Wi-Fi/BPL Dual Mode Repeaters for Power Line Networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for maintaining network connectivity over power lines is disclosed. Such network connectivity is maintained even if various customers are covered by different power line networks or if one or more power lines in a network are unavailable to transmit data. More particularly, in order to bridge a gap in a power line network, one or more messages are extracted from a first node in a power line network and are then transmitted to a second node via free space transmission, illustratively wireless radio frequency (RF) transmission conforming to one or more of the 802.11a, b or g standards. When those messages are received at the second node, the message is injected back into the power line on the other side of a gap in power line coverage. This method of transmission backup will continue until power line connectivity is restore upon which the preferred method will be selected and used.

1 . A method for transmitting information, comprising:
 transmitting a message over a first power line segment of a power line network;   performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of the message and wired transmission of the message; and   transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting the message via wireless transmission to the second power line segment in response to the cost comparison indicating that the cost of the wired transmission is greater than the cost of the wireless transmission.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the cost comparison comprises:
 determining whether wireless transmission of the message or wired transmission of the message provides higher data throughput.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the cost comparison comprises:
 comparing data transmission errors via wireless transmission of the message and data transmission errors via wired transmission of the message.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the cost comparison is in response to a detection of an interruption in the power line network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the interruption in the power line network comprises:
 a break in data transmission between the first power line segment and the second power line segment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first power line segment comprises a first radio transceiver and the second power line segment comprises a second radio transceiver. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the message via wired transmission to the second power line segment further comprises:
 extracting the message from a first node in the first power line segment; and   transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second node in the second power line segment.   
     
     
         9 . A power line network, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of a message and wired transmission of the message, the message being transmitted over a first power line segment of the power line network; and 
 transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission. 
   
     
     
         10 . The power line network of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting the message via wireless transmission to the second power line segment in response to the cost comparison indicating that the cost of wired transmission is greater than the cost of wireless transmission.   
     
     
         11 . The power line network of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of performing the cost comparison further comprises:
 determining whether wireless transmission of the message or wired transmission of the message provides higher data throughput.   
     
     
         12 . The power line network of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of performing the cost comparison further comprises:
 comparing data transmission errors via wireless transmission of the message and data transmission errors via wired transmission of the message.   
     
     
         13 . The power line network of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of performing the cost comparison is in response to a detection of an interruption in the power line network. 
     
     
         14 . The power line network of  claim 13 , wherein the interruption in the power line network comprises:
 a break in data transmission between the first power line segment and the second power line segment.   
     
     
         15 . The power line network of  claim 9 , wherein the first power line segment comprises a first radio transceiver and the second power line segment comprises a second radio transceiver. 
     
     
         16 . The power line network of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of transmitting the message via wired transmission to the second power line segment further comprises:
 extracting the message from a first node in the first power line segment; and   transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second node in the second power line segment.   
     
     
         17 . A computer readable medium storing computer program instructions, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 performing a cost comparison between wireless transmission of a message and wired transmission of the message, the message being transmitted over a first power line segment of a power line network; and   transmitting the message via wired transmission to a second power line segment of the power line network in response to the cost comparison indicating that a cost of the wired transmission is less than a cost of the wireless transmission.   
     
     
         18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 transmitting the message via wireless transmission to the second power line segment in response to the cost comparison indicating that the cost of the wired transmission is greater than the cost of the wireless transmission.   
     
     
         19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operation of performing the cost comparison further comprises:
 determining whether wireless transmission of the message or wired transmission of the message provides higher data throughput.   
     
     
         20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operation of performing the cost comparison further comprises:
 comparing data transmission errors via wireless transmission of the message and data transmission errors via wired transmission of the message.