Systems And Methods for Implementing Application Profiles and Device Classes in Power Line Communication (PLC) Environments

• US 20120063497A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Il Han, Dabak, Anand G., Varadarajan, Badri N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,000,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/222
• 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 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/78 Architectures of resource allocation

Abstract

Systems and methods for application profiles and device classes in power line communications (PLCs) are described. In some embodiments, a PLC device may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may be configured to store program instructions, which may be executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to communicate with a higher-level PLC apparatus over a power line using a frequency band. The frequency band may be selected based upon an application profile and/or a device class associated with the PLC device. In some implementations, the higher-level PLC apparatus may include a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and the PLC device may include a PLC modem or the like. Examples of application profiles include access communications, in-premises connectivity, AC charging, and/or DC charging. Device classes may represent a minimum communication data rate and/or an operating frequency band restriction of the PLC device.

Claims

1. A power line communication (PLC) device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store program instructions, and wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to communicate with a higher-level PLC apparatus over a power line using a given frequency band, the given frequency band selected based, at least in part, upon an application profile and a device class associated with the PLC device.

2. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-on-chip (SoC) circuit, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a microprocessor, or a microcontroller.

3. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the higher-level PLC apparatus includes at least one of a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and wherein the PLC device includes a PLC modem.

4. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the application profile includes at least one of:

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging.

5. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the device class represents at least one of:

a minimum communication data rate or an operating frequency band restriction.

6. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to:

monitor one or more PLC communications between two or more other PLC devices over the power line;

identify a frequency band unused by the two or more other PLC devices; and

select the given frequency band as at least a portion of the unused frequency band.

7. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to:

transmit a request to the higher-level PLC apparatus for an indication of availability of frequency bands, the higher-level PLC apparatus configured to maintain a record of frequency use by one or more other PLC devices configured to communicate over the power line;

receive instructions from the higher-level PLC apparatus indicating the availability or unavailability of one or more frequency bands; and

select the given frequency band based, at least in part, upon the received instructions.

8. The PLC device of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to:

transmit a request to the higher-level PLC apparatus to communicate over the power line, the request including an indication of the application profile and device class of the PLC apparatus, the higher-level PLC apparatus configured to allocate the given frequency band to the PLC device based, at least in part, upon an analysis of the request; and

receive instructions from the higher-level PLC apparatus allocating the given frequency band to the PLC device.

9. A method comprising:

performing, by a power line communication (PLC) apparatus,

assigning a first frequency band to a first PLC device configured to communicate over a power line, the first frequency band selected based, at least in part, upon a first application profile and a first device class associated with the first PLC device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the PLC apparatus includes at least one of a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and wherein the first PLC device includes a PLC modem.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first application profile includes at least one of:

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging, and wherein the first device class represents at least one of;

a minimum communication data rate or a frequency band restriction.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

performing, by the PLC apparatus,

receiving a request from the first PLC device to communicate over the power line;

determining a frequency band unused by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line; and

transmitting an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band as at least a portion of the unused frequency band.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing, by the PLC apparatus,

identifying a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device coupled to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class; and

resolving the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of;

(a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein resolving the conflict includes limiting a data rate of the second PLC device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein resolving the conflict includes modifying the second frequency band of the second PLC device.

16. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more power line communication (PLC) systems, cause the one or more PLC systems to:

receive a request from a first PLC device to communicate over a power line, the request including an indication of a first application profile and a first device class corresponding to the first PLC device;

identify one or more frequency bands used by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line; and

transmit an instruction to the first PLC device assigning a first frequency band to the first PLC device based, at least in part, upon the one or more frequency bands, the first application profile, and the first device class.

17. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the one or more PLC systems include at least one of:

a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, wherein the first PLC device includes a PLC modem, wherein the first application profile includes at least one of;

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging, and wherein the first device class represents at least one of;

a minimum communication data rate or a frequency band restriction.

18. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the program instructions upon execution by the one or more PLC systems further cause the one or more PLC systems to:

identify a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device connected to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class; and

resolve the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of;

(a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes.

19. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein to resolve the conflict, the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more PLC systems, further cause the one or more PLC systems to limit a data rate of the second PLC devices to thereby create an unused frequency band, the first frequency band including at least a portion of the unused frequency band.

20. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein to resolve the conflict, the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more PLC systems, further cause the one or more PLC systems to modify the second frequency band allocated to the second PLC device to thereby create an unused frequency band, the first frequency band including at least a portion of the unused frequency band.