Method and apparatus for an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network

• US 6,405,261 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gaucher, Brian Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Glenton B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDELMAN, BRADLEY E
• Application Number:
  US09/704,433
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 710/11, 709/237, 709/220, 709/208, 709/223, 709/250, 709/222, 709/227, 340/10.01, 340/310.01, 455/3.06
• US Class Current: 709/250
• 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 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2809 indicating that an appliance service is present in a home automation network monitoring functionality H04L43/0817; discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services, H04L67/51
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus for implementing a wireless/wired computer network in an indoor environment with inherent reliability is disclosed. A master network box connected to an AC power network and a master computer generates an RF field around the computer, the home, and AC power network. The integration and implementation of additional devices to the established network is made through additional appliance boxes. Once introduced into the generated RF field, or connected to the AC power network, the additional device is automatically and seamlessly registered and configured into the network without requiring any user intervention. The network is capable of multiple modulation schemes for providing robust wired or wireless communication for various devices which have different power and data rates. The programming of the master computer enables the automated registration of additional devices, and can provide superior control over the devices connected to the network, either via the AC power network, or via RF wireless transmission through the multiple modulation schemes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising:

a master processing unit;

an AC power network coupled to said master processing unit;

an RF field generator configured to generate an RF field around the master processing unit and the AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

a plurality of different devices connected to said AC power network, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices; and

a scanner adapted to scan the RF field to identify and register new devices entering the RF field to establish communication with the new devices and add the new devices to the plurality of different devices, wherein the RF field generator further comprises a master network box having a first connection port connected to the AC power network, a second connection port for providing AC power to the master processing unit, and a third data connection port for connecting to a data bus of the master processing unit.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one appliance network box connected between at least one of the plurality of different devices and the AC power network, the at least one appliance box having a unique registration identifier; and

a register adapted to register new registration identifiers identified through the scanner.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the scanner includes communication channels to establish communication with the plurality of different devices, the communication channels having multiple available modulation schemes.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the scanner selects a modulation scheme depending on a preferred data rate of each of the plurality of different devices.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of different devices include at least one of a VCR, a light, a telephone, an appliance, an automobile, a wireless communications device, a mouse, a camera, a keyboard, a security system and a printer.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the master processing unit operates and controls the plurality of different devices.

7. An apparatus for establishing an automatic multi-rate wireless/wired computer network comprising:

a computer system including a memory storage device and an operating system, the computer system including a scanner adapted to identify any registration identifiers not registered in the network; and

a register adapted to register new registration identifiers identified by the scanner;

an AC power network coupled to the computer system;

a network box coupled to the computer system and the AC network, the network box adapted to generate an RF field around the computer and the AC power network to envelope a location in the RF field;

a plurality of different devices coupled to the RF field such that signals are transmitted to and received through the RF field, the plurality of different devices including wired or wireless devices; and

a communicator adapted to establish communication between the computer system and the plurality of different devices, further comprising an appliance network box adapted to provide an RF interface for communicating between the computer system and at least one of the plurality of different devices and wherein the appliance network box is connected between a device of the plurality of different devices and the AC power network, the appliance box having a unique registration identifier for identifying the device of the plurality of different devices.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the communicator includes a plurality of protocols adapted to communicate with the plurality of different devices in accordance with a preferred protocol for a particular device.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of protocols include a plurality of modulation schemes.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of modulation schemes include at least one of FSK, 4-level FSK and Spread Spectrum.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein one of the plurality of protocols selects a modulation scheme depending on the preferred data rate of each of the plurality of different devices.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the plurality of different devices include at least one of a VCR, a light, a telephone, an appliance, an automobile, a wireless communications device, a mouse, a camera, a keyboard, a security system and a printer.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the computer system operates and controls the plurality of different devices.