US6844809B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive optical network backhaul for powerline communications
Assignee: Arkados Inc
•
Filing: 2002-12-04
•
Granted: 2005-01-18
•
Expires: 2022-12-04
Abstract
Abstract System, apparatus and method for connecting a passive optical network (“PON”) to a power line communications (“PLC”) network using a PLC HeadEnd installed at the PON to provide for distribution of high speed, broadband data communications services available on the PON to the PLC network using high speed, broadband PLC data signals. Where the PLC HeadEnd is installed on a medium voltage power distribution network, a PLC bypass unit is installed at a medium voltage/low voltage power transformer in the PLC network to provide PLC signal connectivity between the MV and LV networks. A PLC residential gateway is installed at each end user facility, such as a home or business, desiring broadband service available on the PON.
Inventors
- 👤 Constantine N. Manis
- 👤 Oleg Logvinov
- 👤 Lawrence F. Durfee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L12/2869; H04L12/2878; H04L12/2879; H04L12/2885; H04B; H04B3/00; H04B3/54; H04B3/542; H04B2203/00; H04B2203/54; H04B2203/5429; H04B2203/5445; H04B2203/545; H04B2203/5462; H04B2203/5483; H04B2203/5491; H04L12/2803; H04L2012/284; H04L2012/2843; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A power line communications (“PLC”) apparatus comprising: a PLC coupler for coupling to conventional, utility electrical power conveying media; and a PLC controller/transceiver for receiving and processing data modulated electrical signals available at an optical network termination (“ONT) and having a first bandwidth, wherein the PLC controller/transceiver generates digitally encoded data modulated PLC signals having a second bandwidth for transmission over the conventional electrical power conveying media, wherein the first and second bandwidths are substantially identical.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A power line communications (“PLC”) apparatus comprising: a PLC coupler for coupling to conventional, utility electrical power conveying media; and a PLC controller/transceiver for receiving and processing data modulated electrical signals available at an optical network termination (“ONT) and having a first bandwidth, wherein the PLC controller/transceiver generates digitally encoded data modulated PLC signals having a second bandwidth for transmission over the conventional electrical power conveying media, wherein the first and second bandwidths are substantially identical.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first bandwidth is broadband.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the data modulated electrical signals at the ONT are based on data modulated optical signals including multi-media and interactive data streams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PLC coupler is for coupling to a medium voltage power line network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the PLC coupler is for coupling to a low voltage power line network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
A passive optical network/power line communications (“PON/PLC”) system comprising: a PON/PLC HeadEnd for coupling to conventional, electrical power conveying media and an optical network termination (“ONT”) of a passive optical network (“PON”) on which high speed, broadband data communications services are distributed on optical signal carriers, wherein the broadband services correspond to a predetermined data bandwidth, wherein the HeadEnd generates digitally encoded data modulated PLC signals having a bandwidth substantially equal to the predetermined bandwidth for transmission over the conventional electrical power conveying media; and a PLC residential gateway (“RG”) for coupling to low voltage (“LV”) power lines of a LV power line network existing within an end user facility and processing received PLC signals to provide for access to the broadband services distributed on the optical signal carriers conveyed on the PON.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
A passive optical network/power line communications (“PON/PLC”) system comprising: a PON/PLC HeadEnd for coupling to conventional, electrical power conveying media and an optical network termination (“ONT”) of a passive optical network (“PON”) on which high speed, broadband data communications services are distributed on optical signal carriers, wherein the broadband services correspond to a predetermined data bandwidth, wherein the HeadEnd generates digitally encoded data modulated PLC signals having a bandwidth substantially equal to the predetermined bandwidth for transmission over the conventional electrical power conveying media; and a PLC residential gateway (“RG”) for coupling to low voltage (“LV”) power lines of a LV power line network existing within an end user facility and processing received PLC signals to provide for access to the broadband services distributed on the optical signal carriers conveyed on the PON.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein the HeadEnd is for coupling to a medium voltage (“MV”) electrical power distribution network, the system further comprising a bypass unit for providing PLC signal connectivity between the MV network and the LV network.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined data bandwidth is broadband.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the broadband data includes multi-media and interactive data streams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein the PLC HeadEnd includes a low voltage power line coupler.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for passive optical network/power line communications (“PON/PLC”) comprising: coupling a PON/PLC HeadEnd to a conventional, electrical power conveying media and an optical network termination (“ONT”) of a passive optical network (“PON”); receiving at the HeadEnd high speed, broadband data communications services on optical signal carriers of the PON, wherein the broadband services correspond to a predetermined data bandwidth; generating at the HeadEnd digitally encoded data modulated PLC signals having a bandwidth substantially equal to the predetermined bandwidth; transmitting the PLC signals over the conventional electrical power conveying media; and receiving the PLC signals at a PLC residential gateway (“RG”) coupled to low voltage (“LV”) power lines of a LV power line network existing within an end user facility, wherein the RG processes the received PLC signals to provide for access to the broadband services distributed on the optical signal carriers conveyed on the PON.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for passive optical network/power line communications (“PON/PLC”) comprising: coupling a PON/PLC HeadEnd to a conventional, electrical power conveying media and an optical network termination (“ONT”) of a passive optical network (“PON”); receiving at the HeadEnd high speed, broadband data communications services on optical signal carriers of the PON, wherein the broadband services correspond to a predetermined data bandwidth; generating at the HeadEnd digitally encoded data modulated PLC signals having a bandwidth substantially equal to the predetermined bandwidth; transmitting the PLC signals over the conventional electrical power conveying media; and receiving the PLC signals at a PLC residential gateway (“RG”) coupled to low voltage (“LV”) power lines of a LV power line network existing within an end user facility, wherein the RG processes the received PLC signals to provide for access to the broadband services distributed on the optical signal carriers conveyed on the PON.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the HeadEnd is for coupling to a medium voltage (“MV”) electrical power distribution network, the method further comprising providing a bypass unit for providing PLC signal connectivity between the MV network and the LV network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined data bandwidth is broadband.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the broadband data includes multi-media and interactive data streams.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the PLC HeadEnd includes a low voltage power line coupler.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3900842A
Cited
US4204195A
Cited
US4709339A
Cited
US4714912A
Cited
US5815295A
Cited
US5630204A
Cited
US6278357B1
Cited
US6404348B1
Cited
US6744824B1
Cited
US6587739B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-01-18 | 2008-07-19 | 2009-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-01-18 | 2012-07-19 | 2013-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-01-18 | 2016-07-19 | 2017-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |