Method and system for powerline networking

• US 20060018328A1
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Mody, Nirmal, Gasloli, Richard C., Martone, Brian J., Austin, Jeffrey W.
• Application Number:
  US10/897,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018328A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks

Abstract

A method and system for powerline networking. The method and system include an adapter and a gateway connected to powerlines. The gateway is operable for configuring the adapter for powerline networking by communicating configuration signals to the adapter over the powerlines. A powerline network is defined by the configuring of the adapter to communicate with the gateway over the powerlines.

Claims

1. A method for powerline networking over a plurality of powerlines, the method comprising:

providing an adapter in communication with one of the plurality of powerlines;

providing a gateway in communication with one of the plurality of powerlines;

creating a powerline network between the gateway and the adapter by controlling the gateway to exchange signals with the adapter over the powerlines, the signals configuring the adapter for communication over the powerline network with the gateway and other devices connected thereto.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating an entry for the adapter on a memory of the gateway, the entry specifying a network address, a serial number, and a default password for the adapter, the gateway utilizing the entry for configuring the adapter.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting the serial number and default password from the gateway to the adapter, the adapter comparing the default password and serial number to a factory-specified default password and serial number of the adapter.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the adapter transmitting an accept message to the gateway if the serial number and default password broadcasted from the gateway to the adapter matches the factory specified default password and serial number of the adapter, the gateway broadcasting signals to the adapter to configure the adapter for communication over the powerline network if the accept message is received by the gateway.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein configuring the adapter for communication over the powerline network includes the adapter changing the default password to a network password broadcasted to the adapter from the gateway so as to permit the adapter to communicate over the powerline network with the gateway and other devices connected thereto.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the entry is created in part dynamically by the adapter broadcasting an unconfigured message to the gateway over the plurality of powerlines, the unconfigured message including a network address and device type of the adapter, and wherein the entry is created in part by receiving a user-input default password and serial number at the gateway.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the entry is created statically by receiving a user-input network address, device type, default address, and serial number for the adapter at the gateway.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the network address, device type, default address, and serial number are received by a user interface on the gateway.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the network address, device type, default address, and serial number are received at the gateway through a remote network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein configuring the adapter includes the gateway sending a configuration profile to the adapter over the plurality of powerlines, the configuration profile specifying communication protocols for the adapter to communicate with the gateway over the powerlines.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the configuration profile includes security protocols for communicating over the powerline network.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising connecting the gateway to a remote network, the remote network being external to and independent of the plurality of powerlines.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising controlling the gateway to exchange signals between the remote network and the powerline network so that a device interfaced with the adapter can communicate with the remote network by way of the powerline network.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising outputting signals from the gateway to the remote network representing a profile of the adapter so that a device connected to the remote network can view the profile.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein viewing the profile includes troubleshooting the adapter.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising outputting signals from the gateway to the remote network representing a profile of the powerline network so that a device connected to the remote network can view the profile.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein viewing the profile includes troubleshooting the powerline network.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating an entry for the adapter on the gateway, the gateway utilizing the entry for configuring the adapter.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising authenticating the adapter based on the entry prior to configuring the adapter.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein authenticating the adapter includes the gateway prompting the user to verify that the entry is properly created.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the entry is properly created if a serial number, default password, network address, device type, and security settings are received at the gateway.

22. A system for powerline networking over the plurality of powerlines, the system comprising:

a gateway including a first interface for communication with the plurality of powerlines, the gateway configured with a processor and a memory that execute a gateway application, the gateway application controlling the gateway to send and receive signals through the first interface for managing communications over the powerlines; and

an adapter including a first interface for communication with a secondary device and a second interface for communication with the powerlines, the adapter including a processor and a memory that execute an adapter application, the adapter application controlling the adapter to exchange signals between the secondary device and the powerlines based on signals received over the powerlines from the gateway;

wherein the gateway and the adapter define a powerline network wherein signals are communicated between the gateway, the adapter, and the secondary device interfaced with the adapter.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the gateway further includes a second interface for communication with a remote network, the remote network being external to and independent of the plurality of powerlines.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the gateway controls an exchange of signals between the remote network and the powerline network so that the secondary device interfaced with the adapter can communicate with the remote network by way of the adapter and the gateway.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the gateway outputs signals to the remote network representing a profile of the adapter so that a device connected to the remote network can view the profile.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the profile includes information for troubleshooting the adapter.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the gateway outputs signals to the remote network representing a profile of the powerline network so that a device connected to the remote network can view the profile.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the profile includes information for troubleshooting the powerline network.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the remote network is an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

30. The system of claim 23 wherein the second interface of the gateway is a modem.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the gateway communicates a configuration profile over the plurality of powerlines to the adapter for managing a configuration of the adapter, the configuration of the adapter permitting the adapter to join the powerline network, wherein the configuration profile includes security protocols for communicating over the powerline network.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein the first interface of the adapter provides an Ethernet port for communicating with the secondary device.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the first interface of the adapter provides a wireless access point for communicating with the secondary device.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein the gateway includes a user interface having a display, the user interface configured to receive inputs from a user for controlling operation of the gateway, the user interface further configured to output information to the user through the display.

35. A method for powerline networking over a plurality of powerlines, the powerlines comprising a plurality of electrical wires configured for transmitting electrical power, the method comprising:

configuring an adapter for connecting to one of the plurality of powerlines, the adapter configured to communicate signals over the powerlines;

configuring a gateway for connecting to one of a plurality of powerlines, the gateway configured to communicate signals over the powerlines; and

creating a powerline network between the gateway and the adapter over the plurality of powerlines by communicating signals for configuring the adapter from the gateway to the adapter over the powerlines, the powerline network permitting the gateway to communicate directly with the adapter.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising configuring the gateway to transmit a serial number and a default password received at the gateway from the gateway to the adapter, and configuring the adapter to compare the default password and serial number to a factory-specified default password and serial number of the adapter.

37. The method of claim 36 further comrising configuring the adapter to broadcast an accept message to the gateway if the serial number and default password broadcasted from the gateway to the adapter matches the factory-specified default password and serial number of the adapter, and configuring the gateway to broadcast signals to the adapter to configure the adapter for communication over the powerline network if the accept message is received by the gateway.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising configuring the gateway for communication with a remote network, the remote network being separate from and independent of the powerline network.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising controlling operation of the gateway via the remote network to facilitate configuring the adapter.

40. The method of claim 35 further comprising controlling a user interface on the gateway to facilitate configuring the adapter.