Patent ID: 9413564
Filing Date: 2016-08-09
CPC Classification: H04B,H04L

Claim Text:
1. A system for transmitting electrical power and communication signals, the system comprising: a transmission line; a source of electrical power for supplying electrical power to the transmission line; a first communication unit configured to supply communication signals to the transmission line; a power extraction unit configured to extract and use electrical power from the transmission line; a second communication unit configured to receive communication signals from the transmission line; and a control unit configured to control operation of the system, wherein the source supplies electrical power to the transmission line for respective periods of time which are different from respective periods of time in which the first communication unit supplies communication signals to the transmission line, wherein the power extraction unit comprises an electrical power storage device for storing electrical power extracted from the transmission line, and wherein if the voltage of power stored in the storage device drops below a threshold level, communication signals from the first communication unit are not supplied to the transmission line and electrical power is supplied to the transmission line from the source until the voltage of power stored in the storage device is not below the threshold level.