Data communication over a power line

• US 20020154000A1
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Kline, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/310.01
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Data signals are communicated between a power line and a computer, wherein the power line provides power to the computer via a distribution transformer and the computer is in communication with a wireless communication path. A first data signal is communicated with the power line. A conversion is made between the first data signal and a second data signal capable of being communicated wirelessly. The second data signal is wirelessly communicated with the wireless communication path.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data between a power line and a computer, the power line providing power to the computer via a distribution transformer, the computer in communication with a wireless communication path, the method comprising:

communicating a first data signal with the power line;

converting between said first data signal and a second data signal, said second data signal capable of being communicated wirelessly; and

wirelessly communicating said second data signal through the wireless communication path.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communicating said first data signal comprises inductively communicating said first data signal with the power line.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said converting comprises modulating and demodulating said first data signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said modulating and demodulating comprises modulating and demodulating said first data signal with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said converting further comprises routing said second data signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said converting comprises converting said first data signal to a signal formatted in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

7. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said converting comprises converting said first data signal to a light data signal and converting said light data signal to a wireless data signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said converting comprises converting said first data signal to a signal formatted in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said converting comprises converting said first data signal to a light data signal and converting said light data signal to a wireless data signal.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said converting comprises converting said first data signal to an acoustic frequency signal.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said communicating said first data signal with the power line and converting comprise receiving said first data signal from the power line and converting said received first data signal to a data signal capable of being transmitted wirelessly to the computer.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said wirelessly communicating said second data signal comprises wirelessly transmitting said converted data signal to the computer.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wirelessly communicating said second data signal comprises wirelessly receiving said second data signal.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wirelessly communicating said second data signal comprises communicating said second data signal with a wireless transceiver.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said communicating said first data signal with the power line and converting comprise converting said wirelessly received second data signal to an analog data signal capable of being carried by the power line and communicating said analog data signal to the power line.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said coupling device comprises an inductor.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said coupling device comprises an antenna.

19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said signal converter comprises a modem.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said signal converter further comprises a data router in communication with said modem.

21. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said signal converter comprises an optoelectronic transceiver.

22. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a radio frequency transceiver.

23. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said wireless communication device comprises a microwave frequency transceiver.

24. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said wireless communication device comprises an antenna.

25. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein said wireless communication device comprises an acoustic transceiver.

26. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a weather-resistant housing containing at least a portion of said signal converter.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said converting said first data signal to a second data signal comprises demodulating said first data signal.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said demodulating said first data signal comprises demodulating said first data signal with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein said converting further comprises converting said demodulated first data signal to a signal formatted in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

31. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein said converting said third data signal to a fourth data signal comprises modulating said third data signal.

32. The method as recited in claim 31, wherein said modulating said third data signal comprises modulating said third data signal with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing.

33. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the power line has a voltage greater than one thousand volts.

35. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein said signal converter comprises a first modem and a second modem.

36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said signal converter further comprises a data router.

37. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein said coupling device comprises an inductor.

38. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein the wireless communications are formatted in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

16. A system for communicating data between a power line and a computer, the power line providing power to the computer via a distribution transformer, the computer in communication with a wireless communication path, the system comprising:

a coupling device that couples to the power line to communicate a first data signal with the power line;

a signal converter in communication with said coupling device, said signal converter converts between said first data signal and a second data signal, said second data signal capable of being communicated wirelessly; and

a wireless communication device in communication with said signal converter to wirelessly communicate said second data signal with the wireless communication path.

27. A method of using a power line to provide communications between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer in communication with the power line, the second computer in communication with a wireless communication path, the method comprising:

receiving a first data signal transmitted through the power line, said first data signal including data from the first computer;

converting said first data signal to a second data signal;

wirelessly transmitting said second data signal through the wireless communication path;

wirelessly receiving a third data signal, said third data signal being a wireless transmission and including data from the second computer;

converting said third data signal to a fourth data signal; and

transmitting said fourth data signal through the power line to the first computer.

34. A communication system for providing communications between a first computer and a second computer, the first computer in communication with a power line, the second computer in communication with a wireless communication path, the system comprising:

a coupling device that communicatively couples to the power line to communicate with the first computer through the power line, the communication through the power line being in a first data format;

a signal converter in communication with said coupling device, said signal converter to convert data in said first data format to a second data format for wireless transmission through the wireless communication path and to convert data in said second data format to said first data format for transmission through the power line by said coupling device; and

a wireless communication device in communication with said signal converter, said wireless communication device to communicate wireless communications through the wireless communication path to the second computer, the wireless communications being in said second data format.