Abstract: A fiber storage unit, including a base, a ring adapted to rotate relative to the base and a fiber fixedly attached at a first point to the base and at a second point to the ring. The fiber is attached in a manner that the fiber portion between the first and second points is arranged as a spiral which changes its number of rounds when the ring is rotated relative to the base, but the fiber portion beyond the first point is not substantially twisted by rotation of the ring. The fiber preserves a bending radius above a critical bending radius of the fiber.

Abstract: A mechanical fiber optic switch including a plurality of first optical fibers, having optical interface ends distributed along a longitudinal axis in a plurality of longitudinal levels, two or more of the longitudinal levels including a plurality of optical interface ends in different radial angles. In addition, the switch includes a plurality of second fibers movable relative to the longitudinal axis, such that each of the second fibers can be optically coupled with the optical interface ends of first fibers in a specific respective radial angle. A fiber gripper is adapted to move the second fibers and a movement mechanism is adapted to move the fiber gripper along the longitudinal axis and to achieve relative rotation of the fiber gripper around the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A mechanical fiber optic switch, comprising a base structure, a plurality of first optical fibers mounted on the base structure, arranged such that their ends are adapted to move along respective paths together defining a curved cylinder surface, a plurality of second optical fibers adapted to be optically coupled to selected ones of the first fibers, and a movable control unit adapted to move relative to the base structure and to selectively control movement of the ends of the first optical fibers along their respective paths and to selectively control movement of each of the second optical fibers without moving therewith at least one of the other second fibers.

Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling a maximal bandwidth limit of one or more clients in a network connecting the clients to a remote point through a plurality of nodes. The method includes monitoring one or more parameters of the traffic through a first node of the network, determining whether the value of the one or more monitored parameters fulfills a predetermined condition, changing the maximal bandwidth limit of one or more clients of the network, responsive to a determination that the value of the one or more parameters fulfills the condition and imposing the maximal bandwidth on the one or more clients by a second node of the network different from the first node.

Abstract: Communication apparatus, comprising: a network of power lines; and first, second and third transceivers, coupled to the network, the first transceiver being adapted to transmit a first signal over the network to the second transceiver within a selected frequency band at a transmission power level sufficiently strong that the first signal can be decoded by the second transceiver, but is attenuated sufficiently when it reaches the third transceiver so that the third transceiver can receive a second signal over the network in the selected frequency band substantially without interference by the first signal.

Abstract: A method of connecting a power line modem to an external network. The method includes receiving, by the power line modem, a plurality of packets directly transmitted from a plurality of neighboring devices connected to the power lines, determining for each of the plurality of neighboring devices, a cost of a route to an access unit, through the neighboring device, responsive to the received packets, and selecting an access unit to service the power line modem, responsive to the determination of the costs.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method that may enable recognition, identification and/or diagnosis of malfunctioning elements in a power grid. The system includes a processor running a diagnostics algorithm to determine grid element problems from measured transmission signals.

Abstract: A method for communication over a network of power lines (34), including establishing a communication link within a selected frequency band over the network between a first transceiver (32B) coupled to the network and a second transceiver (32C) coupled to the network. The method further includes transmitting a first signal over the link from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at a transmission power level that is sufficiently strong that the signal can be decoded by the second transceiver, but is attenuated sufficiently when it reaches a third transceiver (32E) coupled to the network so that the third transceiver can receive a second signal over the network in the selected frequency band substantially without interference by the first signal.

Abstract: A method for communication over a network of power lines (34), including establishing a communication link within a selected frequency band over the network between a first transceiver (32B) coupled to the network and a second transceiver (32C) coupled to the network. The method further includes transmitting a first signal over the link from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at a transmission power level that is sufficiently strong that the signal can be decoded by the second transceiver, but is attenuated sufficiently when it reaches a third transceiver (32E) coupled to the network so that the third transceiver can receive a second signal over the network in the selected frequency band substantially without interference by the first signal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data over lines of power line network comprising: inductively generating opposite polarity currents representing the data on first and second lines of a pair of lines of the network at a first location along the lines that propagate along the lines; and sensing the propagated currents at a second location along the lines.

Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling a maximal bandwidth limit of one or more clients in a network connecting the clients to a remote point through a plurality of nodes. The method includes monitoring one or more parameters of the traffic through a first node of the network, determining whether the value of the one or more monitored parameters fulfills a predetermined condition, changing the maximal bandwidth limit of one or more clients of the network, responsive to a determination that the value of the one or more parameters fulfills the condition and imposing the maximal bandwidth on the one or more clients by a second node of the network different from the first node.

Abstract: A modem which includes an application interface for receiving packets to be transmitted on an electrical power network, a network interface connecting the modem to the electric power network, at least one media access control (MAC) unit adapted to perform MAC layer tasks in accordance with at least two different MAC protocols, on packets received from the application interface, and at least one physical layer unit adapted to transmit packets from the at least one MAC unit onto the electric power network, through the network interface, in a same frequency band.

Abstract: A method for communication includes establishing a data link between first and second transceivers (32,34) over an electric power line (24). A sequence of data packets is received for transmission over the data link, the sequence belonging to a session of a connectionless real-time network protocol. Responsive to a first packet in the sequence, a reliable connection channel for the session is established over the data link between the first and second transceivers. The packets in the sequence are transmitted from the first to the second transceiver over the reliable connection channel.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data over lines of power line network comprising: inductively generating opposite polarity currents representing the data on first and second lines of a pair of lines of the network at a first location along the lines that propagate along the lines; and sensing the propagated currents at a second location along the lines.

Abstract: A method for communication over a network of power lines (34), including establishing a communication link within a selected frequency band over the network between a first transceiver (32B) coupled to the network and a second transceiver (32C) coupled to the network. The method further includes transmitting a first signal over the link from the first transceiver to the second transceiver at a transmission power level that is sufficiently strong that the signal can be decoded by the second transceiver, but is attenuated sufficiently when it reaches a third transceiver (32E) coupled to the network so that the third transceiver can receive a second signal over the network in the selected frequency band substantially without interference by the first signal.