Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is for a system which uses a non-telephone wiring network, such as the existing electrical low voltage wiring of the power line distribution network to provide telephone line service to individual users. The low voltage wiring referred to herein is that used to distribute power to individual businesses and residences, e.g., 120 V single phase residential service. The telephone line service is 'on-demand' in the sense that any user can interface a telephone, or other communications device, to the electrical wiring and thereby instantly obtain telephone line service. The system of the present invention may be used to provide primary telephone service to those users who do not wish to pay the expense for dedicated line service. Alternatively, the system of the present invention may be used to provide secondary telephone service, i.e., second, third, . . . line, telephone service for those users who do not wish to pay the expense for dedicated secondary line service. The power line telephone service of the present invention utilizes digital communications over the electrical wiring. When used as primary telephone service, the telephone number associated with the line may be assigned by the telephone company, or utility company, or may be a uniquely assigned telephone number hardwired into each particular telephone to be connected to the electrical wiring. This may also be the case for secondary phone service. Alternatively, for secondary telephone service, the telephone number associated with the power line may be the same number for all telephones connected at a particular user location. The additional 'on-demand' telephone lines may be assigned an identifier, such as a suffix appended to the number associated with the particular user location, for use in routing calls to and from the particular 'on-demand' line.

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First Claim