Power line communications system and method of operating the same

• US 7,321,291 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2004
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Gidge, Brett D., Radtke, William O.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/973,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 340/310.11, 340/531, 340/539.1, 375/220, 375/222, 375/257, 375/259
• US Class Current: 375/258
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0226 Fixed carrier allocation, e.g. according to service
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0232 for downstream transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0246 using one wavelength per ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0247 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/025 using one wavelength per ONU, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0252 Sharing one wavelength for at least a group of ONUs, e.g. for transmissions from-ONU-to-OLT or from-ONU-to-ONU
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/028 WDM bus architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0282 WDM tree architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0283 WDM ring architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2601 Multicarrier modulation systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for operating a power line communications system for communicating via an underground residential distribution power system. One embodiment of the present invention includes an aggregation point, which may be co-located with a point of presence, communicatively coupled to one or distribution points. The distribution points are communicatively coupled to one or more medium voltage interface devices. The medium voltage interface devices are communicatively coupled to one or more power line bridges via URD medium voltage power lines. The power line bridges may be co-located with a URD distribution transformer and provide communications to the user devices communicatively coupled to the LV power lines of the distribution transformer.

Claims

1. A system for providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

an interface device communicatively coupled to the underground power line and having an interface configured to be communicative via a non-power line communications medium;

a first and second power line communications device, each said power line communications device including a first port communicatively coupled to the underground power line for communications with said interface device and a second port in communication with one or more user devices;

wherein said first power line communications device is communicatively coupled to the power line between the interface device and said second power line communications device;

wherein said interface device is configured to transmit communications signals to said first and second power line communications devices in a first set of frequencies and said first and second communications devices are configured to receive communications in the first set of frequencies;

wherein said first and second power line communications devices are configured to transmit communications signals toward said interface device in a second set of frequencies and said interface device is configured to receive communications in the second set of frequencies;

wherein said first power line communications device further comprises

a first amplifier circuit configured to amplify first signals received via the power line from said second power line communications device in the second set of frequencies; and

a first coupler configured to couple the amplified first signals onto the power line and

wherein said first power line communications device is configured to receive the first signals, amplify the first signals, and couple the amplified first signals onto the power line without demodulating the first signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first power line communications device is configured to receive data signals received from the one or more user devices and to transmit at least some of the received data signals to said interface device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first power line communications device includes a second amplifier circuit configured to amplify second signals received from said interface device in the first set of frequencies.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said first power line communications device further comprises a second coupler configured to couple the second amplified signals to the power line.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first power line communications device further includes a modem configured to communicate over the power line via a protocol substantially compatible with a Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS).

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second said power line communications devices each includes a router.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second power line communications device each includes a cable modem substantially compliant with a DOCSIS specification.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second power line communications devices are configured to transmit to said interface device using time division multiplexing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second power line communications devices are configured to transmit to said interface device using CDMA.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface device is communicatively coupled to the Internet via a cable modem termination system (CMTS).

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said second port of said first power line communications device is communicatively coupled to a low voltage power line to provide communications therethrough to the one or more user devices.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said first line power line communications device is configured to communicate with the user devices via a third set of frequencies.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said first power line communications device is disposed in a transformer enclosure.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second power line communications devices are configured to receive and process a plurality of DOCSIS commands.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-power line communications medium comprises a fiber optic conductor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-power line communications medium comprises a wireless link.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said interface device is communicatively coupled to the power line at a riser pole.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said first coupler comprises a first and second port that do not include a high pass filter and a third port that includes a high pass filter and that is communicatively coupled to said first and second port.

