Abstract: A flexible, reconfigurable, power efficient transmitter device and method is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving outbound data and determining a mode of operation. When operating in a first mode the method may include modulation mapping the outbound data according a modulation scheme to provide first modulation mapped digital data, converting the first modulation mapped digital data to an analog signal that comprises an intermediate frequency (IF) analog signal, upconverting the IF analog signal to produce a first modulated radio frequency (RF) signal based on a local oscillator signal, amplifying the first RF modulated signal to produce a first RF output signal, and outputting the first RF output signal via an isolator.

Abstract: A method of providing advertising from a central database server connected to a global computer network to distributed sites via interactive television. A representative icon is presented to a subscriber on a television screen indicating an advertisement. When a the icon is selected, an advertisement information detail is retrieved from storage in a local memory, or from the central database server and presented to the subscriber on the television screen.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the quality of communications provided by a plurality of mobile telephones is provided. The method may comprise, for example, receiving one or more telephone voice signals from each mobile telephone; storing the one or more telephone voice signals in a memory; concurrently with aid receiving telephone voice signals from a mobile telephone, receiving one or more reference device voice signals from a reference device substantially co-located with the mobile telephone; storing the one or more reference device voice signals in a memory; determining voice quality data for the telephone voice signals; determining voice quality data for the reference device voice signals concurrently received with the telephone voice signals; and normalizing the voice quality data of the telephone voice signals from each mobile telephone based on the voice quality data of the reference device voice signals concurrently received with the telephone voice signals.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a forensic analysis of a subject computer having a non-volatile memory with a second computer is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes executing on the subject computer a first code segment configured to provide communications via a non-proprietary communication protocol such as the Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) protocol; establishing a connection between the second computer and the subject computer via the non-proprietary communication protocol. The non-proprietary communication protocol includes one or more write operations for writing data to a non-volatile memory in response to one or more write commands and the first code segment is configured to not write data to the non-volatile memory of the subject computer in response to receipt of the one or more write commands. The method may include performing a first forensic analysis of the subject computer via the connection.

Abstract: A power line coupler for communicating data signals between a communication device and a power distribution system having one or more overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. One embodiment comprises a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to the first power line conductor and the second end of the first lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a first terminal of the communication device. The embodiment further includes a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end and wherein the first end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be connected to a second power line conductor, and the second end of the second lightening arrestor is configured to be communicatively coupled to a second terminal of the communication device.

Abstract: A power line communication system communicating over a medium voltage power line including a VoIP endpoint that transmits voice data and requests to establish a voice connection to a medium voltage (MV) access device is provided. The medium voltage access device may determine a response to the request, allocate voice data packets a higher priority than general data packets, and transmit the data packets over the MV power line according to their priority. The MV access device may provide one or more voice over internet protocol (VoIP) switch functions and, in response to the requests, grant or deny the requests based, for example, on the number of established voice connections.

Abstract: A communications device including a port that is capable of communicating with a user device, a controller connected to the port, a power line modem connected to the controller, and a network modem connected to the controller.

Abstract: A method for providing power line communications in a multi-unit building is provided. One embodiment includes determining the quality of a communication link associated with each of a plurality of communication nodes, selecting one of the plurality of communication nodes based, at least in part, on the quality of the communication links associated with the communication nodes; and establishing communications with an external network through the selected one communication node. In addition, in some embodiments at least one of the communication links associated with the plurality of communication nodes includes a non-conductive radio frequency coupled segment.

Abstract: A device for providing power factor correction of a low voltage subnet that includes a low voltage feeder line that is connected to one or more low voltage power supply lines that supply power to one or more customer premises is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a power factor measurement module configured to measure power parameters for determining a power factor of the power traversing the low voltage subnet; a power factor correction assembly configured to vary a capacitance connected to the low voltage feeder of the low voltage subnet; a controller in communication with the power factor measurement assembly and the power factor correction assembly. The controller may be configured to cause the power factor correction assembly to change the capacitance based on the determined power factor. The controller may form part of a power line communication device configured to provide communications to the one or more customer premises.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A power line coupler for communicating data signals over a power distribution system having a first and second overhead energized medium voltage power line conductors is provided. In one embodiment, the coupler includes a first lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first arrestor is connected to the first power line conductor. The coupler further includes a first high frequency impedance having a first end connected to the second end of the first lightening arrestor and the first impedance having a second end connected to a neutral conductor of the power line distribution system. The coupler may further include a second lightening arrestor having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second arrestor is connected to the second power line conductor. The coupler further including a second high frequency impedance having a first end connected to the second end of the second lightening arrestor and a second end connected to the neutral conductor.

