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Coordinating power distribution line communications

  • US 8,693,605 B2
  • Filed: 12/22/2011
  • Issued: 04/08/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method useful for coordinating communications between multiple endpoint devices and multiple collector devices, the communications occurring over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC), the method comprising:

  • communicating data from the collector devices to the endpoint devices over the power distribution lines using a communication protocol that uses a first timing and a second timing, the first timing being a parameter that indicates when data frames are to be transmitted and the second timing being a parameter that indicates when symbols within the data frames are to be transmitted;

    at each collector device,maintaining a collector network time using a locally generated time base;

    determining the first timing from the collector network time;

    determining the second timing from a frequency of the AC; and

    providing the collector network time to the endpoints devices using a time-indicating data packet.

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