Method and system for virtual powerline local area networks

• US 20050076148A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Chan, Tat Keung, Mu, Songly
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A system for powerline networking. The system has an external data source, which is derived from a world wide networks of computers. A router is coupled to the external data source and coupled to a first datasource connection. A powerline network switch apparatus is coupled to the first datasource connection. The apparatus has a second datasource connection, which is coupled to the first data source connection. The apparatus also has a powerline device coupled to the second datasource connection. Preferably, the powerline device is adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the second data source connection and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format. The apparatus also has a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports. Each of the second input/output ports is numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. A plurality of modem devices are coupled to the virtual local area network device. The plurality of modem devices are numbered from 1 through N, where each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports and where each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of power lines numbered from 1 through N, each of the power lines being capable of communicating information to and from the second data source connection.

Claims

1. A system for power line networking, the system comprising:

an external data source, the data source being derived from a world wide networks of computers;

a router coupled to the external data source and coupled to a first datasource connection;

a powerline network apparatus, the apparatus comprising;

a second datasource connection, the datasource connection coupled to the first data source connection;

a powerline device coupled to the second datasource connection, the powerline device being adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the second datasource connection and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format;

a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports, each of the second input/output ports numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1;

a plurality of modem devices coupled to the virtual local area network device, the plurality of modem devices numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports, each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of power lines numbered from 1 through N, each of the power lines being capable of communicating information to and from the second data source connection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the input/output ports corresponds respectively to each of a plurality of users numbered from 1 through N.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the powerline comprises a power grid formed within at least a building structure.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the datasource is formatted using an OFDM format.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first format is OFDM and the second format is MII.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second format is a serial format.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the powerline device is a powerline modem.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the powerlines is maintained at a preselected voltage and preselected frequency.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the preselected voltage ranges from about 100 to 120 volts and preselected frequency ranges from 50 through 60 Hz.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the preselected voltage ranges from 85 to 265 volts and preselected frequency ranges from 50 through 60 Hz.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the powerlines is a coaxial cable.

12. A method for converting a plurality of power lines in at least a building structure into a communication network for a plurality of users, the method comprising:

coupling an apparatus for communicating between a data source and at least one of a plurality of users through a power line network, the apparatus comprising;

a datasource connection, the datasource connection coupled to a data source;

a powerline device coupled to the datasource, the powerline device being adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the datasource and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format;

a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports, each of the second input/output ports numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1;

a plurality of modem devices coupled to the virtual local area network device, the plurality of modem devices numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports, each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of power lines numbered from 1 through N, each of the power lines being capable of communicating information to and from the data source;

allowing at least one of the users to communicate to the data source through one of the plurality of power lines; and

denying access to at least one of the users from communicating to the data source through one of the plurality of power lines.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the building structure is an office building.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the building structure is a residential home.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the building structure is a multi-tenant building.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the allowing at least one of the users comprises receiving a user code from an unauthorized user coupled to the power line network;

processing the user code; and

allowing access to the unauthorized user, the unauthorized user that is allowed to use the powerline network being an authorized user.

17. The method of claim 12 the denying access of at least one of the users comprises receiving a user code from an unauthorized user coupled to the power line network;

processing the user code; and

denying access to the unauthorized user, the unauthorized user that is denied to use the powerline network being maintained as the unauthorized user.

18. Apparatus for powerline virtual local area networking, the apparatus comprising:

a datasource connection, the datasource connection coupled to a data source;

a powerline device coupled to the datasource, the powerline device being adapted to receive and transmit information in a first format from the datasource and adapted to receive and transmit information in a second format;

a virtual local area network device including a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports, each of the second input/output ports numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1;

a plurality of modem devices coupled to the virtual local area network device, the plurality of modem devices numbered from 1 through N, each of the plurality of modem devices being coupled respectively to one of the plurality of second input/output ports, each of the plurality of modem devices also being coupled to one of a plurality of power lines numbered from 1 through N, each of the power lines being capable of communicating information to and from the data source.

19. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the data source is a modem, the modem coupled to a communication network.

20. Apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a repeater coupled to at least one of the powerlines, the repeater being adapted to amplify a signal associated with the information from the datasource.

21. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the datasource connection is a power line connection and an Ethernet connection.

22. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the datasource connection is a two wire connection.

23. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the input/output ports corresponds respectively to each of a plurality of users numbered from 1 through N.

24. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the powerline comprises a power grid formed within at least a building structure.

25. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the datasource is formatted using an OFDM format.

26. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first format is OFDM and the second format is MII.

27. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second format is a serial format.

28. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein the powerline device is a powerline modem.

29. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the powerlines is maintained at a preselected voltage and preselected frequency.

30. Apparatus of claim 29 wherein the preselected voltage ranges from about 100 to 120 volts and preselected frequency ranges from 50 through 60 Hz.

31. Apparatus of claim 29 wherein the preselected voltage ranges from 85 to 265 volts and preselected frequency ranges from 50 through 60 Hz.

32. Apparatus of claim 18 wherein each of the powerlines is a coaxial cable.

33. Apparatus for powerline communications comprising:

a face plate structure including a first side and a second side, the first side including an outlet for data communications and a power outlet for AC power;

a housing coupled to the backside of the face plate structure;

a DC power supply coupled to and within the housing;

a network device including a first port and a second port, the network device being coupled to and within the housing, the network device being coupled to the DC power supply;

a powerline device including a first powerline port and a second powerline port, the powerline device being coupled to and within the housing, the powerline device being coupled to the DC power supply, the first powerline port being coupled to the second port of the network device;

a coupler coupled to the second powerline port and coupled to the outlet for data communications, the coupler being coupled to and within the housing; and

an AC connector coupled to the housing and coupled to the DC power supply, the AC connector being coupled to the first port of the network device.

34. Apparatus of claim 33 wherein the face plate structure and housing have a thickness of less than four inches and a width of less than three inches and a height of less than five inches.

35. Apparatus of claim 33 wherein the second port couples to an MII bus, the MII bus interfaces between the second port and the first powerline port.

36. Apparatus of claim 33 wherein the housing is made of a plastic material.

37. Apparatus of claim 33 wherein the housing is removable.

38. Apparatus of claim 33 further comprising an analog front end module coupled to the coupler, the analog front end module being disposed between the coupler and the powerline device.

39. Apparatus of claim 33 wherein the outlet is a CAT 5 connector device.

40. Apparatus for powerline communications comprising:

a removable network jack structure including an outlet for data communications;

a housing coupled to the network jack structure;

a DC power supply coupled to and within the housing;

a network device including a first port and a second port, the network device being coupled to and within the housing, the network device being coupled to the DC power supply;

a powerline device including a first powerline port and a second powerline port, the powerline device being coupled to and within the housing, the powerline device being coupled to the DC power supply, the first powerline port being coupled to the second port of the network device;

a coupler coupled to the second powerline port and coupled to the outlet for data communications, the coupler being coupled to and within the housing; and

an AC connector coupled to the housing and coupled to the DC power supply, the AC connector being coupled to the first port of the network device.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the AC connector is operably coupled to the housing through a pivoting device, the AC connector being adapted to protrude from the housing to be insertable into an AC wall outlet in a first position and the AC connector being adapted to fold toward the housing about the pivoting device in a second position.

42. Apparatus of claim 40 wherein the AC connector is maintained within a region of the housing in the second position.