Communication apparatus, integrated circuit, and communication method

• US 8,971,422 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Galli, Stefano, Kurobe, Akio, Koga, Hisao, Kodama, Nobutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khanh C
• Application Number:
  US14/218,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 375257-258, 375/260, 375/285, 375/295, 375/377
• US Class Current: 375/257
• 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: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/407 with decentralised control

Abstract

In communication method for communicating via a transmission channel to which first communication apparatuses communicating based on a first communication system, second communication apparatuses communicating based on a second communication system, and third communication apparatuses communicating based on a third communication system are connected, a data transmission domain and a notification domain for notifying a data transmission within the data transmission domain are allocated to the first communication apparatuses, the second communication apparatuses, and the third communication apparatuses, respectively. In the communication method, notices of the data transmission for each of the first communication apparatuses, the second communication apparatuses and the third communication apparatuses are transmitted within the notification domain, and the data transmission domain is reallocated in accordance with the notices transmitted from the first, second and third communication apparatuses.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus which is capable of communicating based on a first communication system via a transmission channel, to which another communication apparatus capable of communicating based on a second communication system connects comprising:

an integrated circuit;

a housing which includes the integrated circuit;

a first connector which is adapted for connecting the transmission channel provided on a first side of the housing;

a indicator which is provided on a second side of the housing (100);

wherein the integrated circuit comprising,

a transmitter which transmits a first notice including a first notification signal which is rotated by a first phase vector within a first notification domain in a first communication cycle; and

a detector which is capable of detecting a second notice transmitted from the another communication apparatus within a second notification domain in a second communication cycle after the first communication cycle;

wherein the transmitter transmits a data signal within a first data domain in the second communication cycle or a third communication cycle after the second communication cycle,

wherein the first data domain is allocated to the first communication system on the basis of the first notice.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first data domain is allocated to the first communication system on the basis of (1) the first notice or (2) the first notice and the second notice.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first notification domain is allocated to the first communication system and the second notification domain is allocated to the second communication system.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the transmitter does not transmit a data signal within a second data domain in the second communication cycle or the third communication cycle,

wherein the second data domain is allocated to the second communication system on the basis of the first notice and the second notice.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein at least one of the second communication cycle and the third communication cycle include a plurality of the first data domains and the second data domains.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5

wherein at least one of the first data domains is located between two of the second data domains in the second communication cycle or the third communication cycle.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first data domain is allocated on the basis of a predetermined allocation order.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising

a memory for previously storing the allocation order.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the transmission channel is a power line which is provide an alternating current,

wherein the first notification domain and the second notification domain are allotted on the basis of zero cross points of the alternating current.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising

an AC cycle detector which includes at least a diode and detects the zero cross points of the power line.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

the AC cycle detector includes a first resistor which is connected to the diode, and a second resistor which is connected to the first resistor in series.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first notification domain and the second notification domain are allotted periodically on the basis of a predetermined interval.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the indicator provides a light-emitting element.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first side is opposite for the second side.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a second connector is provided on the first side and adapted for connecting a communication cable.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first side provides a flat surface.

17. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second side provides a flat surface.

18. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first side provides a first flat surface, the second side provides a second flat surface, and

wherein the first flat surface is substantially parallel to the second flat surface.

19. A communication apparatus which is capable of communicating based on a first communication system via a transmission channel, to which another communication apparatus capable of communicating based on a second communication system connects comprising:

an integrated circuit;

a housing which includes the integrated circuit;

at least three indicators which are provided on one side of the housing;

wherein the integrated circuit comprising,

a transmitter which transmits a first notice including a first notification signal which is rotated by a first phase vector within a first notification domain in a first communication cycle; and

a detector which is capable of detecting a second notice transmitted from said another communication apparatus within a second notification domain in a second communication cycle after the first communication cycle;

wherein

the transmitter transmits a data signal within a first data domain in the second communication cycle or a third communication cycle after the second communication cycle,

wherein the first data domain is allocated to the first communication system on the basis of the first notice.

20. The communication apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the first data domain is allocated to the first communication system on the basis of (1) the first notice or (2) the first notice and the second notice.

21. The communication apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the three indicators are located on a line.

22. The communication apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the three indicators include a first indicator, a second indicator and a third indicator, and

wherein the second indicator is located between the first indicator and the third indicator.

23. The communication apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the first notification domain is allocated to the first communication system and the second notification domain is allocated to the second communication system.

24. The communication apparatus according to claim 19,

wherein the transmitter does not transmit a data signal within a second data domain in the second communication cycle or the third communication cycle,

wherein the second data domain is allocated to the second communication system on the basis of the first notice and the second notice.

25. A communication apparatus which is capable of communicating based on a first communication system via a transmission channel, wherein another communication apparatus is capable of communicating based on a second communication system via the transmission channel, comprising:

an integrated circuit;

a housing which includes the integrated circuit;

wherein the integrated circuit comprising,

a transmitter which transmits a first notice including a first notification signal which is rotated by a first phase vector within a first notification domain in a first communication cycle; and

a detector which is capable of detecting a second notice transmitted from said another communication apparatus within a second notification domain in a second communication cycle after the first communication cycle;

wherein

the transmitter transmits a data signal within a first data domain in the second communication cycle or a third communication cycle after the second communication cycle,

wherein the first data domain is allocated to the first communication system on the basis of the first notice and the second notice;

wherein the housing is provided with only one connector which is adapted for connecting a communication cable.

26. The communication apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the first data domain is allocated to the first communication system on the basis of (1) the first notice or (2) the first notice and the second notice.

27. The communication apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the connector is adapted for connecting an Ethernet cable.

28. The communication apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the first notification domain is allocated to the first communication system and the second notification domain is allocated to the second communication system.

29. The communication apparatus according to claim 25,

wherein the transmitter does not transmit a data signal within a second data domain in the second communication cycle or the third communication cycle,

wherein the second data domain is allocated to the second communication system on the basis of the first notice and the second notice.