Scaled power line based network

Abstract

A power line communication network includes a first power line communication sub-network, a second power line communication sub-network, and an isolation filter disposed between first and second power line communication sub-networks. The isolation filter is configured to pass electrical power signals between the first and second power line communication sub-networks, and to block passage of data communication signals from the first power line communication sub-network to the second power line communication sub-network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power line communication network, comprising:
 a first power line communication sub-network;   a second power line communication sub-network; and   an isolation filter disposed between first and second power line communication sub-networks;   wherein the isolation filter is configured to:
 pass electrical power signals between the first and second power line communication sub-networks; and 
 block passage of data communication signals from the first power line communication sub-network to the second power line communication sub-network. 
   
     
     
         2 . The power line communication network of  claim 1 , wherein the isolation filter is configured to:
 pass data communication signals in a first frequency band; and   block data communication signals in a second frequency band.   
     
     
         3 . The power line communication network of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first power line communication sub-network comprises a plurality of devices configured to communicate via electrical power distribution conductors; and   the second power line communication sub-network comprises a plurality of devices configured to communicate via electrical power distribution conductors.   
     
     
         4 . The power line communication network of  claim 3 , wherein the devices of the first power line communication sub-network are configured to communicate via a plurality of non-interfering channels and different ones of the devices are configured to communicate via different channels. 
     
     
         5 . The power line communication network of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the devices of the first power line communication sub-network is configured to communicate via more than one of the channels and to pass communication between devices configured to communicate on different channels. 
     
     
         6 . The power line communication network of  claim 3 , wherein a device of the first power line communication sub-network comprises:
 a transmitter power control system configured to determine transmission power needed to communicate with a first different device of the first power line communication sub-network;   wherein the determined transmission power is insufficient to communicate with a second different device of the first power line communication sub-network.   
     
     
         7 . A power line communication network, comprising:
 a plurality of devices configured to:
 communicate over conductors of an electrical power distribution system via a plurality of non-interfering channels; 
   wherein different ones of the devices are configured to communicate via different ones of the non-interfering channels.   
     
     
         8 . The power line communication network of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the devices is configured to communicate via more than one of the non-interfering channels and to pass communication between devices configured to communicate on different non-interfering channels 
     
     
         9 . The power line communication network of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the devices comprises:
 a transmitter power control system configured to determine transmission power needed to communicate with a first different one of the devices;   wherein the determined transmission power is insufficient to communicate with a second different one of the devices.   
     
     
         10 . The power line communication network of  claim 9 , wherein the transmitter power control system is configured to exchange messages of a training sequence with the first different one of the devices to determine the transmission power. 
     
     
         11 . The power line communication network of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an isolation filter that divides the network into a first sub-network and a second sub-network, the isolation filter configured to:
 pass electrical power signals between the first and second power line communication sub-networks; and 
 block passage of data communication signals from the first sub-network to the second sub-network. 
   
     
     
         12 . The power line communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the isolation filter is configured to:
 pass data communication signals in a first frequency band; and   block data communication signals in a second frequency band.   
     
     
         13 . The power line communication network of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first sub-network comprises a first plurality of communicatively proximate devices of the power line communication network; and   the second sub-network comprises a second plurality of communicatively proximate devices of the power line communication network.   
     
     
         14 . A power line communication system, comprising:
 a first device configured to communicate via conductors of an electrical power distribution system, the first device comprising:
 a transmitter power control system configured to determine transmission power needed to communicate with a second device of the power line communication network, and to apply the determined transmission power to communicate with the second device; 
 wherein the determined transmission power is insufficient to communicate with a third device of the power line communication network, and the transmitter power control system is configured to determine transmission power needed to communicate with the third device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The power line communication network of  claim 14 , wherein the transmitter power control system is configured to determine the transmission power by exchanging messages of a training sequence with the second device. 
     
     
         16 . The power line communication network of  claim 14 , wherein the first device is configured to communicate with the second device via a first channel, and the third device is configured to communicate with a fourth device via a second channel; wherein the first channel and the second channel do not interfere with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The power line communication network of  claim 16 , further comprising a bridge device configured to communicate via the first channel and the second channel and to pass communication between devices configured to communicate on only one of the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         18 . The power line communication network of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an isolation filter that divides the network into a first sub-network and a second sub-network, the isolation filter configured to:
 pass electrical power signals between the first and second power line communication sub-networks; and 
 block passage of data communication signals from the first sub-network to the second sub-network. 
   
     
     
         19 . The power line communication network of  claim 18 , wherein the isolation filter is configured to:
 pass data communication signals in a first frequency band; and   block data communication signals in a second frequency band.   
     
     
         20 . The power line communication network of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first sub-network comprises a first plurality of communicatively proximate devices of the power line communication network; and   the second sub-network comprises a second plurality of communicatively proximate devices of the power line communication network.