Power line communication system and method of using the same

• US 6,965,302 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Mollenkopf, James Douglas, Berkman, William H., Yaney, David Stanley, Kline, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/319,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 34031001-31007, 375/257, 375/258, 375/259
• US Class Current: 370/475
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/483 Installation of aerial type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• 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

The communication system of one embodiment is for communicating data through a power distribution system having a medium voltage power line and low voltage power line and comprises a first device comprising a first wireless transceiver, a first modem in communication with the first wireless transceiver and the medium voltage power line. The system may also comprise a second device comprising a second wireless transceiver in wireless communication with the first wireless transceiver; and a second modem in communication with the second wireless transceiver and the low voltage power line.

Claims

1. A method of using a power distribution system having a first and a second power line to communicate data to one or more user devices, comprising:

at a first device at a first location;

receiving first data via the first power line, and

wirelessly transmitting said first data; and

at a second device at a second location remote from said first location;

receiving said wirelessly transmitted first data; and

transmitting said first data through the second power line.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power distribution system further comprises a third power line, the method comprising:

at said first device;

receiving second data via the first power line; and

transmitting said second data through the third power line.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining whether to transmit said second data wirelessly or through the third power line.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first device is mounted at a first utility pole and said second device is mounted at a second utility pole.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first power line is a first medium voltage power line.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second power line is a low voltage power line that receives power from a second medium voltage power line.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second power line is a low voltage power line that receives power from the first medium voltage power line.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at said second device;

receiving second data via the second power line, and

wirelessly transmitting said second data; and

at said first device;

receiving said wirelessly transmitted second data, and

transmitting said second data through the first power line.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising at said second device:

receiving third data via the second power line; and

prioritizing the wireless transmission of said second data and said third data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said prioritization is based, at least in part, on a type of the data.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said prioritization is based, at least in part, on a source of the data.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising at said first device:

receiving third data transmitted through a third power line; and

prioritizing the transmission of said second data and said third data through the first power line.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising at said second device:

assigning an address to the user device; and

transmitting said address to the user device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said address is an Internet protocol (IP) address.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising at said second device:

transmitting a request for communicating with the user device;

receiving a response to said request; and

storing at least a portion of said response in a memory.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said response comprises a media access control address.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at said first device;

assigning an address to the user device, and

wirelessly transmitting said address to the second device; and

at said second device;

receiving said address, and

transmitting said address through the second power line.

18. A communication system for communicating data through a power distribution system having a distribution transformer coupling a first power line to a second power line;

comprising;

a first device comprising;

a first wireless transceiver;

a first modem in communication with said first wireless transceiver and the first power line; and

a second modem in communication with said first modem and the second power line.

19. The communication system of claim 18, wherein the power distribution system includes a third power line, the system further comprising:

a second device comprising;

a second wireless transceiver in communication with said first wireless transceiver; and

a third modem in communication with said second wireless transceiver and the third power line.

20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein

said first device further comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) and a first media access controller.

21. A device for communicating data via a power distribution system having a distribution transformer coupling a first power line to a second power line, the device comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a first modem in communication with said wireless transceiver and configured to be communicatively coupled to the first power line; and

a second modem in communication with said first modem and configured to communicatively coupled the second power line.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising a router in communication with said first modem, said first wireless transceiver, and said second modem.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein said device further comprises a first analog to digital converter (ADC) and a first media access controller.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein said device further comprises a memory and a processor in communication with said first modem, said second modem, and said first wireless transceiver, and wherein said memory includes program code stored therein, and wherein said processor is configured to execute said program code.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said program code includes a program code section for performing routing of data packets.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said routing is based, at least in part, on a type of the data in the data packet.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein said routing is based, at least in part, on whether the data packet includes voice data.

28. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

a communication device, comprising;

a first conductor interface communicatively coupled to the second power line and comprising a third modem in communication with said second modem;

a second conductor interface communicatively coupled to a third power line and comprising a fourth modem;

a controller communicatively coupled to said first conductor interface and said second conductor interface and comprising a processor and a memory; and

wherein

said first conductor interface and said second conductor interface form at least a portion of a data path between the second power line and the third power line bypassing a distribution transformer.