70results about "Systems using repeaters" patented technology

A broadband service communication system using an MV cable for conveying RF signals in a network segment, which includes a distribution center (PLT controller) and a plurality of power line telecommunication (PLT) stations. The PLT controller has a distribution modem for conveying downstream and upstream RF signals to and from the PLT stations through the MV cable via couplers. Each PLT station has a modem for conveying the downstream and upstream RF signals via couplers and for conveying media signals to one or more customer premises equipment (CPE) via, e.g. wireless links. The PLT controller controls each PLT station regarding upstream communications transfer of all downstream communications and also controls. The PLT controller can be connected via a router to a WAN to convey media signals to and from the WAN. Repeaters and interlinks are used to join multiple network segments.

A method of providing broadband data services over power lines for moving vehicles is provided herein. Using broadband over power line (BPL) networking, a data signal is connected to a vehicle that is connected to a transport power line. The signal is communicated from the transport power line to the vehicle. The signal is then demodulated for use aboard the vehicle. The data signal connection allows for access to wide area networks such as the Internet. Access points can wirelessly broadcast wide area network signals from stationary locations to define meshed wireless networks in metropolitan areas.

A system for providing communications with a plurality of power distribution equipment via a broadband over power line communication system that provides broadband internet access to a plurality of consumers is provided. In one embodiment, the system may include a computer system having executable program code executable to generate control messages for controlling the plurality of power distribution automation equipment and a plurality of interface devices, wherein each interface device is communicatively coupled to one or more of the plurality of power distribution equipment. The computer system may be configured to transmit control messages to the plurality of power distribution equipment via a communication path that includes the broadband over power line communication system and the plurality of interface devices.

The present invention provides a path setting method for automatically setting network paths. The path setting method for generating paths in a network including a plurality of relay stations and a parent station which are connected with each other through a transmission line, comprises the steps of allowing each of the parent station and the plurality of relay stations to transmit basic information including its own identifier and its own path setting status, by means of a repetitive broadcast, allowing the relay station receiving the basic information to recognize the parent station or another relay station having a temporary path set thereto and transmit its own receiving-environment table including a transmission quality on the transmission line to the recognized station, allowing the another relay station receiving the receiving-environment table to forward it to the parent station through the use of the temporary path so as to notify the receiving-environment table to the parent station, and allowing the parent station receiving the forwarded receiving-environment table to set a temporary path to the relay station which has transmitted the receiving-environment table. In this manner, the parent station collects the transmission qualities on the inter-station transmission lines stepwise in order of the closest relay station to the farthest relay station to automatically set the paths.

A power line communication device for communicating data signals over a power line is provided. One example embodiment comprises a conditioning circuit configured to be coupled to the power line and a modem communicatively coupled to the conditioning circuitry to transmit and receive data signals over the power line via the conditioning circuitry. The modem may be configured to transmit and receive orthogonal frequency division multiplexed data signals that comprise a plurality of sub-carriers, wherein the modem is adapted to vary the transmit power for each of a plurality of subsets of the plurality of sub-carriers from substantially zero power to a plurality of increments above zero power. The modem also may be adapted to transmit and receive data signals with the transmit power for each of a plurality of subsets of the plurality of sub-carriers being different and to transmit and receive using a different modulation scheme at different sub-carriers.

A system, computer program product and method to provide information related to a power distribution system based on information provided by a plurality of network elements electrically connected to a plurality of power lines of the power distribution system at a plurality of locations is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a notification from a group of network elements that have detected a voltage signature indicating an imminent power outage, determining location information of the power outage, outputting the location information of the power outage, receiving a live notification from a first network element of the group of network elements indicating a first power restoration at a location of the first network element, determining location information of the first power restoration, and outputting the location information of the first power restoration.

A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device.

An electric power line communication system operates with an electric power distribution system to provide through premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among power line communication devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines. Each power line communication device associated with a set of premises power distribution lines has an identification address. A master code identifies the power line communication devices as members of a system domain of power line communication devices associated with the set of premises power distribution lines. Association of the master code with the identification addresses renders the member power line communication devices capable of operation without unintended communication with power line communication devices associated with a separate, different set of premises power distribution lines.

A method and system for enhancing communication signals in a power-line communications system, which uses high-voltage or medium-voltage power lines as a transmission medium. Because communication signals are subject to attenuation as they traverse the power-lines over a long distance, they are repeated and amplified by repeaters along the power-lines. The repeated signals are caused to interfere among themselves because of the delay and overlap of signals. By optically or wirelessly conveying communication signals between two phase-lines, and repeating signals in a phase-line hopping fashion, the distance between two adjacent repeaters on any one phase-line can be significantly extended in order to reduce interference.

A system for operating a power line communication system is provided. One embodiment is comprised of a plurality of network elements, which may take the form of repeaters, bypass devices, backhaul devices, wireless backhaul devices, enhanced bypass devices, communication interface devices and others. In one embodiment, two groups of network elements in the same electrical distribution system are isolated except for a selected communication link.

A spread spectrum meter reading system enables the use of high power frequency hopping spread spectrum (HPSS) transmissions at both the encoder transmitter and repeater levels of the meter reading system. A plurality of end point encoder transmitter devices are each connected to a utility meter and transmit high power FHSS signals containing at least metering data for the corresponding utility meter. A plurality of intermediate transceiver units that are fewer in number than the number of end point encoder transmitter devices both receives and retransmits the high power FHSS signals. A base station includes a receiver that receives the high power FHSS signals. Preferably, the base station can receive the high power FHSS signals from both the encoder transmitter devices and the intermediate transceiver units and the intermediate transceiver units aggregates metering data from multiple encoder transmitter devices prior to block retransmission of the metering data to the base station. Preferably, the high power FHSS signals are transmitted at a maximum hopping rate of at least one minute per hop to reduce power consumption and increase battery life of the devices.

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving RF signals for broadband communications using power lines as communication medium. A super-heterodyne structure is used to translate the signals from one frequency to another so as to avoid interference sources, which may corrupt the communication signals. In the heterodyne structure, a plurality of local oscillators are used to mix the local oscillator signals with the communication signals for frequency translation. A plurality of frequency filters are used to filtered out unwanted signals. The communication signals are imparted onto or received from the power lines via couplers operatively connected to modems.

The repeater of the present invention communicates data signals over power lines. The repeater of one embodiment includes at least one modem that receives a data packet and attempts to decrypt the data packet with a first and/or second encryption key. If the packet is successfully decrypted using the first encryption key, the packet is encrypted using the second encryption and transmitted over the power line. If the packet is successfully decrypted using the second encryption key, the packet is encrypted using the first encryption and transmitted over the power line.