Surface wave power line communications system and method

• US 20050111533A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Yaney, David Stanley, Berkman, William H., Mollenkopf, James Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

The present invention provides a system for operating a power line communications system that employs surface wave communications and conducted communications. The system is comprised of a plurality of network elements, which may take the form of repeaters, communication interface devices, backhaul devices, medium voltage transducers, distribution points, aggregation points, and others. In one embodiment, surface waves are communicated over the medium voltage power lines and the conducted communications are communicated via the low voltage power lines to and from customer premises.

Claims

1. A system for providing communications for user devices via a power line, comprising:

a backhaul device including a network transceiver and a power line transceiver;

a first communication device including a first downstream transceiver and a first upstream transceiver;

wherein said power line transceiver is in communication with said first upstream transceiver, at least in part, via surface wave transmissions traversing the power line; and

wherein said first downstream transceiver is in communication with at least one user device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication device including a second downstream transceiver and a second upstream transceiver; and

wherein said power line transceiver is in communication with said second upstream transceiver, at least in part, via surface wave transmissions traversing the power line;

wherein said second downstream transceiver is in communication with at least one user device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first downstream transceiver includes a power line modem.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said network transceiver includes a wireless transceiver.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said network transceiver includes a fiber optic transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first downstream transceiver includes a wireless transceiver.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first power line transducer configured to convert transmissions of said power line transceiver to surface wave transmissions; and

wherein said power line transceiver is in communication with said first upstream transceiver via said first power line transducer.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second power line transducer configured to convert transmissions of said first upstream transceiver to surface wave transmissions.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power line includes a medium voltage phase conductor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the power line includes a neutral conductor.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said first communications device includes a router in communication with said downstream transceiver.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said power line transceiver is in communication with said first upstream transceiver via internet protocol packets.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said power line transceiver communicates voice data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said power line transceiver communicates video data.

15. A communications device for providing communications via a power line, comprising:

a network transceiver; and

a power line transceiver in communication with the network transceiver; and

wherein said power line transceiver is configured to provide surface wave communications over the power line.

16. The communications device of claim 15, wherein said network transceiver includes a fiber optic transceiver.

17. The communications device of claim 15, wherein said network transceiver includes a wireless transceiver.

18. A communications device for providing communications via a power line, comprising:

a downstream transceiver configured to communicate with one or more user devices; and

an upstream transceiver in communication with said downstream transceiver and configured to provide surface wave communications over the power line.

19. The communications device of claim 18, wherein said downstream transceiver includes a power line modem.

20. The communications device of claim 18, wherein said downstream transceiver includes a wireless transceiver.

21. The communications device of claim 18, further comprising a router in communication with said downstream transceiver.

22. The communications device of claim 18, further comprising a power line transducer providing a communication link between said upstream transceiver and the power line.

23. The communications device of claim 18, wherein said power line transducer includes a wave communicator configured to communicate surface wave transmissions on the power line;

and

an antenna in communication with said wave communicator and configured to communicate with said upstream transceiver.

24. A method providing communications over power lines, comprising:

receiving first data from a user device at a first communications device;

transmitting the first data via a first surface wave transmission along a medium voltage power line from the first device;

receiving the first data of the first surface wave transmission at a second device; and

transmitting the first data over a backhaul link from the second device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving second data at said second device via the backhaul link;

transmitting the second data via a second surface wave transmission along the medium voltage power line from the second device;

receiving the second data of the second surface transmission at the first device; and

transmitting the second data to the user device.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first data is received at the first device via a wireless transmission.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the first data is received at the first device via a conductive transmission.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising routing the first data.