Apparatus and method for controlling data communications having combination of wide and narrow band frequency protocols

• US 5,777,544 A
• Filed: 03/17/1997
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intellon Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vander Mey, James E., Denton, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/818,457
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.04, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 340/310.08, 340/928, 340/825.49, 340/572, 375/260, 375/222, 375/354, 370/343, 370/344, 370/204, 370/480, 370/481
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form

Abstract

An apparatus and methods are provided for controlling data communications across power lines. The apparatus preferably has a power line interface for interfacing with a power line so as to detect both a wide bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency and so as to initiate either a wide bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line or a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency. The narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol preferably falls within the wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol. An input wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiver is positioned responsive to the power line interface for receiving either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol. An output wide and narrow bandwidth protocol transmitter is connected to the power line interface for transmitting a selected one of either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol. A protocol controller is positioned responsive to the input protocol receiver and the output protocol transmitter for controlling the receipt of and the transmission of wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

Claims

1. A data communications controlling apparatus for controlling data communications across a power line, the apparatus comprising:

power line interfacing means for interfacing with the power line so as to detect both a wide bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line synchronously with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate either the wide bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line or the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency, a narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol falling within a wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol;

wide and narrow bandwidth protocol transmitting and receiving means responsive to said power line interfacing means for selectively transmitting either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol onto the power line and for receiving both the wide bandwidth protocol and the narrow bandwidth protocol; and

protocol controlling means responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving means for controlling the receipt of and the transmission of said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said power line interfacing means includes a life coupler for coupling to the power line and a zero crossing detector connected to said line coupler for detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said power line interfacing means further includes an input bandpass filter for filtering out-of-band interference signals from both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

4. (Amended) An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said power line interfacing means further includes an output filtering means positioned responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving means for filtering an output data communications prior to initiating a selected data communications protocol onto the power line.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said wide and narrow bandwidth protocol transmitting and receiving means includes input protocol filtering means responsive to said power line interfacing means for selectively filtering either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol, input protocol receiving means responsive to said input protocol filtering means for receiving a filtered data communications protocol, and output protocol transmitting means responsive to said protocol controlling means and connected to said power line interfacing means for transmitting a selected one of either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol to the power line.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said input protocol filtering means comprises a bandpass filter for reducing noise components of both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol and a narrow bandwidth digital filter for filtering only the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said protocol transmitting and receiving means includes a transmitter for transmitting data communications and a waveform memory device responsive to said transmitter for storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol for transmission.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising application interfacing means responsive to said protocol controlling means for interfacing with a predetermined user application.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said protocol controlling means includes a protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving means for controlling transmitting and receiving of data communications protocols and an application controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means for controlling data communications between said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the wide bandwidth protocol comprises a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol, and wherein the narrow bandwidth protocol comprises an X10 data communications protocol.

11. A data communications controlling apparatus for controlling data communications across a power line, the apparatus comprising:

a power line interface for interfacing with a power line so as to detect both a wide bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated cross the power line associated with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate either the wide bandwith data communications protocol onto the power line or the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line associated with the power line mains frequency, a narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol falling within a wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol;

an input wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiver responsive to said power line interface for receiving either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol from the same data communications signal path;

an output wide and narrow bandwidth protocol transmitter connected to said power line interface for transmitting a selected one of either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol to the power line through the same data communications signal path; and

a protocol controller responsive to said input protocol receiver and said output protocol transmitter for controlling the receipt of and the transmission of said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said power line interface includes a line coupler for coupling to the power line and a zero crossing detector connected to said line coupler for detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the narrow bandwith data communications protocol.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said power line interface further includes an input bandpass filter for filtering out-of-band interference signals from both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said power line interface further includes an output filter positioned responsive to said output wide and narrow bandwith protocol transmitter for filtering an output data communications prior to initiating a selected data communications protocol onto the power line.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, further comprising an input protocol filter responsive to said power line interface for selectively filtering either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said input protocol filter comprises a bandpass filter for reducing noise components of both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol and a narrow bandwidth digital filter for filtering only the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising a waveform memory device responsive to said output protocol transmitter for storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol for transmission.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising an application interface responsive to said protocol controller for interfacing with a predetermined user application.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said protocol controller includes a protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller responsive to said output protocol transmitter and said input protocol receiver for controlling transmitting and receiving of data communications protocols and an application controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interface for controlling data communications between said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interface.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the wide bandwidth protocol comprises a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol, and wherein the narrow bandwidth protocol comprises an X10 data communications protocol.

