A local area network using the telephone wiring within a residence or other
building simultaneously with telephony signals, with network outlets
having telephone and data connectors allowing connection of Data Terminal
Equipment to the network. The network outlets use high pass filters to
access the high-frequency band across the media, whereas the standard
telephone service uses low pass filters to access the low-frequency
voice/analog telephony band across the same media. The high pass filters
of the network outlets at each segment end are connected to modems or
other Data Communication Equipment, thus supporting data communication
networks of various topologies, including point-to-point topologies. The
invention also contemplates a network outlet having a data interface
connector for allowing connection of Data Terminal Equipment thereto and
having a telephone connector for connecting a standard telephone thereto.
A splitter is adapted to be connected to a telephone line for separating
data and telephone signals transported on the telephone line, whilst a
coupler is adapted to receive telephone and data signals and feeds a
composite signal at an output thereof to the telephone line.