ES2358828B1 - SMART MULTIPORT PORT COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The intelligent multi-port PLC communications device that the invention recommends allows the effective implementation of local area PLC networks without the need for a pre-installation of data cabling. # This is achieved by means of # - A physical medium interface that allows using the medium electrical for the transmission of the modulated data and that will be connected to a communications interface that contains the SOC components of digital analog PLC modules in turn connected to a microcontroller with embedded operating system (OS) and on which a flash memory depends , a visual controller, an Ethernet face interface that incorporates an Ethernet port, a USB interface that hangs a USB host port.

Description

Intelligent multi-port PLC communications device.

Object of the invention

The present specification refers to a patent application for an invention relating to a Multi-Port PLC Intelligent Communications Device, which allows the effective implementation of local broadband area PLC networks without the need for pre-installation of data cabling.

Field of the Invention

This invention has its application within the computer industry, and particularizing its application in all those sectors that need to implement local networks without the need for prewiring.

Background of the invention

At present, the existence of multiple communication and data transmission systems is known.

But the data transmission systems by electric cable (PLC) allow the communication of elements to the network, either from an Ethernet port, or through a USB device port, but in no case do they include both ports.

The device advocated by the invention includes both ports.

But in addition, the adapter devices with USB serial port available on the market are currently the "USB" device, but in no case there is the availability of USB "host".

Regarding the situation of PLC standards, with a data transfer rate of 200 Mb / s on electric cable, there are two main solutions HOMEPLUG AV (with 85% of the market) and PANASONIC (CEPCA) (with 9% of the market) and are the ones that have defined the baseline bases for the standard within the IEEE group P1901, having the rest of the proposals to be coexisting or adaptable; while the technology developed in this device provides a double communication channel on electric cable with a transfer rate of 200 Mb / s compatible with the HOMEPLUG AV / IEEE P1901 standard and with a transfer rate of 1 Gb / s. It also facilitates the incorporation of devices into the network through dynamic configuration and meshed network.

Currently available devices behave as signal adapters and protocol converters but do not integrate a microprocessor or microcontroller element, as in the device advocated by the invention, which allows the development of value-added applications, such as backup services, monitoring systems video / audio or network management and monitoring systems.

Given all these limitations, the present invention is recommended, whose device is capable of executing value-added applications and controlling communications ports to make the interconnectivity of devices flexible, a situation fully developed until now.

The existence of an invention that is endowed with the characteristics described herein is unknown by the applicant.

Description of the invention

The proposed invention incorporates a plurality of novel features in relation to other elements used within the sector, and more specifically, the intelligent multi-port PLC communications device that the invention advocates is constituted at least by the following elements:

An electrical wiring, which will serve as a physical means for data transmission, facilitating the interconnectivity of a wide spectrum of systems and peripherals without the need for data prewiring.

A medium physical interface. This PLC (Power Line Communications) interface allows you to use the electrical medium for the transmission of modulated data and it will be connected to a communications interface that contains the SOC components of digital analog PLC modules in turn connected to a communications microcontroller with embedded operating system (OS).

This element will facilitate the development of specific applications to offer value-added services, allowing a dynamic and evolutionary model that can be applied to a variety of applications such as automatic data backup server in a network storage unit, video monitoring system. audio or network management / monitoring system.

Also the power supplied by this microcontroller facilitates the realization of distributed computing projects.

The following four elements depend on this element:

A fl ash memory, which provides the data storage element in order to save the information related to parameters and other specific generic data, relating to the basic operation of services offered by specific applications, a visual controller, which contains the status indicators of operation of the device and in which at least several light control LEDs are distinguished for the functions of ignition status, operating modes etc., and several light control visual control bars of data transmission activity, effective working speed , etc.

Likewise, an Ethernet interface depends on the communications interface, which incorporates an Ethernet port, which allows the interconnection of multiple devices, including routers and PCs, to PLC communications devices, facilitating the realization of local broadband networks over an electrical medium and a USB interface that hangs a “host” USB serial port.

The particular feature of incorporating a serial port of these characteristics into the communications device is that it facilitates the possibility of extending remote USB ports from any PC connected to the power network through said PLC communications adapter device.

