 16 telephones are in simultaneous use, there would be no ADSL Internet access capability. Nevertheless, 16 telephone capability may be a practical application for businesses that have multiple ADSL lines coming into their offices. One ADSL line may be used for Internet access and the other ADSL line may be used to provide 16 telephone voDSL capability. The 16 telephone limitation described above is for full telephone service, which communicates at a rate of 64 kilobytes per second. However, because voice data may be compressed, various compression techniques may be used wherein only 32 or 16 kilobytes are necessary to communicate voice data. Thus, alternative embodiments of the present invention may actually go beyond even 16 PNI capability. FIG. 4 (not including the specific frequency plan shown in FIG. 4) is therefore generally applicable to systems which have other than four PNI channel capability, except that there would be a different number of receivers and transmitters than indicated in FIG. 4.

It should be further understood that even with the transmitter and receiver design of FIG. 4, which only supports four simultaneous PNI communication channels, it is possible to connect more than four PNIs and four telephones to the internal communication link within the premises. However, once four channels are in use, the remaining telephones will be inoperable. For example, if four people are talking on four separate telephones, the other telephones would simply receive busy signals.

FIG. 5 illustrates a spreadsheet which demonstrates that in the frequency plan according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the second harmonic of the transmit frequencies and the second harmonic of the receive frequencies do not interfere with the transmit frequencies and the receive frequencies. A reference source frequency of 11.648 MHz and a PLL comparison frequency of 45.5 kHz was used so that the host device transmit frequencies (see reference character 286) and the second harmonics of the PNI transmit frequencies (see reference character 288) are interleaved, yet do not overlap. The PLL comparison frequency of 45.5 kHz and a channel spacing of 91 kHz was chosen so that there would be no overlap and no interference. The combination of having 91 kHz channel spacing and maintaining a single reference oscillator frequency also eliminates the interference that would occur if multiple oscillators were employed at different frequencies, all beating against each other.

The circuitry of a PNI will now be described. Referring again to FIG. 3, each PNI 22 includes a first RJ-11 connector (not shown in FIG. 3) for connecting to the internal communication link 16, and a second RJ-11 connector (not shown in FIG. 3) for connecting to a device 18 (e.g. telephone). Through these connectors, the internal communication link 16 and the telephone are connected to a transfer relay 228. Under normal conditions, the PNI 22 receives power for its electronics from the household AC power source, and power and transmit/receive signals are provided to the telephone through the PNI 22. However, during AC power outages, the PNI 22 becomes inoperable, and the transfer relay 228 automatically connects the telephone to the internal communication link 16 to draw power from the external communication link (regular telephone wiring) and provide POTS.

In addition, within the PNI 22 is a station line interface circuit (SLIC) 230 that is coupled to the analog audio signals from the FM transmitter 158 and FM receiver 160. The SLIC 230 is a standard telephone interface chip that is well- known to those skilled in the art, and converts from two-wire telephone wiring to four-wire telephone wiring, rings the telephone, determines when the telephone is on-hook or off-hook, and the like.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an example FM transmitter 158 and FM receiver 160 within a PNI 22 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The circuit of FIG. 6 is similar to the circuit of FIG. 4, except that the receive frequencies of FIG. 4 become the transmit frequencies in FIG. 6, and the transmit frequencies of FIG. 4 become the receive frequencies in FIG. 6. Each PNI is tuned to a particular transmit and receive frequency, so there is only one local oscillator 332, one FM receiver 160, one PLL VCO 334, and one FM transmitter 158 in FIG. 6.

A description of the receive path will now be provided. A host transmit signal 216 is received by a PNI 22 over the internal communication link 16. In preferred embodiments, the host transmit signal 216 may contain up to four communication channels with carrier frequencies of 3.1395 MHz, 3.185 MHz, 3.2305 MHz, and 3.276 MHz, providing a channel separation of 91 kHz from the carrier frequencies of adjacent channels. It should be understood, however, that in alternative embodiments the carrier frequencies and channel separation may be different.

The host transmit signal 216 is first filtered by a diplexer 252 which separates out the receive band frequencies to produce a PNI receive signal 330. The PNI receive signal 330 is amplified by an RF receive low noise amplifier (LNA) 336, then filtered by an RF receive image reject filter 338 to filter out image noise generated by the RF receive low noise amplifier (LNA) 336. The filtered RF receive signal is then amplified by a buffer 340 to produce a buffered RF receive signal 342, and the buffered RF receive signal 342 is then communicated to a narrowband FM receiver 344.

