Communications module base repeater
First Claim
1. A communications module comprising:
- (a) a processor that controls the reception from the host application, modification and transmission of message packets in accordance with a prescribed transmit role table (TRT); and
(b) a memory operatively coupled to said processor and containing said TRT;
wherein said TRT comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a destination house code, a destination device address, and a transmit repeater role identifier (TRRI), wherein said destination house code and destination device address identify a specific destination device and its house address, and wherein said module is capable, through said processor and TRT, of modifying said message packets to thereby determine a route to a destination device for each packet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A repeater communications module (RCM) that enhances signals in a communications network comprises a processor coupled to a communications medium and optionally to a host application. The RCM operates in one of two modes: (1) interface or host application controlled, and (2) standalone. In the interface mode, the RCM receives packets from a host application, modifies the packets and transmits message packets in accordance with a transmit role table (TRT). In standalone mode, the RCM initiates packets and transmits message packets in accordance with the TRT. All RCMs can be configured to repeat message packets which are received from the communications medium in accordance with a repeater role table (RRT).
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A communications module comprising:
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(a) a processor that controls the reception from the host application, modification and transmission of message packets in accordance with a prescribed transmit role table (TRT); and (b) a memory operatively coupled to said processor and containing said TRT; wherein said TRT comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a destination house code, a destination device address, and a transmit repeater role identifier (TRRI), wherein said destination house code and destination device address identify a specific destination device and its house address, and wherein said module is capable, through said processor and TRT, of modifying said message packets to thereby determine a route to a destination device for each packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A repeater communications module (RCM) for repeating message packets, comprising:
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(a) a processor that controls the reception and re-transmission of message packets in accordance with a prescribed repeater role table (RRT); and (b) a memory operatively coupled to said processor and containing said RRT; wherein said RRT comprises a plurality of entries, each said entry comprising a source house code, a source device address, a destination house code, a destination device address, a receive repeater role identifier (RRRI) and a transmit repeater role identifier (TRRI);
wherein said source house code and source device address identify a specific source device and its house address, said destination house code and destination device address identify a specific destination device and its house address, and the RRRI identifies the repeater which is to re-transmit the message packet; and
wherein said processor is programmed to compare prescribed fields within a packet to said source house codes, source device addresses, destination house codes, and destination device addresses, and to determine whether to ignore the packet or to modify and transmit the packet. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A consumer electronics bus (CEBus) system comprising a plurality of repeater communications modules (RCMs) each of which is in communication with both an associated electricity meter of a residence and, via a communications medium, to at least one other RCM, wherein said RCMs are configurable to function as a repeater for repeating message packets, as a source device for initiating message packets, or as a device coupled to a host application for transmitting message packets initiated by the host, wherein at least one RCM comprises:
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(a) first means for controlling the reception, modification and forwarding of message packets, wherein said first means operates in accordance with a transmit role table (TRT) when the RCM is functioning as a source or is coupled to and controlled by a host application and the host application is acting as a source; (b) second means for receiving message packets and re-transmitting said message packets in accordance with a repeater role table (RRT) when the RCM is functioning as a repeater; and (c) a memory operatively coupled to said first and second means, wherein said memory stores said TRT and RRT. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A communications module (CM) for sending message packets via one or more repeaters and a communications medium to any of a plurality of destination devices, comprising:
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(a) a first processor means for communicating with a host application and controlling the reception, modification and transmission of message packets received from the host application in accordance with a first transmit role table (TRT); (b) a second processor means, which is not in communications with said host application, for generating a message packet and transmitting the message packet in accordance with a second transmit role table (TRT); and (c) a memory operatively coupled to said first processor means, wherein said memory stores said first TRT and provides access thereto to said first processor; wherein each said TRT comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a destination house code, a destination device address, and a transmit repeater role identifier (TRRI), wherein said destination house code and destination device address identify a specific destination device and its house address, and wherein said CM is capable of modifying said message packets to thereby determine a route to a specific destination device for each packet. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for operating a communications module having access to a prescribed transmit role table (TRT) that includes a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a destination house code, a destination device address, and a transmit repeater role identifier (TRRI), wherein said destination house code and destination device address identify a specific destination device and its house address, the method comprising the steps of:
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comparing a first field within a packet to said destination house codes; comparing a second field within the packet to said destination device addresses; copying the TRRI corresponding to the TRT entry having a matching destination house code and destination device address to a repeater role identifier (RRI) field in said packet; and transmitting the packet. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification