System and method for multicasting over power lines

• US 20070217414A1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Current Technologies LLC (Pattern Inc.)
• Inventors: Berkman, William, Tran, Henry
• Application Number:
  US11/374,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217414A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/231 Echo cancellers using readout of a memory to provide the echo replica
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/185 with management of multicast group membership

Abstract

A method of communicating over a power line communications system is provided. Data is received into a power line communication system (PLCS). The downstream data may be transmitted along a medium voltage power line in one or more multicast packets to a plurality of devices. Along pathways for transmitting the downstream data toward one or more user devices, multicast packets may be repeated or reformed. In some embodiments, a device may package the data in a unicast packet for transmission along a portion of the pathway. Along the pathways for upstream transmission data from one or more user devices, unicast packets may be transmitted. Wireless links, low voltage power line links, or other wired links are established for delivering multicast packets to and unicast packets from user devices located among the subscribers'"'"' premises.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data with a plurality of devices using a power line communication system that communicates over a power line, comprising:

receiving first data; and

transmitting said first data in a multicast transmission over the power line to a plurality of devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving second data in a unicast transmission via the power line from one of said plurality of devices.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the second data over medium voltage power lines.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said first data at one of the plurality of devices; and

transmitting said first data in a multicast transmission to a plurality of user devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting said first data in a multicast transmission to a plurality of user devices comprises transmitting said first data wirelessly.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting said first data in a multicast transmission to a plurality of user devices comprises transmitting said first data over a low voltage power line.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said first data at a first device;

transmitting said first data in a unicast packet over the power lines from said first device to a second device; and

transmitting said first data in a multicast transmission from said second device to a plurality of user devices located among one or more premises.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the power line comprises a medium voltage power line.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving said first data at one of the plurality of devices;

selecting an interim destination for routing the first data; and

transmitting the first data in a unicast packet from the first device to said interim destination.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said first data at one of the plurality of devices; and

transmitting said first data in a broadcast transmission to a plurality of user devices located among one or more premises.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving second data;

and

transmitting said second data in a broadcast transmission over the power line to a plurality of devices.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving a request to join a group from a user device;

and

adding said user device to the group.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving said first data at a first device;

determining whether said first data is to be transmitted via a unicast transmission or a multicast transmission; and

transmitting said first data in accordance with said determination.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether said first data is to be transmitted via a unicast transmission or a multicast transmission; and

wherein said transmitting of said first data in a multicast transmission is performed in accordance with said determination.

15. A method for using a power line communication system having a medium voltage power line, comprising:

receiving first data from the medium voltage power line;

transmitting the first data in a multicast transmission to a plurality of user devices; and

receiving second data in a unicast data packet from a user device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting the first data comprises transmitting over a wireless link.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said transmitting the first data comprises transmitting over a low voltage power line.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein at least some of the plurality of user devices are located in different customer premises.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the second data over the medium voltage power line.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said first data is received as a broadcast transmission.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said first data is received as a multicast transmission.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said first data is received as a unicast transmission.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein said first data is received from a repeating device.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising

receiving second data from the medium voltage power line;

and

transmitting the second over the medium voltage power line.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining whether said first data is to be transmitted via a unicast transmission or a multicast transmission; and

wherein transmitting said first data in a multicast transmission is performed in accordance with said determination.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising

receiving a request to join a group from one of said plurality of user devices;

and

adding said user device to the group.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting information of said request over the medium voltage power line; and

receiving a response to said transmitted information; and

wherein said adding said user is performed in response to receiving said response.

28. A method of using a device to communicate data over a medium voltage power line with a plurality of devices, comprising:

receiving first data;

transmitting said first data to one of the plurality of devices via a data packet addressed for only said one device;

receiving second data; and

transmitting said second data to a subset of the plurality of devices via a single data stream.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first data and the second data are received via the medium voltage power line.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first data and the second data are transmitted over the medium voltage power line.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

determining whether said second data is to be transmitted via a unicast transmission or a multicast transmission; and

wherein transmitting said second is performed in accordance with said determination.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising

receiving a request to join a group from one of said plurality of devices;

and

adding said device to the group.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

performing link assessments for at least two power line communication paths;

determining routing information based, at least in part, on said link assessments.