US5553135A — Point-to-multipoint communication system and meth…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 159 words

A point-to-multipoint communication system, comprising: a central data terminal equipment unit, operative for sending and receiving at least voice communication signals, said central unit including at least one communication equipment module interface; at least one set of communication equipment modules, each set including at least first and second communication equipment modules, said first communication equipment module coupled to said at least one communication equipment module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second communication equipment module coupled to said first communication equipment module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said communication equipment module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second communication equipment modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving said at least voice communication signals to and from at least one coupled terminal communication equipment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 159 words

A point-to-multipoint communication system, comprising: a central data terminal equipment unit, operative for sending and receiving at least voice communication signals, said central unit including at least one communication equipment module interface; at least one set of communication equipment modules, each set including at least first and second communication equipment modules, said first communication equipment module coupled to said at least one communication equipment module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second communication equipment module coupled to said first communication equipment module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said communication equipment module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second communication equipment modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving said at least voice communication signals to and from at least one coupled terminal communication equipment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said at least voice communication signals include voice and data communication signals.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 2 wherein said voice and data communication signals include voice, data, video and fax signals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 145 words

A point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system, comprising: a central telephony unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing ISDN based communication signals, said central telephony unit including at least one telephony module interface; at least one set of telephony modules, each set including at least first and second telephony modules, said first telephony module coupled to said at least one telephony module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second telephony module coupled to said first telephony module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said telephony module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second telephony modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a coupled terminal communication equipment.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 145 words

A point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system, comprising: a central telephony unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing ISDN based communication signals, said central telephony unit including at least one telephony module interface; at least one set of telephony modules, each set including at least first and second telephony modules, said first telephony module coupled to said at least one telephony module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second telephony module coupled to said first telephony module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said telephony module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second telephony modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a coupled terminal communication equipment.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

The communication system of claim 4, further including a plurality of telephony module interfaces, each of said plurality of telephony module interfaces coupled to a respective set of telephony modules, each of said respective sets of telephony modules having a predetermined number of telephony modules.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 154 words

The communication system of claim 5, wherein each of said predetermined number of telephony modules comprising each of said respective sets of telephony modules are coupled in succession forming a series of serially and successively coupled telephony modules, said series of serially and successively coupled telephony modules including a first telephony module in said series, a last telephony module in said series, and a plurality of said telephony modules intermediate said first and last telephony modules; said first telephony module in said series of telephony modules coupled to a respective telephony module interface by said first communication circuit segment, said plurality of telephony modules intermediate said first and last telephony module and said last telephony module serially and successively coupled to said first telephony module by means of a plurality of second communication circuit segments; and said last telephony module coupled to said telephony module interface by means of said third communication circuit segment.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

The communication system of claim 4, wherein each of said first, second and third communication circuit segments include a two wire electrical circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 94 words

The communication system of claim 4, wherein said point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system is disposed in an airplane cabin; and wherein said at least first and second telephony modules include airplane cabin seat telephony modules, each said telephony module adapted for handling communication to at least one segment of one row of airplane cabin seats; and wherein said plurality of terminal communication equipment include a plurality of airplane cabin seat communication terminals, each airplane cabin seat communication terminal disposed at one airplane cabin seat and coupled to a predetermined airplane cabin seat telephony module.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 201 words

The communication system of claim 4, wherein said communication system is selectably operative in one of a configuration mode and an operational mode; wherein in said configuration mode, said central telephony unit identifies each set of telephony modules coupled to a corresponding telephony module interface, identifies each coupled telephony module which forms each telephony module set, and identifies each terminal communication equipment coupled to each telephony module, and wherein said configuration mode determines one unique terminal communication equipment identifier for each coupled terminal communication equipment; and wherein in said operational mode, each terminal communication equipment in a respective set of telephony modules examines each and every message directed to at least said respective set of telephony modules while generally simultaneously passing said each and every message to each other terminal communication equipment in said respective set of telephony modules, said each and every message including a unique terminal communication identifier which identifies one terminal communication equipment coupled to one telephony module to which a respective message is directed, and whereby each terminal communication equipment coupled to each telephony module responds only to a message which includes a unique terminal communication equipment identifier which corresponds to its unique terminal communication equipment identifier.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The communication system of claim 4, wherein said at least one telephony module interface includes an interface generally conforming to an ISDN primary rate interface (PRI) specification.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

The communication system of claim 4, wherein each of said at least first and second telephony modules includes an internal communication link to couple said first communication circuit wire segment to said second communication wire segment, and said second communication wire segment to said third communication circuit wire segment.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 180 words

A method of providing point-to-multipoint communication over a single data link, comprising the steps of: providing a central data terminal equipment unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing communication signals, said central data terminal equipment unit including at least one communication equipment module interface; and providing at least one set of communication equipment modules coupled to said at least one communication equipment module interface of said central data terminal equipment unit, each of said at least one set of communication equipment modules including the first and second communication equipment modules, said first communication equipment module coupled to said at least one communication equipment module interface by means of a first communication circuit, second communication equipment module coupled to said first communication equipment module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said communication equipment module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment, each of said at least first and second communication equipment modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a coupled terminal communication equipment.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 180 words

