Patent attributes
In accordance with certain embodiments consistent with the invention, a power line communication (PLC) bridge circuit, consistent with certain embodiments, has a first coupler that couples data signals to and from a main power line circuit. A second coupler couples data signals to and from a branch power line circuit, wherein the branch power line circuit is branched from the main power line circuit. A first communication transceiver is connected to the first coupler for transferring data signals to and from the first coupler. A second communication transceiver is connected to the second coupler for transferring data signals to and from the second coupler. A controller examines data signals from the first transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the second transceiver, so that data that is not destined for the second transceiver is considered local data. The controller also examines data signals from the second transceiver and determines if the data is destined for the first transceiver, so that data that is not destined for the first transceiver is also considered local data. A bridge passes data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second transceiver when the controller determines that the data is not local, and passes data signals between the first communication transceiver and the second communication transceiver when the controller determines that the data is local. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
