Synchronized slotted power line communication
US10177813B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jan 8, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04J3/0638
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and a device are disclosed including a PLC node having a synchronizer, a modem with a transceiver, and a computing device coupled with a power line for power line data communications. In various embodiments, a coordinator or Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) coordinates the communication of PLC nodes. The PLC nodes are configured to detect a zero crossing of the power line wave form and transmit or receive data within time slots defined with respect to the detected zero crossing. In other embodiments, the time slots may be synchronized using a frame sync signal, an external signal, or polling. In various embodiments, the time slots may be random access or assigned. In some embodiments, the modem and/or node may be placed in a sleep mode when not communicating to reduce power consumption and be awaken when an allocated time slot is approaching.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.