Last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network having virtual local area network functionality

• US 7,173,935 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Grid, LLC
• Original Assignee: Current Grid, LLC
• Inventors: Lou, Heng, Davidow, Clifford A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Chau
• Assistant Examiner(s): Park, Jung
• Application Number:
  US10/165,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/395.5
• 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 2203/5425 improving S/N by matching impedance, noise reduction, gain control
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5437 Wired telephone
• 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 2203/5466 using three phases conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5483 using coupling circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/467 Arrangements for supporting untagged frames, e.g. port-based VLANs

Abstract

A power line based communication system includes a power line termination module, a plurality of power line gateways, and a plurality of power line nodes. The power line termination module manages data for local area networks within the power line based communication system. The plurality of power line gateways is arranged in sets of power line gateways, wherein each set of power line gateways constitutes a local area network. Each of the plurality of power line nodes is operably coupled to the power line termination module via a high-speed communication path. In addition, each power line node is operably coupled to set of power line gateways, i.e., to a local area network, via power lines of a local transformer. Each of the power line nodes receives data for its respective LAN from the power line termination module and provides the data to the power line gateways of its LAN via the power lines of the local transformer. Virtual local area networks are enabled between the power line termination module and the power line gateways.

Claims

1. A method for operating a last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network to provide high-speed data communication service to a number of power line gateways, the method comprising:

segregating the number of power line gateways serviced by the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network into a plurality of groups of power line gateways, wherein each group of power line gateways of the plurality of groups of power line gateways receives high-speed data communication service via a respective utility grid segment;

for each group of power line gateways of the plurality of groups of power line gateways, servicing the group of power line gateways with a respective port of a power line termination module;

for each power line gateway of each group of power line gateways of the plurality of groups of power line gateways, establishing a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) between the power line gateway and a respective port of the power line termination module; and

for each data packet received at the power line termination module that is intended for a serviced power line gateway;

determining a servicing port of the power line termination module for the serviced power line gateway;

determining a VLAN identifier for the serviced power line gateway;

formatting the data packet for transmission to the serviced power line gateway to include the VLAN identifier; and

transmitting the data packet to the serviced power line gateway via the servicing port.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the power line termination module includes a plurality of ports;

the power line termination module supports a number of VLANs at each of the plurality of ports;

for each port of the plurality of ports, each VLAN of the number of VLANs supported by the port corresponds to a respective power line gateway; and

a first VLAN serviced by a first port of the plurality of ports and a second VLAN serviced by a second port of the plurality of ports have the same VLAN identifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the power line termination module includes a plurality of ports;

and each of the plurality of ports of the power line termination module services a VLAN domain.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein VLAN domains corresponding to the plurality of ports of the power line termination module are reused so that the same VLAN identifier is used at multiple ports of the plurality of ports of the power line termination module.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising using VLAN overlays to service broadcast and multi-cast high-speed data communications to a plurality of power line gateways serviced on a single port of the power line termination module.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a Quality of Service (QoS) level for each VLAN serviced at each port of the power line gateway; and

supporting an assigned QoS level at each port of the power line gateway for each VLAN.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

programming at least one power line gateway with an assigned QoS level; and

the power line gateway limiting access to the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network based upon the QoS level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

at least one power line gateway is assigned to a plurality of VLANs; and

each of the plurality of VLANs corresponds to service to which a corresponding subscriber receives.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a first data packet from a power line gateway;

determining a subscriber address from the first data packet;

associating the subscriber address with a VLAN identifier for the power line gateway;

receiving a second data packet intended for the power line gateway that includes the subscriber address;

based upon the subscriber address, determining a VLAN identifier of a power line gateway and a servicing port of a power line termination module corresponding to the subscriber address;

formatting the data packet for transmission to the power line gateway to include the VLAN identifier; and

transmitting the data packet to the power line gateway via the servicing port of the power line termination module.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the address contained in the data packet is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the address contained in the data packet is a Medium Access Control (MAC) address.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising downloading software upgrades to at least some of the number of power line gateways.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating the identity of a power line gateway of the number of power line gateways using:

a private key stored in the power line gateway; and

a public key stored in the power line termination module.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically configuring, by the power line termination module, at least some of the number of power line gateways.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a configuration VLAN that is not accessible by subscribers of the number of power line gateways;

receiving a service request at the power line termination module from a power line gateway via the configuration VLAN; and

provisioning, by the power line termination module, the power line gateway via the configuration VLAN.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising updating software of the power line gateway via the configuration VLAN.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising updating a service profile of the power line gateway via the configuration LAN.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network is a multiple access network; and

the VLAN identifiers provide privacy for a group of power line gateways sharing a port of the power line termination module and a respective utility grid segment.