The narrowband FM receiver 344 receives a local oscillator (LO) frequency 346 from the local oscillator 332. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the local oscillator 332 is a phase-locked-loop (PLL) voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates LO frequencies 455 kHz greater than the center frequencies of the receive channels and thus, in the example of FIG. 6, the local oscillator 332 may generate one of the following LO frequencies: 3.5945 MHz, 3.6855 MHz, 3.7765 MHz, and 3.8675 MHz (see reference character 346). In preferred embodiments, the local oscillator is configured to produce a single fixed frequency. In alternative embodiments, a processor may configure the local oscillator 332 to produce one of the above-identified frequencies. The local oscillator is phase-locked to a reference source 348 which, in preferred embodiments, generates a 11.648 MHz signal. It should be understood, however, that in alternative embodiments the reference source and mixing frequencies may be different to correspond with different channel frequencies.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, each narrowband FM receiver 344 demodulates the buffered RF receive signal 342 by subtracting the buffered RF receive signal 342 from the LO frequency 346 and filtering the result through a 455 kHz filter 350 with a passband of about 10 kHz. In preferred embodiments the filter 350 is an off-the-shelf ceramic filter, but in alternative embodiments, other types of filters may be used. It should also be noted that although in preferred embodiments the filter 350 has a center frequency of 455 kHz in accordance with the preferred frequency plan established by the channel frequencies and mixing frequencies assigned as illustrated in FIG. 6, if alternative frequency plans are employed, the center frequency of the filter 350 may change. In addition, in alternative embodiments the passband of the filter 350 may also vary from 10 kHz.

The output of each narrowband FM receiver 344 is then amplified and low- pass filtered by element 352 to remove spurious frequencies generated by the narrowband FM receiver 344, producing an analog audio signal 354. The analog audio signal 354 is then communicated to a telephone through SLIC 230.

A description of the transmit path will now be provided. In embodiments of the present invention, there is one FM transmitter 158 in each PNI 22. Within the FM transmitter 158 is a PLL VCO 334, configured to produce a unique PNI transmit frequency. Analog audio information 356 is low-pass filtered by a filter 358 and amplified by a variable gain amplifier 360. The amplified analog audio information is then used to control the PLL VCO 334. The amplified analog audio information causes dividers in the feedback path of the PLL VCO 334 to change, which modulates the PNI transmit frequency of the PLL VCO 334. In preferred embodiments, the PNI transmit frequencies are 1.5925 MHz, 1.6835 MHz, 1.7745 MHz, and 1.8655 MHz, providing a channel separation of 91 kHz from the center frequencies of adjacent channels. Each PLL VCO 334 is phase-locked to a reference source 348 which, in preferred embodiments, generates an 11.648 MHz signal. It should be understood, however, that in alternative embodiments the reference source and PNI transmit frequencies may be different to correspond with different channel frequencies.

Each modulated PNI transmit frequency is then amplified by a narrowband variable gain amplifier 362 and a broadband amplifier 364 to produce an FM transmit signal 366. The FM transmit signal 366 is then bandpass filtered by filter 368 and amplified by an adjustable broadband RF amplifier 370 to generate a PNI transmit signal 298. The PNI transmit signal 298 is then filtered by the diplexer 252 and transmitted to the PNIs as over the internal communication link 16.

It should be understood that the signal level, gain, and attenuation values indicated on FIG. 6 are merely exemplary, and that in alternative embodiments other values may be used. It should also be noted that the overall frequency plan of the FM transmitter 158 and FM receiver 160 of FIG. 6 according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, including the selection of a 11.648 MHz reference source 348, was designed to make use of a 455 kHz off-the-shelf bandpass filter, provide channel spacings of 91 kHz, and produce local oscillator frequencies that could be divided down and phase-locked to a single reference source. In addition, the frequency plan of FIG. 6 is designed to accommodate a four PNI communication system. However, in alternative embodiments designed to accommodate a number of PNIs other than four, the frequency plan would be different.

