Wi-Fi/BPL Dual Mode Repeaters for Power Line Networks
First Claim
1. A method for transmitting information, comprising:
- transmitting a message over a first power line segment of a power line network;
performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of the message and wired transmission of the message; and
transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining network connectivity over power lines is disclosed. Such network connectivity is maintained even if various customers are covered by different power line networks or if one or more power lines in a network are unavailable to transmit data. More particularly, in order to bridge a gap in a power line network, one or more messages are extracted from a first node in a power line network and are then transmitted to a second node via free space transmission, illustratively wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission conforming to one or more of the 802.11a, b or g standards. When those messages are received at the second node, the message is injected back into the power line on the other side of a gap in power line coverage. This method of transmission backup will continue until power line connectivity is restore upon which the preferred method will be selected and used.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for transmitting information, comprising:
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transmitting a message over a first power line segment of a power line network; performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of the message and wired transmission of the message; and transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A power line network, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising; performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of a message and wired transmission of the message, the message being transmitted over a first power line segment of the power line network; and transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of a message and wired transmission of the message, the message being transmitted over a first power line segment of a power line network; and transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification