Power line communications system and method of operating the same

A system for providing communications via one or more power lines comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

• an aggregation device;
• a plurality of distribution devices communicatively coupled to said aggregation device via a non-power line communications medium;
• a plurality of interface devices, each said interface device communicatively coupled to one of the power lines and each said power line interface device communicatively coupled to one of said plurality of said distribution devices via a non-power line communications medium;
• a plurality of power line communications devices, each said power line communications device comprising a first port and second port;
• said first port of each power line communications device being coupled to one segment of the one or more power lines and said second port of each being coupled to a different segment of the one or more power lines, each said power line communications device including a third port communicatively coupled to a low voltage power line, each said power line communications device including a first modem in communications with said first port, a second modem in communications with said first modem and said third port, and a router in communication with said second modem;
• wherein at least one of said plurality of power line communications devices includes a first amplifier having an input and an output and configured to amplify data signals in a first frequency band, said output of said first amplifier being communicatively coupled to said first port and said input of said first amplifier being communicatively coupled to said second port;
• and
• wherein said at least one of said plurality of power line communications device is configured to receive first data signals from the different segment of the one or more power lines, amplify the first data signals, and couple the amplified first data signals to the one segment of the one or more power lines without demodulating the first data signals.

A method of providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

• at an interface device:
• receiving first data via a non-power line communications medium;
• and
• transmitting said first data in a first frequency band via the power line;
• at a first power line communications device:
• receiving the first data in a first data signal via the power line from the interface device;
• amplifying the first data signal;
• coupling the amplified first data signal in the first frequency band to the power line;
• wherein the first data signal is received from the power line, amplified, and coupled to the power line without demodulating the first data signal;
• and
• at a second power line communications device:
• receiving the amplified first data signal;
• and
• demodulating the data signal to provide the first data.

A method of providing communications to user devices via an underground power line comprising a plurality of segments disposed in series with each other and carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, comprising:

• at a first power line communications device:
• receiving first data;
• and
• transmitting the first data via the power line;
• at a second power line communications device:
• receiving the first data in a first data signal via the power line from the first power line communications device;
• amplifying the first data signal;
• and
• coupling the amplified first data signal to the power line;
• wherein the first data signal is received, amplified, and coupled to the power line by the second power line communications device without demodulating the first data signal;
• and
• at an interface device:
• receiving the amplified first data signal;
• and
• transmitting the first data via a non-power line communications medium;
• and
• wherein transmissions from the second power line communications device and the interface device employ different carrier frequencies.

A system for providing communications to user devices via a power distribution network comprising an underground power line carrying a power signal having a voltage greater than one thousand volts, and a plurality of low voltage power lines with each low voltage power line receiving power from the underground power line via a distribution transformer, the system comprising:

• an interface device communicatively coupled to the underground power line and having an interface configured to communicate via a non-power line communications medium;
• a first and second power line communications device, each said power line communications device including a first modem coupled to the underground power line and a second modem communicatively coupled to one of the low voltage power lines;
• wherein said first power line communications device is communicatively coupled to the underground power line between the interface device and said second power line communications device;
• and
• wherein said first power line communications device includes an amplifier configured to amplify received signals transmitted by said interface device via the power line and a first coupler configured to couple the amplified signals to the power line for reception by said second power line communications device;
• and
• wherein said first power line communications device is configured to receive the signals, amplify the signals, and couple the amplified signals to the power line without demodulating the signals.