Referring again to FIG. 3, it is readily apparent that the internal communication link 16 within a typical home or business will not be a single line, but will rather contain multiple tie-ins or branches. Furthermore, these tie-ins are not of uniform length because of the variety of placements of telephone jacks within the premises. In addition, in preferred embodiments the internal communication link

16 comprises a twisted pair which, by itself, would have an impedance of about 75 ohms. However, the branches in the internal communication link 16 create impedance mismatches, which in turn create quarter- wave signal nulls or "suck- outs" as high as -60 dB at certain frequencies. Signals being communicated over the internal communication link 16 at those frequencies may be severely attenuated. For example, if a tie-in created a suck-out at 3.1395 MHz, and a PNI receive frequency is centered at 3.1395 MHz, that channel may not be properly received by the PNI. More generally, in preferred embodiments of the present invention wherein communications between the host device 20 and the PNIs 22 occur within the 1 to 4 MHz band, any suck-outs that exist between 1 and 4 MHz may cause problems.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, suck-outs resulting from ties-ins having a length of about 100-200 feet occur at about 1.1 MHz (see dotted line and reference character 232 in FIG. 7), which is in a frequency band above the 1 MHz upper end of the ADSL band, yet below the approximately 1.5 MHz lower end of communications between the host device 20 and the PNIs 22. Thus, preferred embodiments of the present invention move these suckouts to about 1.1 MHz by adding a delay element to the distal end of each tie-in connected to a PNI. In preferred embodiments illustrated in FIG. 8, each delay line 234 is comprised of five capacitors and eight inductors. However, in alternative embodiments, other combinations of capacitors and inductors may be used, and more generally, other types of delay lines or other synthetic line-lengthening circuits capable of passing telephone currents may also be used. In addition, the delay line 234 may comprise an approximately 100-foot length of telephone wire. In preferred embodiments, the delay line 234 is placed within each PNI 22, as illustrated in FIG. 3, and acts as the equivalent of an approximate 100-foot extension to the existing telephone line physical wiring. The net effect of the additional length created by the delay line is to push all of the suck-outs down to about 1.1 MHz, and out of the frequency bands of interest. Note, however, that in alternative embodiments, the delay line 234 may be designed to push the suck-outs to other non-interfering frequencies. More generally, the delay line 234 will be designed to push the suck-outs to a non-interfering frequency, regardless of the selection of transmit and receive frequencies.

It should be understood that standard telephone service (POTS) will be unaffected by embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 3, POTS signals 262 are communicated through the telco CO 14 and are passed directly from the external communication link 12 to the internal communication link 16 without any processing by the host device 20. One or more telephones 280 connected directly to the internal communication link 16 can receive the standard telephone service.

The descriptions of embodiments of the present invention provided above focused on the communication of voice data. However, in another example application of preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, DSL Internet data 256 is communicated through the telco CO 14 and is received by the host device 20 over the external communication link 12. The DSL Internet data

256 (ATM protocol data running on DSL) is converted by the DSL modem 258 to digital ATM data. Processor 150 takes the digital ATM data and separates out AAL5 protocol data (Internet/network data) from AAL2 protocol data (voice). The Internet/network data is then sent to a HomePN A/Ethernet Interface 264, which physically connects the Internet network data to the internal communication link 16 and an Ethernet port 266. PCs connected to Ethernet port 266 through an Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN), or PCs connected to the internal communication link 16 through a Network Interface Card (NIT) (see reference character 282) may then receive the Internet/network data.

In the return path, PCs connected to Ethernet port 266 or the internal communication link 16 may send AAL2 protocol Internet/network data through the HomePNA/Ethernet Interface 264 to the processor 150, where it is converted into digital ATM protocol data, converted by the DSL modem 258 into DSL Internet data 256, and communicated over the external communication link 12. The DSL Internet data 256 is then converted to HTTP protocol data by a DSL provider 268 and communicated over the Internet. It should be understood that PCs connected to an Ethernet LAN coupled to the Ethernet port 266 may communicate with each other over the Ethernet using Ethernet protocols without using the host device 20, and PCs connected to the internal communication link 16 through a NIT may communicate with each other over the internal communication link 16 using HomePNA protocols without using the host device 20. Additionally, PCs coupled to the Ethernet LAN through the

Ethernet port 266 may communicate with PCs coupled to the internal communication link 16 through the HomePNA/Ethernet Interface 264 in the host device 20. A PC may also be connected directly to the host device 20 through RS-232 connector 260, where it may communicate with PCs coupled to the internal communication link 16 through the HomePNA/Ethernet Interface 264, or may communicate with PCs coupled to the Ethernet LAN through the Ethernet port 266.