19. A system for providing communications via one or more power lines comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

an aggregation device;

a plurality of distribution devices communicatively coupled to said aggregation device via a non-power line communications medium;

a plurality of interface devices, each said interface device communicatively coupled to one of the power lines and each said power line interface device communicatively coupled to one of said plurality of said distribution devices via a non-power line communications medium;

a plurality of power line communications devices, each said power line communications device comprising a first port and second port;

said first port of each power line communications device being coupled to one segment of the one or more power lines and said second port of each being coupled to a different segment of the one or more power lines, each said power line communications device including a third port communicatively coupled to a low voltage power line, each said power line communications device including a first modem in communications with said first port, a second modem in communications with said first modem and said third port, and a router in communication with said second modem;

wherein at least one of said plurality of power line communications devices includes a first amplifier having an input and an output and configured to amplify data signals in a first frequency band, said output of said first amplifier being communicatively coupled to said first port and said input of said first amplifier being communicatively coupled to said second port; and

wherein said at least one of said plurality of power line communications device is configured to receive first data signals from the different segment of the one or more power lines, amplify the first data signals, and couple the amplified first data signals to the one segment of the one or more power lines without demodulating the first data signals.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of said plurality of distribution points is communicatively coupled to said aggregation device via one or more fiber optic conductors.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said aggregation device includes a cable modem termination system.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said interface device includes an interface configured to communicate via one or more fiber optic conductors and an electrical-to-optic converter communicatively coupled to said interface.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein said at least one of said plurality of power line communications devices includes:

a second amplifier configured to amplify data signals in a second frequency band;

said output of said second amplifier being communicatively coupled to said second port and said input of said second amplifier being communicatively coupled to said first port.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein said first modem of said plurality of power line communications devices includes a cable modem.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein said first modem is configured to receive and process a plurality commands substantially compliant with a DOCSIS specification.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the non-power line communications medium communicatively coupling at least one of the plurality of interface devices to one of said plurality of distribution devices comprises a fiber optic conductor.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein a first of said plurality of interface devices is communicatively coupled to one of said plurality of distribution devices via a second of said plurality of said interface devices.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said second of said plurality of interface devices is configured to combine data from said first of said plurality of interface devices with data from said second of said plurality of interface devices for communication to said one of said plurality of distribution devices via a fiber optic conductor.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the non-power line communications medium communicatively coupling at least one of the plurality of interface devices to one of said plurality of distribution devices a wireless link.

30. A method of providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

at an interface device;

receiving first data via a non-power line communications medium; and

transmitting said first data in a first frequency band via the power line;

at a first power line communications device;

receiving the first data in a first data signal via the power line from the interface device;

amplifying the first data signal;

coupling the amplified first data signal in the first frequency band to the power line;

wherein the first data signal is received from the power line, amplified, and coupled to the power line without demodulating the first data signal; and

at a second power line communications device;

receiving the amplified first data signal; and

demodulating the data signal to provide the first data.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising demodulating the first data signal at the first power line communications device.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

at the second power line communications device;

modulating the first data to provide a second data signal; and

transmitting the second data signal to a user device via a low voltage power line.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising routing the first data prior to modulating the first data at the second power line communications device.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising routing the first data at the second power line communications device.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

at the second power line communications device;

receiving second data transmitted from a user device; and

transmitting the second data in a second frequency band via the power line;

at a first power line communications device;

receiving the second data in a second data signal from the second power line communications device;

amplifying the second data signal; and

coupling the amplified second data signal in the second frequency band to the power line;

wherein the second data signal is received, amplified, and coupled to the power line without demodulating the second data signal; and

at the interface device;

receiving the amplified second data signal; and

communicating the second data via a non-power line communications medium.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said second data is received via a low voltage power line data signal at the second power line communication device, the method further comprising:

demodulating the low voltage power line data signal to provide the second data.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising routing the second data at the second power line communications device.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

at the first power line communications device;

receiving third data from a user device; and

transmitting the third data in the second frequency band via the power line; and

at the interface device;

receiving the third data; and

communicating the third data via a non-power line communications medium.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein the first data is in a data signal amplified by a third power line communications device coupled to the power line between the first power line communications device and the interface device.

40. The method of claim 30, wherein the non-power line communications medium includes a fiber optic conductor.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein the non-power line communications medium includes a wireless link.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein the first frequency band includes at least some frequencies between thirty megahertz and fifty megahertz.

43. The method of claim 30, further comprising frequency shifting the signals carrying the first data at the interface device.

