Patent ID: 7098773
Filing Date: 2006-08-29
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A power line communications system for providing communications for one or more user devices via one or more low voltage power line subnets, wherein each low voltage power line subnet is electrically connected to a distribution transformer connected to a medium voltage power line, the system comprising: a first communications device comprising a first non-power line communications medium interface, and a backhaul link interface configured to communicate via over a non-power line communication medium and in communication with said first non-power line communications medium interface; a non-power line wired communications medium extending substantially parallel to the medium voltage power line and wherein said first non-power line communications medium interface is coupled to said non-power line wired communications medium; a second communications device comprising a second non-power line communications medium interface communicatively coupled to said non-power line wired communications medium and comprising a first modem, and a first low voltage (LV) power line interface in communications with said second non-power line communications medium interface and comprising a second modem and a first router in communication with said second modem; wherein said second communications device is in communication with said first communications device via said non-power line wired communications medium; wherein said second communications device is in communication with one or more of the user devices via a first low voltage power line subnet communicatively coupled to said first LV power line interface; a third communications device comprising a third non-power line communications medium interface communicatively coupled to said non-power line wired communications medium and comprising a third modem, and a second LV power line interface in communications with said third non-power line communications medium interface and comprising a fourth modem and a second router in communication with said fourth modem; wherein said third communications device is in communication with said first communications device via the non-power line wired communications medium; and wherein said third communications device is in communication with one or more of the user devices via a second low voltage power line subnet communicatively coupled to said second LV power line interface.