Systems and methods for implementing application profiles and device classes in power line communication (PLC) environments

• US 9,000,897 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Il Han, Dabak, Anand G., Varadarajan, Badri N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURGDORF, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US13/230,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20120063497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 340/13.23, 307/1, 307/2, 370/447, 370/462, 375/220, 375/257
• US Class Current: 340/13.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5416 by adding signals to the wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/78 Architectures of resource allocation

Abstract

Systems and methods for application profiles and device classes in power line communications (PLCs) are described. In some embodiments, a PLC device may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory may be configured to store program instructions, which may be executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to communicate with a higher-level PLC apparatus over a power line using a frequency band. The frequency band may be selected based upon an application profile and/or a device class associated with the PLC device. In some implementations, the higher-level PLC apparatus may include a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and the PLC device may include a PLC modem or the like. Examples of application profiles include access communications, in-premises connectivity, AC charging, and/or DC charging. Device classes may represent a minimum communication data rate and/or an operating frequency band restriction of the PLC device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

performing, by a power line communication (PLC) apparatus,

assigning a first frequency band to a first PLC device configured to communicate over a power line, the first frequency band selected based, at least in part, upon a first application profile and a first device class associated with the first PLC device;

receiving a request from the first PLC device to communicate over the power line;

determining a frequency band unused by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;

identifying a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device coupled to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class;

resolving the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of;

(a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein resolving the conflict includes limiting a data rate of the second PLC device; and

transmitting an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band as at least a portion of the unused frequency band.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the PLC apparatus includes at least one of a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and wherein the first PLC device includes a PLC modem.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first application profile includes at least one of:

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging, and wherein the first device class represents at least one of;

a minimum communication data rate or a frequency band restriction.

4. A method comprising:

performing, by a power line communication (PLC) apparatus,

assigning a first frequency band to a first PLC device configured to communicate over a power line, the first frequency band selected based, at least in part, upon a first application profile and a first device class associated with the first PLC device;

receiving a request from the first PLC device to communicate over the power line;

determining a frequency band unused by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;

identifying a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device coupled to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class;

resolving the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of;

(a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein resolving the conflict includes modifying the second frequency band of the second PLC device; and

transmitting an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band as at least a portion of the unused frequency band.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the PLC apparatus includes at least one of a PLC gateway or a data concentrator, and wherein the first PLC device includes a PLC modem.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first application profile includes at least one of:

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging, and wherein the first device class represents at least one of;

a minimum communication data rate or a frequency band restriction.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more power line communication (PLC) systems, cause the one or more PLC systems to:

receive a request from a first PLC device to communicate over a power line, the request including an indication of a first application profile and a first device class corresponding to the first PLC device;

identify one or more frequency bands used by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;

identify a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device connected to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class; and

resolve the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of;

(a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein to resolve the conflict, the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more PLC systems, further cause the one or more PLC systems to limit a data rate of the second PLC devices to thereby create an unused frequency band, the first frequency band including at least a portion of the unused frequency band; and

transmit an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band to the first PLC device based, at least in part, upon the one or more frequency bands, the first application profile, and the first device class.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7,

wherein the one or more PLC systems include at least one of:

a PLC gateway or a data concentrator,

wherein the first PLC device includes a PLC modem,

wherein the first application profile includes at least one of;

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging, and

wherein the first device class represents at least one of;

a minimum communication data rate or a frequency band restriction.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more power line communication (PLC) systems, cause the one or more PLC systems to:

receive a request from a first PLC device to communicate over a power line, the request including an indication of a first application profile and a first device class corresponding to the first PLC device;

identify one or more frequency bands used by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;

identify a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device connected to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class; and

resolve the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of;

(a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein to resolve the conflict, the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more PLC systems, further cause the one or more PLC systems to modify the second frequency band allocated to the second PLC device to thereby create an unused frequency band, the first frequency band including at least a portion of the unused frequency band; and

transmit an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band to the first PLC device based, at least in part, upon the one or more frequency bands, the first application profile, and the first device class.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9,

wherein the one or more PLC systems include at least one of:

a PLC gateway or a data concentrator,

wherein the first PLC device includes a PLC modem,

wherein the first application profile includes at least one of;

access communication, in-premises connectivity, alternating current (AC) charging, or direct current (DC) charging, and

wherein the first device class represents at least one of;

a minimum communication data rate or a frequency band restriction.