Method and apparatus for attaching power line communications to customer premises

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying a three-phase power distribution network in a building in order to provide data communication by using a Power Line Carrier (PLC) signal to an approximate electrical central location point of the power distribution system remote from the data entry point of the building. A passive coupler device is attached to a centrally located service panel. The passive coupler receives the Power Line Carrier (PLC) signal from the remote entry point in the building and conditions the signal for entry at the service panel onto each phase of the three phase power distribution network.

1 - 38 . (canceled)  
   
   
       39 . A communication network configured to provide communications services over a power-line network residing in a building, the network comprising: 
 a communication device;    an electronic network coupled to the communication device and further coupled to the power-line network, wherein the electronic network includes one or more carrier current couplers each providing an electrical interface between the communication device and a respective power wire of the power-line network; and    a plurality of terminals coupled to the power-line network;    wherein the communication device and the plurality of terminals form a communication network having a hub-and spoke network LAN topology over the power-line network with the communication device acting as a hub to rely messages between the plurality of terminals.    
   
   
       40 . The communication network of  claim 39 , wherein the electronic network is placed at a position that is substantially an electrical center of the power-line network.  
   
   
       41 . The communication network of  claim 40 , wherein the electronic network is placed at a first electrical service panel of the power-line network.  
   
   
       42 . The communication network of  claim 41 , wherein the building contains a plurality of service panels for the power-line network, and wherein the first service panel is the most electrically central panel in the building.  
   
   
       42 . The communication network of  claim 41 , wherein the power-line network is a three-phase power network, and wherein the three-phase power network includes at least three power wires each corresponding to a respective phase of the three-phase power network.  
   
   
       43 . The communication network of  claim 42 , wherein the electronic network is configured to split a first communication signal received from the communication device and feed the split communication signal to each power wire of the three-phase power network such that the first communication signal can be effectively distributed throughout a portion of the building receiving at least one of the power wires.  
   
   
       44 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the three-phase power network is fed from an external power source via a step-down transformer.  
   
   
       45 . The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the power network employs voltages below 277 volts.  
   
   
       46 . The system according to  claim 43 , wherein the communication device is also a gateway providing communication services between the terminals and an external device.  
   
   
       47 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein the communication device is also a gateway providing communication services between the terminals and an external device.  
   
   
       48 . A method for interfacing a communication with a power-line network, the method comprising: 
 coupling a first communication device to the power-line network; and    providing a at least a first communication signal from the first communication device to a plurality of terminals electrically coupled to the power-line network, wherein the terminals are configured to communicate with the first communication device over the power-line network such that the first communication device and the terminals form a hub-and-spoke LAN topology with the power-line network acting as a communication conduit between the first communication device and the terminals.    
   
   
       49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the first communication device is a gateway.  
   
   
       50 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the power-line network is a three-phase power network, and wherein the three-phase power network includes at least three power wires each corresponding to a respective phase of the three-phase power network.  
   
   
       51 . The communication network of  claim 50 , wherein the step of coupling the first communication signal onto the power-line network includes splitting the first communication signal into three portions, and coupling each portion of the split communication signal onto a respective power wire of the three-phase power network such that the first communication signal can be effectively received by terminals electrically coupled to each power wire of the three-phase power network.  
   
   
       53 . A communication network configured to provide communications services over a power-line network residing in a building, the network comprising: 
 a communication device;    coupling means for coupling the communication device to the power-line network; and    a plurality of terminals;    wherein the communication device and the plurality of terminals form a communication network having a hub-and spoke network LAN topology using the power-line network and the electronic network as a communication conduit.    
   
   
       54 . The communication network of  claim 53 , wherein the power-line network is a multiple-phase power network, and wherein the multiple-phase power network includes at least three power wires each corresponding to a respective phase of the three-phase power network.  
   
   
       55 . The communication network of  claim 54 , wherein the electronic network is configured to split a first communication signal received from the communication device and feed the split communication signal to each power wire of the multiple-phase power network such that the first communication signal can be effectively distributed to terminals coupled to each power wire of the multiple-phase power network.  
   
   
       56 . The communication network of  claim 53 , wherein the communication device and the plurality of terminals form a communication network having a hub-and spoke network LAN topology over the power-line network with the communication device acting as a hub to rely messages between the plurality of terminals.