Abstract:
An energy management system. The system includes a coax controller apparatus comprising an exterior housing and plurality of coax modules numbered from 2 through N, where N is an integer greater than 3. In a specific embodiment, each of the coax modules comprises a powerline chip (PLC) module coupled to an analog front end, which is coupled to a coaxial connector. The system also has an electromagnetic shield configured to each of the coax modules. In a specific embodiment, the electromagnetic shield is configured to substantially maintain the coax module substantially free from interference noise or other disturbances. The system has a power meter coupled to one or more ports of the coax controller apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/204,820 filed Jan. 13, 2009, commonly assigned and incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the drawings hereto: Copyright (c) 2009, Jetlun Corporation, All Rights Reserved. 
     REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to energy management techniques. More particularly, the present invention provides a method and system for isolating local area networks over at least a co-axial wiring for energy management, but it can be applied to many other applications. 
     As larger universities and research labs obtained more computers during the late 1960s, increasing pressure mounted to provide high-speed interconnections to share information across a common network, often referred to as a Local Area Network (LAN). The development and proliferation of DOS-based personal computers from the early 1980&#39;s and the introduction of the World-Wide Web (WWW), which enabled the spread of information over the Internet through an easy-to-use and flexible format, popularized the adoption of home networking. A home network is a residential LAN, and is used to connect multiple devices within the home. More recently Internet Service Providers (ISP) such as AT&amp;T and British Telecom have been using home networking to provide triple play services (voice, video and data) to customers. 
     Early LAN cabling used for LAN had always been based on various grades of co-axial cable, but IBM&#39;s Token Ring used shielded twisted pair cabling of their own design, and in about 1984 StarLAN showed the potential of simple CAT3 unshielded twisted pair—the same simple cable used for telephone systems. This led to the development of 10Base-T (and its successors) and structured cabling which is still the basis of most LANs today. Structural cabling is most cost efficient in new facilities but it becomes technically challenging and cost prohibitive in existing facilities. Given that the majority of buildings are existing and new buildings are just a small percentage of the overall market, other technologies were developed that transmit data either over the air or through the use of existing wiring. 
     As new applications such as Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)—a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection, and Video of Demand (VoD)—a system that either stream content through a set-top box, allowing viewing in real time, or download it to a device such as a computer, digital video recorder, personal video recorder or portable media player for viewing at any time, matures, the bandwidth requirement for a LAN will need to be increased to be able to support these applications. 
     Wireless 802.11 technologies are limited in bandwidth, coverage, interferences and security. Other network technologies that use the existing wiring of a facility such as HomePNA Phoneline and HomePlug™ Powerline uses bare copper wires which are easily susceptible to interferences and they are also limited by its shared medium; thus, making it extremely challenging to deploy bundled applications and services. A co-axial wire is a cable consisting of an inner conductor, surrounded by a tubular insulating layer typically made from a flexible material with a high dielectric constant, all of which is then surrounded by another conductive layer (typically of fine woven wire for flexibility, or of a thin metallic foil), and then finally covered again with a thin insulating layer on the outside—making it the most ideal network infrastructure for high-bandwidth applications that is part of the existing wiring of a facility. 
     Although highly successful, networking techniques have not been used successfully in energy management applications. That is, energy management applications have been crude and often difficult to use in an easy and convenient manner. Energy management applications are also non-existent in some areas. These and other limitations of conventional energy management techniques have been described throughout the present specification and more particularly below. 
     From the above, it is seen that improved techniques are desired to improve use of existing co-axial wiring for LAN and in particularly energy management applications. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, techniques related to maximizing the use of existing co-axial wiring for networking are provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a method to isolate networks over existing co-axial wiring of a facility. Merely by example, the invention provides a network solution to support various applications such as data networking, Voice over Inter Protocol (VoIP), Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), or Video on Demand (VoD), for a variety of environments such as a hospital, an apartment building, a hotel, a ship, a home, a shopping mall, or other distribution center or warehouse, school or large campus, office setting or large building area environment, manufacturing campuses. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, techniques have been provided using at least co-axial wiring in deployments of a larger network where a host device is connected to and managing N clients, where N is greater than 1. Placing multiple conventional co-axial wiring together causes interferences, which hinder overall bandwidth and performance. MOCA, Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), HomePNA and HomePlug Powerline and other network technologies see its performance drop when deployed due to the physical limitations of the co-axial wiring. The present method and system, however, overcomes some if not all of the limitations of conventional coaxial based systems and methods. 
