Method and system of combining signals in bpl communications

Abstract

A system for communicating BPL signals is provided, including a BPL modem having a first internal modem and a second internal modem, the first internal modem and the second internal modem each in communication with a RF combiner; the RF combiner in communication with a medium voltage power line; and wherein the RF combiner combines signals from the first internal modem and the second internal modem into a single signal, and communicates the single signal to the medium voltage power line.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to broadband over power line (“BPL”) communications, and more particularly to such communications between a BPL modem and a medium voltage (“MV”) power line.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Using BPL communications on MV power lines requires repeating or regenerating signals at various intervals to maintain sufficient signal strength to reach the signal destination. Such signal regeneration may be done by BPL modems connected to the MV power line. When multiple devices try to communicate over a single physical line, the devices must follow a specified scheme to share the physical resource and to avoid interfering with each other. There are two such schemes commonly used, one referred to as Time Division Duplexing (“TDD”), and the other as Frequency Division Duplexing (“FDD”).[0003]TDD is a scheme whereby devices split up a period of time T (seconds) into N divisions, with each device being given T / N (seconds) of the total time T in w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The system and method according to the invention allows for a BPL MV communications system on power utility grid that eliminates the need for two MV couplers per BPL modem (one for each of two communication directions) when utilizing FDD. This is achieved by combining the upstream and downstream signal outputs from a BPL modem prior to coupling to the MV power line. The combining of the signals can occur internal or external to the BPL modem.

[0009]The system and method according to the invention provides for fewer safety concerns as linemen interact less with the MV power lines (as they only attach one coupler). Such MV power lines have the potential to injure or kill a person.

[0010]The system and method according to the invention decreases the expense of using two couplers per modem, and provides for fewer points of failure and less time and cost to install. As couplers are similar in expense to BPL modem, the elimination of a coupler reduces the deployment hardware costs of a BPL system significantly (e.g. by 25-35%).

Problems solved by technology

Such MV power lines have the potential to injure or kill a person.

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