Although the previous discussion focused on the communication and distribution of information over standard twisted pair telephone wiring (the external communication link 12 and the internal communication link 16), the host device 20 according to alternative embodiments of the present invention may receive data from sources other than telephone wiring. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates that the host device 20 may, as an alternative to, or in addition to the DSL modem 258, include a cable modem 270 or satellite modem 272 to receive data over standard cable TV wiring or over satellite audio/video broadcasts and convert the data to digital ATM protocol data, where it can be further processed by the host device 20 as described above.

Furthermore, the host device 20 may, as an alternative to telephone wiring, communicate with and control other devices and systems (e.g. telephones, computers, appliances, audio/video equipment, security systems, lighting control systems, environment control systems such as heating and air conditioning, and the like) through customer premise AC power lines, wireless communications, or the like. For example, in alternative embodiments of the present invention the FM transmitters and receivers in the host device 20 and PNIs 22 could be modified to add amplifiers and antennas which would enable voice communications using wireless techniques well-understood by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, NITs could be easily modified to add wireless FM transmitters and receivers which would enable data communications between PCs and the host device using wireless techniques well-understood by those skilled in the art.

In addition, the host device 20 may be adapted to communicate with PNIs over existing AC power wiring. At frequencies of less than 100 Hz, the impedance of AC power wiring is essentially zero. At a few hundred kHz, the impedance begins to rise rapidly because AC power wiring is single-ended. However, from around 25 kHz to about 250 kHz the impedance is essentially constant at about 10 ohms. By matching load and line impedances, signals can be communicated over the AC power wiring (on one side of an isolation transformer) within a frequency band of about 25 kHz to 250 kHz with little loss.

Therefore, in alternative embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 9, the interface circuit 152 is transformer coupled to the AC power wiring rather than the internal communication link 16. RF transmit signals are communicated over the AC power wiring between the host device and PNIs transformer coupled to the AC power wiring. The host device interface circuit 152 is similar to that shown in FIG. 4, except that the transmitter and receiver components would be selected to account for transmit and receive frequencies preferably in the range of 25 kHz to 250 kHz. In addition, the PNI circuit diagram is similar to that shown in FIG. 6, except that the transmitter and receiver components would be selected to account for transmit and receive frequencies preferably in the range of 25 kHz to 250 kHz. Because of the utility of communicating signals over AC power wiring, power line control standards such as CEBus (see, e.g., the CEBus standard EIA-600) or X-10 (see, e.g., the X-10 Technical Specification) have been developed. Thus, in preferred embodiments, the transmit and receive frequencies of the host device and PNIs would be selected to avoid the frequency bands utilized by CEBus and X-10 (e.g. approximately 38 kHz for CEBus, 120 kHz for X-10).

Control modules for transmitting CEBus or X-10 compatible control signals over a transformer-coupled AC power line have been developed and are commercially available. Corresponding interface modules that plug into the AC power line, receive control signals from the control modules, and control electronics connected to the interface modules have also been developed and are commercially available. The host device and processor of embodiments of the present invention can be readily adapted by those skilled in the art to interface with, and control, the control module of existing power line control systems.

For example, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 3, CEBus control data from a user's remote Web browser is converted to DSL Internet data 256 by a DSL provider 268, and then communicated through the telco CO 14 over the external communication link 12 to the host device 20. The DSL Internet data 256 (ATM protocol data running on DSL) is converted by the

DSL modem 258 to digital ATM data. Processor 150 takes the digital ATM data and separates out CEBus protocol data. The CEBus protocol data is then sent to a CEBus Interface 274, which converts the CEBus protocol data to CEBus control signals and transmits these control signals over the transformer-coupled AC power wiring 276. Devices 284 connected to the AC power wiring 276 through a CEBus interface module 278 may then receive and respond to the CEBus control signals. A similar communication path would be employed for X-10 devices.

In the return path, control or feedback signals from the CEBus interface modules 278 would be received by the CEBus Interface 274 and forwarded to the processor 150, which would convert the CEBus protocol data to digital ATM data.

