Preventing unintended communication among power line communication devices associated with different premises power distribution lines of an electric power distribution system

• US 7,034,663 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Marman, Douglas H., Mansfield, Amos Robbins
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US10/996,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20050128057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.01, 340/286.01, 340/310.03, 340/310.05, 340/310.06, 340/500, 340/531, 340/533, 340/538, 340/628
• US Class Current: 340/538
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/06 using power transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• 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

Abstract

An electric power line communication system operates with an electric power distribution system to provide through premises power distribution lines highly reliable communication links among power line communication devices electrically coupled or located in proximity to the premises power distribution lines. Each power line communication device associated with a set of premises power distribution lines has an identification address. A master code identifies the power line communication devices as members of a system domain of power line communication devices associated with the set of premises power distribution lines. Association of the master code with the identification addresses renders the member power line communication devices capable of operation without unintended communication with power line communication devices associated with a separate, different set of premises power distribution lines.

Claims

1. A method of controlling, in an electric power distribution system comprised of multiple sets of premises power distribution lines, communication of power line communication devices associated with one set of premises power distribution lines with power line communication devices associated with another, different set of premises power distribution lines, the method comprising:

assigning an identification address for each of multiple power line communication devices associated with a set of premises power distribution lines, the address being for use by the power line communication devices when messages are transmitted over the set of premises power distribution lines;

designating one of the multiple power line communication devices as a master power line communication device and the remaining ones of the power line communication devices as slave power line communication devices;

activating an enrollment mode for the master power line communication device;

establishing for the master power line communication device a master code to be used in identifying the multiple power line communication devices as members of a system of power line communication devices associated with the set of premises power distribution lines;

causing the master power line communication device to receive and store the identification address for at least one of the slave power line communication devices and thereby enroll the slave power line communication device as one member slave power line communication device of the system; and

causing the master power line communication device to transmit the master code to said one member power line communication device to associate the master power line communication device with said one member power line communication device;

thereby, upon establishment in the master power line communication device of an association of the identification addresses of the member slave power line communication devices, identifying communications among the member power line communication devices such that said communications among the member power line communication devices can be distinguished from communications among power line communication devices associated with a separate, different set of premises power distribution lines.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing in each member power line communication device of the system the identification address of at least one other member power line communication device of the system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the premises of the power distribution lines comprises a multiple dwelling unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the slave power line communication devices is responsive to one or more activation conditions and carries out a delayed response to an activation condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multiple power line communication devices is operatively connected to a system domain controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the system domain controller monitors signals produced by the power line communication devices.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the system domain controller polls the power line communication devices to verify proper establishment of a communication link.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the system domain controller is configured to establish a communication link to a remote monitoring station via a primary remote communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the primary remote communication device is a wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the primary remote communication device is a telephone.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the system domain controller is further configured to establish a communication link to a remote monitoring station via a backup remote communication device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the primary remote communication device is configured to establish communication links for premises power distribution lines in multiple living units.

13. A system for distinguishing communications among devices associated with a first set of premises power distribution lines from communications among devices associated with a second set of premises power distribution lines, the system comprising:

one or more slave power line communication devices associated with the first set of premises power distribution lines, wherein each slave power line communication device has an assigned identification address, the slave power line communication devices being configured to transmit an identification address over the first set of premises power distribution lines in response to becoming associated with the system; and

a master power line communication device associated with the first set of premises power distribution lines, the master power line communication device configured to store a list of identification addresses transmitted by the slave power line communication devices; and

wherein the master power line communication device has a master code identifying the master power line communication devices and the one or more slave power line communication devices as members of a system of power line communication devices associated with the first set of premises power distribution lines.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein one or more of the slave power line communication devices is configured to detect a hazardous condition and, in response to detecting such a condition, sending a message to the master power line communication device.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a remote communications device configured to establish a connection to a remote monitoring station.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the remote communications device is configured to establish a connection between the remote monitoring station and either the first or second set of premises power distribution lines.

17. A method of installing a system of power line communication devices in an area with a premises power distribution line, the method comprising:

operatively connecting a master power line communication device to the premises power distribution line;

causing the master power line communication device to establish a master code;

placing the master power line communication device in an enrollment mode, whereupon the device becomes receptive to messages transmitted by other power line communication devices over the premises power distribution line;

operatively connecting a slave power line communication device to the premises power distribution line;

causing the slave device to transmit an identification address over the premises power distribution line;

transmitting the master code from the master device to the slave device; and

in subsequent communications, causing the slave device to use the master code to identify its communications over the premises power distribution line.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing the identification address of the slave device in a memory in the master device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a system identification address from the master device to the slave device.

20. A communications system, comprising:

a first set of devices associated with a first premises power distribution line, wherein one or more devices in the first set of devices are associated with a first identification code;

a second set of devices associated with a second premises power distribution line, wherein one or more devices in the second set of devices are associated with a second identification code;

a transmitter associated with the first premises power distribution line; and

a receiver associated with the second premises power distribution line, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a message transmitted from one of the first set of devices via the transmitter, and wherein the receiver is further configured to associate the second identification code with the message when making the message available to the second set of devices.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the first set of devices and the second set of devices use a common communications protocol.