COMMUNICATION METHODS AND DEVICES

• US 20110043374A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Semitech Semiconductor Pty
• Original Assignee: Semitech Innovations Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Cui, Song, Bannister, Stuart Ross
• Application Number:
  US12/668,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043374A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

In one arrangements there is provided a communications method (10). The method (10) includes sending data (14) in a phase shift keyed form (16) over a power line carrier (22) and sending the same data (14) in a frequency shift keyed form (20) over the same power line carrier (22).

Claims

1. A power lines communication device comprising a communications unit having a first channel unit and a second channel unit wherein the channel units are adapted, in a first mode of operation, to receive simultaneously and/or transmit simultaneously.

2. A power lines communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device comprises an automatic meter reading device for a power line network and the channel units are adapted, in a first mode of operation, to either receive simultaneously or transmit simultaneously.

3. A power line communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communication unit is configured to operate in an automatic meter reading network divided into at least two sub networks.

4. A power line communication device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the subnetworks are each associated with a respective unique frequency providing frequency division and concurrent operation.

5. A power line communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first channel unit is configured for handling utility traffic and the second channel unit is configured handling for consumer traffic using frequencies ranges mandated by regulatory bodies.

6. A power line communication device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second channel unit is configured for a different modulation technique to the first channel unit.

7. A power line communication device as claimed in claim 1 including a control unit for switching the second channel unit between being configured for frequency shift keying and phase shift keying.

8-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of querying a plurality of utility meters comprising:

maintaining a record of divisions of the utility meters;

querying a first division of the divisions in accordance a first signalling method; and

querying a second division of the divisions in accordance with a second signalling method.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the first signalling method comprises phase shift keying.

29. A method as claimed in claim 27 or wherein the second signalling method comprises frequency shift keying.

30. A method as claimed in claim 27 including time sharing the querying of the first and second divisions.

31. A method as claimed in claim 27 including concurrently the querying of the first and second divisions.

33. A method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the first signalling method is associated with a first frequency and the second signalling method is associated with a second frequency.

32. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. A device for querying a plurality of utility meters comprising:

a store for maintaining a record of divisions of the utility meters; and

a query unit having a first facility for querying a first division of the divisions in accordance a first signalling method and a second facility for querying a second division of the divisions in accordance with a second signalling method.

36. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first facility is configured for phase shift keying.

37. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the second facility is configured for frequency shift keying.

38. A device as claimed in claim 35 including means for time sharing the querying of the first and second divisions.

39. A device as claimed in claim 35 including a configuration facility for selective configuring the second facility for querying a second division of the divisions in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of signalling methods.

40. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first signalling method is associated with a first frequency and the second signalling method is associated with a second frequency.

41. A device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first and second signalling methods are selected to increase throughput.

42-50. -50. (canceled)