Method of isolating data in a power line communications network

• US 6,977,578 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Kline, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/765,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 34031001-31008, 370/501, 370/502, 375/219, 375/258
• US Class Current: 370/501
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Isolating data in a power line communications system. Although plural subscribers receive electric power distributed from a common distribution transformer, it is desirable to isolate their branch lines from one another when those branch lines are used to conduct data communications as a supplement to electric power delivery. This isolation of branch lines implemented in a centralized way at the distribution transformer, or alternatively, in a distributed way at each subscriber'"'"'s premises. These implementations are made using low pass filters (which pass the power but block the data) and power line communications routers or power line communications repeaters.

Claims

1. A system for providing network communications to subscriber devices at a plurality of subscriber premises, a branch line connecting each subscriber premises to an electric power distribution transformer, the system comprising:

a router communicatively coupled to the plurality of branch lines at a node to control data communications for the subscriber premises;

a plurality of low pass filters with each said low pass filter coupled to a different branch line on the electric power distribution transformer side of the node; and

wherein each filter prevents the flow of data signals through the branch line and permits the flow of power signals through the branch line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said low pass filters each comprise at least two components selected from the following group:

capacitor, inductor, and resistor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said low pass filters each comprise a common mode choke.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said low pass filters each comprise a ferrite toroid.

5. A method of providing data communications in a power line communication network that comprises a first branch line connected to a first subscriber premises through an electric power meter and a second branch line connected to a second subscriber premises and to the first branch line, the method comprising:

establishing a wide area network (WAN) that comprises the first branch line;

coupling a low pass filter to the first branch line on the first subscriber side of the power meter;

coupling a first port of a power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a first side of the filter;

coupling a second port of the power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a second side of the filter; and

wherein the low pass filter attenuates high frequency noise traversing the first branch line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the power line communications repeater is connected across both the low pass filter and the power meter.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the low pass filter comprises at least two components selected from the following group:

capacitor, inductor, and resistor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disconnecting the first branch line.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the low pass filter comprises a common mode choke.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disposing a ferrite toroid substantially around the circumference of the first branch line.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the power line communications repeater prevents data transmitted from the second subscriber premises from entering the first subscriber premises.

12. A method of providing data communications in a power line communication network that comprises a first branch line connecting a distribution transformer to a first subscriber premises through an electric power meter and a second branch line connecting a second subscriber premises to the first branch line at a juncture of the first and second branch lines, the method comprising:

coupling a low pass filter to the first branch line between the juncture and the power meter;

coupling a first port of a power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a first side of the filter,

coupling a second port of the power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a second side of the filter,

establishing a wide area network (WAN) that comprises the first branch line; and

wherein the low pass filter attenuates high frequency noise traversing the first branch line.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the power line communications repeater is connected across both the low pass filter and the power meter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the low pass filter comprises at least two components selected from the following group:

capacitor, inductor, and resistor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disconnecting the first branch line.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the low pass filter comprises a common mode choke.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disposing a ferrite toroid substantially around the circumference of the first branch line.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the power line communications repeater prevents data transmitted from the second subscriber premises from entering the first subscriber premises.

19. A method of isolating data in a power line communication network that comprises a first branch line connected to a first subscriber premises through an electric power meter and a second branch line connecting a second subscriber premises to the first branch line at a juncture of the first and second branch lines, the method comprising:

coupling a low pass filter to the first branch line between the first subscriber premises and the juncture;

coupling a power line communications repeater to the first branch line across both the low pass filter and the power meter;

wherein the low pass filter attenuates the high frequency noise entering the first subscriber premises via the first branch line; and

wherein the power line communications repeater prevents data transmitted from the second subscriber premises from entering the first subscriber premises.

20. A method of providing data communications over an electrical distribution system comprising an electrical distribution transformer, the electrical distribution transformer being coupled to a first and second electrical power lines, which are coupled to a first and second subscriber premises, respectively, and wherein said first and second power lines are coupled to each other at a juncture, the method comprising:

coupling a first filter to the first electrical power line between the juncture and the first subscriber premises;

coupling a second filter to the second electrical power line between the juncture and the second subscriber premises, wherein the first and second filters attenuate the flow of data signals through the electrical power line and permit the flow of power signals through the electrical power line;

communicatively coupling a first power line communications repeater to the first electrical power line across the first filter; and

communicatively coupling a second power line communications repeater to the second electrical power line across the second filter.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first power line communications repeater comprises a router.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the router is in communication with a plurality of subscribers.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first power line communications repeater prevents data associated with a second subscriber from entering the first subscriber premises.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the first filter is coupled to the first electrical power line on the subscriber side of an electrical power meter.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the first filter is coupled to the first electrical power line on the electrical transformer side of an electrical power meter.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the first power line communications repeater is connected across both the first filter and an electrical power meter.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising communicatively coupling the first power line communications repeater to a data network, and wherein the data network provides data signals.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is a wide area network.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is in communication with the first electrical power line on the transformer side of the first filter.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the first filter is conductively connected to the first electrical power line.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the first filter is inductively coupled to the first electrical power line.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first filter comprises a toroid through which the first electrical power line passes.

33. A method of providing data communications in a power line communication network that comprises a first branch line connected to a first subscriber premises through an electric power meter and a second branch line connected to a second subscriber premises and to the first branch line, the method comprising:

coupling a low pass filter to the first branch line on the first subscriber side of the power meter;

coupling a first port of a power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a first side of the filter;

coupling a second port of the power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a second side of the filter; and

wherein the low pass filter comprises a common mode choke that attenuates high frequency noise traversing the first branch line.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the power line communications repeater is connected across both the low pass filter and the power meter.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disconnecting the first branch line.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disposing a ferrite toroid substantially around the circumference of the first branch line.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the power line communications repeater prevents data transmitted from the second subscriber premises from entering the first subscriber premises.

38. A method of providing data communications in a power line communication network that comprises a first branch line connecting a distribution transformer to a first subscriber premises through an electric power meter and a second branch line connecting a second subscriber premises to the first branch line at a juncture of the first and second branch lines, the method comprising:

coupling a low pass filter to the first branch line between the juncture and the power meter;

coupling a first port of a power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a first side of the filter;

coupling a second port of the power line communications repeater to the first branch line on a second side of the filter; and

wherein the low pass filter comprises a common mode choke that attenuates high frequency noise traversing the first branch line.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the power line communications repeater is connected across both the low pass filter and the power meter.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disconnecting the first branch line.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein coupling the low pass filter comprises disposing a ferrite toroid substantially around the circumference of the first branch line.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the power line communications repeater prevents data transmitted from the second subscriber premises from entering the first subscriber premises.