316results about "Wireless systems/telephone" patented technology

A distributed antenna system having a transport portion including at least one overhead power line for transmitting system information along its length, and a distribution portion including at least one local access point disposed along the length of the power line for providing local access to information transported by the transport portion.

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.

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 power line communications device that may provide rate limiting and quality of service control is provided. The device may include a first modem in communication with one or more user devices via a low voltage power line subnet and a second modem communicatively coupled to a second communications medium. The device also may include a controller in communication with the first and second modems and a computer readable medium encoded with instructions to control the operation of the controller. The controller may rate limit data to and/or from a destination and/or source based one or more parameters such as the destination address, the source address, the type of data, temporal parameters, and other criteria. In addition, the controller may implement QoS for data and transmit QoS parameters to power line modems to allow the power line modems to perform QoS.

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.

A hybrid power line wireless communication system may include an access controller and plurality of communication nodes that each may include a wireless access point coupled to a power line communication device. The wireless access points may provide wireless broadband communications to one or more user devices while the power line communication devices may provide low voltage power line broadband communications. The access controller remotely manages the wireless access points by sending control messages to the communication nodes. Control messages may traverse a power line, a non-power line medium, and/or a wireless medium. Control messages may include information relating to encryption parameters, transmission power levels, communication channels, access control, and other such parameters.

A method and apparatus for maintaining network connectivity over power lines is disclosed. Such network connectivity is maintained even if various customers are covered by different power line networks or if one or more power lines in a network are unavailable to transmit data. More particularly, in order to bridge a gap in a power line network, one or more messages are extracted from a first node in a power line network and are then transmitted to a second node via free space transmission, illustratively wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission conforming to one or more of the 802.11a, b or g standards. When those messages are received at the second node, the message is injected back into the power line on the other side of a gap in power line coverage. This method of transmission backup will continue until power line connectivity is restore upon which the preferred method will be selected and used.

A broadband powerline communication system is disclosed which makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve the performance of the system. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. Certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be masked (i.e., not used) by all or part of the broadband powerline system in order to avoid interference based on the determination. In various embodiments, the spectrum characteristics are determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.

Communication is provided which includes receiving a transmitted radio signal at a powerline wherein the powerline functions as a receiving antenna for the wirelessly transmitted radio signal. The powerline is coupled to an input of a radio receiver using a coupler to communicate the radio signal to the radio receiver. For calibration purposes a second antenna not coupled to powerline may be used. A method for powerline communication across transformers, open circuit breakers, and other devices is also provided. In addition, a method of monitoring a device connected to a powerline is provided.

A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory, and a communication interface. In a first operation, the PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a first remote PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard and configures the communication interface to service communications according to the first PLC communication standard. In a second operation, the PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a second remote PLC device according to a second PLC communication standard and configures the communication interface to service communications according to the second PLC communication standard, wherein the first PLC communication standard and the second PLC communication standard are differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. The PLC device may also configure the communication interface to service non-PLC communications such as LAN, WAN, WLAN, cable modem, and other communications.

A management system for broadband over power lines is disclosed, using wireless communications interfaced with broadband over power lines management components to establish a wireless out-of-band system management network.

A method and system for the reception, conversion and distribution of wireless communication signals received from such communication devices as PCS, Cellular, and Satellite over AC power lines commonly found within a building, office, home or other structure is disclosed. This invention specifically provides for the distribution of wireless signals in structures where otherwise signal degradation and/or blockage are common. Moreover, this invention takes advantage of the existing AC power lines to create a communication channel avoiding the necessity of rewiring the building or other structure. This invention provides important improvements to the signal coverage and reception of wireless transmitted signals within buildings and other structures and does so in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Various embodiments are described to coordinate a wireless network over a power line network or other wired back channel.

From an electric pole outside to a cordless handset inside a building/facility, a communication line is established via an electric power line. At this point, it is judged whether or not electric power line communication is possible, and if electric power line communication is possible, the communication line between the cordless handset and a base unit is switched to an electric power line communication system, and a communication line is formed via an optical fiber cable from the electric power line. By measuring the communication quality levels of all lines of the wireless and electric power lines, the communication line having the highest communication quality level may be selected.

A power line communication (PLC) hub incorporates multiple network communication media and services for devices. Implementations can be plugged into an electrical outlet to furnish a single point for both electrical power and network connectivity. Each of the electrical outlets is tied through an electrical distribution system to a network through a conventional PLC bridge to provide network connectivity through the electrical distribution system using PLC technology. The PLC outlet hub can include various combinations of applications and/or services including Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) gateway, media server, Internet router/gateway, Local Area Network (“LAN”), both wired and wireless voice and video conferencing capability, including a VoIP, Voice over WiFi (“VoWiFi”), Power Over Ethernet (“PoE”), Wireless 802.11a/b/g/n capability and (Wireless Universal Serial Bus “WUSB”/Ultra Wide Band “UWB”) wireless connectivity, and Blue Tooth. Versions of the PLC outlet hub can have an Ethernet IEEE 802.3 family (such as IEEE 802.3af) compliant power supply to furnish power to PoE enabled devices.

In conjunction with a wiring in a house carrying data network signal, a modular outlet comprising of a base module and interface module. The base module connects to the wiring and attached to a wall. The interface module provides a data unit connection. The interface module is mechanically attached to the base module and electrically connected thereto. The wiring may also carry basic service signal such as telephone, electrical power and cable television (CATV). In such a case, the outlet will provide the relevant connectivity either as part of the base module or as part of the interface module. Both proprietary and industry standard interfaces can be used to interconnect the module. Furthermore, a standard computer expansion card (such as PCI, PCMCIA and alike) may be used as interface module.

Fault detection and power network quality monitoring are performed for a power line network using power line communications (“PLC”) signal transceiving and data processing capabilities. Power line signals are continuously received and processed to obtain signal data representative of power line network operating conditions that are expressed in the received power line signals. The harmonic content and noise signature of the signal data are evaluated with reference to known fault signature data and power line network topology properties for detecting and identifying the location of an existing or anticipated fault in the power line network and assessing power transmission quality of the network.

A signal is received from a first portion of a power line and at least a portion of the signal is converted to a non-electrically conducting signal. The non-electrically conducting signal may be communicated to a non-electrically conductive communication path. In this manner, the non-electrically conducting signal may have properties that do not provide imminent danger from human contact.