Powerline networking device

• US 7,420,459 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pruchniak, Wayne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope; Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/761,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/538.15, 340/538.17, 340/310.11, 340/310.16, 340/310.18, 340/310.01, 307/40, 307/38, 307/39, 307/85, 307/140, 307/139
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A powerline network device includes both power suppression and networking functions, and passes through power and data signals. The networking functions can include one or more of hub, router, and/or switch function, and therefore can form a subnet of devices plugged into the outlets of the device.

Claims

1. A powerline networking device comprising:

a powerline plug configured and arranged to provide power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

a plurality of powerline outlets in electrical communication with the powerline plug, the plurality of powerline outlets configured and arranged to provide power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into any of the plurality of powerline outlets; and

a networking device between the powerline plug and each of the plurality of powerline outlets, the networking device including logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic on the power grid;

wherein the logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic isolates the powerline outlets without removing power from the plurality of powerline outlets.

2. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a surge suppression device between the powerline plug and the plurality of powerline outlets.

3. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a housing, and wherein the powerline plug and the plurality of powerline outlets are attached to said housing, and said network device is within the housing.

4. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the network device comprises logic configured to enable the network device to function as a device selected from the group consisting of a network hub, a network router, a network switch, and combinations thereof.

5. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the networking device is configured to create a subnetwork among any devices connected to the plurality of powerline outlets, the networking device blocking data on the powerline from reaching the subnetwork.

6. A powerline networking device comprising:

a powerline plug configured and arranged to provide power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

a plurality of powerline outlets in electrical communication with the powerline plug, the plurality of powerline outlets configured and arranged to provide power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into any of the plurality of powerline outlets;

a networking device between the power line plug and each of the plurality of powerline outlets, the networking device including logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic on the power grid; and

wherein the network device comprises logic configured to enable the network device to define a subnet including only devices plugged into the plurality of powerline outlets;

wherein any devices plugged into the powerline outlets on the subnet are isolated from network traffic on the power grid.

7. A powerline networking device comprising:

a powerline plug configured and arranged to provide power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

a plurality of powerline outlets in electrical communication with the powerline plug, the plurality of powerline outlets configured and arranged to provide power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into any of the plurality of powerline outlets;

a networking device between the power line plug and each of the plurality of powerline outlets, the networking device including logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic on the power grid;

logic configured to enable firewall, data encryption, selective parental controls, and combinations thereof; and

logic configured to present a user interface and to allow a user to configure said firewall, data encryption, selective parental controls, and combinations thereof.

8. A powerline networking device comprising:

powerline plug means for providing power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

powerline outlet means in electrical communication with the powerline plug means, the powerline outlet means for providing power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into powerline outlet means; and

networking means between the powerline plug means and the powerline outlet means, the networking means for isolating the powerline outlet means from network traffic on the power grid;

wherein the networking means isolates isolates the powerline outlets without removing power from the plurality of powerline outlets.

9. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

surge suppression means between the powerline plug means and the powerline outlet means.

10. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 8, further comprising enclosure means, and herein the powerline plug means and the powerline outlet means are attached to said enclosure means, and said networking means is within the enclosure means.

11. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the networking means is further for functioning as a device selected from the group consisting of a network hub, a network router, a network switch, and combinations thereof.

12. A powerline networking device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the networking means is configured to create a subnetwork among any devices connected to the powerline outlet means, the networking means blocking data on the powerline from reaching the subnetwork.

13. A powerline networking device comprising:

powerline plug means for providing power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

powerline outlet means in electrical communication with the powerline plug means, the powerline outlet means for providing power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into powerline outlet means;

networking means between the powerline plug means and the powerline outlet means, the networking means for isolating the powerline outlet means from network traffic on the power grid;

wherein the networking means comprises means for defining a subnet including only devices plugged into the powerline outlet means;

wherein any devices plugged into the powerline outlet means on the subnet are isolated from network traffic on the power grid.

14. A powerline networking device comprising:

powerline plug means for providing power an network connectivity to and from a power grid;

powerline outlet means in electrical communication with the powerline plug means, the powerline outlet means for providing power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into powerline outlet means;

networking means between the powerline plug means and the powerline outlet means, the networking means for isolating the powerline outlet means from network traffic on the power grid;

means for enabling a firewall, data encryption, selective parental controls, and combinations thereof; and

means for presenting a user interface and allowing a user to configure said firewall, data encryption, selective parental controls, and combinations thereof.

15. A powerline networking device comprising:

a powerline plug configured and arranged to provide power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

a plurality of powerline outlets in electrical communication with the powerline plug, the plurality of powerline outlets configured and arranged to provide power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into any of the plurality of powerline outlets; and

a networking device between the powerline plug and each of the plurality of powerline outlets, the networking device including logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic on the power grid;

wherein the logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic does not isolate the powerline outlets from power from the power grid.

16. A powerline networking device comprising:

a powerline plug configured and arranged to provide power and network connectivity to and from a power grid;

a plurality of powerline outlets in electrical communication with the powerline plug, the plurality of powerline outlets configured and arranged to provide power and powerline networking connections to devices plugged into any of the plurality of powerline outlets; and

a networking device between the powerline plug and each of the plurality of powerline outlets, the networking device including logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic on the power grid;

wherein the logic configured to isolate the plurality of powerline outlets from network traffic does not prevent power from the power grid from reaching the powerline outlets.