Patent ID: 7466225

Claim:
A method of operating a power line communication system (PLCS) for communicating over an electrical power distribution network (EPDN) having a plurality medium voltage power lines, and wherein the PLCS includes a plurality of power line network elements, with each network element having a first port coupled to one of the plurality of medium voltage power lines of the EPDN at a different location and a second port in communication with one or more user devices disposed at one or more customer premises, the method comprising: storing network element information in a memory wherein said network element information comprises an address and information identifying the network element; transmitting configuration information to a network element, at least in part, via a medium voltage power line; transmitting a request for data to a network element, at least in part, via a medium voltage power line; receiving a response to said request that is transmitted, at least in part, via a medium voltage power line; and storing said response in the memory.