System for communicating with electronic equipment

• US 6,650,622 B1
• Filed: 08/09/1999
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
• Original Assignee: ChriMar Systems, Inc. (ChriMar Holding Company LLC)
• Inventors: Cummings, Marshall B., Austerman, John F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYUN, SOON D
• Application Number:
  US09/370,430
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 370/527, 370/252, 370/241, 370/242, 370/445, 370/446, 370/419, 370/420, 370/421, 370/463, 370/426, 340/568.2, 340/568.4, 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/572.1, 340/687, 340/573.4, 340/573.1, 340/505, 340/506, 375/222
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/547 via DC power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/24 Testing correct operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0278 Arrangements for impedance matching

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a communication system (17) is provided for generating and monitoring data over pre-existing conductors (2A-2D) between associated pieces of networked computer equipment (3A-3D). The system includes a communication device (12) attached to the electronic equipment that transmits information to a central module (15) by impressing a low frequency signal on the pre-existing data lines of the remotely located equipment. A receiver (6) in the central module (15) monitors the low frequency data on the data lines to determine the transmitted information of the electronic equipment. The communication device may also be powered by a low current power signal from the central module (15). The power signal to the communication device may also be fluctuated to provide useful information, such as status information, to the communication device. Relocation of the electronic equipment with attached communication device to another location on the network is detected immediately and may be used to update a database. This invention is particularly adapted to be used with an existing Ethernet communications link or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A system for communicating information on a network having pieces of electronic equipment associated therewith, said network providing high frequency data communication of a given bandwidth between the equipment and a server over a network cable, said system comprising:

a central module including a receiver;

remote modules associated with the pieces of equipment, each remote module including a transmitter for transmitting multi-bit information to the receiver, the information being a unique identification signal related to the piece of equipment to which each module is associated; and

a blocking circuit for selectively disabling communication between a piece of the equipment and the network as a function of the identification signals being transmitted by the remote modules;

wherein the central module includes a first power source for supplying power to the remote modules and further includes a second power source for coupling a current to wires in the network cable;

wherein the transmitter in the remote module transmits a variable impedance across the wires in the network cable at a predetermined bit rate such that the multi-bit information is embedded into the current from the second power source; and

wherein the current returns to the central module and the receiver therein detects the multi-bit information embedded in the current received from the remote module over the same wires in the network cable that carry the high frequency data communications.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein the network is an Ethernet network.

3. A system for communicating information on a network having a piece of equipment connected thereto over data lines normally carrying high frequency data communications, said system comprising:

a central module including a signal receiver and a signal demodulator;

at least one remote module associated with a piece of equipment, said remote module including;

a signal modulator and a signal transmitter for transmitting a modulated signal having a bit rate over the data lines;

wherein said signal receiver and signal demodulator in the central module serve to receive and demodulate the modulated signal to detect information sent from the remote module over the same data lines without disturbing normal network high frequency data communication; and

wherein said system further comprises a blocking circuit coupled to the data lines for selectively disabling communication by the associated piece of equipment to the network.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the central module further comprises a power source for supplying power;

and

wherein each remote module further comprises an isolated power supply connected to the data lines for receiving remote module circuit power from the power source of the central module wherein power supplied by the power source powers the remote modules.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the network is an Ethernet network operating at 10 Mbits/sec and the bit rate of the modulated signal is not more than 100 kb/sec.

6. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the central module further comprises a power modulator connected to the power source and the data lines for modulating the supplied power from the power source and coupling a modulated power signal to the data lines without disturbing normal network high frequency data communications, and

wherein the remote module further comprises a power demodulator for demodulating the modulated power signal to detect information sent from the central module.

7. The system as defined in claim 6 wherein the power modulator includes a fixed frequency encoder for generating encoded signals.

8. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein the signal receiver includes an interface amplifier for interfacing with the data lines.

9. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said signal modulator includes a fixed frequency encoder for coupling encoded signals to the data lines.

10. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein the blocking circuit comprises a relay coupled between a pair of data lines connecting the associated piece of equipment to said network.

11. A system for communicating information on a network having a plurality of electronic equipment connected thereto over data lines normally carrying high frequency information, said system comprising:

a central module including;

a first power source for coupling a signal to the data lines; and

a signal demodulator;

a plurality of remote modules, one remote module being connected to each piece of equipment, each remote module including a signal modulator for modulating the signal from the first power source at a predetermined bit rate and returning a modulated signal to the data lines;

said signal demodulator in the central module demodulating the modulated signal to detect information sent from each remote module on the network without disturbing normal network high frequency data communication; and

wherein said system further comprises a blocking circuit coupled to the data lines for selectively disabling communication by a selected piece of equipment to the network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said central module further comprises:

a monitor for decoding the unique signals transmitted from the remote modules thereby identifying the equipment associated therewith.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the remote modules are devices attached to computer equipment.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the remote modules transmit status information.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the blocking circuit comprises a relay coupled between the data lines connecting the equipment to said network.

16. The system of claim 11 which further comprises:

a database having information that identifies each piece of equipment and its location on the network, along with an identification signal for each piece of equipment provided by its associated remote module; and

wherein the system periodically updates the database as a function of the identification signals transmitted by the remote modules to thereby track the identity and location of the equipment on the network.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the bit rate of the multi-bit information is less than about 1% of the bit-rate of the high frequency data communications.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein communication is disabled from a piece of equipment and the network if the remote module for that piece of equipment fails to transmit a proper identification signal.

19. A system for communicating information on a network having a plurality of electronic equipment connected thereto over data lines normally carrying high frequency information, said system comprising:

a central module including;

a source for supplying DC power;

a power modulator for modulating the supplied DC power and transmitting a modulated power signal to the data lines;

a signal receiver having an interface amplifier connected to the data lines; and

a signal demodulator connected to the signal receiver;

a blocking circuit connected to the data lines for disabling communication by the associated piece of equipment;

a remote module connected to an associated piece of equipment, said remote module including;

a signal modulator having;

a resistor network; and

a fixed frequency encoder for generating encoded signals connected to the resistor network, said resistor network connected between the data lines for coupling a modulated signal representative of the encoded signals to the data lines;

a power demodulator for demodulating the modulated power signal to detect information sent from the central module to the associated piece of equipment without disturbing normal network high frequency communication; and

a voltage regulator for filtering the supplied power from the source;

wherein said central module signal demodulator serves to demodulate the modulated signal sent from the remote module to detect information sent from each piece of equipment on the network without disturbing normal network high frequency communication.

20. A system for communicating information on a network having pieces of electronic equipment associated therewith, said system comprising:

a central module including a receiver;

remote modules connected to the pieces of equipment, each remote module including a transmitter for transmitting multi-bit information to the receiver, the information being a unique identification signal related to the piece of equipment to which each module is associated, and wherein the bit rate of the multi-bit information is less than about 1% of the bit-rate of the high frequency data communication,

a database having information that identifies each piece of equipment and its location on the network, along with an identification signal for each piece of equipment provided by its associated remote module;

wherein the system periodically updates the database as a function of the identification signals transmitted by the remote modules to thereby track the identity and location of the equipment on the network;

wherein the multi-bit information is transmitted from the remote module to the receiver over a network cable that also normally carries high frequency data communications over the network to the electronic equipment;

the central module including a first power source for supplying power to the remote modules and further includes a second power source for coupling a current to wires in the network cable;

wherein the transmitter in the remote module transmits a variable impedance across the wires in the network cable at a predetermined bit rate such that the multi-bit information is embedded into the current from the second power source; and

wherein the current returns to the central module and the receiver therein detects the multi-bit information embedded in the current received from the remote module over the same network cable.