21. A data communications controlling apparatus for controlling data communications across a power line, the apparatus comprising:

power line interfacing means for interfacing with a power line so as to detect both a wide banwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line synchronously with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate either the wide bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line or the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency, a narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol falling within a wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol;

a single integrated circuit connected to said power line interfacing means for provide network protocol data communications, said integrated circuit including wide and narrow bandwidth protocol transmitting and receiving means responsive to said power line interfacing means for selectively transmitting either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol onto the power line and for receiving both the wide bandwidth protocol and the narrow bandwidth protocol, said wide and narrow bandwidth protocol transmitting and receiving means including input protocol filtering means responsive to said power line interfacing means for selectively filtering either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol, input protocol receiving means responsive to said input protocol filtering means for receiving a filtered data communications protocol, output protocol transmitting means for transmitting a selected one of either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol to the power line, and protocol controlling means responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving means for controlling the receipt of and the transmission of said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols; and

output filtering means positioned responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving means of said single integrated circuit for filtering an output data communications prior to initiating a selected data communications protocol onto the power line.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said protocol transmitting and receiving means includes a transmitter for transmitting data communications and a waveform memory device responsive to said transmitter for storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol for transmission.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said power line interfacing means includes

a line coupler for coupling to the power line and a zero crossing detector connected to said line coupler for detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein said power line interfacing means further includes an input bandpass filter for filtering out-of-band interference signals from both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said input protocol filtering means comprises a bandpass filter for reducing noise components of both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol and a narrow bandwidth digital filter for filtering only the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25, further comprising application interfacing means responsive to said protocol controlling means for interfacing with a predetermined user application.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein said protocol controlling means includes a protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving means for controlling transmitting and receiving of data communications protocols and an application controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means for controlling data communications between said transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein the wide bandwidth protocol comprises a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol, and wherein the narrow bandwidth protocol comprises an X10 data communications protocol.

29. A data communications controlling apparatus for controlling data communications across a power line, the apparatus comprising:

power line interfacing means for interfacing with the power line so as to detect both a wide bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line synchronously with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency, a narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol falling within a wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol;

wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiving means responsive to said power line interfacing means for receiving both the wide bandwidth protocol and the narrow bandwidth protocol, said wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiving means including input protocol filtering means responsive to said power line interfacing means for selectively filtering either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol and input protocol receiving means responsive to said input protocol filtering means for receiving filtered data communications protocol;

narrow bandwidth protocol transmitting means for transmitting the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line;

protocol controlling means responsive to said both wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiving means and said transmitting means for controlling the receipt of said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols and the transmission of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

30. An apparatus as defined in claim 29, wherein said protocol transmitting means includes a transmitter for transmitting data communications and a waveform memory device responsive to said transmitter for storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol for transmission.

31. An apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein said power line interfacing means includes a line coupler for coupling to the power line and a zero crossing detector connected to said line coupler for detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

32. An apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein said power line interfacing means further includes an input bandpass filter for filtering out-of-band interference signals from both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

33. An apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein said input protocol filtering means comprises a bandpass filter for reducing noise components of both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol and a narrow bandwidth digital filter for filtering only the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, further comprising application interfacing means responsive to said protocol controlling means for interfacing with a predetermined user application.

35. An apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein said protocol controlling means includes a protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller responsive to said protocol receiving means and said protocol transmitting means for controlling transmitting and receiving of data communications protocols and an application controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means for controlling data communications between said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means.

36. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the wide bandwidth protocol comprises a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol, and wherein the narrow bandwidth protocol comprises an X10 data communications protocol.

37. A data communications controlling apparatus for controlling data communications across a power line, the apparatus comprising:

power line interfacing means for interfacing with the power line so as to detect both a wide bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line synchronously with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency, a narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol falling within a wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol;

wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiving means responsive to said power line interfacing means for receiving both the wide bandwidth protocol and the narrow bandwidth protocol, said wide and narrow bandwidth input protocol receiving means including input protocol filtering means responsive to said power line interfacing means for selectively filtering either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol and input protocol receiving means responsive to said input protocol filtering means for receiving a filtered data communications protocol;

wide bandwidth output protocol transmitting means for transmitting the wide bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line; and

protocol controlling means connected to both said wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiving means and said output protocol transmitting means for controlling the receipt of said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols and the transmission of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol.

