Communications: electrical – Systems – Selsyn type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-08-28
Crosland, Donnie L. (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Systems
Selsyn type
C340S315000, C340S315000, C375S259000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281784
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to power line communication systems and methods and components for use in, and aspects of, such systems and methods. One such aspect includes electronic genetics, the name given to the present invention's concept of uniquely identifying every device that can be connected to a power line installation both for energization and for information and control communication over the wires of the installation; with its unique identity, any such device can be connected to any power line installation to communicate with any other such device connected to that installation so long as the identity information is within the system of devices connected to the particular installation.
The wires of a power line installation which carry electricity to energize devices connected to the wires can also be used simultaneously to carry other electrical signals that convey information or control between devices connected to the wires. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,862 to Campbell et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,440 to Thompson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,299 to Campbell; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,463 to Sargeant et al. These patents refer to a power line communication protocol known as “X-10” and an extension of that protocol.
Under X-10 protocol as described in the aforementioned patents, a thirteen-bit code is transmitted from one device (e.g., a lamp) connected to a particular power line installation (e.g., in a home) to another device (e.g., a computer) also connected to the same installation. In one disclosed technique, each bit after four predetermined start bits is transmitted in true and complement form at the zero crossings of consecutive half cycles of an alternating current power signal also carried on the wires of the power line installation. These bits are transmitted using an alternating current signal having a frequency much higher than the frequency of the power signal. Using this technique the first device can advise the second device that it is on or off, for example. As another example, the first device can send a code to control the second device to turn on or turn off.
Although the X-10 protocol has advantages, such as in its encoding and transmission techniques, a significant shortcoming is its inability to accommodate either large numbers of devices connected to a power line installation or sophisticated information or control transactions. Even the extended code version described in the aforementioned Sargeant et al. patent is limited. Furthermore, devices are identified only within the context of the particular system in which they are connected; the devices do not have unique identities that are universal in scope (i.e., that they are always identified by no matter to what particular power line installation they are connected). As a result, these previously disclosed power line communication techniques have not been widely adopted for use in commercial or industrial installations or where complex information and control are needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above-noted and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel and improved power line communication system and method and related components and processes. In the present invention, each device to be connected to an electric power line installation can be uniquely identified (sometimes referred to herein as the device's electronic genetics) in such a manner that practical applications of the invention are not limited as to the number of devices connected to, or as to complexity of information or control effected by communications over, the wires of the power line installation.
Regarding the complexity of information or control that can be effected using the present invention, non-limiting examples include hand-shaking between devices, running diagnostics, registering product warranties, mapping the layout of where and what devices are connected within the power line installation, self- or automatic identifying such as when a new device is connected to the installation, and providing security and total control of the electronic environment. Limitations may be imposed based on the complexity one wants to use in a particular system, and even then it can be expanded if accessible memory is available or if other add-on capability is provided for.
Another advantage of the present invention is its reliability. The present invention uses multiple code patterns or segments to uniquely identify a specific device, and such multiple segments provide significant reliability in that the chances of an out of order sequence or improper activation are reduced since recognition and response requires identity of each bit in the overall group of multiple segments. Furthermore, in a particular implementation, handshaking occurs to verify to one device that another device has received the specific required bit patterns and taken a desired action. For example, a transmitting device might in effect continue to inquire of a receiving device, “Did you get the information?,” until the receiver responds, “Yes, I did. What do you want me to do next?.” This can prevent out of order sequence data packets or keys.
The present invention provides an improvement for a power line communication system having at least two devices connected to a respective one of a plurality of power line installations capable of providing electricity to the at least two devices. The improvement comprises a transmitter for one of the devices and a receiver for another of the devices. The transmitter is encoded with a universal identification code uniquely and universally identifying the transmitter's respective device regardless of the respective power line installation to which the transmitter's respective device is connected. The receiver is adapted to receive an electrical signal representing the universal identification code and transmitted from the transmitter over the respective power line installation to which the transmitter's respective device and the receiver's respective device are connected, and the receiver includes a library in which to store recognition data corresponding to the transmitter's universal identification code. The library can include at least a program file responsive to the receiver receiving the electrical signal representing the universal identification code. The improvement can further comprise a portable memory device programmed with the recognition data corresponding to the transmitter's universal identification code. The receiver in this case is adapted to receive the recognition data from the portable memory device.
The present invention further provides a method for a power line communication system of the type described above. This method comprises transmitting from one of the devices onto the respective power line installation an electrical signal representing a universal identification code uniquely and universally identifying the transmitting device regardless of which of the plurality of power line installations is the respective one to which the transmitting device is connected. This method further comprises receiving over the respective power line installation at another of the devices the electrical signal representing the universal identification code. The method also includes processing at the receiving device the received electrical signal to determine if the represented universal identification code corresponds to recognition data stored in the receiving device.
The present invention further provides a power line communication method comprising: communicating a house code and a unit code over a common power line installation from a first device to a second device, wherein the house code and the unit code are in a format of a predetermined power line communication protocol (e.g., X-10); and reinterpreting in the second device the communicated house code and unit code such that in response thereto the second device accesses a program file or data file programmed in the second de
Carson Anthony R.
Collins Michael T.
Ketron Dustin P.
Lam Kiet Q.
Redgate Robert E.
Crosland Donnie L.
McAfee & Taft
Redgate Industries, Inc.
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