19. A system for servicing high-speed data communications to a number of power line gateways over a last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network, the system comprising:

a plurality of power line nodes, wherein each power line node of the plurality of power line nodes communicatively couples to at least one respective utility grid segment and services a respective group of power line gateways coupled to the at least one respective utility grid segment; and

a power line termination module communicatively coupled to the plurality of power line nodes comprising;

a high speed interface that communicatively couples to a high-speed data network;

a port interface having a plurality of ports, wherein each port of the plurality of ports communicatively couples to at least one respective power line node and services a respective plurality of power line gateways; and

a processor that executes software instructions that cause the power line termination module to;

establish a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) domain for each of the plurality of ports;

for each port of the plurality of ports, assign a unique VLAN identifier to each power line gateway serviced by the port;

receive a first data packet from a power line gateway;

determine a subscriber address from the first data packet;

associate the subscriber address with a VLAN identifier for the power line gateway;

receive a second data packet intended for the power line gateway that includes the subscriber address;

based upon the subscriber address, determine a VLAN identifier of a power line gateway and a servicing port of the power line termination module corresponding to the subscriber address;

format the data packet for transmission to the power line gateway to include the VLAN identifier; and

transmit the data packet to the power line gateway via the servicing port of the power line termination module.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein VLAN domains corresponding to the plurality of ports of the power line termination module are reused so that the same VLAN identifier is used at multiple ports of the plurality of ports of the power line termination module.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the power line termination module uses VLAN overlays to service broadcast and multi-cast high-speed data communications to a plurality of power line gateways serviced on a single port of the power line termination module.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the address contained in the data packet is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the address contained in the data packet is a Medium Access Control (MAC) address.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor further executes software instructions that causes the power line termination module to:

assign a Quality of Service (QoS) level for each VLAN at each port of the power line gateway; and

support an assigned QoS level at each port of the power line gateway for each VLAN.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor further executes software instructions that causes the power line termination module to program at least one power line gateway with an assigned QoS level such that the power line gateway limits access to the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network based upon the QoS level.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor further executes software instructions that causes the power line termination module to download a software upgrade to a serviced power line gateway.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor further executes software instructions that causes the power line termination module to automatically configure a serviced power line gateway.

28. A power line node for use in a last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network, the power line node comprising:

a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch having a plurality of ports;

a power line Local Area Network (LAN) interface communicatively coupled on a first side to a first port of the plurality of ports of the VLAN data packet switch and communicatively coupled on a second side to a respective utility grid segment of the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network;

a power line termination module interface communicatively coupled on a first side to a second port of the plurality of ports of the VLAN data packet switch and communicatively coupled on a second side to a servicing power line termination module;

a processor communicatively coupled to a third port of the plurality of ports of the VLAN data packet switch, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line node to;

establish communications via the first port with at least one serviced power line gateway; and

establish communications via the second port with the servicing power line termination module.

29. The power line node of claim 28, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line node to establish a VLAN between the servicing power line termination module and a serviced power line gateway.

30. The power line node of claim 28, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line node to interface with the power line termination module and a serviced power line gateway using an administrative VLAN.

31. A power line gateway for use in a last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network, the power line gateway comprising:

a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch having a plurality of ports;

a power line Local Area Network (LAN) interface communicatively coupled on a first side to a first port of the plurality of ports of the VLAN data packet switch and communicatively coupled on a second side to a servicing utility grid segment of the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network;

a device interface communicatively coupled on a first side to a second port of the plurality of ports of the VLAN data packet switch and communicatively coupled on a second side to a serviced device; and

a processor communicatively coupled to a third port of the plurality of ports of the VLAN data packet switch, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to establish communication via the servicing utility grid segment of the last leg utility grid high-speed data communication network with a servicing power line node and a servicing power line termination module.

32. The power line gateway of claim 31, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to establish a VLAN between the first port and a servicing power line termination module.

33. The power line gateway of claim 31, wherein the processor executes a plurality of instructions that causes the power line gateway to interface with the power line termination module via an administrative VLAN.