The digital ATM protocol data would be converted by the DSL modem 258 to DSL Internet data 256 and transmitted over the external communication link 12. The DSL Internet data 256 is received by the DSL provider 268 and converted to HTTP for communication over the Internet to a user Web browser or organizational Web server (such as in an appliance company's service department).

Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for simultaneously receiving DSL communications, POTS, and other information, and distributing this information to and from devices within the customer premises over a single twisted pair telephone line without interference, and without interfering with HPNA or other protocol communications that may also be present on the single twisted pair telephone line. Embodiments of the present invention utilize existing twisted pair household telephone wiring, which minimizes the need for rewiring household telephone lines. Furthermore, the aforementioned system and method may be implemented in devices that need not be placed outside, thereby reducing physical robustness and durability requirements, and need not be installed by professional installers, thereby minimizing the number of truck rolls and installation and maintenance costs. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a system and method for distributing communications (e.g., telephone calls, data transfers, appliance or other device commands and status signaling) to and from different types of customer premises equipment (CPE) and controllable devices via different media such as power lines, fiber optic links, coaxial cable, wireless links, and other network wiring, using various types of communication protocols.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for communicating with multiple devices over an internal communication link, the system comprising: a host device couplable to the internal communication link for transmitting and receiving analog information over the internal communication link using a plurality of first communication channels; and a plurality of peripheral node interface circuits (PNIs) couplable to the internal communication link, each PNI for receiving analog information from the host device over a particular first communication channel, and for transmitting analog information to the host device over that first communication channel.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the analog information is analog voice data.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a device may be coupled to each PNI for receiving analog information from the PNI, and for transmitting analog information to the PNI.

4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein the device is a telephone.

5. A system as recited in claim 1: each first communication channel comprising a first FM communication channel having a unique host transmit frequency and host receive frequency; the host device having a plurality of host transmitter and receiver pairs, each host transmitter for modulating the host transmit frequency of a particular first FM communication channel with analog information to generate a host transmit signal, and each host receiver for demodulating a PNI transmit signal modulated by analog information at the host receive frequency of that first FM communication channel; and each PNI having a PNI receiver tuned to the host transmit frequency of a particular first FM communication channel for demodulating the host transmit signal transmitted over that first FM communication channel, and a PNI transmitter tuned to the host receive frequency of that first FM communication channel for modulating the PNI transmit signal transmitted over that first FM communication channel.

6. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the shared communication link is a twisted pair telephone line.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, the host transmit and host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring outside a frequency range occupied by POTS, ADSL, or HomePNA.

8. A system as recited in claim 6, the host transmit and host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 1 MHz to about 5 MHz.

9. A system as recited in claim 5: the host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 1.5 MHz to about 2 MHz; and the host transmit frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 3 MHz to about 3.5 MHz.

10. A system as recited in claim 5: the host device including a host reference source and a host receiver PLL VCO for each host receiver, each host receiver PLL VCO coupled and locked to the host reference source for generating a host local oscillator frequency; each host receiver coupled to one host receiver PLL VCO for demodulating the PNI transmit signal using the host local oscillator frequency; and each host transmitter including a host transmitter PLL VCO coupled and locked to the host reference source for generating the host transmit frequency, and coupled for modulating the host transmit frequency with analog information to be transmitted over the shared communication link, the modulated host transmit frequency comprising the host transmit signal.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, further including four first FM communication channels: wherein the host reference source is 11.648 MHz; and wherein the host receive frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 1.5925 MHz, 1.6835 MHz, 1.7745 MHz, and 1.8655 MHz, the host transmit frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 3.1395 MHz, 3.2305 MHz, 3.3215 MHz, and 3.4125 MHz, and the host local oscillator frequencies of the four host receiver PLL VCOs are 2.0475 MHz, 2.1385 MHz, 2.2295 MHz, and 2.3205 MHz.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, each PNI further including: a PNI reference source and a PNI receiver PLL VCO, the PNI receiver PLL VCO coupled and locked to the PNI reference source for generating a PNI local oscillator frequency; a PNI receiver coupled to the PNI receiver PLL VCO for demodulating the host transmit signal using the PNI local oscillator frequency; and a PNI transmitter PLL VCO coupled and locked to the PNI reference source for generating the host receive frequency, and coupled for modulating the host receive frequency with analog information to be transmitted over the shared communication link, the modulated host receive frequency comprising the PNI transmit signal.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, further including four first FM communication channels: wherein the host receive frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 1.5925 MHz, 1.6835 MHz, 1.7745 MHz, and 1.8655 MHz, the host transmit frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 3.1395 MHz,

3.2305 MHz, 3.3215 MHz, and 3.4125 MHz, and the PNI local oscillator frequency of the PNI receiver PLL VCO is 3.5945 MHz, 3.6855 MHz, 3.7765 MHz, or 3.8675 MHz.

