Patent ID: 7813099
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A powerstrip apparatus having powerline networking capability, the power strip apparatus comprising: a housing member, the housing member including an outer region and an inner region; an AC power line coupled to the housing member, the AC powerline including a male connector device; a surge protector coupled to the AC power line, the surge protector within a first portion of the inner region of the housing member; one or more AC power outlets coupled to the surge protector, the one or more AC power outlets being spatially disposed on a first portion of the outer region of the housing member; an on/off switch coupled between the one or more AC power outlets and the surge protector; a powerline coupler for coupling a power line device to the AC powerline, wherein the coupling of the power line device to the AC powerline is achieved using three phases, wherein a data signal from the AC powerline is injected directly into each of the three phases, and wherein the three phases are not coupled to each other upon the injection; the power line device coupled to the AC powerline, the power line device being adapted to process the data signal from the AC powerline in a first format to a second format; a switching power supply coupled to the AC powerline, the switching power supply being adapted to convert an AC power signal into a DC signal for use with the power line device; and a multi-port switch coupled to the power line device, the multi-port switch being adapted to couple to the data signal in the second format, the multiport switch having a first output and an Nth output, where N is an integer greater than 1.