Power line communications module and method

• US 20080012724A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Corcoran, Kevin, Bernstein, Terry, Mollenkopf, James
• Application Number:
  US11/341,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A device and method for communicating user data and utility metrology data over a power line is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a utility parameter to provide the utility data; storing the utility data in memory; transmitting the utility data over the power line; receiving first data via the power line from a first device; and transmitting the first data over the power line to a second device. In addition, the method may include receiving the first data and transmitting the first data with different encryption keys and also determining if the first data includes control data.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data over a power line, comprising:

measuring a utility parameter to provide utility data;

storing the utility data in memory;

transmitting the utility data over the power line;

receiving first data via the power line from a first device; and

transmitting the first data over the power line to a second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second data via the power line; and

not transmitting the second data over the power line.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a medium voltage (MV) access device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a user device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

decrypting the received first data with a first key;

and

encrypting the first data with a second key prior to said transmitting of the first data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data is received in a first frequency band and transmitted in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the first data is to be repeated; and

transmitting the first data over the power line only if the first user data is to be repeated.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining whether the first data includes a command if the first data is not to be repeated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving first data and said transmitting first data are performed with different encryption keys.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein further comprising determining if the first data includes control data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving and said transmitting of the first data are performed by the same modem.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving and said transmitting of the first data are performed by different modems.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command to disable repeating.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a command that includes a request to transmit the utility data.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second data via the power line from the second device; and

transmitting the second data over the power line to the first device.

16. A device for communicating user data and utility over a power line;

comprising;

a memory configured to store utility data;

a processor in communication with said memory;

a communication module in communication with said processor and configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line;

wherein said processor is configured to cause said module to transmit utility data over the power line; and

wherein said processor is configured to cause said module to receive and transmit user data via the power line.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the power line includes a first and second energized conductor and said module is configured to be communicatively coupled to the first and the second energized conductor to differentially transmit data signals over the energized conductors.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the power line comprises an external power line supplying power to a customer premises and the user data includes data received from a user device in the customer premises.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the user data includes data received from a MV power line access device.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the MV power line access device comprises a transformer bypass device.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein said module is configured to receive and decrypt user data with a first encryption key and to encrypt and transmit user data with a second encryption key.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said module is further configured to receive and decrypt user data with the second first encryption key and to encrypt and transmit user data with the first encryption key.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein said communication module includes a first and second modem configured to be coupled to the power line.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising a data signal impedance configured to be coupled to the power line to between said first and second modems.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said first and second modem are configured to communicate using different encryption keys.

26. The device of claim 16, wherein said communication module includes only a single modem.

27. A method of communicating utility data and non-utility data over a power line, comprising:

storing the utility data in memory;

transmitting the utility data over the power line;

receiving first data via the power line;

determining whether the first data is to be repeated; and

transmitting the first data over the power line if the first data is to be repeated.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising determining whether the first data includes a command.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said receiving the first data and said transmitting the first data are performed with different encryption keys.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said determining includes determining if the first data includes control data.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said receiving the first data and said transmitting the first data are performed in different frequency bands.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said receiving the first data and said transmitting the first data are performed by the same modem.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving a command to disable repeating.

34. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving a command that includes a request to transmit the utility data.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving a command to enable repeating.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting the utility data is performed periodically.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting the utility data is performed intermittently.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving program code via the power line; and

storing the program code in memory.

39. The method of claim 27, further comprising

receiving second data via the power line;

and

transmitting the second data over the power line.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein

said receiving the first data and said transmitting the second data are performed with a first encryption key;

and

said receiving the second data and said transmitting the first data are performed with a second encryption key .

41. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting an alert over the power line based on the value of the utility data.