Patent ID: 6151330
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: H02J,H04B,H04L,Y02E,Y04S

Abstract:
A process for communication via electronic power lines comprising:(a) constantly performing a mapping process by a central unit in both polling and burst modes of operation, wherein a difference is in an expected quantity of new nodes, there being no special mode for mapping;wherein, in the beginning, all nodes are in a new/lost mode and there are no known nodes in the central unit data base, the central unit starting a polling cycle by sending a polling message to an imaginary node, with a reserved node ID, there being no influence on the process if such an ID really exists;wherein the polling message contains a time for a start of bursts and a number of available time slots;wherein each node, which receives the message, stores the central unit as its neighbor, enters a known mode, and waits for a time to transmit a log-on burst message, a time for burst being computed by each new/lost node by way of time for burst start, as received from the message, plus some function of node ID, in a range of the number of slots; andwherein the central unit enters the burst mode, waits, and, upon receiving a reply message, records the replying node in the data base as one that has a direct connection with the central unit;(b) computing new parameters and entering the polling mode when the burst mode is finished, the new parameters being, for the burst mode, start time and a number of slots, the control unit performing its first real interrogation cycle when it enters the polling mode and transmitting polling messages to all the nodes in its data base, all the nodes at this stage being in direct connection, without relays in route;wherein each new/lost node that receives the message stores again the central unit as its neighbor, each new/lost node which did not get this message, but is done receiving the polling node reply, storing the last heard node as its neighbor;wherein all nodes wait for the time of burst and transmit the log-on burst message to their neighbors;wherein when a neighbor is the central unit, the procedure is as before;wherein if the neighbor is another node, it acts as a relay and sends, in turn, the received message to its neighbor; andwherein the relay may be only a node which already did respond to the central unit polling message and has a direct connection with the central unit;(c) storing each new node received by the central unit in the data base together with the route;(d) interrogating, in the polling mode, all nodes by sending to them a polling message via stored routes;(e) registering each new/lost node, which receives some node reply to the central unit, or its transmission as relay, as its neighbor; and(f) transmitting a log-on message to its neighbor when the burst time comes;wherein each node that receives a message transmits it again to its neighbor until the message arrives at the central unit.