     An energy management system is provided in one or more embodiments. The system includes a coax controller apparatus comprising an exterior housing and plurality of coax modules numbered from 2 through N, where N is an integer greater than 3. In a specific embodiment, each of the coax modules comprises a powerline chip (PLC) module coupled to an analog front end, which is coupled to a coaxial connector. The system also has an electromagnetic shield configured to each of the coax modules. In a specific embodiment, the electromagnetic shield is configured to substantially maintain the coax module substantially free from interference noise or other disturbances. The system has a power meter coupled to one or more ports of the coax controller apparatus. 
     In an alternative specific embodiment, the present invention provides a high speed network system for energy management. The system has a first shield configured to an analog front end coupled to a power line chip set configured for a data rate of at least 200 Megabits per second, and one or more interface ports. In a preferred embodiment, the first shield is configured to remove noise ranging from 1 MHz to 30 MHz derived from at least the analog front end. The system also has a second shield configured to the analog front end coupled to one or more inductive coupling elements. The one or more inductive coupling elements are configured to couple a power line signal from the analog front end to one or more coax connectors. The second shield is configured to block noise from being transmitted to and from at least the one or more inductive coupling elements. In a specific embodiment, the system has a third shield configured between the analog front end and the power line module. Preferably, the third shield is configured to isolate one or more powerline signals communicated between the analog front end and the power line module. A fourth shield is configured to one or more cables to form a shielded cable coupled to the one or more coax connectors. Of course, there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
     In one or more other embodiments, the present invention provides a way of using the system described herein to transfer energy consumption information using one or more power line signals over one or more powerline networks. Of course, there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
     Numerous benefits are achieved using the present invention over conventional techniques. The present invention maximizes the use of existing co-axial wiring of a facility, provides an easy and quick method to deploy a LAN and do away with new structure cabling which are attributable to global warming. In a preferred embodiment, the present system provides an improved shielding technique for power line communication of energy management applications, which tend to be noisy and have other disturbances. Depending upon the embodiment, one or more of these benefits may exist. These and other benefits have been described throughout the present specification and more particularly below. 
     Various additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detailed description and accompanying drawings that follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified diagram of the system according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified block diagram of controller that illustrates the shielded simple module used to isolate into sub-networks and the VLAN switch used to segregate networks according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified diagram illustrating isolated  1  thru N shielded simple modules within the controller according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified block diagram of the external power supply to the controller according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified front and back view of the controller according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a simplified block diagram of the signal splitter according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified block diagram of the multiplexer according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a simplified block diagram of apparatus according to an embodiment in the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a simplified block diagram of the software structure of the co-axial controller; 
         FIG. 10  is a simplified block diagram of the software features of the co-axial controller; 
         FIG. 11  is a simplified flow diagram for bandwidth management; 
         FIG. 12  is a simplified flow diagram for security encryption management; 
         FIG. 13  is an overall system diagram of an energy management system for a multiple unit building associated with respective energy meters according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a detailed diagram of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a detailed diagram of multiplexer (e.g.,  1313 ) according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 16 to 18  are detailed diagrams of a multiplexer according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 19 and 20  are detailed diagrams of multiplexers according to yet alternative embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, techniques for converting co-axial wiring of a facility into a communication network that can be isolated into sub-networks in order to maximize bandwidth and decrease interference are provided. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied in a local area network environment, but it would be recognized that other applications exist. The invention can also be applied to building area network, home area network, office network, apartments, factories, industrial area network, any combination of these, and other networking applications. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified diagram of a co-axial system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. As shown, the system  100  for a co-axial local area network is included. The system  100  has an external data source  105 , which is derived from a modem or router  103  that connects to the world-wide networks of computers or world-wide web (WWW)  105  and provides multiple IP address to the system  100 . A co-axial controller  107  is coupled to the external data source  103  through a virtual local area network (VLAN) switch  109  that is coupled to the modem or router  103 , and is then coupled to a plurality of co-axial wires  111 . The co-axial controller  107  is adapted to receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the co-axial controller is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61230. The co-axial controller  107  is a local area network device that splits a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports. Each of the second input/output ports is numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. A multiplexer  113  is connected to each of the second input/output ports and is then connected to a splitter  117  through a co-axial wire, which then connects to a co-axial apparatus  125 . The multiplexer  113  is adapted to combine an IP signal  121  with a cable TV signal  119  over a single co-axial wire  115 , and receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the multiplexer  113  is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61228. The splitter  117  is adapted to separate the combined signal on the co-axial wire  115  to an IP signal  121  and a cable TV signal  119  and receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the splitter  117  is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61229. The co-axial apparatus  125  is adapted to convert the signal from co-axial to an IP signal and can receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the co-axial apparatus is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61227. 
       FIG. 2  is a more detailed block diagram of a co-axial controller  200 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications exist. As shown, the co-axial controller  200  includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a network switch chipset  201  that interfaces between the Central Processing Unit (CPU)  203  and a plurality of Physical layer (PHY) chipset  205 , numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. The network switch chipset  201  is couple to the plurality of PHY chipset  205  through a Media Dependant Interface (MDI) or a Media Dependant Interface Crossover (MDIX) interface  207 . Each Physical layer (PHY) chipset  205  is connected to an aluminum alloy tin shielded network module  213  through a 50-pin connector  209 . The network switch chipset  201  is connect to the CPU  203  through a MII BUS  215  that is connected to a I/O-MII port  217 , which converts the MII BUS  215  to an I/O BUS  219 , and then to the CPU  203 . The CPU  203  interfaces with various elements. Such elements include a Crystal  221 , a Serial interface (“UART”)  223 , a Debug port (“EJTAG”)  225 , a USB port  227 , a reset circuit  229 , a parallel flash chip  231 , and a DDR SDRAM chip  233 . The network switch chipset  201  is also connected to an additional PHY chipset  205  that interfaces with two 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports  235 . 
       FIG. 3  is a more detailed block diagram of a shielded network module  300  that is inside the coaxial controller, according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications exist. As shown, the shielded network module  300  includes a variety of features. Such features include a mechanical aluminum alloy shield  301  that prevent signal degradation, interferences, and leakages, or any combination herein. The aluminum alloy shield  301  isolates each shielded network module into a separate network. Within the shielded network module  300  includes elements. Such elements include a powerline chipset  303  that interfaces between the 50-pin connector  305  through a Power Bus  307  and a MII Bus  309 , an analog front end  311  through a databus  313 , and a reset circuit  315 . The powerline chipset  303  also interfaces with EEPROM  317 , SDRAM  319  and 37.5 MHZ  321 . The analog front end  311  couples to a co-axial connector  323  through a powerline coupler  325 . 
     As merely an example, the powerline chipset  300  can feature an integrated powerline chipset manufactured by INTELLON CORPORATION of Florida, according to an embodiment of the present invention, but it would be recognized that other chipsets could be utilized. Here, the chip can be a single-chip powerline networking controller with integrated MII/GPSI, USB. The chip interfaces with Ethernet interfaces, among others. Preferably, there is at least a 200 Mbps data rate on the co-axial wire, although others may be desirable, such as 7.5 Kbps, 1 Mbps, 14 Mbps, 85 Mbps, 400 Mbps and 1 Gbps. In alternative embodiments, the shielded network module  300  can include other chipset designs that are suitable for the present methods and systems such as other powerline chipsets from suitable companies such as DS2, Panasonic, Coppergate, Sigma, Arkados, Yitran, Echelon, and others&#39;, as well as other networking technologies that are suitable for the present methods and systems such as HomePNA, MoCA, and UWB network chipsets from Coppergate, Entropic, and others. As noted, the chipsets and companies mentioned are merely an example and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. 