14. A system as recited in claim 5, wherein the shared communication link is AC power wiring transformer-coupled to the host device.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, the host transmit and host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range outside a frequency range occupied by CEBus or X-10.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, the host transmit and host receive frequencies of the plurality of RF first communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 25 kHz to about 250 kHz.

17. A system as recited in claim 5, the host device couplable to an external communication link for transmitting and receiving digital information over the external communication link using a plurality of second communication channels.

18. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the external communication link is a twisted pair telephone line.

19. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the digital information transmitted and received over the external communication link is communicated according to DSL or voDSL protocols.

20. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the external communication link is a coaxial cable.

21. A system as recited in claim 17, wherein the external communication link is a wireless communication link.

22. A system as recited in claim 19, the host device further including: a DSL modem coupled to the external communication link for converting

DSL data received over the external communication link to ATM data, and for converting ATM data to be transmitted over the external communication link to DSL data; and a processor coupled to the DSL modem for receiving ATM data and separating out voice data from the ATM data, and for converting voice data to ATM data; wherein the processor is coupled for communicating the voice data to the plurality of host transmitter and receiver pairs for transmission over the internal communication link, and for receiving voice data from the plurality of host transmitter and receiver pairs.

23. A system as recited in claim 22, the processor for separating out

Internet/network data from the received ATM data, and for converting

Internet/network data to ATM data; wherein the processor is further coupled for communicating the

Internet/network data to PCs coupled to the internal communication link, an Ethernet LAN, or an RS-232 connector, and for receiving Internet/network data from the PCs coupled to the internal communication link, an Ethernet LAN, or an RS-232 connector.

24. A system as recited in claim 22, the processor for separating out AC power line control data from the received ATM data, and for converting AC power line control data to ATM data; wherein the processor is further transformer-coupled for communicating the AC power line control data to devices coupled to an AC power line, and for receiving AC power line control data from the devices coupled to the AC power line.

25. A method for communicating with multiple devices over an internal communication link, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting and receiving analog information over the internal communication link through a plurality of first communication channels using a host device; and receiving analog information from the host device over the plurality of first communication channels and transmitting analog information to the host device over the plurality of first communication channels using a plurality of peripheral node interface circuits (PNIs), each PNI for receiving analog information from the host device and transmitting analog information to the host device over a unique first communication channel.

26. A method as recited in claim 25, the analog information comprising analog voice data.

27. A method as recited in claim 25, further including the step of coupling a device to one or more PNIs for receiving analog information from the PNIs, and for transmitting analog information to the PNIs.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, the step of coupling a device to one or more PNIs comprising coupling a telephone to the one or more PNIs.

29. A method as recited in claim 25, further including the steps of: transmitting and receiving analog information over the internal communication link through a plurality of first FM communication channels, each first FM communication channel having a unique host transmit frequency and host receive frequency; modulating the host transmit frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels with analog information using a plurality of host transmitters to generate a plurality of host transmit signals, and demodulating a plurality of PNI transmit signals modulated by analog information at the host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels using the plurality of host receivers; and demodulating the host transmit signals transmitted over the plurality of first FM communication channels using a plurality of PNI receivers tuned to the host transmit frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels, and modulating the plurality of PNI transmit signals transmitted over the plurality of first FM communication channels using a plurality of PNI transmitters tuned to the host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, further including the step of transmitting and receiving analog information over a twisted pair telephone line.

31. A method as recited in claim 30, each first FM communication channel having a unique host transmit frequency and host receive frequency occurring outside a frequency range occupied by POTS, ADSL, or HomePNA.

32. A method as recited in claim 30, the host transmit and host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 1 MHz to about 5 MHz.

33. A method as recited in claim 30: the host receive frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 1.5 MHz to about 2 MHz; and the host transmit frequencies of the plurality of first FM communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 3 MHz to about 3.5 MHz.

