Method of isolating data in a power line communications network
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
42 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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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:
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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.
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification