Power Line Communication Apparatus and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

The present invention provides a communication device for use with a power line communication system. One embodiment of the present invention forms a communication device that comprises a first wireless modem, a controller, a second modem, and a sensor module. The controller operates the sensor module to take power line parameter measurements such as measurements of the voltage and/or current, which may be wirelessly transmitted to a remote device by the first modem. In addition, the controller may compare the measurements with thresholds and transmit notifications if a measurement is beyond a threshold. Data may be received from one or more user devices, such as utility meters or computers, by the second modem and wirelessly transmitted upstream by the first modem.

1 . A device for providing communications to one or more user devices by communicating over a power distribution system having a low voltage power line, comprising:
 a first modem configured to communicate wirelessly;   a second modem configured to communicate with the one or more user devices;   a processor in communication with said first modem and said second modem;   a memory communicatively coupled to said processor and storing program code executable by said processor;   a sensor module communicatively coupled to said processor and configured to measure one or more parameters of the low voltage power line of the power distribution system; and   wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit data of the one or more measured parameters to a remote device.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor module comprises a current measurement circuit configured to measure a current carried by the low voltage power line. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor module comprises a voltage measurement circuit; and
 wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said voltage measurement circuit to measure a voltage of the power line of the power distribution system.   
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said voltage measurement circuit to measure the voltage according to schedule data stored in said memory. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to store software received via said first modem in said memory. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to execute said software stored in said memory. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more user devices comprise electric utility meters. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said first modem to transmit data traffic information. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to process commands received wirelessly via said first modem. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor module comprises a voltage measurement circuit; and
 said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said voltage measurement circuit to measure a voltage of the low voltage power line and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit data of the measured voltage.   
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to determine whether the measured voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit a first notification if the voltage is beyond the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to, subsequent to determining that the measured voltage is beyond the predetermined threshold determine, determine that the measured voltage is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit a second notification that the measured voltage is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to route the transmission of data received via said first modem. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to accord a priority to at least some data received via said second modem based on the type of data. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said second modem is configured to communicate via orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said second modem comprises a wireless modem. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor module comprises a current measurement circuit; and
 said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said current measurement circuit to measure a current of the low voltage power line and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit data of the measured current.   
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to determine whether the current is beyond a predetermined threshold and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit a first notification if the current is beyond the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to, subsequent to determining that the measured current is beyond the predetermined threshold, determine that the measured current is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit a second notification that the measured current is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor module is configured to measure a current carried by the low voltage power line of the power distribution system. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said sensor module is further configured to measure a voltage of the low voltage power line of the power distribution system. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said sensor module to measure the voltage and the current according to schedule data stored in said memory. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit current data and voltage data to the remote device. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit current data to the remote device. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to cause said sensor module to measure the current according to schedule data stored in said memory. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to determine a power quality based on data of a measured voltage and data of a measured current. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to determine whether the measured voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit a first notification if the voltage is beyond the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to, subsequent to determining that the measured voltage is beyond the predetermined threshold, determine that the measured voltage is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit a second notification that the measured voltage is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said program code includes a code segment executable to cause said processor to determine power quality data of the power line of the power distribution system and to cause said first modem to wirelessly transmit said power quality data. 
   
   
       30 . A method of using a device to provide communications to one or more user devices by communicating over a power distribution system having a low voltage power line, comprising:
 receiving downstream data via a wireless communication;   transmitting the downstream data to the one or more user devices;   receiving upstream data from the one or more user devices;   wirelessly transmitting the upstream data wirelessly to a remote device;   measuring a parameter of a power line of the power distribution system;   wirelessly transmitting data of the measured parameter to the remote device;   determining that the measured parameter is beyond a predetermined threshold; and   wirelessly transmitting a first notification indicating that the measured parameter is beyond the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving a command via a wireless communication; and   performing an action associated with the command.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein measuring a parameter comprises measuring a voltage of the power line. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the measured parameter comprises a voltage of the power line, the method further comprising subsequent to said determining that the measured parameter is beyond the predetermined threshold:
 determining that the measured parameter is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold; and   wirelessly transmitting a second notification that the measured parameter is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising subsequent to said determining that the measured parameter is beyond the predetermined threshold:
 determining that the measured parameter is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold; and   wirelessly transmitting a second notification that the measured parameter is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the voltage is measured according to schedule data wirelessly received. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising
 receiving software via a communication;   storing the software in a memory; and   executing the software.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the one or more user devices comprise electric utility meters. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting data traffic information. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 assigning an address to one of the user devices; and   transmitting the address to the one user device.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising prioritizing transmission of upstream data based on the type of payload of the data. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said transmitting the downstream data comprises wirelessly transmitting the downstream data. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said transmitting the downstream data comprises transmitting the downstream data via a low voltage power line. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising determining a power quality of the power line of the power distribution system. 
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the measured parameter comprises a current carried by the power line. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising subsequent to said determining that the measured parameter is beyond the predetermined threshold:
 determining that the measured parameter is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold; and   wirelessly transmitting a second notification that the measured parameter is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said measuring the parameter further comprises measuring a voltage of a low voltage power line. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said measuring the parameter comprises measuring the voltage and the current according to schedule data stored in a memory. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said wirelessly transmitting data of the measured parameter comprises wirelessly transmitting current data and voltage data. 
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said wirelessly transmitting data of the measured parameter comprises wirelessly transmitting current data. 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said measuring the parameter further comprises measuring the current according to schedule data stored in a memory. 
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said measuring the parameter further comprises measuring the current according to schedule data stored in a memory. 
   
   
       52 . A method of using a device to provide communications to one or more user devices by communicating over a power distribution system having a low voltage power line, comprising:
 receiving upstream data from the one or more user devices;   wirelessly transmitting the upstream data to a remote device;   wirelessly receiving a command;   performing an action associated with the command in response to receiving the command;   measuring a voltage of a power line of the power distribution system; and   wirelessly transmitting voltage data to the remote device.   
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 determining that the measured voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold; and   wirelessly transmitting a notification that the measured voltage is beyond the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising subsequent to said determining that the measured voltage is beyond a predetermined threshold:
 determining that the measured voltage is no longer beyond the predetermined threshold; and   wirelessly transmitting a second notification that the measured voltage is not beyond the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising measuring a current of a low voltage power line. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said measuring the voltage and said measuring the current comprise measuring the voltage and measuring the current according to schedule data stored in a memory. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting current data to the remote device. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said measuring the voltage comprises measuring the current according to schedule data stored in a memory. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 receiving software via a wireless communication;   storing the software; and   executing the software.   
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising determining a power quality of the power carried by a power line of the power distribution system. 
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the one or more user devices comprise electric utility meters.