Method and apparatus for an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network

• US 6,175,860 B1
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gaucher, Brian Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELMAN, BRADLEY E
• Application Number:
  US08/978,982
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200.08, 709/200.09, 709/208, 709/223, 340/310.01, 340/310.06, 370/310, 370/312, 370/339, 370/338, 348/8, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 455/3.3
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing a wireless/wired computer network in an indoor environment with inherent reliability is disclosed. A master network box connected to an AC power network and a master computer generates an RF field around the computer, the home, and AC power network. The integration and implementation of additional devices to the established network is made through additional appliance boxes. Once introduced into the generated RF field, or connected to the AC power network, the additional device is automatically and seamlessly registered and configured into the network without requiring any user intervention. The network is capable of multiple modulation schemes for providing robust wired or wireless communication for various devices which have different power and data rates. The programming of the master computer enables the automated registration of additional devices, and can provide superior control over the devices connected to the network, either via the AC power network, or via RF wireless transmission through the multiple modulation schemes.

Claims

1. A method for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising the steps of:

generating an RF field around a master computer and an AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

establishing communication between the master computer and a plurality of different devices connected to the AC power network or a radio device, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices;

scanning the RF field for new devices which have entered the RF field to identify the new devices and establish communication with the new devices; and

controlling said plurality of different devices and new devices, if identified, via the master computer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of establishing communication further comprises the steps of:

providing a master network connection between the master computer, the AC power network, or the radio device; and

providing an appliance network box connected between at least one of the plurality of different devices or new devices and the AC power network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of scanning includes the steps of:

scanning a plurality of communication channels;

identifying a request for connection to the network from the plurality of different devices;

registering any new devices into the network;

repeating said step of scanning to identify the presence of any additional devices seeking registration connection to the network; and

maintaining communication with each identified device connected to the network.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of registering further comprises the steps of:

identifying a unique registration identifier for each identified device;

analyzing the registration identifier to determine a preferred communication protocol desired for a particular device; and

establishing communication with each device at the preferred communication protocol.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of scanning is preformed on low data rate FSK channels.

6. An apparatus for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising:

a master processing unit;

an AC power network coupled to said master processing unit;

means for generating an RF field around said master processing unit and said AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

a plurality of different devices connected to said AC power network, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices;

means for establishing communication between said master processing and said plurality of different devices, said means for establishing communication including means for scanning the RF field to identify and register new devices entering the RF field to establish communication with the new devices and add the new devices to the plurality of different devices; and

means for operating and controlling said plurality of different devices using said master processing unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for generating an RF field further comprises a master network box having a first connection port connected to said AC power network, a second connection port for providing AC power to said master processing unit, and a third data connection port for connecting to a data bus of said master processing unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for establishing communication further comprises:

at least one appliance network box connected between at least one of the plurality of different devices and said AC power network, said at least one appliance box having a unique registration identifier; and

means for registering new registration identifiers identified through said scanning means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for establishing communication further comprises means for establishing wireless communication between said master processing unit and said plurality of different devices, said wireless communication means having multiple available modulation schemes.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said wireless communication means selects a modulation scheme depending on a preferred data rate of said plurality of different devices.

11. An apparatus for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising:

a computer including a memory storage device and an operating system;

an AC power network coupled to the computer;

a network box coupled to the computer and the AC network, the network box adapted to generate an RF field around the computer and the AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

a plurality of different devices coupled to the RF field such that signals are transmitted to and received through the RF field, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices;

means for establishing communication between the computer and the plurality of different devices, the means for establishing communication including a plurality of protocols adapted to communicate with the plurality of different devices in accordance with a preferred protocol for a particular device, the preferred protocol being established by the particular device; and

wherein the computer includes means for scanning the RF field to identify any registration identifiers not registered in the network; and

means for registering new registration identifiers identified through means for scanning.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an appliance network box adapted to provide an RF interface for communicating between the computer and at least one of the plurality of different devices.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the appliance network box is connected between a device of the plurality of different devices and the AC power network, the appliance box having a unique registration identifier for identifying an appliance.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of protocols include a plurality of modulation schemes.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of modulation schemes include at least one of FSK, 4-level FSK and Spread Spectrum.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of protocols selects a modulation scheme depending on the preferred data rate of each of the plurality of different devices.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of different devices include at least one of a VCR, a light, a telephone, an appliance, an automobile, a wireless communications device, a mouse, a camera, a keyboard, a security system and a printer.

18. An apparatus for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising:

a computer including a memory storage device and an operating system, the computer including means for scanning the RF field to identify any registration identifiers not registered in the network; and

means for registering new registration identifiers identified through the means for scanning;

an AC power network coupled to the computer;

a network box coupled to the computer and the AC network, the network box adapted to generate an RF field around the computer and the AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

a plurality of different devices coupled to the RF field such that signals are transmitted to and received through the RF field, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices; and

means for establishing communication between the computer and the plurality of different devices, the means for establishing communication including a plurality of protocols adapted to communicate with the plurality of different devices in accordance with a preferred protocol for a particular device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an appliance network box adapted to provide an RF interface for communicating between the computer and at least one of the plurality of different devices.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the appliance network box is connected between a device of the plurality of different devices and the AC power network, the appliance box having a unique registration identifier for identifying an appliance.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of protocols include a plurality of modulation schemes.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of modulation schemes include at least one of FSK, 4-level FSK and Spread Spectrum.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein one of the plurality of protocols selects a modulation scheme depending on the preferred data rate of each of the plurality of different devices.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of different devices include at least one of a VCR, a light, a telephone, an appliance, an automobile, a wireless communications device, a mouse, a camera, a keyboard, a security system and a printer.

25. An apparatus for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising:

a computer including a memory storage device and an operating system;

an AC power network coupled to the computer;

a network box coupled to the computer and the AC network, the network box adapted to generate an RF field around the computer and the AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

a plurality of different devices coupled to the RF field such that signals are transmitted to and received through the RF field, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices;

means for establishing communication between the computer and the plurality of different devices, the means for establishing communication including a plurality of protocols adapted to communicate with the plurality of different devices in accordance with a preferred protocol for a particular device, the preferred protocol being established by the particular device; and

an appliance network box adapted to provide an RF interface for communicating between the computer and at least one of the plurality of different devices, wherein the appliance network box is connected between a device of the plurality of different devices and the AC power network, the appliance box having a unique registration identifier for identifying an appliance.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the computer includes means for scanning the RF field to identify any registration identifiers not registered in the network;

and means for registering new registration identifiers identified through means for scanning.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of protocols include a plurality of modulation schemes.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the plurality of modulation schemes include at least one of FSK, 4-level FSK and Spread Spectrum.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein one of the plurality of protocols selects a modulation scheme depending on the preferred data rate of each of the plurality of different devices.

30. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the plurality of different devices include at least one of a VCR, a light, a telephone, an appliance, an automobile, a wireless communications device, a mouse, a camera, a keyboard, a security system and a printer.