168results about "Adapter and plugs" patented technology

A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory, and a communication interface. In a first operation, the PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a first remote PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard and configures the communication interface to service communications according to the first PLC communication standard. In a second operation, the PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a second remote PLC device according to a second PLC communication standard and configures the communication interface to service communications according to the second PLC communication standard, wherein the first PLC communication standard and the second PLC communication standard are differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. The PLC device may also configure the communication interface to service non-PLC communications such as LAN, WAN, WLAN, cable modem, and other communications.

A method of communicating utility usage data is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises transmitting real-time utility usage data from a plurality of utility meters, receiving the real-time utility usage data from the plurality of utility meters, storing the real-time utility usage data in a memory, storing address information of the plurality of utility meters in memory, receiving requests from a plurality of utility users for real-time utility usage information and wherein the requests traverse a communication path that includes the Internet, processing the utility usage data of the utility users to provide the real-time utility usage information for each utility user, and transmitting the real-time utility usage information to the utility users over a communication path that includes the Internet.

A communication device, for connecting one or more electrical appliances to a remote service centre, comprises a control unit (AMC), means (PLG) for connecting the device (HG) to an alternating voltage electric mains network (Vac) and means (SK) for supplying the alternating mains voltage (Vac) to a power supply line of an electric appliance. The device (HG) further comprises first communication means (CSA), prearranged for receiving information possibly generated by the electric appliance and transmitted through the power supply line thereof, second communication means (ZB), prearranged for establishing a connection with a local area network (HN1) and third communication means (GGM), prearranged for establishing a connection with a further communication network, different from the local network (HN1), to which the remote service centre is connected. The control unit (AMC) is prearranged for acquiring by means of the first communication means (CSA), first information possibly generated by the electric appliance and transmitted through the power supply line thereof and/or second information regarding electric energy consumptions associated to the operation of is the electric appliance, acquiring, by means of the second communication means (ZB), third information possibly available on the local network (HN1), and transmitting to the remote centre (RMC), by means of the third communication means (GGM), at least one of the first, second and third information.

In conjunction with a wiring in a house carrying data network signal, a modular outlet comprising of a base module and interface module. The base module connects to the wiring and attached to a wall. The interface module provides a data unit connection. The interface module is mechanically attached to the base module and electrically connected thereto. The wiring may also carry basic service signal such as telephone, electrical power and cable television (CATV). In such a case, the outlet will provide the relevant connectivity either as part of the base module or as part of the interface module. Both proprietary and industry standard interfaces can be used to interconnect the module. Furthermore, a standard computer expansion card (such as PCI, PCMCIA and alike) may be used as interface module.

In one embodiment, a system and method for receiving information over a power line in accordance with the HomePlug specification is described. The receiver side of the method involves separation of the data within a payload of an incoming frame into a plurality of blocks. Thereafter, both frame control symbols and data within the blocks are processed by Frame Control Forward Error Correction (FEC) decoding logic.

The present invention discloses a plug-and-play network digital image display apparatus plugged into an existing power socket at home or office through a built-in or external powerline to Ethernet adapter and connected to a webcam through a powerline installed at home or office, so that the webcam in a certain room can send captured video and audio signals to the network digital image display apparatus in another room through the powerline, and the network digital image display apparatus plays the image and sound, without the need of installing an additional network cable to achieve the plug-and-play function at the power socket for the environmental dynamic monitoring function. The invention also discloses a plug-and-play image monitoring system, such that a user situated at a place other than a home or an office still can use a personal computer to monitor the home or office through the Internet.

In a battery pack (1), control means (3) reads identification information or operating state detection information out of identification information memory means (4) or battery operating state detection means (10) and inputs it to a modulation circuit (5). The modulation circuit (5) modulates the information into an information signal which can be superimposed on a direct-current power transmission line and sends it to a charging device (20) or a loading device (30) through a positive charge and discharge terminal (11). The charging device (20) or the loading device (30) demodulates the sent information signal to take out the identification information or the operating state detection information and allows power source control means (25, 35) to control the output of charging energy from a charging power source (23) or the output of discharging energy to a load (33). Thus, in addition to the transmission of direct-current power, information can be transmitted only by the connection of two positive and negative terminals.

