Communication module and process for networking within and between powered communication devices over a multi-phase power distribution system or subsystem

• US 20050129097A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PCN Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Drolet, David M. Strumpf
• Inventors: Strumpf, David M., Drolet, Daniel A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

This invention allows the communication of mission critical data to devices that communicate within the same, or a separately connected, power distribution system. Devices operate by being connected to a power distribution system, subsystem, and or different but connected power system. Each device has a specific similar or different communication platform, architecture, protocol method and or process for performing a function and or distributing data. The invention allows all devices connected through the power system to communicate to one, some or all other devices as wanted; regardless of the type of architecture, protocol, platform, or type of power on the power system. Power systems can be connected by power or communication and can be separate. All powered devices utilizing the invention seamlessly operate, communicate and network for their specified reason(s) in their native formats without any needs of communication wiring using the power distribution system as the medium of communication.

Claims

1. A Communications Module for communicating over a power distribution system comprising:

a standard three-dimensional form factor enclosure for integrating communications over a power distribution system across multiple similar or dissimilar network architectures, protocols and platforms.

a transceiver configured to transmit and receive real-time data over a power distribution system or subsystem;

a circuit within said transceiver configured to directly and indirectly measure a hindrance to data communication on a power distribution system or subsystem;

a transceiver controller for controlling communication transmissions on a power distribution system, said transceiver controller providing;

a circuit with embedded secondary firmware within said transceiver configured to directly and indirectly monitor or hop varying frequencies and signals of multiple power and data carriers within the power supply of a device or system;

a first adjustment maintaining a number of tracking carriers that repeat data signals to and from all communication devices connected to a power distribution system that are directly or indirectly attached to a power or communication line or frequency allowing communication in real-time over a power distribution system or subsystem;

a second adjustment for collection of data that is maintained and stores historical repeating signal data;

a third adjustment for allocation of specific frequencies for communication over a power distribution system to all communication devices on a power distribution system based on the historical repeating signal data;

a fourth adjustment for reallocation of specific frequencies for communication on a power distribution system to all power and communication devices based on new repeating signal data that becomes different than the historical signal data.

a fifth adjustment for communicating to and from devices and systems across different power types over a power distribution system or subsystem;

a sixth adjustment for communicating to and from all communication devices and systems across different power sources over a power distribution system or subsystem;

a seventh adjustment that secures the data that is being communicated to and from all communication devices containing the communication module, over different power sources over a power distribution system, by encapsulating data packets in their native network language and encoding the data packets with CRC error tags and then optionally encrypting each data packet using user selectable or automatic selectable encryption.

2. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein the communication module is comprised of circuitry encased in a three dimensional form factor for integration into a powered device.

3. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein the three dimensional form factor is filled with epoxy covering the circuitry and whereby communication pins are protruding on the two longest parallel sides in order to plug into a power supplied communication device.

4. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein the epoxy filled form factor has micro cooling tunnels carved throughout the epoxy and around the circuitry providing heat dissipation

5. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein said first adjustment is to a signal level and type that is the highest preferred by said communication frequency on a power line.

6. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein said second adjustment maps all signal levels and types that are the highest preferred by said communication line.

7. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein said third and fourth adjustment routes all signal levels and types that are the highest preferred by said communication line.

8. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein a change in said communication line hindrance is caused by other power and or communication devices sharing said power and or communication line.

9. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein said fifth and sixth adjustments are carried out by maintaining a specific sensitivity of the receiver and by communicating over varying power phases and varying power types on specific frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz;

10. The communication module as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, wherein said adjustments allow the storage and retrieval of real time and historical routing and binding data of all power and communication devices attached to a power distribution system where that data is maintained for specified periods of time in order to determine appropriate signal levels of communications for each power and communication device sending data to and from the power communication module over a power distribution system.

11. The communication module as defined in claim 1, and wherein real time and historical routing and binding data that is sent to and from all communication devices over a power distribution system for the purposes of communicating to and from each other, each data packet that is sent from the communication module to a specific device or system, is encapsulated with that devices or systems specific native communication standard thus allowing data distribution with other communication modules over a power distribution system. Each encapsulated data packet is appended with specific real time tracking data to maintain real time communication with the device or system connected for the purposes of communicating with the communication module.

