Communications system for providing broadband communications using a medium voltage cable of a power system
First Claim
1. A communications system for providing broadband communications between a distribution center and at least one remote location, together defining a network segment, where a medium voltage (MV) cable of an electrical power distribution system serves as a communication channel (medium) for the network segment, the communication system comprising:
- a power line telecommunications (PLT) controller having;
a distribution modem (62) for receiving a first (downstream) media signal so as to generate a first (downstream) RF signal that is modulated by said first media signal and for demodulating a second (upstream) RF signal so as to extract a second (upstream) media signal, the distribution modem including means (64, 66), in cooperative engagement with the MV cable, for exciting the MV cable with the first (downstream) RF signal for receiving the second (upstream) RF signal on the MV cable, a power line telecommunications (PLT) controller module (23) operatively communicating with the distribution modem, having means for controlling the generation of the first (downstream) media signal so as to cause at least one of the at least one remote location to extract the first (downstream) media signal, the PLT controller module further having means for controlling the generation of a second (upstream) media signal at the at least one remote location; and
at least one power line telecommunications (PLT) station (30), each station having;
a second modem (32) for demodulating the first (downstream) RF signal so as to extract the first (downstream) media signal, the second modem having means (34, 36), in cooperative engagement with the MV cable for receiving the first (downstream) RF signal and for exciting said MV cable with the second (upstream) RF signal, and a PLT station module (31) operatively communicating with the second modem (32), having means for accepting the extracted first (downstream) media signal if the signal is intended for the PLT station; and
further having means for generating the second (upstream) media signal for presentation to the second modem for modulation thereof to form the second (upstream) RF signal;
whereby the PLT controller controls generation of all first (downstream) RF signals for distribution to the at least one PLT station and further controls the generation of second (upstream) RF signals to the PLT controller from the at least one PLT station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A broadband service communication system using an MV cable for conveying RF signals in a network segment, which includes a distribution center (PLT controller) and a plurality of power line telecommunication (PLT) stations. The PLT controller has a distribution modem for conveying downstream and upstream RF signals to and from the PLT stations through the MV cable via couplers. Each PLT station has a modem for conveying the downstream and upstream RF signals via couplers and for conveying media signals to one or more customer premises equipment (CPE) via, e.g. wireless links. The PLT controller controls each PLT station regarding upstream communications transfer of all downstream communications and also controls. The PLT controller can be connected via a router to a WAN to convey media signals to and from the WAN. Repeaters and interlinks are used to join multiple network segments.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A communications system for providing broadband communications between a distribution center and at least one remote location, together defining a network segment, where a medium voltage (MV) cable of an electrical power distribution system serves as a communication channel (medium) for the network segment, the communication system comprising:
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a power line telecommunications (PLT) controller having;
a distribution modem (62) for receiving a first (downstream) media signal so as to generate a first (downstream) RF signal that is modulated by said first media signal and for demodulating a second (upstream) RF signal so as to extract a second (upstream) media signal, the distribution modem including means (64, 66), in cooperative engagement with the MV cable, for exciting the MV cable with the first (downstream) RF signal for receiving the second (upstream) RF signal on the MV cable, a power line telecommunications (PLT) controller module (23) operatively communicating with the distribution modem, having means for controlling the generation of the first (downstream) media signal so as to cause at least one of the at least one remote location to extract the first (downstream) media signal, the PLT controller module further having means for controlling the generation of a second (upstream) media signal at the at least one remote location; and
at least one power line telecommunications (PLT) station (30), each station having;
a second modem (32) for demodulating the first (downstream) RF signal so as to extract the first (downstream) media signal, the second modem having means (34, 36), in cooperative engagement with the MV cable for receiving the first (downstream) RF signal and for exciting said MV cable with the second (upstream) RF signal, and a PLT station module (31) operatively communicating with the second modem (32), having means for accepting the extracted first (downstream) media signal if the signal is intended for the PLT station; and
further having means for generating the second (upstream) media signal for presentation to the second modem for modulation thereof to form the second (upstream) RF signal;
whereby the PLT controller controls generation of all first (downstream) RF signals for distribution to the at least one PLT station and further controls the generation of second (upstream) RF signals to the PLT controller from the at least one PLT station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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- 6. A communication system as claimed in clam 1, further comprising a ground station in communication with the PLT controller for receipt and transfer of first and second media signals with the PLT controller.
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33. A method of providing broadband communications between a distribution center and at least one remote location, together defining a network segment, where a medium voltage (MV) cable of an electrical power distribution system serves as a communication channel (medium) for the network segment, the communication method comprising the steps of:
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at the distribution center;
receiving a first (downstream) media signal so as to generate a first (downstream) RF signal that is modulated by said first media signal and demodulating a second (upstream) RF signal so as to extract a second (upstream) media signal, exciting said MV cable with the first (downstream) RF signal, receiving the second (upstream) RF signal on the MV cables, controlling generation of the first (downstream) media signal so as to cause at least one of the at least one remote location to extract the first (downstream) media signal, and controlling the generation of a second (upstream) media signal at the at least one remote location so as to instruct one remote location of said at least one remote location to generate the second (upstream) RF signal containing the second (upstream) media signal; and
at each remote location;
receiving the first (downstream) RF signal if it is intended for the remote location;
demodulating the first (downstream) RF signal so as to extract the first (downstream) media signal, and generating the second (upstream) media signal, and modulating an RF signal with said second media signal to form the second (upstream) RF signal, and exciting the MV cable with said second (upstream) RF signal.
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Specification