Power Line Communication Device having Virtual Local Area Network Functionality
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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.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1-35. -35. (canceled)
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36. A power line communication device for communicating over a power line, comprising:
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a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch; a power line interface communicatively coupled on a first side to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to the power line; a plurality of ports communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch; wherein each of said plurality of ports is configured to be communicatively coupled to a user device; a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch; wherein said VLAN data packet switch is configured to; receive first data from a first user device via a first port of the plurality of ports; determine a first VLAN identifier associated with the first port; and formulate one or more data packets that include the first data and the first VLAN identifier; and wherein said processor is configured to cause said power line interface to transmit the one or more data packets over the power line. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A power line communication device for communicating over a power line, comprising:
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a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch; a power line interface communicatively coupled on a first side to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to the power line; a plurality of ports communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch; wherein each of said plurality of ports is configured to be communicatively coupled to a user device; wherein said VLAN data packet switch is configured to; receive a plurality of data packets containing first data from said power line interface that have been received via the power line; select one of the plurality of a ports based on a VLAN identifier in the plurality of data packets; and provide the first data to the selected port to be output to a first user device. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of providing communications over a power line, comprising:
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receiving first data from a user device via a non-power line communication medium; wherein the first data is received at a first port of a plurality of ports; determining a first VLAN identifier associated with the user device connected to the first port; formulating one or more data packets with the first data and the first VLAN identifier; and transmitting the one or more data packets over the power line. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method of providing communications over a power line, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of data packets containing first data via the power line; identifying a first VLAN identifier included in the plurality of data packets; selecting one of a plurality of a ports based on the first VLAN identifier in the plurality of data packets; and outputting the first data out the selected one port to a user device. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification