Set-top-box having a built-in master node that provides an external interface for communication and control in a power-line-based residential communication system

• US 9,565,470 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Original Assignee: Asoka USA Corporation (Asoka)
• Inventors: Xia, Mingyao, Grubel, Eric, Castellano, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): HONG, MICHAEL HYUN
• Application Number:
  US14/975,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20160105713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 725/130, 725/150
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25833 involving client hardware characteristics, e.g. manufacturer, processing or storage capabilities allocation of resources considering hardware capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5044; allocation of resources considering software capabilities in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/5055
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances

Abstract

A set-top-box (STB) provides capability for monitoring and control of power usage and the ability to establish communications. A smart residential service system (SRSS) is provided that uses power line communication (PLC) technology to provide secure in-home LAN communication and also to monitor and provide remote control of connected appliances in the home. An embodiment combines the STB with a master unit (MST) that is used with PLC to meet the requirements of the central device in the SRSS.

Claims

1. A system configured to receive control signals and streaming of audio, video, or graphic information over a wide area network (WAN), wherein the system comprises:

a digital media processor (MCU);

a communication module;

a communication link between the MCU and to the WAN; and

a master switch (MST);

wherein the MST is configured for connection to the WAN through the communication link, wherein the MST is communicatively connected to a power line communication (PLC) local area network (LAN) established on a power line;

wherein the MST is connected to at least one sensor over the PLC LAN;

wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the power line and to a corresponding appliance, wherein the corresponding appliance is powered by power from the power line under control of the at least one sensor;

wherein the at least one sensor is configured to;

collect power usage information of the corresponding appliance,

transmit the collected power usage information to the MST over the PLC LAN,

receive control commands over the PLC network from the MST; and

switch power on and off to the corresponding appliance in response to the received control commands;

wherein the MST is configured to receive the collected power usage information over the PLC LAN from the at least one sensor;

wherein the MST is configured to connect the system with the PLC LAN for transferring data, control, and streaming video through the communication link;

wherein the communication module is configured to modulate the data, control and streaming video for transfer over the PLC LAN to the corresponding appliance connected through the at least one sensor within the PLC LAN;

wherein the communication module is further configured to receive responses and communication inputs sent as modulated signals from the corresponding appliance connected to the PLC LAN through the at least one sensor, and demodulate the received inputs to transfer the received inputs to the WAN; and

wherein the MST is configured to

receive control signals through the WAN,

transmit the control signals to the at least one sensor through the PLC LAN,

receive control responses over the PLC LAN from the at least one sensor,

consolidate the collected power usage information, and

transfer any of the control responses or the consolidated power usage information to the WAN over the communication link.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication link includes any of a cable modem or a video tuner/amplifier.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a coupler filter, wherein the coupler filter is configured for any of;

preventing unwanted frequencies from being impressed on the communication module from the PLC LAN; and

preventing unwanted high frequency noise from being impressed on the PLC LAN from the communication module.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to monitor and control power usage of the corresponding appliance.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power plug connected to the PLC LAN;

wherein the MCU is configured to monitor and control the power plug via the PLC LAN.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to communicate via the PLC LAN with the corresponding appliance for any of power monitoring and control of the corresponding appliance and to provide connectivity for data communication with the corresponding appliance via the PLC LAN.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to operate the system as a gateway in accordance with predetermined security and connection rules.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to operate the system as a collection and compilation point for a power monitoring function in which power usage by the corresponding appliance is received and compiled by the MCU.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured to monitor and control power delivery through the corresponding appliance in response to control information from another appliance connected to the PLC.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured for any of sending control signals to, to and collecting information from the corresponding appliance in response to remotely originated control information received via the WAN.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the MCU is configured for macro level collection and compilation of power usage information with regard to the corresponding appliance;

and

wherein the MCU is configured to transmit the collected power monitoring and usage information over the WAN to one or more remotely located, central power usage collection units.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the MST is connected to an associated appliance, wherein the associated appliance is powered by power from the power line under control of the MST, and wherein the MST is configured to collect power usage information for the associated appliance.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is any of

a power switch (SW), or

a communication enabled power switch (ETH).

14. The system of claim 4, wherein the MCU is configured to collect and to compile information related to the power usage and control and to exchange the information between the WAN and an Internet.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the MCU is configured to operate the system as a gateway between the WAN and the PLC.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the MCU is configured to control operation of entertainment devices connected to the PLC LAN.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the MST is enabled to consolidate the stored power usage information received from the at least one sensor with the power usage information for the associated appliance.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving by a system control signals and streaming of audio, video, or graphic information from a wide area network (WAN), wherein the system includes

a digital media processor (MCU),

a communication module,

a communication link the MCU and to the WAN, and

a master switch (MST);

wherein the MST is connected to the WAN through the communication link, wherein the MST is communicatively connected to a power line communication (PLC) local area network (LAN) established on a power line;

wherein the MST is connected to at least one sensor over the PLC LAN;

wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the power line and to a corresponding appliance, wherein the corresponding appliance is powered by power from the power line under control of the at least one sensor;

wherein the at least one sensor is configured to;

collect power usage information of the corresponding appliance,

transmit the collected power usage information to the MST over the PLC LAN,

receive control commands over the PLC LAN from the MST; and

switch power on and off to the corresponding appliance in response to the received control commands;

wherein the MST stores the collected power usage information received from the at least one sensor;

wherein the MST connects the system with the PLC LAN for transferring data, control, and streaming video through the communication module;

modulating the data, control and streaming video with the communication module for transfer over the PLC LAN to the corresponding appliance connected through the at least one sensor within the PLC LAN;

with the communication module,

receiving inputs that are sent as modulated signals from the corresponding appliance connected to the PLC LAN through the at least one sensor;

demodulating the received inputs, and

transferring the received inputs to the WAN;

with the MST,

receiving control signals through the WAN,

transmitting the control signals to the at least one sensor through the PLC LAN,

receiving control responses over the PLC LAN from the at least one sensor,

consolidating the collected power usage information, and

transferring any of the control responses or the consolidated power usage information to the WAN over the communication link.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication link includes any of a cable modem or a video tuner/amplifier.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the system includes a coupler filter, and wherein the method further comprises any of:

with the coupler filter, preventing unwanted frequencies from being impressed on the communication module from the PLC LAN;

or

with the coupler filter, preventing unwanted high frequency noise from being impressed on the PLC LAN from the communication module.

21. A non-transitory storage medium containing program instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement the method of claim 18.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the MCU monitors and controls power usage of the corresponding appliance.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the MCU collects and compiles information related to the power usage and control and to exchange the information between the WAN and an Internet.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the MCU operates the system as a gateway between the WAN and the PLC LAN.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the MCU controls operation of entertainment devices connected to the PLC LAN.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the MST is connected to an associated appliance, wherein the associated appliance is powered by power from the power line under control of the MST, and wherein the MST is configured to collect power usage information for the associated appliance.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor is any of

a power switch (SW), or

a communication enabled power switch (ETH).

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the MST is enabled to consolidate the stored power usage information received from the at least one sensor with the power usage information for the associated appliance.