Abstract: A power line communication device is provided that in one embodiment includes a parameter sensor device configured to measure a parameter of a power line, a modem configured to transmit parameter data over a power line, and a controller communicatively coupled to the current sensor device and modem. The parameter sensor device may include a current sensor device that includes a Rogowski coil. For measuring the current or other parameter of a higher voltage power line conductor, the parameter sensor device may be configured to provide data to the controller via a non-conductive communication link, such as via a wireless, fiber optic, or radio frequency transponder link. In addition, the parameter sensor device may include an isolated power source and receive power via a fiber optic conductor or inductively from the power line.

Abstract: A power line communication device configured to facilitate communications over a low voltage power line between a downstream user device and an external power line communication device is provided. In one embodiment, the device may include a communication module configured to communicate over a low voltage power line and a controller configured to control the module. The controller is configured to operate the module in a first configuration in which all repeating is disabled; and a second configuration wherein upstream repeating is enabled and downstream repeating is disabled. The controller may transition from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a command received via the low voltage power line or upon determining that a triggering event has been detected such as an unacceptable data rate, error rate, or noise detection. In some embodiments, the device may form part of a utility meter and also transmit utility data to the power line communication device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing customized content for a plurality of users is provided. In one embodiment, the method may comprise receiving user information from a plurality of users including location information of each user. For each of the plurality of users, the method may include constructing first compilation data that includes information of a first plurality of content elements and wherein the first compilation data constructed for each use may be different. For each of the plurality of users, the method may further include presenting the content elements of the first compilation data to each of the plurality of respective users. The first compilation data may be constructed from a first template, and the method may further comprise receiving feedback from a set of the users, modifying the respective first template of the set of users based on the feedback, and constructing second compilation data that includes information of a second plurality of content elements for the set of users.

Abstract: The invention includes a device and a method for testing a communication network that includes an Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. The inventive device includes a user interface for communicating results of a test, a transceiver for allowing the test device to communicate with a telecommunications network, and a digital signal processor for reformatting a communication signal to be tested by the device. The digital signal processor may include at least one coder/decoder that uses various compression protocols including wherein the digital signal processor uses at least one of the following data compression techniques: G.711a-law, G711?-law, G.720, G.723.1, G.726, G.728, G.729, G.729A, and G.729AB2. The transceiver also may be a power line modem. The inventive device may include a processor, random access memory, read only memory, a user interface, and a network interface.

Abstract: A power line based communication system includes a powerline termination module, a plurality of powerline gateways, and a plurality of powerline nodes. AC coupling modules couple powerline nodes to medium voltage power lines. One AC coupling module includes a housing having an upper portion that contains a transformer and a lower portion that contains a power node. Another AC coupling module intercouples a powerline node to a test point of a dead front transformer. Still another AC coupling module employs a surge arrestor to couple signals between a powerline node and a medium voltage transmission line. Yet another AC coupling module clamps on a medium voltage power line to couple signals between a powerline node and a medium voltage power line.

Abstract: An automated utility data service system for communicating over a telecommunication medium that also communicates user data is provided. One embodiment includes a first transceiver coupled to a telecommunication medium and configured to receive user data in a customer premises via the telecommunication medium, and a modem communicatively coupled to a sensor configured to provide utility data. The first said first modem is communicatively coupled to the telecommunication medium, directly or indirectly to transmit the utility data over the telecommunication medium. The telecommunication medium may be a cable television coaxial cable, a fiber optic broadband internet cable, or a digital subscriber line twisted pair.

Abstract: An underground power line is coupled to an overhead power line at a riser pole. In a power line communication system, a first and a second communication device are communicatively coupled to the underground power line at different locations. A third communication device is located in the vicinity of the riser pole. The third communication device is coupled to one of either the underground power line or the overhead power line. The first communication device is configured to transmit data received from said second communication device for reception by said third communication device. The third communication device may include a backhaul link for communicating via a non-power line medium, such as to an upstream node or aggregation point coupled to an IP network.

Abstract: A versatile power line communication device is provided. One embodiment of the device includes a controller having memory, a first modem in communication with the controller, and a first power line interface including a second modem, wherein the second modem is in communication with the controller. The embodiment may also include a switch communicatively coupled to the controller and having an upstream port and a downstream port. The switch may be configured to communicate data from one of the upstream port to the downstream port, and vice versa, without the data being supplied to the controller. The switch may also have a data port configured to be coupled to high data rate devices such as mobile telephone cell sites.

Abstract: A method for monitoring voice quality in a communication network. In a first embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: establishing a voice communication pathway (VCPW) between first and second telephone terminals; establishing speech cadence between first and second terminals, wherein the terminals alternate between opposing send and listen/receive modes such that when one of the terminals is sending a voice test message the other terminal is either listening for or receiving the voice test message and vice versa; and calculating a voice quality score for one or more received voice test messages. In a second embodiment, synchronous cadence is established between a plurality of telephone terminals and a voice recognition server (VRS).