Automated home control using existing electrical lines as a communications medium

• US 5,929,748 A
• Filed: 06/12/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Odinak, Gilad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US08/874,045
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.06
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires

Abstract

A home control system as described herein uses existing electrical power lines in a home for communications. A system includes one or more analog signal sources connected to transmit analog signals using high-bandwidth frequency channels on the electrical power lines, at relatively high bandwidths. The analog signal sources receive control data using a low-bandwidth frequency channel on the same electrical power lines, at a comparatively low bandwidth. One or more analog signal receivers are connected to receive the analog signals using the high-bandwidth frequency channels, and to receive control data using the low-bandwidth frequency channel. A controller is configured to designate one or more source/ receiver groups from the analog signal sources and receivers. The controller is connected to send control data to the source and receiver of each group using the low-bandwidth frequency channel. The control data instructs each group to use a different one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels.

Claims

1. A system for electronic communications using electrical power lines in a building, comprising:

a plurality of components that are connected for communications among themselves through the electrical power lines;

a control transmitter associated with at least one of the components for transmitting control data using a low-bandwidth frequency channel on the electrical power lines at a relatively low bandwidth;

a control receiver associated with at least one of the components for receiving control data using the low-bandwidth frequency channel;

an analog signal source associated with at least one of the components for transmitting an analog signal using a high-bandwidth frequency channel on the electrical power lines at a relatively high bandwidth;

an analog signal receiver associated with at least one of the components for receiving the analog signal using the high-bandwidth frequency channel;

wherein the analog signal is a signal other than an electrical power signal.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the low-bandwidth frequency channel is at a lower frequency than the high-bandwidth frequency channel.

3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the low-bandwidth frequency channel is at a frequency of less than approximately 500 KHz and the high-bandwidth frequency channel is at a frequency of greater than approximately 3 MHz.

4. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the analog signal sources and receivers associated with respective components, the analog signal sources and receivers being configured to transmit and receive analog signals using different high-bandwidth frequency channels.

5. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the control transmitters and receivers associated with respective components, the control transmitters and receivers being configured to transmit and receive control data using the same low-bandwidth frequency channel.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of the control transmitters and receivers associated with respective components, the control transmitters and receivers being configured to transmit and receive control data using the same low-bandwidth frequency channel;

a plurality of the analog signal sources and receivers associated with respective components, the analog signal sources and receivers being configured to transmit and receive analog signals using different high-bandwidth frequency channels.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the high-bandwidth frequency channel used by the analog signal source and the analog signal receiver is selectable in response to control data transmitted using the low-bandwidth frequency channel.

8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the analog signal is an audio/video signal.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

a modulator associated with the analog signal source to modulate digital data on the analog signal;

a demodulator associated with the analog signal receiver to demodulate digital data from the analog signal.

10. A home control system that uses electrical power lines for communications, comprising:

an analog signal source connected to transmit an analog signal using one of a plurality of high-bandwidth frequency channels on the electrical power lines at a relatively high bandwidth, and to receive control data using a low-bandwidth frequency channel on the electrical power lines at a low bandwidth;

an analog signal receiver connected to receive the analog signal using one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels, and to receive control data using the low-bandwidth frequency channel;

at least one controller connected to transmit control data to the analog signal source and to the analog signal receiver using the low-bandwidth frequency channel, wherein the controller sends control data to command the analog signal source and the analog signal receiver to use a particular one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels;

wherein the analog signal is a signal other than an electrical power signal.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of the analog signal sources and receivers, the controller being configured to designate a source/receiver group and to send control data to the group using the low-bandwidth frequency channel, the control data commanding the designated group to use a particular one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the analog signal is an audio/video signal.

13. A system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a modulator associated with the analog signal source to modulate digital data on the analog signal;

a demodulator associated with the analog signal receiver to demodulate digital data from the analog signal.

14. A home control system that uses electrical power lines for communications, comprising:

one or more analog signal sources connected to transmit analog signals using high-bandwidth frequency channels on the electrical power lines at relatively high bandwidths and to receive control data using a low-bandwidth frequency channel on the electrical power lines at a low bandwidth;

one or more analog signal receivers connected to receive the analog signals using the high-bandwidth frequency channels on the electrical power lines and to receive control data using the low-bandwidth frequency channel;

at least one controller that is configured to designate one or more source/receiver groups from the analog signal sources and receivers, the controller being connected to send control data to the source and receiver of each group using the low-bandwidth frequency channel, wherein the control data commands each group to use a different one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels;

wherein the analog signals are signals other than an electrical power signal.

15. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the controller is integrated with the analog signal source.

16. A system as recited in claim 14, wherein the analog signal is an audio/video signal.

17. A system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a modulator associated with one of the analog signal sources to modulate digital data on its analog signal;

a demodulator associated with one of the analog signal receivers to demodulate digital data from its analog signal.

18. A system as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of power components that communicate digitally with each other using the low-bandwidth frequency channel on the electrical power lines.

19. A method of communicating electronically between a plurality of electrical components using electrical power lines in a building, comprising the following steps:

modulating a first frequency channel on the electrical power lines for low-bandwidth communications between electrical components;

modulating a second frequency channel on the electrical power lines for high-bandwidth communications between electrical components.

20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the analog signal is an analog audio/video signal.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the analog signal carries digital content.

22. A method as recited in claim 19, further comprising the following additional steps:

designating a source/receiver group of the electrical components;

selecting a particular frequency for the high-bandwidth communications between the source/receiver group;

sending control data to the source/receiver group using the first frequency channel, the control data commanding the components of the source/receiver group to use the selected particular frequency for the second frequency channel.

23. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein the first frequency channel is at a lower frequency than the second frequency channel.

24. A method of controlling electrical components using electrical power lines in a building, wherein at least one of the components is an analog signal source and at least one of the components is an analog signal receiver, comprising the following steps:

connecting the electrical components to receive control data using a low-bandwidth frequency channel on the electrical power lines at a relatively low bandwidth;

connecting the analog signal source to transmit an analog signal using one of a plurality of high-bandwidth frequency channels on the electrical power lines at a relatively high bandwidth;

connecting the analog signal receiver to receive the analog signal using said one of a plurality of high-bandwidth frequency channels on the electrical power lines;

sending control data to the electrical components using the low-bandwidth frequency channel.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, further comprising the following additional steps:

connecting a controller to send the control data to the electrical components using the low-bandwidth frequency channel;

wherein the sending step includes commanding the analog signal source and the analog signal receiver to use a selected one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels;

transmitting the analog signal from the analog signal source to the analog signal receiver using the selected one of the high-bandwidth frequency channels.

26. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein a plurality of the components are analog signal sources and a plurality of the components are analog signal receivers, the method further comprising the following additional steps:

connecting a controller to send the control data to the electrical components using the low-bandwidth frequency channel;

designating source/receiver groups from the analog signal sources and the analog signal receivers;

wherein the sending step includes commanding the designated groups to use different ones of the high-bandwidth frequency channels.

27. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the analog signal is an audio/video signal.

28. A method as recited in claim 24, further comprising a step of modulating digital data on the analog signal.