Last Leg Utility Grid High-Speed Data Communication Network Having Virtual Local Area Network Functionality

• US 20070201494A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Grid, LLC, PowerWAN, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Current Grid, LLC
• Inventors: Lou, Heng, Davidow, Clifford
• Granted Patent: US 7,664,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 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 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/467 Arrangements for supporting untagged frames, e.g. port-based VLANs

Abstract

A power line based communication system includes a power line termination module, a plurality of power line gateways, and a plurality of power line nodes. The power line termination module manages data for local area networks within the power line based communication system. The plurality of power line gateways is arranged in sets of power line gateways, wherein each set of power line gateways constitutes a local area network. Each of the plurality of power line nodes is operably coupled to the power line termination module via a high-speed communication path. In addition, each power line node is operably coupled to set of power line gateways, i.e., to a local area network, via power lines of a local transformer. Each of the power line nodes receives data for its respective LAN from the power line termination module and provides the data to the power line gateways of its LAN via the power lines of the local transformer. Virtual local area networks are enabled between the power line termination module and the power line gateways.

Claims

1-35. -35. (canceled)

36. A method or providing communications over a plurality of low voltage power line subnets of a power distribution system to a plurality of groups of subscriber interface devices, wherein each subnet comprises low voltage power lines connected to a distribution transformer and extending to one or more subscriber residences and wherein each group of subscriber interface devices receives communications service via a respective low voltage subnet, the method comprising:

coupling a power line communications device to each of the plurality of low voltage subnets;

providing communications service between a remote network and each group of the subscriber interface devices via a respective power line communications device; and

establishing a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), wherein at least some of the VLANs comprise different sets of subscriber interface devices.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein at least some subscriber devices are associated with a VLAN identifier and wherein VLAN identifiers are reused for multiple VLANs.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising using VLAN overlays to provide multi-cast communications to a plurality of subscriber interface devices serviced by a power line communications device.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising using VLAN overlays to provide broadcast communications to a plurality of subscriber interface devices serviced by a power line communications device.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

determining a Quality of Service (QoS) level for one or more subscriber devices serviced by a VLAN; and

supporting the QoS level for the one or more subscriber devices of the VLAN.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

assigning at least one subscriber interface device a QoS level; and

limiting access of the at least one subscriber interface device to the low voltage subnet based upon the QoS level.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising limiting communications of a subscriber interface device subnet based upon a QoS level of the subscriber interface device.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one subscriber interface device is assigned to a plurality of VLANs;

and

each of the plurality of VLANs corresponds to different service to which a corresponding subscriber receives.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein at least some of the plurality of VLANs are configured to provide different types of service.

45. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

receiving a first data from a subscriber interface device;

determining first information from the first data;

associating the first information with a VLAN identifier for the subscriber interface device;

receiving a second data including payload data intended for the subscriber interface device that includes the first information;

based upon the first information, determining a VLAN identifier of a subscriber interface device corresponding to the first information;

formatting one or more data packets with the payload data for transmission to the subscriber interface device to include the VLAN identifier; and

transmitting the one or more data packet with the payload data to the subscriber interface device via a data path that includes a low voltage power line.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the first information contained in the second data comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the first information contained in the second data comprises a Medium Access Control (MAC) address.

48. The method of claim 36, further comprising transmitting software to at least some of the subscriber interface devices via their respective VLAN.

49. The method of claim 36, further comprising validating the identity of a subscriber interface device using:

a private key stored in the subscriber interface device; and

a public key stored in a remote device.

50. The method of claim 36, further comprising automatically configuring at least some of the subscriber interface devices.

51. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

establishing a configuration VLAN that is not accessible by subscribers;

receiving a service request from a subscriber interface device via the configuration VLAN; and

provisioning the subscriber interface device via the configuration VLAN.

52. The method of claim 36, further comprising transmitting service profile information to one or more subscriber interface devices.

53. The method of claim 36, wherein one or more VLAN identifiers are used to provide privacy for a group of subscriber interface devices sharing a low voltage subnet.

54. A method of providing communications over a plurality of low voltage power line subnets of a power distribution system to a plurality of groups of subscriber interface devices, wherein each subnet comprises low voltage power lines connected to a distribution transformer and extending to one or more customer residences and wherein each group of subscriber interface devices receives communications service via a respective low voltage subnet, comprising:

associating a subscriber device with a VLAN;

receiving a data packet having payload intended for the subscriber device;

determining a VLAN identifier of a subscriber interface device corresponding to the subscriber device;

formatting one or more data packets with the payload for transmission to the subscriber interface device to include the VLAN identifier; and

transmitting the one or more data packets with the payload to the subscriber interface device via a data path that includes a low voltage power line.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the same VLAN identifier is used with multiple VLANs.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising using VLAN overlays to provide multicast communications to a plurality of subscriber interface devices.

57. The method of claim 54, further comprising using VLAN overlays to provide broadcast communications to a plurality of subscriber interface devices.

58. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

determining a Quality of Service (QoS) level for one or more subscriber devices serviced by a VLAN; and

supporting the QoS level for the one or more user devices of the VLAN.

59. The method of claim 54, further comprising limiting communications of a subscriber interface device based upon a QoS level of the subscriber interface device.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein:

at least one subscriber interface device is assigned to a plurality of VLANs; and

each of the plurality of VLANs corresponds to different service to which a corresponding subscriber receives.

61. The method of claim 54, wherein at least some of the VLANs are configured to provide different types of service.

62. The method of claim 54, further comprising transmitting software to the subscriber interface devices via the low voltage power line.

63. A power line communication device for communicating over power lines, comprising:

a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch;

a power line Local Area Network (LAN) interface communicatively coupled on a first side to the VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to a power line;

an upstream interface communicatively coupled on a first side to the VLAN data packet switch and configured to communicate via a second side with an upstream device;

a processor communicatively coupled to the VLAN data packet switch, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to;

establish communications via the power line LAN interface with at least one subscriber interface device; and

establish communications via the upstream interface with the upstream device.

64. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to establish a VLAN over the power line with one or more subscriber interface devices.

65. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to communicate with a subscriber interface device using an administrative VLAN.

66. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to provide multicast communications to one or more subscriber interface devices.

67. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to provide broadcast communications to one or more subscriber interface devices.

68. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to limit power line communications of a subscriber interface device based upon a QoS level of the subscriber interface device.

69. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to provide different types of service for different VLANs.

70. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to transmit software to one or more subscriber interface devices.

71. The device of claim 63, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the device to transmit service profile information to one or more subscriber interface devices.

72. A power line gateway for use in a last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network, the power line gateway comprising:

a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch;

a power line Local Area Network (LAN) interface communicatively coupled on a first side to the VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to a power line;

a device interface communicatively coupled on a first side to the VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to a user device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the VLAN data packet switch,

wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to establish communication via the power line with an upstream communication device.

73. The power line gateway of claim 72, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to establish a VLAN via the power line.

74. The power line gateway of claim 72, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to communicate with an upstream device via an administrative VLAN.

75. The power line gateway of claim 72, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to communicate via the power line in accordance with a QoS level of the power line gateway.

76. The power line gateway of claim 72, wherein the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to receive software via the power line.

77. The power line gateway of claim 72, the processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to receive service profile information via the power line.