Patent ID: 8120507
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A communication system for communicating with devices attached to an underwater cable, the system comprising: a two-wire communication line disposed along the length of an underwater cable; a plurality of repeater units disposed at spaced apart locations along the length of the underwater cable and connected in series with the two-wire communication line to divide the line into segments between consecutive repeaters; a plurality of communication coils connected across the two-wire communication line in the segments for communicating inductively with devices attached to the underwater cable; a high-speed data link operating through the repeaters at a first data rate over the entire length of the communication line; a plurality of low-speed data links, each operating at a second data rate lower than the first data rate on one of the segments between repeater units to send data to and receive data from the devices over the communication coils.