US 8,406,239 B2 · Multi-wideband communications over multiple mediums

Abstract

A powerline communications device comprises a powerline communications interface and at least one other communications interface configured to communicate over a computing network. The powerline communications interface is further configured to receive electrical power. The computing network may comprise mediums including powerlines, telephone lines, and/or coaxial cables. In some embodiments, the powerline communications interface may communicate with a network apparatus, such as a personal computer, via an Ethernet interface. The powerline interface, the telephone line interface, and/or the coaxial cable interface may all be associated with the same media access control (MAC) address. The powerline communications device may receive a message via a first medium and repeat the message via a second medium based on a quality of service (QoS) metric. In some embodiments, the powerline communications device may communicate using multiple frequency bands.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A multi-network interface device comprising:

a powerline connector;
a first connector for a wired connection;
an Ethernet connector;
a network processor;
a first signal path between the powerline connector and the network processor and including
a first coupler in communication with the powerline connector, and
a first low pass filter in communication between the first coupler and the network processor;
a second signal path between the first connector for the wired connection and the network processor and including
a second coupler in communication with the first connector for the wired connection, and
a first high pass filter in communication between the second coupler and the network processor and configured to pass a frequency band comprising frequencies at and above 30 MHz;
a third signal path between the first coupler and the network processor and including a second high pass filter in communication between the first coupler and the network processor;
and
a host interface controller in communication between the Ethernet connector and the network processor.

10 more elements

A multi-network interface device comprising:

a powerline connector;
a first connector for a wired connection;
an Ethernet connector;
a network processor;
a first signal path between the powerline connector and the network processor and including
a first coupler in communication with the powerline connector, and
a first low pass filter in communication between the first coupler and the network processor;
a second signal path between the first connector for the wired connection and the network processor and including
a second coupler in communication with the first connector for the wired connection, and
a first high pass filter in communication between the second coupler and the network processor and configured to pass a frequency band comprising frequencies at and above 30 MHz;
a host interface controller in communication between the Ethernet connector and the network processor;
and
a second connector for a wired connection and a third signal path between the second connector for the wired connection and the network processor, the third signal path including a third coupler in communication with the second connector for the wired connection, and further including a second low pass filter in communication between the third coupler and the second connector for the wired connection.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-wideband communications over multiple mediums

Life of this patent

Multi-wideband communications over multiple mediums

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21