Assignment and setup in power line communication systems
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including circuitry configured and arranged tomonitor a plurality of communication channels carried over power distribution lines,detect setup communications that contain an endpoint identifier (ID) matching the endpoint device,assign an organization ID, that uniquely identifies a power utility entity,receive data from the power utility entity and from a different utility entity wherein respective data is received from the power utility entity and from the different utility entity, the received data from the power utility entity includes the organization ID which uniquely identifies the power utility entity relative to the different utility entity, andrespond to and process the received data and subsequent operational communications based upon recognition of the organization ID as matching the organization ID of the uniquely-identified power utility entity; and
a command center configured and arranged totransmit setup communications to endpoint devices, the setup communications including one or more endpoint identifiers and the organization ID, andtransmit operational communications to endpoint devices, the operational communications including the organization ID.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward a system that includes a plurality of endpoint devices. Each endpoint device can be configured and arranged to monitor a plurality of communication channels carried over power distribution lines for data communications. The endpoint can detect setup communications that contain an endpoint identifier (ID) matching the endpoint. The endpoint then stores or assigns the organization ID (obtained from the detected communications) to itself. The endpoint configures itself to respond to subsequent operational communications based upon the organization ID. A command center is configured and arranged to transmit setup communications to endpoint devices. The setup communications can include one or more endpoint identifiers and the organization ID. The command center can also transmit operational communications to the plurality endpoint devices, the operational communications including the organization ID.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a plurality of endpoint devices, each endpoint device including circuitry configured and arranged to monitor a plurality of communication channels carried over power distribution lines, detect setup communications that contain an endpoint identifier (ID) matching the endpoint device, assign an organization ID, that uniquely identifies a power utility entity, receive data from the power utility entity and from a different utility entity wherein respective data is received from the power utility entity and from the different utility entity, the received data from the power utility entity includes the organization ID which uniquely identifies the power utility entity relative to the different utility entity, and respond to and process the received data and subsequent operational communications based upon recognition of the organization ID as matching the organization ID of the uniquely-identified power utility entity; and a command center configured and arranged to transmit setup communications to endpoint devices, the setup communications including one or more endpoint identifiers and the organization ID, and transmit operational communications to endpoint devices, the operational communications including the organization ID. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method comprising:
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receiving first signals for a plurality of channels from a power utility entity, the first signals carried on a power distribution line; processing the first signals to generate first data for each of the plurality of channels; comparing the generated first data for each channel with a local endpoint identifier; in response to matching the first data for a first channel of the plurality of channels with the local endpoint identifier, storing an organization identifier, that uniquely identifies a power utility entity, contained in the generated first data for the first channel; receiving subsequent signals for the plurality of channels, the subsequent signals carried on the power distribution line and receiving different-entity data from a different utility entity, wherein the subsequent signals from the power utility entity are conveyed with the organization identifier which uniquely identifies the power utility entity relative to the different utility entity; processing the subsequent signals to generate subsequent data for each channel of the plurality of channels; comparing the generated subsequent data for each channel with the stored organization identifier; and in response to matching the subsequent data for a second channel of the plurality of channels with the stored organization identifier, executing a command in the subsequent data for the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An endpoint device comprising:
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a receiver circuit configured and arranged to receive signals for a plurality of channels, the signals carried on a power distribution line; a processing circuit configured and arranged to process first signals from the receiver circuit to generate first data for each channel of the plurality of channels; compare the generated first data for each channel with an endpoint identifier; store, in response to matching the first data for a first channel of the plurality of channels with the endpoint ID, an organization ID, that uniquely identifies a power utility entity relative to a different utility entity, contained in the data for the first channel; process second signals, as sent from the power utility entity, at the receiver circuit to generate second data for each channel of the plurality of channels and wherein the receiver circuit receives the second signals as well as data from a different utility entity; compare the generated second data for each channel with the organization ID; and execute, in response to matching the second data for a second channel of the plurality of channels with the organization ID, a command in the second data, wherein the second data from the power utility entity includes the organization ID which uniquely identifies the power utility entity relative to the different utility entity. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification