Data communication over a power line

• US 7,218,219 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Kline, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US11/374,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20060171174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5487 cables
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

Data signals are communicated between a power line and a computer, wherein the power line provides power to the computer via a distribution transformer and the computer is in communication with a wireless communication path. A first data signal is communicated with the power line. A conversion is made between the first data signal and a second data signal capable of being communicated wirelessly. The second data signal is wirelessly communicated with the wireless communication path.

Claims

1. A system for communicating over a power line having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the power line forming part of a power distribution system that supplies power to a plurality of customer premises via a plurality of external low voltage power lines, the system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a coupler configured to couple data to and from the power line;

a first modem configured to communicate data over the power line via said coupler; and

a wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to said first modem and configured to communicate with a plurality of remote transceivers disposed in one or more of the plurality of customer premises thereby bypassing the external low voltage power lines.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver is configured to form a wireless local area network with said plurality of remote transceivers.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a router in communication with said first modem.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said router is configured to monitor usage data.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said router is configured to perform throughput control functions.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said coupler comprises:

a conductor having a first end and a second end; and

wherein said first end is coupled to the power line at a first location and the second end is coupled to the power line at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said coupler comprises a magnetically permeable toroid configured to be disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said coupler couples data via capacitance.

9. The system of claim 1, where said coupler includes a dielectric configured to prevent the power from the power line from passing therethrough while permitting data signals to pass therethrough.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver comprises an IEEE 802.11 transceiver.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second device, comprising a second modem configured to communicate with said first modem over the power line.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first modem and said second modem are configured to communicate via orthogonal frequency division multiplexing.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said first modem and said second modem are configured to communicate via a wideband signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a power supply configured to inductively draw power from the power line.

15. A method of communicating data over a power line having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the power line forming part of a power distribution system that supplies power to a plurality of customer premises via a plurality of external low voltage power lines, the system comprising:

receiving first data in a first data signal from power line;

demodulating the first data signal;

wirelessly transmitting the first data to a first remote transceiver disposed in a customer premises thereby bypassing the external low voltage power lines;

wirelessly receiving second data from a remote transceiver disposed in a customer premises to thereby bypass the external low voltage power line;

modulating one or more carriers with the second data to form a second data signal; and

coupling the second data signal onto the power line.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising establishing a wireless local area network with a plurality of remote transceivers.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising routing the first data prior to wirelessly transmitting the first data.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring data usage.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling data throughput.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving first data is performed with a coupler that comprises:

a conductor having a first end and a second end; and

wherein said first end is coupled to the power line at a first location and the second end is coupled to the power line at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving first data comprises inductively coupling the first data from the power line.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said receiving first data comprises capacitively coupling the first data from the power line.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said wirelessly transmitting the first data comprises wirelessly transmitting the first data with an IEEE 802.11 signal.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the second data signal comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed data signal.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data signal comprises a wideband signal.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising inductively drawing power from the power line to power a wireless transceiver.

27. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing authorization functions.

28. The method of claim 15, further comprising wirelessly transmitting third data to a second remote transceiver disposed in the customer premises thereby bypassing the external low voltage power lines.

29. The method of claim 15, wherein said second data comprises utility usage data.

30. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data comprises Internet Protocol (IP) telephony data.

31. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data comprises video data.

32. The method of claim 15, wherein the first data comprises video conferencing data.

33. A method of communicating data over a power line having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, the power line forming part of a power distribution system that supplies power to a plurality of customer premises via a plurality of external low voltage power lines, the system comprising:

receiving a plurality of downstream data packets from the power line;

determining destinations for at least some of the plurality of downstream data packets, wherein the destinations include one or more remote transceivers in one or more customer premises; and

wirelessly transmitting the plurality of downstream data packets to the one or more remote transceivers thereby bypassing the external low voltage power lines.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

wirelessly receiving upstream data from one of the one or more remote transceivers; and

coupling the upstream data onto the power line.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising establishing a wireless local area network with a plurality of remote transceivers.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising monitoring data usage.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising controlling data throughput.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein said receiving is performed with a coupler comprising:

a conductor having a first end and a second end; and

wherein said first end is coupled to the power line at a first location and the second end is coupled to the power line at a second location spaced apart from the first location.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said receiving comprises inductively coupling the first data from the power line.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein said receiving comprises capacitively coupling the first data from the power line.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein said wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the downstream data with a substantially IEEE 802.11 compatible signal set.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of downstream data packets are received in orthogonal frequency division multiplexed data signals.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the plurality of downstream data packets are received in wideband signals.

44. The method of claim 33, further comprising inductively drawing power from the power line.

45. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing authorization functions.

46. The method of claim 33, wherein said second data comprises utility usage data.

47. The method of claim 33, wherein at least some of the plurality of downstream data packets comprises Internet Protocol (IP) telephony data.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein at least some of the plurality of downstream data packets comprises video data.

49. The method of claim 33, wherein at least some of the plurality of downstream data packets comprises video conferencing data.