Circuit panel network and methods thereof

• US 9,685,992 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gerszberg, Irwin, Bennett, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Koeth, Michelle M
• Application Number:
  US14/505,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5433 Remote metering
• 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: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2843 Mains power line

Abstract

To provide network connectivity in a building using existing electrical wiring and circuitry, a circuit panel network system is provided to interface between a network connection and the electrical circuit. Traditional breakers on the electrical panel that provide overload circuit-protection devices can be replaced with circuit breaker devices that have transceivers and power line communication chipsets in addition to overload circuit-protection devices. A network interface unit that receives broadband network connectivity from a network demarcation point inside or outside the building can wirelessly transfer data to and from the circuit breaker devices, which then distribute the data over the electrical circuits via the power line communication chipsets on the circuit breaker devices.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

receiving wirelessly a first transmission of data from a network interface device communicatively coupled to at least one of a set of breakers of a circuit panel, wherein the set of breakers are coupled to a plurality of electrical circuits, wherein the at least one of the set of breakers includes at least one circuit breaker device configured for power line communication, wherein the network interface device is communicatively coupled to a transceiver that is coupled to a dielectric waveguide, wherein the dielectric waveguide is wholly constructed of a dielectric material and receives electromagnetic waves from a utility power line, wherein the electromagnetic waves convey the data, wherein the transceiver receives the electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of the dielectric waveguide and converts the electromagnetic waves to an electric signal that conveys the data, and wherein the network interface device receives the electric signal and wirelessly transmits the first transmission of the data according to the electrical signal;

determining that the data is to be directed towards the at least one circuit breaker device or at least one of the plurality of electrical circuits associated with the at least one circuit breaker device based on mapping a header address of the data to a recipient device connected to the at least one electrical circuit; and

initiating, based upon the determining, a second transmission of the data as a power line communication transmission via the at least one circuit breaker device that is associated with the at least one electrical circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving the first transmission of the data comprises receiving the first transmission wirelessly from a near field transducer located at the network interface device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining that the data is to be directed towards the at least one circuit breaker device or the at least one of the plurality of electrical circuits is based on mapping the header address of the data to a media access control address associated with the recipient device connected to the at least one electrical circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving the first transmission comprises receiving the first transmission via a wireless receiver, and wherein the initiating the second transmission comprises initiating the second transmission via a power line communication chipset.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving the first transmission of the data comprises receiving the first transmission at the at least one circuit breaker device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise wirelessly transmitting, by the at least one circuit breaker device, a third transmission to the network interface device based on a signal received from a client device communicably coupled to the at least one electrical circuit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the wirelessly transmitting the third transmission comprises broadcasting the third transmission via a near field communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric waveguide comprises an end that is tapered and located near the utility power line for receiving the electromagnetic waves from a surface of the utility power line.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic waves convey networking information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless first transmission is received by an antenna communicably coupled to the at least one circuit breaker device.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power coupler configured to inductively receive power from a battery backup to provide power to one or more components of the system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one circuit breaker device and another circuit breaker device form a subnet.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a set of electrical outlets associated with the at least one electrical circuit comprises a section of a power line communication network where one packet is transmitted at a time.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a system including a processor, wirelessly a first transmission of data from a network interface device communicatively coupled to at least one of a set of breakers of a circuit panel, wherein the set of breakers are coupled to a plurality of electrical circuits, wherein the at least one of the set of breakers includes at least one circuit breaker device configured for power line communication, wherein the network interface device is communicatively coupled to a transceiver that is coupled to a dielectric waveguide, wherein the dielectric waveguide is wholly constructed of a dielectric material and receives electromagnetic waves from a utility power line, wherein the electromagnetic waves convey the data, wherein the transceiver receives the electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of the dielectric waveguide and converts the electromagnetic waves to an electric signal that conveys the data, and wherein the network interface device receives the electric signal and wirelessly transmits the first transmission of the data according to the electrical signal;

determining, by the system, that the data is to be directed towards the at least one circuit breaker device or at least one of the plurality of electrical circuits associated with the at least one circuit breaker device based on mapping a target address of the data to a client device coupled to the at least one electrical circuit; and

initiating, by the system based upon the determining, a second transmission of the data as a power line communication transmission via the at least one circuit breaker device that is associated with the at least one electrical circuit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

performing, by the system, network address translation to determine that the target address is associated with the client device.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the system, power from a battery backup in response to a power loss.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving the wireless first transmission comprises receiving an optical transmission.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining, by the system, media access control addresses of a set of devices communicably coupled to the at least one electrical circuit.

19. A network interface device, comprising:

a dielectric waveguide wholly constructed of a dielectric material that facilitates receiving electromagnetic waves from a utility power line, wherein the electromagnetic waves convey data; and

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the dielectric waveguide, wherein the transceiver facilitates receiving the electromagnetic waves propagating on a surface of the dielectric waveguide and converting the electromagnetic waves to an electric signal, wherein the electric signal conveys the data;

wherein the network interface device is communicatively coupled to at least one circuit breaker device configured for power line communication, wherein the network interface device receives the electric signal and wirelessly transmits the data as a first transmission, and wherein the at least one circuit breaker device is configured to wirelessly receive the first transmission, make a determination that the data is to be directed towards the at least one circuit breaker device or at least one electrical circuit of a plurality of electrical circuits associated with the at least one circuit breaker device based on mapping an address of the data to a device coupled to the at least one electrical circuit, and initiate, based upon the determination, a second transmission of the data as a power line communication transmission via the at least one electrical circuit.

20. The network interface device of claim 19, further comprising a transmitter that transmits the first transmission.