Power-line data transmission method and system utilizing relay stations
First Claim
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1. A power-line data transmission system in which a plurality of nodes each having a power-line communication device are connected together by an electric power line and data is transmitted between the nodes by power-line communication, each of the nodes comprising:
- a data transmission possible/impossible information storing means for storing information indicating whether an associated node can perform data transmission with all other nodes;
a data transmission possible/impossible judging means for judging based on the data transmission possible/impossible information whether the associated node can perform data transmission with a target station node;
a link establishing means for establishing a direct link with the target station node when the data transmission possible/impossible judging means judges that the associated node can perform data transmission with the target station node; and
a relay station search means for searching for a relay station node with which the associated node can perform data transmission and which can establish a link to the target station node while referring to the data transmission possible/impossible information, when the data transmission possible/impossible judging means judges that the associated node cannot perform data transmission with the target station node.
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Abstract
When a sending station intends to transmit data to a target station to which the sending station cannot establish a direct link, the sending station searches for a station, i.e., a relay station which can communicate with the target station by retrieving a communication possible/impossible node list.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power-line data transmission system in which a plurality of nodes each having a power-line communication device are connected together by an electric power line and data is transmitted between the nodes by power-line communication, each of the nodes comprising:
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a data transmission possible/impossible information storing means for storing information indicating whether an associated node can perform data transmission with all other nodes; a data transmission possible/impossible judging means for judging based on the data transmission possible/impossible information whether the associated node can perform data transmission with a target station node; a link establishing means for establishing a direct link with the target station node when the data transmission possible/impossible judging means judges that the associated node can perform data transmission with the target station node; and a relay station search means for searching for a relay station node with which the associated node can perform data transmission and which can establish a link to the target station node while referring to the data transmission possible/impossible information, when the data transmission possible/impossible judging means judges that the associated node cannot perform data transmission with the target station node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A power-line data transmission method in which a plurality of nodes each having a power-line communication device are connected together by an electric power line and data is transmitted between the nodes by power-line communication, comprising the steps of:
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in each of the nodes, storing data transmission possible/impossible information indicating whether an associated node can perform data transmission with all other nodes; judging whether data transmission can be performed with a target station node based on the data transmission possible/impossible information; establishing a direct link with the target station when it is judged that data transmission can be performed with the target station node; and searching for a relay station with which data transmission can be performed and which can establish a link to the target station node while referring to the data transmission possible/impossible information, when it is judged that data transmission cannot be performed with the target station node. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A container carrier system which carries a plurality of containers mutually connected by an electric power line for feeding electric power, comprising:
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a plurality of power-line communication means provided for the respective containers; and a power-line communication control means for collecting management information of each of the containers by performing power-line communication through the electric power line using the plurality of power-line communication means, the power-line communication control means comprising; first extracting means for extracting first power-line communication means with which the power-line communication control means can communicate from among the plurality of power-line communication means by performing power-line communication with the plurality of power-line communication means through the electric power line; second extracting means for extracting second power-line communication means with which the power-line communication control means can communicate via the first power-line communication means by performing power-line communication between the first power-line communication means and other power-line communication means through the electric power line; and route determining means for determining a route for collecting the management information of each of the containers through the electric power line using the first and second power-line complication means; and storing means for storing the route determined by the route determining means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method for collecting management information of each of a plurality of containers carried by a container carrier system and mutually connected by an electric power line for feeding electric power, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of power-line communication means for the respective containers, and a power-line communication control means; extracting first power-line communications means with which the power-line communications control means can communicate from among the plurality of power-line communication means by performing power-line communication with the plurality of power-line communication means through the electric power line; extracting second power-line communication means with which the power-line communication control means can communicate via the first power-line communication means by performing power-line communication between the first power-line communications means and other power-line communications means through the electric power line; determining a route for collecting the management information of each of the containers through the electric power line using the first and second power-line communication means; storing the route; and causing the power-line communication control means to collect management information of each of the containers by using the route to perform power-line communication with the first and second power-line communication means through the electric power line. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A power-line data transmission system in which a plurality of nodes each having a power-line communication device are connected together by an electric power line and data is transmitted between the nodes by power-line communication, each of the nodes comprising:
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a data transmission possible/impossible information storing means for storing information indicating whether an associated node can perform data transmission with other nodes; a data transmission possible/impossible judging means for judging based on the data transmission possible/impossible information whether the associated node can perform data transmission with a target station node; a link establishing means for establishing a direct link with the target station node when the data transmission possible/impossible judging means judges that the associated node can perform data transmission with the target station node; a relay station search means for searching for a relay station node with which the associated node can perform data transmission and which can establish a link to the target station node while referring to the data transmission possible/impossible information, when the data transmission possible/impossible judging means judges that the associated node cannot perform data transmission with the target station node; and an information rewriting means for causing the data transmission possible/impossible information storing means to store, as a new relay-possible node, a node that has been newly found by the relay station search to be capable of communicating with the target station node. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A power-line data transmission method in which a plurality of nodes each having a power-line communication device are connected together by an electric power line and data is transmitted between the nodes by power-line communication, comprising the steps of:
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when a sending station node cannot transmit said data to a target station node, searching for a node which can communicate with the target node at the sending station node and designating it as a relay station node at the sending station node; transmitting said data to the target station node via the relay station node; and when the relay station node is newly found, immediately designating the newly found relay station node as a relay possible node and as immediately available for subsequent data transmission. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A power-line data transmission method in which a plurality of nodes each having a power-line communication device are connected together by an electric power line and data is transmitted between the nodes by power-line communication, comprising the steps of:
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in each of the nodes, storing data transmission possible/impossible information indicating whether an associated node can perform data transmission with other nodes; judging whether data transmission can be performed with a target station node based on the data transmission possible/impossible information; establishing a direct link with the target station when it is judged that data transmission can be performed with the target station node; and searching for a relay station with which data transmission can be performed and which can establish a link to the target station node while referring to the data transmission possible/impossible information, when it is judged that data transmission cannot be performed with the target station node. rewriting the data transmission possible/impossible information to store, as a new relay-possible node, a node that has been newly found by the relay station search to be capable of communicating with the target station node. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A container carrier system which carries a plurality of containers mutually connected by an electric power line for feeding electric power, comprising:
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a plurality of power-line communication means provided for the respective containers; and a power-line communication control means for collecting management information of each of the containers by performing power-line communication through the electric power line using the plurality of power-line communication means, storing the management information in a table indicating nodes for which direct and relay communications are possible and nodes for which communication is impossible, and determining a data communication route with reference to the table.
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30. A method for collecting management information of each of a plurality of containers carried by a container carrier system and mutually connected by an electric power line for feeding electric power, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of power-line communication means for the respective containers, and a power-line communication control means; causing the power-line communication control means to collect management information of each of the containers by performing power-line communication with the power-line communication means through the electric power line; and storing the management information in a table indicating nodes for which direct and relay communications are possible and nodes for which communication is impossible, and determining a data communication route with reference to the table.
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Specification