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 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: 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: In one embodiment, a power line communication system network element is provided that provides communications to one or more user devices. The device may also receive data from one or more sensors, such as current sensors, a voltage sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, a barometer, a motion sensor, a level sensor, and/or a vibration sensor. The device may include a controller that receives commands that relate to the collection and transmission of the sensed data via a medium voltage power line.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power line communication system network element is provided that provides communications to one or more user devices. The device may also receive data from one or more sensors, such as current sensors, a voltage sensor, a video camera, a temperature sensor, a barometer, a motion sensor, a level sensor, and/or a vibration sensor. The device may include a controller that receives commands that relate to the collection and transmission of the sensed data via a medium voltage power line.

Abstract: A method of providing communications over a plurality of sets of twisted pair conductors connected to a plurality of communication devices located in a plurality of units of a multi-unit structure is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises coupling a data signal comprising a first data packet to the plurality of sets of twisted pair conductors via a non-conductive coupler, wherein the first data packet includes a destination address. Next, the method comprises receiving the first data packet at the plurality of communication devices; providing the first data to a user device at one of the plurality of communication devices; and discarding the first data at multiple communication devices among the plurality of receiving communication devices.

Abstract: A system and method of providing communications over twisted pair conductors connected to a plurality of communication devices located in a plurality of units of a multi-unit structure is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises an upstream device having a first modem and a first non-conductive coupler communicatively coupled to the first modem and configured to couple data signals to and from the plurality of twisted pair conductors. The system also includes a plurality of communication devices disposed in a plurality of the units, with each having a second modem having first port and a second port, a second non-conductive coupler communicatively coupled to the first port of the second modem and configured to couple data signals to and from a twisted pair conductor. The second port of the second modem is configured to be coupled to one or more of the plurality of user devices.

Abstract: A passive bypass device for providing a data path around a power meter is provided. The device may be communicatively connected to two low voltage power line energized conductors on a first and a second side of a power meter. The energized power line conductors conduct both the data signals and the power. The bypass device includes a filter that causes the power to pass through the power meter while allowing the data signal to pass around the power meter thereby providing a substantially non-attenuated data signal path. The bypass device may include a first and second data path for the first and second energized conductors and with each path having a high pass filter and a fuse communicatively connected to its respective energized conductor on each side of the power meter.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A system, device, and method of using a power line communication device that is communicatively connected to a low voltage power line to establish communications with one or more electronic utility meters is provided. In one embodiment the method includes setting an encryption key parameter to a first encryption key used by the one or more electronic utility meters, establishing communications via one or more low voltage power lines with at least some of the utility meters using the first encryption key, assessing the quality of communications with at least some of the utility meters, transmitting communications quality data to a remote computer system; receiving information of one or more assigned meters from the remote computer system; and storing information of the assigned meters in memory.

Abstract: An automated meter reading power line communications system is provided, which may include, in one embodiment, measuring the utility usage of a first customer premises to provide first utility usage data, storing the first utility usage data in memory of a first device, wirelessly transmitting the first utility usage data from the first device, receiving the wirelessly transmitted first utility usage data at a second device coupled to a medium voltage power line, and transmitting the first utility usage data over the medium voltage power line.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention may include of plurality of wireless hops that provide a multi-hop wireless link for facilitating the communication of voice, video, audio, and other data in a packet based network between a broadband power line communications network and a conventional telecommunications link (such as a fiber optic link), which may be connected to another network such as the Internet via a point-of-presence.

Abstract: A power line communications system (PLCS) that provides communications to one or more user devices by repeating data packets on the power distribution network is provided. The PLCS may employ any or all of the MV power line conductors and/or the neutral conductor and be dynamically and remotely transitioned to one of a plurality of potential configurations.

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 device for bi-directional amplification of data signals over power lines is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a bandpass filter, a frequency converter and an amplifier. The bandpass filter filters out undesired frequencies and the frequency converter converts the frequency band of the data signals to a different frequency band. The output of the filter is provided to the amplifier for amplifying the frequency converted data signals for transmission over power line.

Abstract: A system and method of providing wireless communications services within a first geographical area using a network comprising a group of cells, wherein a plurality of the cells have overlapping coverage areas is provided.

Abstract: A passive bypass device for providing a data path around a power meter is provided. The device may be communicatively connected to two low voltage power line energized conductors on a first and a second side of a power meter. The energized power line conductors conduct both the data signals and the power. The bypass device includes a filter that causes the power to pass through the power meter while allowing the data signal to pass around the power meter thereby providing a substantially non-attenuated data signal path. The bypass device may include a first and second data path for the first and second energized conductors and with each path having a high pass filter and a fuse communicatively connected to its respective energized conductor on each side of the power meter.