US2008012724A1PendingUtilityA1

Power line communications module and method

47
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 30, 2006Filed: Jan 30, 2006Published: Jan 17, 2008
Est. expiryJan 30, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Kevin CorcoranJames MollenkopfTerry Bernstein
Y02B90/20Y04S20/30G01D 4/004
47
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A device and method for communicating user data and utility metrology data over a power line is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a utility parameter to provide the utility data; storing the utility data in memory; transmitting the utility data over the power line; receiving first data via the power line from a first device; and transmitting the first data over the power line to a second device. In addition, the method may include receiving the first data and transmitting the first data with different encryption keys and also determining if the first data includes control data.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method of communicating data over a power line, comprising: 
 measuring a utility parameter to provide utility data;    storing the utility data in memory;    transmitting the utility data over the power line;    receiving first data via the power line from a first device; and    transmitting the first data over the power line to a second device.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving second data via the power line; and    not transmitting the second data over the power line.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises a medium voltage (MV) access device.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises a user device.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 decrypting the received first data with a first key; and    encrypting the first data with a second key prior to said transmitting of the first data.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first data is received in a first frequency band and transmitted in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 determining whether the first data is to be repeated; and    transmitting the first data over the power line only if the first user data is to be repeated.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising determining whether the first data includes a command if the first data is not to be repeated.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving first data and said transmitting first data are performed with different encryption keys.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising determining if the first data includes control data.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving and said transmitting of the first data are performed by the same modem.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receiving and said transmitting of the first data are performed by different modems.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a command to disable repeating.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a command that includes a request to transmit the utility data.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving second data via the power line from the second device; and    transmitting the second data over the power line to the first device.    
     
     
         16 . A device for communicating user data and utility over a power line; comprising: 
 a memory configured to store utility data;    a processor in communication with said memory;    a communication module in communication with said processor and configured to be communicatively coupled to the power line;    wherein said processor is configured to cause said module to transmit utility data over the power line; and    wherein said processor is configured to cause said module to receive and transmit user data via the power line.    
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the power line includes a first and second energized conductor and said module is configured to be communicatively coupled to the first and the second energized conductor to differentially transmit data signals over the energized conductors.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the power line comprises an external power line supplying power to a customer premises and the user data includes data received from a user device in the customer premises.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the user data includes data received from a MV power line access device.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the MV power line access device comprises a transformer bypass device.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said module is configured to receive and decrypt user data with a first encryption key and to encrypt and transmit user data with a second encryption key.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said module is further configured to receive and decrypt user data with the second first encryption key and to encrypt and transmit user data with the first encryption key.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said communication module includes a first and second modem configured to be coupled to the power line.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising a data signal impedance configured to be coupled to the power line to between said first and second modems.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein said first and second modem are configured to communicate using different encryption keys.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein said communication module includes only a single modem.  
     
     
         27 . A method of communicating utility data and non-utility data over a power line, comprising: 
 storing the utility data in memory;    transmitting the utility data over the power line;    receiving first data via the power line;    determining whether the first data is to be repeated; and    transmitting the first data over the power line if the first data is to be repeated.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising determining whether the first data includes a command.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said receiving the first data and said transmitting the first data are performed with different encryption keys.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said determining includes determining if the first data includes control data.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said receiving the first data and said transmitting the first data are performed in different frequency bands.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said receiving the first data and said transmitting the first data are performed by the same modem.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising receiving a command to disable repeating.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising receiving a command that includes a request to transmit the utility data.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising receiving a command to enable repeating.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said transmitting the utility data is performed periodically.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said transmitting the utility data is performed intermittently.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising: 
 receiving program code via the power line; and    storing the program code in memory.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising 
 receiving second data via the power line; and    transmitting the second data over the power line.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein 
 said receiving the first data and said transmitting the second data are performed with a first encryption key; and    said receiving the second data and said transmitting the first data are performed with a second encryption key .    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising transmitting an alert over the power line based on the value of the utility data.

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