Overhead and underground power line communication system and method using a bypass
First Claim
1. A system for providing power line communications over a power distribution system including an underground power line and an overhead medium voltage power line and wherein the underground medium voltage power line is connected to the overhead medium voltage power line at a riser pole, comprising:
- a first and second communication device communicatively coupled to the underground power line at different locations;
wherein said first and second communication devices are disposed within different transformer enclosures;
a third communication device coupled to the underground power line at the riser pole to communicate with said first communication device via the underground power line;
a backhaul communication device comprising a backhaul interface for communicating via a non-power line medium and a power line interface communicatively coupled to the overhead medium voltage power line and to communicate with said third communication device;
wherein said backhaul communication device communicates with said third communication device via a path that includes the overhead medium voltage power line and the underground medium voltage power line; and
wherein said first communication device is configured to receive communications communicated over the underground medium voltage power line from said third communication device and to transmit said communications over the underground medium voltage power line for reception by said second communication device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An underground power line is coupled to an overhead power line at a riser pole. In a power line communication system, a first and a second communication device are communicatively coupled to the underground power line at different locations. A third communication device is located in the vicinity of the riser pole. The third communication device is coupled to one of either the underground power line or the overhead power line. The first communication device is configured to transmit data received from said second communication device for reception by said third communication device. The third communication device may include a backhaul link for communicating via a non-power line medium, such as to an upstream node or aggregation point coupled to an IP network.
437 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A system for providing power line communications over a power distribution system including an underground power line and an overhead medium voltage power line and wherein the underground medium voltage power line is connected to the overhead medium voltage power line at a riser pole, comprising:
-
a first and second communication device communicatively coupled to the underground power line at different locations; wherein said first and second communication devices are disposed within different transformer enclosures; a third communication device coupled to the underground power line at the riser pole to communicate with said first communication device via the underground power line; a backhaul communication device comprising a backhaul interface for communicating via a non-power line medium and a power line interface communicatively coupled to the overhead medium voltage power line and to communicate with said third communication device; wherein said backhaul communication device communicates with said third communication device via a path that includes the overhead medium voltage power line and the underground medium voltage power line; and wherein said first communication device is configured to receive communications communicated over the underground medium voltage power line from said third communication device and to transmit said communications over the underground medium voltage power line for reception by said second communication device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A system for providing power line communications over a power distribution system including a plurality of distribution transformers coupled to an underground medium voltage power line that connects to an overhead power line at a riser pole, the system comprising:
-
a plurality of communication devices communicatively coupled to the underground power line, wherein each of said plurality of communication devices is co-located with a different one of the plurality of distribution transformers; each of said plurality of communication devices including; an underground power line port configured to communicate over the underground medium voltage power line and including a first modem; and a low voltage power line port configured to communicate over a low voltage power line and including a second modem in communication with said first modem; wherein each of said plurality of communication devices is disposed within a different transformer enclosure; an interface device communicatively coupled to the underground medium voltage power line at a riser pole for communication with at least one of said plurality of communication devices via the underground medium voltage power line, said interface device including a backhaul interface configured to communicate over a non-power line communication medium; wherein a multitude of said plurality of communication devices are configured to receive data via the underground medium voltage power line from another of said plurality of communications device and to transmit at least some of said received data on the underground medium voltage power line; and wherein said plurality of communication devices are configured to transmit to, and to receive data from, one or more devices communicatively coupled to low voltage power lines. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification