System for coupling wireless signals to and from a power transmission line communication system

Abstract

A system for communicating information to and from untethered subscriber devices and tethered devices by the use of a power transmission line communication system interfacing to a conventional electric power distribution network. Untethered subscriber devices and tethered devices will be able to send and receive impulse or modulated signals. The coupling system to and from a power transmission line is a tethered device housed entirely in an enclosure able to replace a sunlight detector affixed to a street pole, or to plug into an outlet, or to attach around a transmission line, or screw into a light socket. A battery supplies energy to the tethered device screwed into a light socket when no electricity flows to the socket. A tethered device attached around a transmission line is powered by magnetic induction and interfaces through a power transmission communication system. The tethered device interfaces directly to the electrical lines by means of a power transmission communication system. The tethered device is able to connect untethered subscriber device to a plurality of untethered devices and tethered devices to establish a personal, local, or wide area network. The tethered device is capable of locating other tethered devices and untethered subscriber devices, and using this positioning to adjust the signal power, and to handoff untethered subscriber devices.