38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein said protocol transmitting means includes a transmitter for transmitting data communications and a waveform memory device responsive to said transmitter for storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol for transmission.

39. An apparatus as defined in claim 38, wherein said power line interfacing means includes a line coupler for coupling to the power line and a zero crossing detector connected to said line coupler for detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

40. An apparatus as defined in claim 39, wherein said power line interfacing means further includes an input bandpass filter for filtering out-of-band interference signals from both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

41. An apparatus as defined in claim 40, wherein said input protocol filtering means comprises a bandpass filter for reducing noise components of both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol and a narrow bandwidth digital filter for filtering only the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

42. An apparatus as defined in claim 41, further comprising application interfacing means responsive to said protocol controlling means for interfacing with a predetermined user application.

43. An apparatus as defined in claim 42, wherein said protocol controlling means includes a protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller responsive to said wide and narrow bandwidth protocol receiving means and said protocol transmitting means for controlling transmitting and receiving of data communications protocols and an application controller responsive to said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means for controlling data communications between said protocol transmitting and receiving interface controller and said application interfacing means.

44. An apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein the wide bandwidth protocol comprises a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol, and wherein the narrow bandwidth protocol comprises an X10 data communications protocol.

45. A method of controlling data communications across a power line, the method comprising:

interfacing with the power line so as to detect both a wide bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and a narrow bandwidth data communications protocol being initiated across the power line so as to have relationship with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate either the wide bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line so as to have relationship with the power line mains frequency or the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line, a narrow bandwidth of the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol falling within a wide bandwidth of the wide bandwidth data communications protocol;

receiving both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol;

selectively transmitting either the wide bandwidth data communications protocol or the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol onto the power line; and

controlling the receipt of and the transmission of both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocols.

46. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein the step of interfacing with the power line includes coupling to the line, detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage of the power line passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol, and filtering out-of-band interference signals from both said wide bandwidth and narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

47. A method as defined in claim 46, wherein the step of interfacing with the power line further includes filtering an output data communications prior to initiating a selected data communications protocol onto the power line.

48. A method as defined in claim 47, further comprising selectively filtering either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol.

49. A method as defined in claim 48, wherein the step of selectively filtering includes reducing noise components of both the wide bandwidth data communications protocol and the narrow bandwidth data communications protocol.

50. A method as defined in claim 49, further comprising storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for transmission of either the wide bandwidth protocol or the narrow bandwidth protocol.

51. A method as defined in claim 50, further comprising interfacing with a predetermined user application and controlling data communications to and from the predetermined user application.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein the wide bandwidth protocol comprises a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol, and wherein the narrow bandwidth protocol comprises an X10 data communications protocol.

53. A method of controlling data communications across a power line, the method comprising:

interfacing with a power line so as to detect both a spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol being initiated across the power line and an X10 data communications protocol being initiated across the power line synchronously with a power line mains frequency and so as to initiate either the spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol onto the power line or the X10 data communications protocol onto the power line synchronously with the power line mains frequency, the bandwidth of the X10 data communications protocol falling within the bandwidth of the CEBus data communications protocol;

receiving both the spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol and the X10 data communications protocol from the same data communications signal path;

selectively transmitting either the spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol or the X10 data communications protocol onto the power line through the same data communications signal path; and

controlling the receipt of and the transmission of the spread spectrum CEBus and the X10 data communications protocols.

54. A method as defined in claim 53, wherein the step of interfacing with the power line includes coupling to the power line, detecting a moment substantially at which a mains voltage of the power line passes through zero so as to properly synchronize the X10 data communications protocol, and filtering out-of-band interference signals from both the spread spectrum CEBus and the X10 data communications protocols, and wherein the step of receiving includes selectively filtering either the spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol or the X10 data communications protocol.

55. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein the step of interfacing with the power line further includes selectively filtering an output data communications prior to initiating a selected data communications protocol onto the power line.

56. A method as defined in claim 55, wherein the step of selectively filtering includes reducing noise components of both the spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol and the X10 data communications protocol.

57. A method as defined in claim 53, further comprising storing a digital representation of a selected waveform to be used for transmission of either the spread spectrum CEBus data communications protocol or the X10 data communications protocol.

58. A method as defined in claim 57, further comprising interfacing with a predetermined user application and controlling data communications to and from the predetermined user application.