Network topology and packet routing method using low voltage power wiring
First Claim
1. A system for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a plurality of wiring centers, wherein each wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the system comprising:
- a plurality of communication access points with each access point installed in a respective wiring center.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network topology and packet routing method for implementing a Local Area Network (LAN) using low-voltage (120/240VAC) power wiring as the transport medium. An Access Point (AP) having a Power Line Carrier (PLC) interface and one or more IEEE 802.3 Ethernet interfaces connects to the logical center of the Power Line medium via its PLC interface. Multiple User Terminals (UT) send to and receive from their associated AP, which in turn routes data packets toward the appropriate destination. Large networks may contain more than one AP, in which case each UT selects its AP based on a metric representing connection quality between the UT and the AP.
118 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A system for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a plurality of wiring centers, wherein each wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the system comprising:
a plurality of communication access points with each access point installed in a respective wiring center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a plurality of wiring centers, wherein each wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the method comprising:
receiving a first communication by a first access point located at a first wiring center from a first user terminal associated with the first access point. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for local area network communications over an AC power wiring structure that includes a plurality of logical wiring centers each associated with a plurality of electrical outlets, the system comprising:
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a plurality of communication access points each installed in a respective one of the plurality of logical wiring centers, the logical wiring centers being connected with each other with Ethernet standard connections;
wherein each access point is configured to receive communications signals from a plurality of user terminals via the plurality of electrical outlets; and
wherein communication is provided between any two of a plurality of devices via the user terminals though a non-power-line connection mechanism.
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20. A method for communication among a plurality of end points of an AC power wiring structure, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting an electrical communication signal into an originating one of the end points to be sent to at least one destination end point;
passing the signal to at least one intermediate access point associated with a wiring center for a first group of the end points of the AC power wiring structure;
providing Ethernet standard communication between the first intermediate point and at least a second intermediate point associated with at least a second wiring center for at least a second group of end points of the low-voltage AC power wiring structure;
wherein when the electrical communication signal is destined for only end points of the first group, the communication is passed entirely as a carrier signal on a power line of the AC power wiring structure.
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21. A system for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a main wiring center connected to a plurality of secondary wiring centers and wherein each secondary wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the system comprising:
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a main communication access point installed in the main wiring center; and
a plurality of secondary communication access points with each secondary access point installed in a respective secondary wiring center;
wherein each of the plurality of secondary communication access points are in communication with the main communication access point. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a main wiring center connected to a plurality of secondary wiring centers and wherein each secondary wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the system comprising:
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a main communication access point installed in the main wiring center; and
a plurality of secondary communication access points with each secondary access point installed in a respective secondary wiring center;
wherein each of the plurality of secondary communication access points are in communication with the main communication access point; and
wherein communication between at least two user terminals does not pass through the main access point. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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36. A system for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a main wiring center connected to a plurality of secondary wiring centers and wherein each secondary wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the system comprising:
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a main communication access point installed in the main wiring center; and
a plurality of secondary communication access points with each secondary access point installed in a respective secondary wiring center;
wherein each of the plurality of secondary communication access points are in communication with the main communication access point; and
wherein at least one communication path between a first and second user terminal is determined based on an optimization criteria.
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41. A system for communicating over a power wiring structure that includes a main wiring center connected to a plurality of secondary wiring centers and wherein each secondary wiring center is associated with a respective plurality of user terminals and each user terminal is connected to the power wiring via an electrical outlet, the system comprising:
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a main communication access point installed in the main wiring center; and
a plurality of secondary communication access points with each secondary access point installed in a respective secondary wiring center;
wherein each of the plurality of secondary communication access points are in communication with the main communication access point; and
wherein the communication system employs at least a first non-power line communication conduit. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification