Meter Collar Broadband Aggregation Across Powerline and Wireless Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a challenge in providing broadband services to premises, as conventional systems struggle to penetrate structures effectively and cost-effectively, especially when wireless signals are attenuated, and existing solutions often require costly infrastructure development.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing both wired Broadband over Power Line (BPL) technology and wireless connections, such as 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz, to aggregate broadband services by transmitting conductive and RF signals through existing electrical wiring and antennas, respectively, to increase throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless technology is used to deliver high throughput services, then throughput and capacity increase, but building penetration becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines wireless broadband delivery with power line communication by aggregating both wireless signals and power line signals at the customer premises equipment. This merging allows the system to achieve high throughput via wireless while using existing power lines for signal transmission, thereby improving building penetration without requiring additional infrastructure installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using power lines as a medium to transmit broadband signals to customer premises equipment. This power line intermediary enables signal delivery through buildings that would otherwise be difficult to penetrate with wireless signals alone, solving the building penetration problem while maintaining high throughput capability.
2Productivity
If fiber-optic networks are developed to increase throughput, then throughput demands are met, but infrastructure development becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes power lines multi-functional by using them both for their traditional power delivery purpose and for broadband signal transmission. This universality eliminates the need for separate fiber-optic infrastructure, allowing high throughput delivery while avoiding costly infrastructure development, as existing power lines are reused for dual purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the power line infrastructure to serve itself by utilizing the existing power line network to transmit broadband signals without requiring separate dedicated infrastructure. This self-service approach allows the system to meet throughput demands while avoiding additional infrastructure costs, as the power lines already in place are leveraged for dual functionality.
3Ease of operation
If wireless signals are used to penetrate structures, then connectivity is provided, but signal attenuation occurs below useful levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wireless signal transmission with power line signal transmission, allowing the system to provide connectivity through wireless while using power lines to reinforce signal delivery. This combination addresses signal attenuation by providing an alternative transmission path through power lines, ensuring reliable connectivity even when wireless signals alone are insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses power lines as an intermediary transmission medium to complement wireless signals. This intermediary approach helps overcome signal attenuation by providing an additional pathway for signal delivery, ensuring that connectivity is maintained at useful signal levels even when wireless penetration is degraded by building materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively increases broadband service throughput by aggregating signals from multiple sources, providing enhanced connectivity and reducing the need for new infrastructure.
Implementation Method 1
The first signal may be transmitted via a wired connection with the router using the electrical wiring of the premise
Implementation Method 2
The second signal may be transmitted using a wireless connection with the router using 2.4 GHz and/or 5.0 GHz, for example
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a consumer premise equipment (CPE) configured to couple to an electric meter at a premise. The CPE includes one or more first antennas and a first broadband over powerline (BPL) interface. The CPE is configured to receive data from a remote device, send, via the first BPL interface, a first portion of the data over electrical wiring of the premise, and send, via the one or more first antennas, a second portion of the data. A router one or more second antennas and a second BPL interface. The router is configured to receive, via the second BPL interface, the first portion of the data, receive, via the one or more second antennas, the second portion of the data, and aggregate the first portion of the data and the second portion of the data to extend broadband services to the premise.