This device is intended to facilitate the implementation of local area PLC networks without the need for prewiring, using electrical wiring as a physical means for data transmission and facilitating the interconnectivity of a wide spectrum of systems and peripherals through the option of connectivity via USB and / or Ethernet, thereby achieving a totally innovative device in the market.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a sheet of drawings is attached as an integral part thereof, in which with identical references They indicate identical elements and where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

(one)

electrical wiring

(2)

physical medium interface

(3)

communication interface

(4)

controller with S.O. embedded

(5)

fl ash memory

(6)

visual controller

(7)

leds

(8)

visual control bars

(9)

Ethernet interface

(10)

Ethernet port

(eleven)

USB interface

(12)

USB Host serial port

(13)

external USB serial port connection

Figure Nº 1.-Block diagram of the Device.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

The intelligent multi-port broadband PLC communications device that the invention recommends is made up of at least the following elements:

• Electrical wiring (1)

It will serve as a physical medium for data transmission, facilitating the interconnectivity of a wide spectrum of systems and peripherals without the need for data prewiring.

•

Physical medium interface (2), this PLC (Power Line Communications) interface allows you to use the electrical medium for the transmission of modulated data and that will be connected to a

•

Communications interface (3) that contains the SOC components of PLC digital analog modules in turn connected to a

•

Communications microcontroller (4) with embedded operating system (OS).

This element will facilitate the development of specific applications to offer value-added services, allowing a dynamic and evolutionary model that can be applied to a variety of applications such as automatic data backup server in a network storage unit, video monitoring system. audio or network management / monitoring system.

Also the power supplied by this microcontroller facilitates the realization of distributed computing projects.

The following four elements depend on this element:

•

(5) fl ash memory, which provides the data storage element in order to store information related to parameters and other specific generic data, related to the basic operation of services offered by specific applications

•

(6) visual controller, which contains the operating status indicators of the device and in which at least they are distinguished:

•

(7) Light control LEDs for power-up functions, operating modes etc.

•

(8) visual control bars of light control of data transmission activity, effective working speed, etc.

•

(9) Ethernet interface, which incorporates:

•

(10) Ethernet port, which allows the interconnection of multiple devices, including routers and PCs, to PLC communications devices, facilitating the realization of local broadband networks over an electric medium.

•

(11) USB interface it hangs from

•

(12) "host" USB serial port. The particular feature of incorporating a serial port of these characteristics into the communications device is that it facilitates the possibility of extending remote USB ports from any PC connected to the power network through said PLC communications adapter device.

This device is intended to facilitate the implementation of local area PLC networks without the need for prewiring, using electrical wiring as a physical means for data transmission and facilitating the interconnectivity of a wide spectrum of systems and peripherals through the option of connectivity via USB and / or Ethernet, thereby achieving a totally innovative device in the market.

Sufficiently described the nature of the invention, as well as the manner in which it is put into practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are subject to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter its fundamental principles, established in the paragraphs. above and summarized in the following claims.

Claims (5)

1. Intelligent multi-port PLC communications device, essentially characterized by being constituted by the following elements:

•

Electrical wiring (1) that will serve as a physical means for data transmission, facilitating the interconnectivity of a wide spectrum of systems and peripherals without the need for data prewiring.

•

Physical medium interface (2), where this PLC (Power Line Communications) interface allows you to use the electrical medium for the transmission of modulated data and which will be connected to a

•

Communications interface (3) that contains the SOC components of PLC digital analog modules in turn connected to a

•

Communications microcontroller (4) with embedded operating system (OS) and on which the following elements depend:

•

(5) fl ash memory, which provides the data storage element in order to store information related to parameters and other specific generic data, related to the basic operation of services offered by specific applications,

•

(6) visual controller, which contains the operating status indicators of the device and in which at least they are distinguished:

•

(7) Light control LEDs for the functions of ignition status, operating modes and usage channel,

•

(8) visual control bars of light control of data transmission activity, and effective working speed,

•

(9) Ethernet interface, which incorporates

•

(10) Ethernet port, which allows the interconnection of multiple devices, including routers and PC’s to PLC communications devices,

•

(11) USB interface it hangs from

•

USB (host) serial port (12).

