Time-keeping between devices using power distribution line communications
US9106365B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2011 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B2203/542
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Particular embodiments are directed towards a method for communicating time-based data in a power line communication system. The communication system utilized in the method includes: a command center; a collector device; and a plurality of endpoint devices. The method includes communicating, from the collector device, downstream data to the plurality of endpoint devices. This downstream communication utilizes a communication protocol that is relative to a collector network time, and is over a set of power distribution lines carrying alternating current (AC). The collector network time uses the local oscillator. The AC zero-crossing event can be used as a time base for other versions of the network time. Conceptually, the AC can be thought of as acting as a reference clock for maintaining these other network times, although the clocking function can be carried out in the digital realm, e.g., using a digital-signal processor (DSP).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.