Patent ID: 9461700
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: H04B,H04J

Claim Text:
1. In a two-way communications system used by an electrical utility wherein the system sends outbound messages and receives inbound messages over the utility's power distribution system supplying a mains signal, an apparatus comprising: a signal modulator providing a communications signal s(t) including a message modulated on a carrier signal; and a transmitter receiving the communications signal and transmitting a corresponding outbound message signal via the power distribution system, wherein said transmitter includes: a spreader for spreading the spectrum of the segmented communications signal before transmitting the outbound message signal such that the outbound message signal transmitted by the transmitter is substantially orthogonal to a source of interference on the power distribution system wherein the spreader applies a spreading code to the segmented communications signal including multiplying each mains cycle section of the segmented communications signal by one of a series of spreading coefficients, each spreading coefficient defined as a