SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLUSTERING DEVICES

• US 20160013988A1
• Filed: 07/14/2014
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Andrews, Bibin
• Granted Patent: US 9,674,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A system including a parent device is provided. The parent device includes a power output configured to provide output power to an external device, a first network interface configured to exchange data with at least one external device, and at least one controller coupled to the power output and the first network interface. The controller is configured to determine an identifier of the parent device, transmit an identification message to a child device via the power output, the identification message including the identifier of the parent device, and receive a response to the identification message via the first network interface, the response including an identifier of the child device.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

determining an identifier of a parent device;

transmitting an identification message to a child device via a power output, the identification message including the identifier of the parent device; and

receiving a response to the identification message via a first network interface, the response including an identifier of the child device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the identifier of the parent device includes receiving input indicating the identifier of the parent device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the identification message includes transmitting the identification message to the child device via a power output electrically coupled to the child device to provide power to the child device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the response includes receiving the response to the identification message via the first network interface communicatively coupled to the child device to receive data from the child device using a communication protocol comprising at least one of CAN, MODBUS, and Ethernet.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the identifier of the child device;

receiving the identification message via a power input of the child device; and

transmitting the response via a second network interface of the child device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

updating a parent device table with the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device; and

transmitting a first table update message to the child device, the first table update message comprising the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving the first table update message at the child device;

updating a child device table with the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device; and

transmitting a second table update message to another child device, the second table update message comprising the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device.

8. A system including a parent device, the parent device comprising:

a power output configured to provide output power to an external device;

a first network interface configured to exchange data with at least one external device; and

at least one controller coupled to the power output and the first network interface and configured to;

determine an identifier of the parent device;

transmit an identification message to a child device via the power output, the identification message including the identifier of the parent device; and

receive a response to the identification message via the first network interface, the response including an identifier of the child device.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a graphical user interface coupled to the at least one controller and configured to receive input indicating the identifier of the parent device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

update a parent device table with the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device; and

transmit a first table update message to the child device, the first table update message including the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising the child device, the child device including:

a power input configured to receive power;

a second network interface configured to exchange data with one or more external devices; and

one or more controllers coupled to the power input and the second network interface and configured to;

determine an identifier of the child device;

receive the identification message via the power input; and

transmit the response via the second network interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more controllers of the child device are further configured to:

receive the first table update message;

update a child device table with the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device; and

transmit a second table update message to another child device, the second table update message comprising the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the power output is electrically coupled to the child device to provide power to the child device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first network interface is communicatively coupled to the child device to receive data from the child device using a communication protocol comprising at least one of CAN, MODBUS, and Ethernet.

15. A system including a child device, the child device comprising:

a power input configured to receive power;

a first network interface configured to exchange data with at least one external device; and

at least one controller coupled to the power input and the first network interface and configured to;

determine an identifier of the child device;

receive an identification message from a parent device via the power input, the identification message including the identifier of the parent device; and

transmit a response to the identification message via the first network interface, the response including an identifier of the child device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a graphical user interface coupled to the at least one controller and configured to receive input indicating the identifier of the child device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

receive a first table update message from the parent device, the first table update message including the identifier of the child device and the identifier of the parent device;

update a child device table with the identifier of the child device and the identifier of the parent device; and

transmit a second table update message to another child device, the second table update message comprising the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising the parent device, the parent device including:

a power output configured to provide output power to an external device;

a second network interface configured to exchange data with one or more external devices; and

one or more controllers coupled to the power output and the second network interface and configured to;

determine an identifier of the parent device;

transmit the identification message via the power output; and

receive the response via the second network interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more controllers of the parent device are further configured to:

update a parent device table with the identifier of the parent device and the identifier of the child device; and

transmit the first table update message.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the power input is electrically coupled to the parent device to receive power from the parent device.