12. The communication module as defined in claim 1, wherein said transceiver has a plurality of frequencies, and which are associated with a plurality of distortion and inter-modulation products, that are detected to determine said signal level that is the highest preferred by said power communication line over a power distribution system

13. A method for transmitting communications over a power distribution system comprising the steps of:

configuring a transceiver to transmit and receive data within a power supplied device over a power distribution system having a plurality of communicating devices encompassing the communications module;

configuring circuitry within said transceiver to directly and indirectly measure a signal hindrance of the communication line;

controlling communication transmissions over a power distribution system with a transceiver controller by;

providing a first adjustment, based on said communication line hindrance, to a signal level used in reception to and from said transceiver,

providing a second adjustment, based on an indirect measurement of said communication line hindrance with said communication module, to said signal level used in reception to and from said transceiver.

providing a third adjustment, based on allocating specific frequencies for communication on a power distribution system to all communicating devices containing a communication module using the historical repeating and repeated signal data that has been sent and received from varying communicating devices over a power distribution system.

providing a fourth adjustment, based on the reallocation of specific frequencies for communicating over a power distribution system to and from all power and communication devices based on new repeating and repeated signal data that is received differently than the preceding and historical signal data.

providing a fifth adjustment, based on communicating to and from devices and systems across different power phases by maintaining a specific sensitivity level within the receiver and by communicating on specific frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz

providing a sixth adjustment, based on communicating to and from devices and systems having different power sources by maintaining a specific sensitivity level within the receiver and by communicating on specific frequencies between 1 and 100 MHz

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing said first adjustment to a signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line over a power distribution system.

15. The method of claim 14, further providing the step of providing said first adjustment to a lower signal level than said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line over a power distribution system.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of directly and indirectly measuring said power communication line hindrance that is caused by other power and communication devices connected or sharing said communication line over a power distribution system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining said communication line hindrance to be higher than a typical power line hindrance and providing said first adjustment to said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line over a power distribution system.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of maintaining said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line for a specified period of time in order to determine an appropriate signal level for communications over a power distribution system.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of determining said communication line hindrance to be lower than said typical power hindrance and providing said first adjustment to a signal level lower than said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line over a power distribution system.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of determining that said communication line hindrance is approximately equal to said power line hindrance and providing said first adjustment to said signal level that is the highest supported by said communication module and communication line over a power distribution system.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of determining that said communication line hindrance is close to zero compared to said typical power line hindrance and providing said first adjustment to said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line over a power distribution system.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of maintaining said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and line for said specified period of time in order to determine said appropriate signal level for transmission over said communication line over a power distribution system.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of determining said signal level that is the highest preferred by said communication module and communication line by measuring a plurality of frequencies produced by a test signal'"'"'s plurality of distortion and inter-modulation products located on the power line over a power distribution system.

24. A method for establishing the power level of a communication module transmitting a signal over a power distribution system comprising the steps of:

determining a maximum permissible transmit power by transmitting at least one of a single tone and multiple tone test signal and monitoring distortion and inter-modulation products, wherein the at least one test signal is initially set to a value that is known to be unlikely to cause one of distortion and inter-modulation products;

at module startup, setting the maximum transmit signal power at a level that will not result in unacceptable signal distortion and inter-modulation products causing a degradation of power or power communication data;

increasing, in steps, the power level of the transmit signal;

examining the received signal at each incremental signal level for the presence of at least one of distortion and inter-modulation products;

determining when at least one of the distortion and inter-modulation products exceeds a defined level; and

reducing the transmit signal power by at least the amount that the power level is increased in the increasing step.

25. A method for improving trans-hybrid loss of data over a power distribution system comprising the steps of:

continuously monitoring, during operation after startup, an echo and received signal levels, and a signal-to-noise ratio;

comparing values of the monitored signals and characteristics with reference values stored at startup;

determining whether sudden changes occur in the monitored signals and characteristics;

performing by a transceiver DSP, a restart operation in which a transmit signal power level, a reference hindrance, and a matching hindrance are adjusted according to power distribution system conditions, where an internal transceiver hindrance is matched to a measured power distribution system hindrance.

26. A method for securing data packet transmission to and from communication modules over a power distribution system that prevents outsiders from seeing other communication modules and their communication functions over the power distribution system by using “

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