A powerline communications device comprises a powerline communications interface and at least one other communications interface configured to communicate over a computing network. The powerline communications interface is further configured to receive electrical power. The computing network may comprise mediums including powerlines, telephone lines, and/or coaxial cables. In some embodiments, the powerline communications interface may communicate with a network apparatus, such as a personal computer, via an Ethernet interface. The powerline interface, the telephone line interface, and/or the coaxial cable interface may all be associated with the same media access control (MAC) address. The powerline communications device may receive a message via a first medium and repeat the message via a second medium based on a quality of service (QoS) metric. In some embodiments, the powerline communications device may communicate using multiple frequency bands.

This application relates to a network including powerline adapters (“PLAs”) of the HomePlug Alliance variety or similar implementations such as the European in Opera standard. The technology disclosed provides diagnostic capability and software enhanced powerline adapters. The diagnostic capability includes collecting network performance data and either analyzing or forwarding data for analysis. In addition, mechanical design for the PLA with an isolating filter provides for secure mounting while blocking access to a second wall outlet of a duplex unit.

A relay apparatus includes a plurality of connecting terminals, such as a modem connecting terminal, a power line connecting terminal, an electric appliance connecting terminal and an antenna line connecting terminal; a selector that selects at least one connecting terminal from among the plurality of connecting terminals to transmit and receive a communication signal; and a control circuit that controls the selector. The relay apparatus further includes a first communication filter that passes signals in a frequency band used for communication by a power line communication modem and that blocks signals in other frequency bands, and a second communication filter that passes signals in a frequency band used for communication by another electric appliance and that blocks signals in other frequency bands.

An electrical receptacle assembly having a housing that includes a wireless transceiver electrically coupled to one or more antennas that can be integrated into the receptacle housing itself or in the receptacle's faceplate. The one or more antennas can be one or more dipoles or a single loop antenna. The housing also houses a power converter that derives its power directly from the line connection to the outlet. A junction box includes an integrated antenna reflector for improved radio direction and propagation relative to the antenna(s). Or, an antenna reflector insert is placed within the junction box behind the electrical receptacle assembly. The electrical receptacle assembly further includes a temperature sensor, a PLC module, or a current/voltage sensor and communicates associated data via its wireless transceiver. A status indicator is disposed on the front of the housing. A reset switch on housing resets the electronics to a default state.

Apparatus and method is disclosed for utilizing the preexisting power grid outside a home or office or the like to provide internet access thereto. A radio is mounted at the power grid adapted to communicate with a radio frequency modem in the home or office. A power line carrier modem is electronically coupled to the radio frequency modem and to a computer in the home or office for delivering internet access thereto.

A communication apparatus repeatedly outputs a first multi-carrier signal SS during predetermined periods T1, T2, T3, . . . , and outputs a second multi-carrier signal RS whose phase vector is different from that of the first multi-carrier signal SS, at a predetermined timing based on the first multi-carrier signal SS. The communication apparatus further detects the second multi-carrier signal RS output from another communication apparatus, which uses a different communication method from the communication apparatus. Accordingly, both communication apparatuses can differentiate the first multi-carrier signal SS from the second multi-carrier signal RS without performing relatively cumbersome modulation and other processes.

A communication unit is provided which a first portion of the communication unit is connected to an external power line and a second portion of the communication unit is connected to an external electronic apparatus. The communication unit includes a power conversion section configured to convert an alternating-current power supplied through the external power line into a direct-current power and to supply the converted direct-current power to the external electronic apparatus, and a control-section configured to control communication performed between the external power line and the external electronic apparatus. The control section is configured to control at least one of an output voltage and an output power of the direct-current power to be output from the power conversion section to the external electronic apparatus in accordance with power requirement information sent from the external electronic apparatus.

Method and system for powerline local area network over coaxial cable. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a powerline communication system. The system includes a data connection that is configured to communicating a first signal in a first format. The data connection includes an input/output port. The system also includes a powerline module coupled to the input/output port of the data connection. The powerline module has a data port. The powerline module is configured to convert the first signal in the first format into a second signal into a second format. The first format is different from the second format. The system additionally includes an analog front end device that coupled to the dataport of the powerline module. The analog front end device is configured to condition the second signal for transmission over one or more powerline and/or one or more coaxial cables. Furthermore, the system includes a coupler device coupled to the analog front end device.