Configuration over power distribution lines
First Claim
1. A method for providing configuration data while conserving bandwidth of communications over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power, where bandwidth is shared between a plurality of endpoint devices that are configured to provide utility usage data over the power distribution lines, the method comprising:
- identifying a group of endpoint devices, from the plurality of endpoint devices, that are targeted for changes to stored configuration data;
developing a communication plan by selecting between group identifications (IDs) for subsets of the plurality of endpoint devices, the selection responsive to correspondence to one or more endpoints in the group of endpoint devices and based upon the available bandwidth on the power distribution lines;
communicating, over the power distribution lines, a configuration request according to the communication plan and by broadcasting the request to the selected group ID(s);
communicating, over power distribution lines, configuration commands to the group of endpoint devices using broadcast messages that reduce the data bandwidth over power distribution lines, and wherein the step of communicating a configuration request includes associating an assignment of the group of endpoint devices to a virtual ID and wherein the step of communicating configuration commands includes configuring the broadcast messages to use the virtual ID common to the group of endpoint devices;
communicating, over power distribution lines, utility usage data interspersed with confirmation data indicating that the configuration commands were received by the group of endpoint devices; and
adjusting the communication plan in response to the confirmation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward the use of broadcast transmissions to multiple endpoint devices. These broadcast transmissions can be particularly useful for reducing the communication bandwidth used during transmission of configuration data to the endpoint devices. In order to implement the broadcast communications, the present disclosure describes a mechanism for configuring targeted endpoint devices to be responsive to the broadcast communications. For instance, a configuration command can be sent to each of the targeted endpoint devices. The configuration command can include a virtual ID. The targeted endpoint devices can configure themselves to listen for subsequent broadcast messages addressed to the virtual ID. Configuration data can then be sent using the virtual ID and associated broadcast messages.
43 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for providing configuration data while conserving bandwidth of communications over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power, where bandwidth is shared between a plurality of endpoint devices that are configured to provide utility usage data over the power distribution lines, the method comprising:
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identifying a group of endpoint devices, from the plurality of endpoint devices, that are targeted for changes to stored configuration data; developing a communication plan by selecting between group identifications (IDs) for subsets of the plurality of endpoint devices, the selection responsive to correspondence to one or more endpoints in the group of endpoint devices and based upon the available bandwidth on the power distribution lines; communicating, over the power distribution lines, a configuration request according to the communication plan and by broadcasting the request to the selected group ID(s); communicating, over power distribution lines, configuration commands to the group of endpoint devices using broadcast messages that reduce the data bandwidth over power distribution lines, and wherein the step of communicating a configuration request includes associating an assignment of the group of endpoint devices to a virtual ID and wherein the step of communicating configuration commands includes configuring the broadcast messages to use the virtual ID common to the group of endpoint devices; communicating, over power distribution lines, utility usage data interspersed with confirmation data indicating that the configuration commands were received by the group of endpoint devices; and adjusting the communication plan in response to the confirmation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing configuration data while conserving bandwidth of communications over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power, where bandwidth is shared between a plurality of endpoint devices that are configured to provide utility usage data over the power distribution lines, the method comprising:
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identifying a group of endpoint devices, from the plurality of endpoint devices, that are targeted for changes to stored configuration data; developing a communication plan by selecting between group identifications (IDs) for subsets of the plurality of endpoint devices, the selection responsive to correspondence to one or more endpoints in the group of endpoint devices and based upon the available bandwidth on the power distribution lines; communicating, over the power distribution lines, a configuration request according to the communication plan and by broadcasting the request to the selected group ID(s); communicating, over power distribution lines, configuration commands to the group of endpoint devices using broadcast messages that reduce the data bandwidth over power distribution lines; communicating, over power distribution lines, utility usage data interspersed with confirmation data indicating that the configuration commands were received by the group of endpoint devices; adjusting the communication plan in response to the confirmation; and wherein the step of developing a communication plan includes developing a tiered grouping of the group of endpoint devices according to stored communication metrics representing data transmission fidelity of the group of endpoint devices.
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8. A method for providing configuration data while conserving bandwidth of communications over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power, where bandwidth is shared between a plurality of endpoint devices that are configured to provide utility usage data over the power distribution lines, the method comprising:
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identifying a group of endpoint devices, from the plurality of endpoint devices, that are targeted for changes to stored configuration data; developing a communication plan by selecting between group identifications (IDs) for subsets of the plurality of endpoint devices, the selection responsive to correspondence to one or more endpoints in the group of endpoint devices and based upon the available bandwidth on the power distribution lines; communicating, over the power distribution lines, a configuration request according to the communication plan and by broadcasting the request to the selected group ID(s); communicating, over power distribution lines, configuration commands to the group of endpoint devices using broadcast messages that reduce the data bandwidth over power distribution lines; communicating, over power distribution lines, utility usage data interspersed with confirmation data indicating that the configuration commands were received by the group of endpoint devices; adjusting the communication plan in response to the confirmation; and wherein the step of adjusting the communication plan in response to the confirmation includes grouping endpoints based upon their progress toward receiving the configuration commands.
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9. A method for conserving bandwidth for communications over power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC) power, the method comprising:
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identifying a subset of a plurality of endpoint devices as targets for updates to utility meter reporting configuration data; communicating a configuration request over the power distribution lines using endpoint identifiers corresponding to the subset of endpoint devices, the configuration request including an indication for what configuration commands will be forthcoming and an assignment of a virtual identifier to the subset of endpoint devices; communicating a broadcast message over the power distribution lines, the broadcast message addressed to the subset of endpoint devices using the virtual identifier and including at least some of the forthcoming configuration commands; communicating, for each endpoint device of the subset of endpoint devices, confirmation of the receipt of all of the forthcoming configuration commands; and executing, for each endpoint device of the subset of endpoint devices, the configuration commands. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A circuit-based apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver circuit configured and arranged to communicate over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC); and a processing circuit configured and arranged to operate according to configuration data stored in a first memory buffer; receive an input digital signal representing an analog signal received at the transceiver circuit; decode the input digital signal; identify a configuration request from the decoded input digital signal; store data from the configuration request in a second memory buffer; verify the data from the configuration request; maintain, after verifying the data, operation according the configuration data stored in the first memory buffer; replace, in response to a timer event, the configuration data stored in the first memory buffer with the data from the configuration request in the second memory buffer; and operate according to the data from the configuration request in the first memory buffer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving, using a transceiver circuit, an analog data communication over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC); and using a processing circuit to operate according to configuration data stored in a first memory buffer; convert the analog data communication to a digital signal; decode the digital signal; identify a configuration request from the decoded digital signal; store data from the configuration request in a second memory buffer; verify the data from the configuration request; maintain, after verifying the data, operation of the processing circuit according to the configuration data stored in the first memory buffer; replace, in response to a timer event, the configuration data stored in the first memory buffer with the data from the configuration request in the second memory buffer; and operate the processing circuit according to the data from the configuration request in the first memory buffer.
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Specification