Pairing PLC devices

US8552844B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sigma Designs Israel S.D.I. LTD. · IL

Inventors

• Eran Yakar · Herzliya, IL
• Ram Verbin · Nes Ziona, IL
• Tsach Shwartz · Or Yehuda, IL
• Ronald Bruce Sterenson · Raanana, IL
• Ran Kern · Nes Ziona, IL
• Gad Laufer · Nes Ziona, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 8, 2010
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Aug 17, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B2203/5454
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A power line communication device includes a power line communication unit, a sensor to sense a physical connection to a second power line communication device other than via a powerline medium and a pairing unit to receive an indication of a physical connection between the power line communication device and the second power line communication device and to initiate a pairing process with the second power line communication device. A method of pairing communication devices which communicate along a non-data-cable medium includes sensing a data cable connection with a second device, entering an appropriate pairing state upon sensing the data cable connection, the pairing state being either an add device state or a join device state and performing pairing with the second device along the non-data-cable connection.