44. The method of claim 30, wherein the first data includes one of a DOCSIS command and a DOCSIS status request.

45. The method of claim 30, wherein the interface device is communicatively coupled to the Internet via a CMTS.

46. A method of providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

at a first power line communications device;

receiving first data; and

transmitting the first data via the power line;

at a second power line communications device;

receiving the first data in a first data signal via the power line from the first power line communications device;

amplifying the first data signal; and

coupling the amplified first data signal to the power line;

wherein the first data signal is received, amplified, and coupled to the power line by the second power line communications device without demodulating the first data signal; and

at an interface device;

receiving the amplified first data signal; and

transmitting the first data via a non-power line communications medium; and

wherein transmissions from the second power line communications device and the interface device employ different carrier frequencies.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

at the second power line communications device;

receiving second data from a user device; and

transmitting the second data via the power line.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein transmissions toward the interface device from the first and second power line communications devices are via time division multiplexing.

49. The method of claim 47, further comprising routing the second data at the first power line communications device.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the non-power line communications medium includes a fiber optic conductor.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the non-power line communications medium includes a wireless link.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising frequency shifting the signal carrying the first data at the interface device.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the first power line communication device is configured to process data that includes at least one of a DOCSIS command and a DOCSIS status request.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein the interface device is communicatively coupled to the Internet via a CMTS.

55. A system for providing communications to user devices via a power distribution network comprising an underground power line carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, and a plurality of low voltage power lines with each low voltage power line receiving power from the underground power line via a distribution transformer, the system comprising:

an interface device communicatively coupled to the underground power line and having an interface configured to communicate via a non-power line communications medium;

a first and second power line communications device, each said power line communications device including a first modem coupled to the underground power line and a second modem communicatively coupled to one of the low voltage power lines;

wherein said first power line communications device is communicatively coupled to the underground power line between the interface device and said second power line communications device; and

wherein said first power line communications device includes an amplifier configured to amplify received signals transmitted by said interface device via the power line and a first coupler configured to couple the amplified signals to the power line for reception by said second power line communications device; and

wherein said first power line communications device is configured to receive the signals, amplify the signals, and couple the amplified signals to the power line without demodulating the signals.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein:

said second modem of said first power line communications device is configured to receive data signals received from user devices; and

said first modem is configured to transmit at least some of the received signals to said interface device via the underground power line.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said first power line communications device includes a second amplifier circuit configured to amplify received signals transmitted from said second power line communications device;

and

a second coupler configured to couple the signals received from said second power line communications device and amplified by said second amplifier circuit to the underground power line for reception by said interface device.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein said second coupler communicatively couples said first modem of said first power line communications device to the underground power line.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein coupling of signals to the underground power line by said second coupler from said first modem of said first power line communications device is via time division multiplexing.

60. The system of claim 55, wherein:

said interface device is configured to transmit communications signals to said first and second power line communications devices in a first set of frequencies and said first and second power line communications devices are configured to receive communications in the first set of frequencies; and

said first and second communications devices are configured to transmit communications signals toward said interface device in a second set of frequencies and said interface device is configured to receive communications in the second set of frequencies.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein said second modem of said first and second line power line communications devices is configured to communicate with user devices via a third set of frequencies.

62. The system of claim 55, wherein said first and second said power line communications devices each includes a router communicatively coupled to said first and second modems.

63. The system of claim 55, wherein said first modem of said first and second power line communications devices communicates via a protocol that is substantially compliant with a DOCSIS specification.

64. The system of claim 55, wherein the first and second power line communications device are configured to transmit to said interface device using time division multiplexing.

65. The system of claim 55, wherein said first and second power line communications devices are configured to transmit to said interface device using code division multiplexing.

66. The system of claim 55, wherein said interface device is communicatively coupled to the Internet via a cable modem termination system.

67. The system of claim 55, wherein said first power line communications device is disposed in a transformer enclosure.

68. The system of claim 55, wherein said wherein said first and second power line communications devices are configured to receive and process a plurality of DOCSIS commands.

69. The system of claim 55, wherein the non-power line communications medium comprises a fiber optic conductor.

70. The system of claim 55, wherein the non-power line communications medium comprises a wireless link.

71. The system of claim 55, wherein said interface device is communicatively coupled to the underground power line at a riser pole.

72. The system of claim 55, wherein said first coupler comprises a first and second port that do not include a high pass filter and a third port that includes a high pass filter and that is communicatively coupled to said first and second port.