Device and method for designing power line communication system networks
First Claim
1. A method of using a computer system to design a power line communication system, comprising:
- using the computer system to perform at least the steps of;
identifying a position of a first communications device on a medium voltage (MV) power line;
identifying positions for a plurality of second communications devices on the medium voltage power line that are configured to communicate with the first communications device;
outputting on a map the positions identified for the first communications device and the plurality of second communications devices;
determining an anticipated attenuation for each communication link associated with at least some of the plurality of second communications devices at each of their respective positions for communicating with the first communications device;
comparing the anticipated attenuation for each of said communication links with a link budget value;
outputting a notification that identifies any of said communication links having an anticipated attenuation greater than the link budget value; and
wherein said identifying a position of a first communications device, said identifying positions for a plurality of second communications devices, said determining, and said comparing are performed prior to an installation of said first communications device and prior to an installation of the plurality of second communications devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of designing a power line communication system networks is provided. One embodiment of the present invention may include identifying a position of a backhaul point on a medium voltage power line, identifying positions for a plurality of bypass devices on the medium voltage line that are configured to communicate with the backhaul point, determining an anticipated attenuation for a communication link associated with each of the bypass devices, and comparing the anticipated attenuations with a link budget value. If the anticipated attenuation of any of the communication links is greater than the link budget, the method may include further improving the network by changing the coupling conductor or employing lower through loss couplers for select devices.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of using a computer system to design a power line communication system, comprising:
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using the computer system to perform at least the steps of; identifying a position of a first communications device on a medium voltage (MV) power line; identifying positions for a plurality of second communications devices on the medium voltage power line that are configured to communicate with the first communications device; outputting on a map the positions identified for the first communications device and the plurality of second communications devices; determining an anticipated attenuation for each communication link associated with at least some of the plurality of second communications devices at each of their respective positions for communicating with the first communications device; comparing the anticipated attenuation for each of said communication links with a link budget value; outputting a notification that identifies any of said communication links having an anticipated attenuation greater than the link budget value; and wherein said identifying a position of a first communications device, said identifying positions for a plurality of second communications devices, said determining, and said comparing are performed prior to an installation of said first communications device and prior to an installation of the plurality of second communications devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of using a computer system to design a network layout for a power line communication system, comprising:
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using the computer system to perform at least the steps of; identifying a first position of a first communications device on a medium voltage power line segment; identifying a second position for a second communications device on the medium voltage power line segment for communications with the first communications device; outputting on a map the identified first position for the first communications device and the identified second position for the second communications device; estimating an attenuation for a first communication link between the first communications device and the second communications device; comparing the estimated attenuation with a link budget value for the first communication link; wherein said identifying a position of a first communications device, said identifying a position for a second communications device, said estimating, and said determining are performed prior to installation of either the first or second communications device; and if the attenuation of the first communication link is greater than the link budget value, outputting a notification that indicates that the attenuation of the first communication link is greater than the link budget value. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of using a computer to design a power line communication system, comprising:
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displaying a map of an area on a display; displaying medium voltage power lines on the map; displaying the location of distribution transformers on the map; positioning one or more bypass devices on the map corresponding to distribution transformers, displaying an icon on the map representing each bypass device positioned; positioning a backhaul point on the medium voltage power lines; displaying an icon on the map representing the backhaul point corresponding the position of the backhaul point; determining an attenuation for a link associated with each bypass device for communications with the backhaul point; comparing each attenuation to a link budget value; and providing a visual indication on the display to indicate bypass devices having an associated link with an attenuation that is less than the link budget value. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. The method of 46, wherein the cost of installing the backhaul point includes the cost to provide backhaul media at the position.
Specification