A method of providing point-to-multipoint communication over a single data link, comprising the steps of: providing a central data terminal equipment unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing communication signals, said central data terminal equipment unit including at least one communication equipment module interface; and providing at least one set of communication equipment modules coupled to said at least one communication equipment module interface of said central data terminal equipment unit, each of said at least one set of communication equipment modules including the first and second communication equipment modules, said first communication equipment module coupled to said at least one communication equipment module interface by means of a first communication circuit, second communication equipment module coupled to said first communication equipment module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said communication equipment module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment, each of said at least first and second communication equipment modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a coupled terminal communication equipment.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 222 words

The method of claim 12, wherein the method of providing point-to-multipoint communication includes providing communication in one of a configuration mode and an operational mode, wherein in said configuration mode, said central data terminal equipment unit identifies each set of communication equipment module coupled to a corresponding communication equipment module interface, identifies each coupled communication equipment module which forms each communication equipment module set, and identifies each terminal communication equipment coupled to each communication equipment module, and wherein said configuration mode determines one unique terminal communication equipment identifier for each coupled terminal communication equipment; and wherein in said operational mode, each terminal communication equipment in a respective set of communication equipment modules examines each and every message directed to at least said respective set of communication equipment modules by said central data terminal equipment unit, while generally simultaneously passing said each and every message to each other terminal communication equipment in said respective set of communication equipment modules, said each and every message including a unique terminal communication identifier which identifies one terminal communication equipment coupled to one communication equipment module to which a respective message is directed, and whereby each terminal communication equipment coupled to each communication equipment module responds only to a message which includes a unique terminal communication equipment identifier which corresponds to its unique terminal communication equipment identifier.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 12, wherein said central data terminal equipment unit includes a central telephony unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing ISDN based communication signals; and wherein said at least first and second communication equipment module include at least first and second telephony modules.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 232 words

A point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system for an airplane cabin, comprising: a central telephony unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing ISDN based at least voice communication signals, said central telephony unit including at least one telephony module interface; at least one set of telephony modules, each set including at least first and second airplane cabin seat telephony modules, each of said at least first and second airplane cabin seat telephony module adapted for handling communication to at least one segment of at least one row of airplane cabin seats, said first airplane cabin seat telephony module coupled to said at least one telephony module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second airplane cabin seat telephony module coupled to said first airplane cabin seat telephony module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said telephony module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second airplane cabin seat telephony modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from at least one coupled terminal communication equipment, each terminal communication equipment including an airplane cabin seat communication terminal, each cabin seat communication terminal disposed at one airplane cabin seat and coupled to a predetermined airplane cabin seat telephony module.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 232 words

A point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system for an airplane cabin, comprising: a central telephony unit, operative for sending, receiving and processing ISDN based at least voice communication signals, said central telephony unit including at least one telephony module interface; at least one set of telephony modules, each set including at least first and second airplane cabin seat telephony modules, each of said at least first and second airplane cabin seat telephony module adapted for handling communication to at least one segment of at least one row of airplane cabin seats, said first airplane cabin seat telephony module coupled to said at least one telephony module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second airplane cabin seat telephony module coupled to said first airplane cabin seat telephony module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said telephony module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second airplane cabin seat telephony modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from at least one coupled terminal communication equipment, each terminal communication equipment including an airplane cabin seat communication terminal, each cabin seat communication terminal disposed at one airplane cabin seat and coupled to a predetermined airplane cabin seat telephony module.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 15 wherein said ISDN based at least voice communication signals include ISDN based voice, data, video and fax communication signals.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 241 words

A point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system for a mass transport vehicle, comprising: a central telephony unit, operative for sending and receiving ISDN based at least voice communication signals, said central telephony unit including at least one telephony module interface; at least one set of telephony modules, each set including at least first and second mass transport vehicle seat telephony modules, each of said at least first and second mass transport vehicle telephony modules adapted for handling communication to at least one segment of at least one row of a mass transport vehicle, said first mass transport vehicle telephony module coupled to said at least one telephony module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second mass transport vehicle telephony module coupled to said first mass transport vehicle telephony module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said telephony module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second mass transport vehicle telephony modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from at least one coupled terminal communication equipment, each of said coupled terminal communication equipment including an mass transport vehicle communication terminal, each mass transport vehicle cabin seat communication terminal disposed at one mass transport vehicle seat and coupled to a predetermined mass transport vehicle telephony module.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 241 words

A point-to-multipoint ISDN based communication system for a mass transport vehicle, comprising: a central telephony unit, operative for sending and receiving ISDN based at least voice communication signals, said central telephony unit including at least one telephony module interface; at least one set of telephony modules, each set including at least first and second mass transport vehicle seat telephony modules, each of said at least first and second mass transport vehicle telephony modules adapted for handling communication to at least one segment of at least one row of a mass transport vehicle, said first mass transport vehicle telephony module coupled to said at least one telephony module interface by means of a first communication circuit wire segment, said second mass transport vehicle telephony module coupled to said first mass transport vehicle telephony module by means of a second communication circuit segment, and coupled to said telephony module interface by means of a third communication circuit segment; and each of said at least first and second mass transport vehicle telephony modules including a plurality of terminal equipment interfaces, each of said plurality of terminal equipment interfaces adapted for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from at least one coupled terminal communication equipment, each of said coupled terminal communication equipment including an mass transport vehicle communication terminal, each mass transport vehicle cabin seat communication terminal disposed at one mass transport vehicle seat and coupled to a predetermined mass transport vehicle telephony module.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-09-03	2000-03-04	2000-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-09-03	2004-03-04	2004-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-09-03	2008-03-04	2008-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Point-to-multipoint communication system and method

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