Patent ID: 6885674

Claim:
A communications system for providing broadband communications between a distribution center and at least one remote location, together defining a network segment, where a medium voltage (MV) cable of an electrical power distribution system serves as a communication channel (medium) for the network segment, the communication system comprising: a power line telecommunications (PLT) controller having: a distribution modem ( 62 ) for receiving a first (downstream) media signal so as to generate a first (downstream) RF signal that is modulated by said first media signal and for demodulating a second (upstream) RF signal so as to extract a second (upstream) media signal, the distribution modem including means ( 64 , 66 ), in cooperative engagement with the MV cable, for exciting the MV cable with the first (downstream) RF signal for receiving the second (upstream) RF signal on the MV cable, a power line telecommunications (PLT) controller module ( 23 ) operatively communicating with the distribution modem, having means for controlling the generation of the first (downstream) media signal so as to cause at least one of the at least one remote location to extract the first (downstream) media signal, the PLT controller module further having means for controlling the generation of a second (upstream) media signal at the at least one remote location; and at least one power line telecommunications (PLT) station ( 30 ), each station having: a second modem ( 32 ) for demodulating the first (downstream) RF signal so as to extract the first (downstream) media signal, the second modem having means ( 34 , 36 ), in cooperative engagement with the MV cable for receiving the first (downstream) RF signal and for exciting said MV cable with the second (upstream) RF signal, and a PLT station module ( 31 ) operatively communicating with the second modem ( 32 ), having means for accepting the extracted first (downstream) media signal if the signal is intended for the PLT station; and further having means for generating the second (upstream) media signal for presentation to the second modem for modulation thereof to form the second (upstream) RF signal; whereby the PLT controller controls generation of all first (downstream) RF signals for distribution to the at least one PLT station and further controls the generation of second (upstream) RF signals to the PLT controller from the at least one PLT station.