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 system and method of detecting changes in the impedance of a segment of medium voltage power line is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving voltage data comprising data of the voltage of the power lines at locations at a plurality of different points in time, receiving current data that comprises data of the current flowing between adjacent locations at the plurality of points in time, intermittently determining an impedance of the power lines between adjacent locations based on the voltage data and current data, monitoring the impedance of the power lines between adjacent locations over time, and providing a notification of a change in the impedance of a power line between adjacent locations upon detection of a change in the impedance beyond a threshold change.

Abstract: A device and method for attenuating high frequency signals on a power line carrying power is provided. In one embodiment the device may include a toroid shaped core formed of magnetically permeable material and having an inner surface to be disposed substantially around the entire circumference of the power line and a winding formed of a conductor that encircles the toroid. The conductor may include a first spiral coil comprised of a plurality of insulated loops such as concentric loops. The first coil is configured to act as an impedance to high frequency signals traversing the conductor and to allow signals below one hundred hertz to traverse the conductor substantially unimpeded to thereby prevent saturation of the core by the power carried by the power line.

Abstract: A system, device, and method of detecting an overload condition of a distribution transformer that supplies power to one or more customer premises via a low voltage subnet is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises determining the power output of the transformer; storing in a memory a threshold power value for the transformer; determining whether the power output exceeds the threshold power value; and, if the output power exceeds the threshold power value, providing a notification. Providing the notification may include wirelessly transmitting the notification and/or transmitting the notification over a medium voltage power line. The low voltage subnet may comprise a low voltage feeder that supplies power to a plurality of low voltage supply lines that extend to the customer premises in which case determining the output power may comprise measuring a voltage of the low voltage feeder and measuring a current traversing the low voltage feeder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communication device for use with a power line communication system. One embodiment of the present invention forms a bypass device and comprises a LV coupler, a LV signal conditioner, a controller, a MV modem, a first MV signal conditioner, an isolator, a second MV signal conditioner, and a MV coupler. The controller may provide routing functions to give priority to certain types of data, control access to the network, filter data packets, process software upgrades, and provision new subscriber devices. In addition, the controller may monitor, process, and transmit traffic data, measured power data, errors, and other collected data.

Abstract: A signal is received from a first portion of a power line via a connection to the 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.

Abstract: A system, device and method of determining an efficiency of a distribution transformer that receives power from a medium voltage power line and that provides power to a plurality of customer premises via a low voltage subnet is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes determining an input power to the transformer from the medium voltage power line, determining an output power from the transformer, determining a transformer efficiency based on the input power and the output power, comparing the transformer efficiency with a threshold efficiency, and providing a notification when the transformer efficiency is below a threshold efficiency. Determining the input power may include measuring the current input and estimating the voltage input based on a voltage measure of the low voltage subnet and the turns ratio of the transformer.

Abstract: A power line communications system that facilitates the provision of differentiated data services is provided. One embodiment of the present invention may include tagging downstream data at an ingress point, such as a point of presence or aggregation point. The tagging of data packets may allow the power line communication network elements such as backhaul points, bypass devices, and repeaters to determine the data type and class of service of each data packet and may allow the network elements to prioritize, queue and transmit the data packets accordingly. Such queuing may employ the use of multiple queues with some queues having different sizes and different weight factors from other queues.

Abstract: A transmit and receive circuit for use in power line communication devices is provided. One embodiment of the circuit includes a receive channel with a first delay circuit coupled to a first switch having an open configuration and a closed configuration a first switch. The circuit also may include a transmit channel coupled to the receive channel at a node and including a second delay circuit coupled to a second switch having an open configuration and a closed configuration. When the switch of either channel is closed, the switch of the other channel is open. Data signals traversing either channel when that channel's switch is closed, are phase shifted approximately three hundred and sixty degrees and conducted back to the node.

Abstract: A method of designing a power line communication system networks is provided. One embodiment of the present invention may include identifying a position of a backhaul point on a medium voltage power line, identifying positions for a plurality of bypass devices on the medium voltage line that are configured to communicate with the backhaul point, determining an anticipated attenuation for a communication link associated with each of the bypass devices, and comparing the anticipated attenuations with a link budget value. If the anticipated attenuation of any of the communication links is greater than the link budget, the method may include further improving the network by changing the coupling conductor or employing lower through loss couplers for select devices.

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 system for detecting the contact of vegetation or other objects with a power line conductor and that may provide an automated notification thereof is provided. In one embodiment, the system may assess one or more power line communication links to determine baseline performance parameters thereof and set associated communication thresholds. The system may also include sensors for measuring wind speed, power line voltages, and/or other data. In one embodiment, the measured data may continuously be time stamped and stored in memory. Sensed data such as voltage and/or wind speed is analyzed during the time of a degradation of a communication link. If there is a correlation in the occurrence of increased wind speed or decrease in voltage and one or more degradations of a communication channel, a notification may be transmitted.

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, device and method for providing communications to a plurality of customer premises via one or more external low voltage power lines is provided. One embodiment of the system includes a power line communication device comprising a first modem configured to communicate over the one or more external low voltage power lines. The system further includes a plurality of wireless interface devices, each located at, and external to, a respective one of the plurality of customer premises. Each wireless interface device may includes a first communication module configured to communicate with the power line communication device via the external low voltage power line; and a second communication module in communication with the first communication module and configured to provide wireless communications for one or more remote devices within the respective customer premises.

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 system and method for multi-dwelling unit structures that provides broadband communications for internet access, voice over IP (VoIP), streaming video, audio, and other high speed applications and services is provided. One example embodiment includes a first communication device comprising an upstream port and a downstream port. The embodiment also includes a plurality of second communication devices with each second communication device configured to provide communications to user devices located on a different floors. The second communication devices may each include a low voltage power line port configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices via a low voltage power line and a second port for communicating with the first communication device. The first and second devices may also include router functionality.

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: 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.