2.

Intelligent multi-port PLC communications device, according to the first claim and essentially characterized in that it incorporates the simultaneous availability of two USB (12) and Ethernet (10) communications ports.

3.

Intelligent multi-port PLC communications device, according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the USB communications port (12) responds to the technical characteristic "HOST".

Four.

Intelligent multi-port PLC communications device, according to the preceding claims and characterized in that the microcontroller (4) incorporates the embedded operating system (OS).

5 6 SPANISH PATENTS AND BRANDS OFFICE Application no .: 200930803 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 06.10.2009

REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Priority Date:    

51 Int. Cl.:

H04B 3/54 (2006.01)

 RELEVANT DOCUMENTS  

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

X X A

EN 2305979 T3 (DEVOLO AG) 01.11.2008, the whole document. EP 1343253 A1 (ALPS ELECTRIC CO LTD) 10.09.2003, summary; paragraphs 9-16; Figures 1-4. US 2005281326 A1 (YU et al.) 22.12.2005, paragraph [39]; figure 3. 1-4 1-4 1-4

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 04/20/2010

Examiner J. Santaella Vallejo Page 1/4

Application number: 200930803 REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Minimum documentation sought (classification system followed by classification symbols) H04B Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, search terms used) INVENTIONS, EPODOC, WPI  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930803 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 04.20.2010

Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims 1-4 Claims _____________________________________ Yes NO

Inventive activity

Claims _____________________________________ Yes

(Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims 1-4 NO

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published.  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 200930803 1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

ES 2305979 T3 01.11.2008

D02

EP 1343253 A1 10.09.2003

D03

US 2005281326 A1 22.12.2005

2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The claimed invention concerns a PLC (Power Line Communication) device composed of an ethernet port and a USB port. The device also has a microprocessor and various LED indicators. The document of the state of the art closest to the invention is D01, which consists of a PLC device, capable of automatically detecting the state of its interfaces to switch the power supply. The device has Ethernet and USB port interfaces. For clarity, and as far as possible, the same wording used in claim 1 is used. The references in parentheses correspond to D01. Technical characteristics not found in document D01 are indicated in square brackets. Claim 1 Multi-device PLC device (title; page 3, line 66-page 4, line 2; figures 2,4) consisting of the following elements: Electrical wiring that will serve as a physical medium for data transmission (page 2, lines 10-22; figures 1-4) Physical medium interface, where this PLC (Power Line Communications) interface allows the use of the electrical medium for the transmission of modulated data (page 2, lines 38-50; page 3, line 30-53; Figure 1-4) Communications microcontroller page 2 lines 48 [with embedded operating system (OS)] and on which the following elements depend:

or [flash memory],

or [visual controller: Light control LEDs for the functions of ignition status, operating modes and usage channel, visual control bars of data transmission activity light control, and effective working speed],

o Ethernet interface and port, which incorporates (page 3, lines 54-57, page 3, line 66-page 4, line 2; Figure 1,2 and 4)

o interface and USB port on which it hangs (page 3, line 66-page 4, line 2; figures 2,4)

The difference between document D01 and the technical object of claim 1 of the application lies mainly in the light indicators (which, as a visual controller, provide ignition information, operating modes and usage channel, as well as transmission speed of data) and in the existence of a flash memory and an embedded OS. The use of light indicators for this type of purpose is known in the state of the art. Specifically, in the document cited above US 2005281326, in figure 3 and in the corresponding description (page 3, section 39) these characteristics are described. Likewise, references with embedded operating system (OS) and flash memory have not been found in document D01. However, in view of the state of the art, it is considered obvious to one skilled in the art that a commercial DSP contains a memory and an OS. Therefore, in light of D01, the invention claimed in claim 1 does not imply inventive activity. Claim 2-4 In view of the cited documents, the remaining claims are considered practical issues, known prior to the publication of the application document. Report on the State of the Art (Written Opinion) Page 4/4