Granted Patent B2

US 8,212,376 · App. 12/271,486 · Granted Jul 3, 2012

Abstract

Claims (27)

1. A powerline network apparatus configured for coupling to a connected device and having reduced power consumption, said powerline network apparatus comprising:

a powerline-connectable communication device that communicates with a remote device via a powerline;

a power supply that provides direct current electrical power to said powerline-connectable communication device;

a signal sensor, which accepts a first data signal received from the connected device and a second data signal received from said remote device, said signal sensor configured to detect the presence of either said first data signal or said second data signal and to provide an indication of said detection; and

a switch that switchably couples said power supply to said powerline-connectable communication device during a period of time when said detection indication is provided.

2. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 wherein said powerline-connectable communication device comprises a HOMEPLUG™-capable communication device.

3. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal sensor is embodied within said powerline-connectable communication device.

4. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first data signal and said second data signal that said signal sensor is configured to detect is at a frequency higher than a frequency associated with power conveyed on the powerline.

5. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal that said signal sensor is configured to detect identifies said powerline-connectable communication device with a powerline-connectable communication-device address.

6. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery coupled to said power supply and to said powerline-connectable communication device.

7. An apparatus for controlling powering of at least a first HOMEPLUG™ device, said apparatus comprising:

a control scheduler configured to schedule at least one power-state change of the first HOMEPLUG™ device; and

a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal responsive to scheduling performed by said control scheduler, the control signal for causing a detection at a signal sensor at the first HOMEPLUG™ device, which accepts said control signal and a second data signal received from a remote HOMEPLUG™ device, said signal sensor configured to detect the presence of either said control signal or said second data signal and to provide an indication of said detection to a switch at the first HOMEPLUG™ device that switchably couples a first HOMEPLUG™ device power supply to the first HOMEPLUG™ device during a period of time when said detection indication is provided.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least the first HOMEPLUG™ device comprises a plurality of HOMEPLUG™ devices and wherein said control scheduler is configured to schedule power-state changes of the plurality of HOMEPLUG™ devices.

9. A data communication system for communication of data from a local connected device to a remote connected device, comprising:

a first powerline network apparatus coupled to the local connected device and a second powerline network apparatus coupled to the remote connected device, said first powerline network apparatus communicating with said second powerline-connectable communication device via a powerline;

said first powerline network apparatus and said second powerline network apparatus each comprising:

a transceiver;

a power supply that provides electrical power to its respective transceiver,

a signal sensor, which includes an input upon which a first data signal is received from a respective connected device and a second data signal is received from the other connected device, said signal sensor configured to detect a presence of either said first data signal or said second data signal and to provide an indication of said detection, and

a switch; and

wherein said first powerline network apparatus, in response to an indication of a first data signal detection, switchably couples said first powerline network apparatus power supply to said first powerline network apparatus transceiver during a period of time when said first powerline network apparatus first data signal detection indication is provided and wherein said second powerline network apparatus, in response to an indication of detection of a second data signal from said first powerline network apparatus, switchably couples said second powerline network apparatus power supply to said second powerline network apparatus transceiver during a period of time when said second powerline network apparatus second data signal detection indication is provided.

10. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 wherein said powerline-connectable communication device comprises a transceiver.

11. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote device further comprises a HOMEPLUG™-capable communication device.

12. The powerline network apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a timer coupled to said signal sensor whereby hysteresis for said indication of detection is provided.

13. The powerline network apparatus of claim 12 wherein said timer commences timing upon said detection of either said first data signal or said second data signal.

14. The powerline network apparatus of claim 12 wherein said timer commences timing upon a disappearance of said detection of either said first data signal or said second data signal.

Assignments (14)