Method for establishing power line communication link

• US 20070189182A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkman, William, Kehn, Robert, Filemyr, Alice
• Granted Patent: US 7,852,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/58 Repeater circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

A method for providing power line communications in a multi-unit building is provided. One embodiment includes determining the quality of a communication link associated with each of a plurality of communication nodes, selecting one of the plurality of communication nodes based, at least in part, on the quality of the communication links associated with the communication nodes; and establishing communications with an external network through the selected one communication node. In addition, in some embodiments at least one of the communication links associated with the plurality of communication nodes includes a non-conductive radio frequency coupled segment.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a communication link in a power line communication network of a multi-unit building having a plurality of communication nodes coupled to low voltage (LV) power lines, comprising:

determining the quality of a communication link associated with each of the plurality of communication nodes;

selecting one of the plurality of communication nodes based, at least in part, on the quality of the communication links associated with the communication nodes; and

establishing communications with an external network through the selected one communication node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the communication links associated with the plurality of communication nodes includes a non-conductive radio frequency coupled segment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication link associated with the selected one communication node does not include a radio frequency coupled segment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication link associated with the selected one communication node includes a radio frequency coupled segment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected one communication node includes a router configured to route data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first data from one of the plurality of LV power lines;

routing the first data; and

providing the first data to one of a plurality of user devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving first data from a user device;

assigning a priority to the first data; and

transmitting the first data over one of the plurality of low voltage power lines.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving first data wirelessly from a user device and transmitting the first data via one of the plurality of low voltage power lines to the selected one communication node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the quality of the communication links considers information based on the bit error rate of the communication links.

10. A method of using a power line communication device to establish a communication link in a power line communication network having a plurality of communication nodes coupled to low voltage power lines, comprising:

transmitting a first message along a power line to the plurality of communication nodes;

receiving responses to the first message from multiple communication nodes;

evaluating responses to the first message;

selecting one node of the multiple nodes based on the evaluation; and

establishing the communication link with the selected one node.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transmitting comprises:

transmitting the first message along a first communication path that includes two low voltage power lines and a non-conductive radio frequency coupled segment.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving first data wirelessly from a user device and transmitting the first data over a low voltage power line.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said evaluating comprises evaluating the quality of a communication link with each of the multiple nodes.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said evaluating comprises evaluating said responses to identify a node that is designated as an uplink node for the device.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected one node includes a router configured to route data.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

evaluating communication links with multiple communication nodes;

selecting a second node based on the evaluation; and

establishing the communication link with the selected second node.

17. A method of communicating a first data signal within a power line communication system for a building, comprising:

receiving first data from a user device;

transmitting the first data in a first data signal over a first LV power line within the building; and

receiving the first data signal at a communication node coupled to a second LV power line; and

wherein the first data signal traverses a conductive portion of the first LV power line, a non-conductive radio frequency coupled segment, and a conductive portion of the second LV power line.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving second data from the first LV power line;

routing the second data; and

providing the second data to one of a plurality of user devices.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the first data from a user device comprises receiving first data wirelessly.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising assigning a priority to the first data.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising

determining the quality of a communication link associated with each of a plurality of communication nodes;

selecting one of the plurality of communication nodes based, at least in part, on the quality of the communication links associated with the communication nodes; and

wherein said receiving the data signal is performed by the selected one communication node.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising routing the first data at the communication node.