Adapter device for the transmission of digital data over an AC power line

• US 6,331,814 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Le Pennec, Jean-Francois, Michel, Patrick, Benayoun, Alain, Albano, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/718,186
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/310.02, 340/310.03, 340/310.06, 340/310.07, 379/412, 379/413, 375/289, 375/141, 375/145, 375/257, 375/259, 307/18, 307/125, 307/295
• US Class Current: 375/258
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0471 Terminal access circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1308 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13202 Network termination [NT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13209 ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13302 Magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 Logic circuits

Abstract

An adapter device for transmitting data from a local data-handling unit to a remote data-handling unit via an AC power line includes processing facilities that receive digital data from the local data-handling unit and transform the digital data into ISDN data. The adapter device also includes a burst transceiver circuit (BTC) that converts the ISDN data into low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals on a U interface. A transformer of the adapter device transforms the low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals and transmits the high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals via the AC power line. Such an adapter device may also be used for receiving the data from the local data-handling unit at the remote data-handling unit.

Claims

1. An adapter device for transmitting data from a local data-handling unit to a remote data-handling unit via an AC power line, the adapter device comprising:

processing facilities that receive digital data from a local data-handling unit and transform said digital data into Intergrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) data;

a burst transceiver circuit (BTC) that converts said ISDN data into low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals on a U interface; and

a transformer that transforms said low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals and transmits said high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals via an AC power line.

2. An adapter device according to claim 1, wherein:

said ISDN data includes a D-channel; and

said adapter device comprises a D-channel adapter that receives an address for a remote data-handling unit from said processing facilities and, in response, utilizes a link access protocol on said D-channel to negotiate a connection between said local data-handling unit and said remote data-handling unit over said AC power line.

3. An adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said processing facilities comprise:

a microcontroller that manages receipt of said digital data from said local data-handling unit; and

an ISDN oriented modular (IOM) bus adapter that converts said digital data into ISDN data in IOM mode.

4. An adapter device according to claim 1, comprising:

one or more resistors interposed between said transformer and said BTC, such that, in conjunction with said transformer, said one or more resistors adapt an impedance of said adapter device to said power line.

5. An adapter device according to claim 1, comprising:

one or more capacitors interposed between said transformer and said power line, such that said one or more capacitors attenuate signals from said power line below a predetermined frequency.

6. data transmission system comprising:

an adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said adapter device comprises a first adapter device, said processing facilities comprise first processing facilities, said BTC comprises a first BTC, and said transformer comprises a first transformer;

a local data-handling unit that utilizes said first adapter device to transmit information through said AC power line;

a remote data-handling unit; and

a second adapter device connecting said remote data-handling unit to said AC power line, said second adapter device comprising;

a second transformer that receives said high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals from said AC power line and utilizes said high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals to substantially regenerate said low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals;

a second BTC that converts said substantially regenerated low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into said ISDN data; and

second processing facilities that transform said ISDN data into said digital data and transmit said digital data to said remote data-handling unit.

7. An adapter device for receiving data from a remote data-handling unit via an AC power line and forwarding said data to a local data-handling unit, the adapter device comprising:

a transformer that receives high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals from a remote data-handling unit via an AC power line and transforms said high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals on a U interface;

a burst transceiver circuit (BTC) that converts said low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into ISDN data; and

processing facilities that transform said ISDN data into digital data and transmit said digital data to a local data-handling unit.

8. An adapter device according to claim 7, wherein:

said ISDN data includes a D-channel; and

said adapter device comprises a D-channel adapter that interprets a Link Access Protocol (LAPD) on said D-channel to determine that an address for said local data-handling unit has been received and, in response, interrupts said processing facilities to negotiate a connection between said local data-handling unit and said remote data-handling unit over said AC power line.

9. An adapter device according to claim 7, wherein said processing facilities comprise:

an ISDN oriented modular (IOM) bus adapter that receives said ISDN data from said BTC in IOM mode and converts said ISDN data into digital data; and

a microcontroller that manages transmission of said digital data to said local data-handling unit.

10. An adapter device according to claim 7, comprising:

one or more resistors interposed between said transformer and said BTC, such that, in conjunction with said transformer, said one or more resistors adapt an impedance of said adapter device to said power line.

11. An adapter device according to claim 7, comprising:

one or more capacitors interposed between said transformer and said power line, such that said one or more capacitors attenuate signals from said AC power line below a predetermined frequency.

12. An adapter device for transmitting data from a local data-handling unit to a remote data-handling unit via an AC power line, the adapter device comprising:

processing means for transforming digital data into ISDN data;

conversion means for converting said ISDN data into low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals on a U interface; and

transforming means for transforming said low-voltage pseudo-ternary signals into high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals and transmitting said high-voltage pseudo-ternary signals via an AC power line.