34. A method as recited in claim 29, further including the steps of: locking a plurality of host receiver PLL VCOs to a host reference source for generating a plurality of host local oscillator frequencies; demodulating the plurality of PNI transmit signals using the plurality of host local oscillator frequencies; locking a plurality of host transmitter PLL VCOs to the host reference source for generating the plurality of host transmit frequencies; and modulating the plurality of host transmit frequencies with analog information to be transmitted over the shared communication link, the plurality of modulated host transmit frequencies comprising the plurality of host transmit signals.

35. A method as recited in claim 34, the plurality of first FM communication channels comprising four first FM communication channels: wherein the host reference source is 11.648 MHz; and wherein the host receive frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 1.5925 MHz, 1.6835 MHz, 1.7745 MHz, and 1.8655 MHz, the host transmit frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 3.1395 MHz,

3.2305 MHz, 3.3215 MHz, and 3.4125 MHz, and the host local oscillator frequencies of the four host receiver PLL VCOs are 2.0475 MHz, 2.1385 MHz, 2.2295 MHz, and 2.3205 MHz.

36. A method as recited in claim 34, wherein for each PNI, the method further includes the steps of: locking a PNI receiver PLL VCO to a PNI reference source for generating a PNI local oscillator frequency; demodulating a host transmit signal using the PNI local oscillator frequency; locking a PNI transmitter PLL VCO to the PNI reference source for generating a host receive frequency; and modulating the host receive frequency with analog information to be transmitted over the shared communication link, the modulated host receive frequency comprising the PNI transmit signal.

37. A method as recited in claim 36, wherein the host receive frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 1.5925 MHz, 1.6835 MHz, 1.7745 MHz, and 1.8655 MHz, the host transmit frequencies of the four first FM communication channels are 3.1395 MHz, 3.2305 MHz, 3.3215 MHz, and 3.4125 MHz, and the PNI local oscillator frequency of the PNI receiver PLL VCO is 3.5945

MHz, 3.6855 MHz, 3.7765 MHz, or 3.8675 MHz.

38. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the internal communication link is AC power wiring transformer-coupled to the host device.

39. A method as recited in claim 38, each first FM communication channel having a unique host transmit frequency and host receive frequency occurring outside a frequency range occupied by CEBus or X-10.

40. A method as recited in claim 38, the host transmit and host receive frequencies of the plurality of RF first communication channels occurring in a frequency range between about 25 kHz to about 250 kHz.

41. A method as recited in claim 29, further including the step of transmitting and receiving digital information over an external communication link through a plurality of second communication channels using the host device.

42. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the external communication link is a twisted pair telephone line.

43. A method as recited in claim 41 , wherein the digital information transmitted and received over the external communication link is communicated according to DSL or voDSL protocols.

44. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the external communication link is a coaxial cable.

45. A method as recited in claim 41, wherein the external communication link is a wireless communication link.

46. A method as recited in claim 43, further including the steps of: converting incoming DSL data received over the external communication link to incoming ATM data; separating out incoming voice data from the incoming ATM data, and communicating the incoming voice data to the plurality of host transmitters for transmission over the internal communication link; and receiving outgoing voice data to be transmitted over the external communication link from the plurality of host receivers, converting the outgoing voice data to outgoing ATM data, converting the outgoing ATM data to outgoing DSL data, and communicating the outgoing DSL data over the external communication link.

47. A method as recited in claim 46, further including the steps of: separating out incoming Internet/network data from the incoming ATM data, and communicating the incoming Internet/network data to PCs coupled to the internal communication link, an Ethernet LAN, or an RS-232 connector; and receiving outgoing Internet/network data from the PCs coupled to the internal communication link, an Ethernet LAN, or an RS-232 connector, converting the outgoing Internet/network data to outgoing ATM data, converting the outgoing ATM data to outgoing DSL data, and communicating the outgoing DSL data over the external communication link.

48. A method as recited in claim 46, further including the steps of: separating out incoming AC power line control data from the incoming ATM data, and communicating the incoming AC power line control data to devices coupled to an AC power line; and receiving outgoing AC power line control data from the devices coupled to the AC power line, converting the outgoing AC power line control data to outgoing ATM data, converting the outgoing ATM data to outgoing DSL data, and communicating the outgoing DSL data over the external communication link.