Patent ID: 7672591

Claim:
A system for electrically powering a network element of a communication network for communicating data between a service provider and a subscriber premise, the network element coupled to at least one optical fiber from the service provider and coupled to at least one electrical wire or cable from the subscriber premise, the system comprising: at the subscriber premise, a power source producing an electrical power output having a current and a voltage, a first communication device for transmitting and receiving electrical communication signals, and a first electrical coupling device coupled to the electrical wire or cable and coupled to the power source and the first communication device for combining the electrical power output of the power source with the electrical communication signals of the first communication device as a combined signal onto the electrical wire or cable for transmission to the network element; and at the network element, a second electrical coupling device coupled to the electrical wire or cable from the subscriber premise for separating the electrical power output from the electrical communication signals, a second communication device coupled to the second electrical coupling device for receiving and transmitting electrical communication signals, and a power converter coupled to the second communication device for accepting the electrical power output and to provide the electrical power for use by the network element; whereby the network element is in communication with the service provider over the optical fiber and is electrically powered from the subscriber premise through the same electrical wire or cable carrying the electrical communication signals between the network element and the subscriber premise.