       FIG. 4  is a more detailed block diagram of an external power supply  400  of the co-axial controller, according to the embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications exist. As shown, the external power supply includes various elements. Such elements include a 12V 60 W power supply  401  that interfaces between a DC/DC module  403  through a 12V output  405  and an AC 90-240V input  407 . The DC/DC module  403 , can provide a variety of outputs, such as 12V, 5V, 1.0V, 1.8V, 3.3V, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified front-view  500  and back-view  501  of the coaxial controller, according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications exist. As shown, the co-axial controller has an outer casing. The outer casing is preferably a plastic but can also be a metal or any combination of plastic and/or metal. As merely an example, shown on the back-side of the co-axial controller  501 , the apparatus has a 110/240 VAC DC connector  503 , two 8-pin Ethernet jack for networking  505 , a USB port  507 , a RS232 port  509 , a reset switch  511 , and eight co-axial connectors  513 . In the front-side  500 , various light emitting diodes (LEDs) are shown to indicate connectivity on the back of the apparatus. 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified block diagram of the signal splitter  600 , according to an embodiment in the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications exist. As shown, the splitter includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a cable TV &amp; network input module  601 , low frequency filter  603 , and a high frequency filter  605 . The cable TV &amp; network Input module  601  has a cable signal input  607  and is shielded with alloy aluminum tin  609  that prevent any signal degradation, interference, leakage, or any combination thereof. The low frequency filter  603  has a cable TV output  611  and is shielded with alloy aluminum tin  609 . The high frequency filter  605  has a network IP output  613  and is shielded with alloy aluminum tin  609 . 
       FIG. 7  is a simplified block diagram of the multiplexer  700 , according to an embodiment in the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications exist. As shown, the multiplexer includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a powerline network signal input  701  and a cable TV signal input  703 . A high frequency coupling capacitor  705  combines the powerline network signal input  701  and the cable TV signal input  703  and transmits both signals over the co-axial output  707 . The multiplexer  700  can both transmit and receive signals bi-directionally. 
       FIG. 8  is a simplified block diagram of the co-axial Zigbee modem apparatus  800 , according to an embodiment in the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. As shown, the co-axial Zigbee modem apparatus includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  801  that connects to a Zigbee network module  803  thru an I/O BUS  805 , a Powerline network module  807  thru a MII BUS  809 , and an Ethernet network module  811  thru a MII BUS  809 . The Zigbee network module  803  includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a Zigbee network chipset  813  that connects directly to an RF output  815  that broadcast the IP signal over 2.4 Ghz  817 . The Powerline network module  807  includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a Powerline chipset  819  that connects to an analog front end  821  thru an I/O BUS  805  and is then connected to a co-axial wire  823  using a coupler  825 . The Ethernet network module  811  includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a PHY chip  827  that connects to a LAN port  829 . The CPU  801  also has other elements, including Parallel Flash  831 , Memory  833 , Crystal  835 , Serial (“UART”)  837 , a Debug port (“EJTAG”)  839 , USB port  841 , and a reset circuitry  843 . 
     As merely an example, the Zigbee chipset can feature an integrated Zigbee chipset manufactured by EMBER CORPORATION of Massachusetts, according to an embodiment of the present invention, but it would be recognized that other chipsets could be utilized. In alternative embodiments, the Zigbee network module  803  can include other chipset designs that are suitable for the present methods and systems such as other Zigbee chipsets from suitable companies such as TI, Freescale, and others&#39;, as well as other wireless networking technologies that are suitable for the present methods and systems such as 61oWPAN, WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth, RFID, and UWB network chipsets from Archrock, Broadcom, Atheros, and others. As noted, the chipsets and companies mentioned are merely an example and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. 
     As merely an example, the powerline chipset  300  can feature an integrated powerline chipset manufactured by INTELLON CORPORATION of Florida, according to an embodiment of the present invention, but it would be recognized that other chipsets could be utilized. Here, the chip can be a single-chip powerline networking controller with integrated MII/GPSI, USB. The chip interfaces with Ethernet interfaces, among others. Preferably, there is at least a 200 Mbps data rate on the co-axial wire, although others may be desirable, such as 7.5 Kbps, 1 Mbps, 14 Mbps, 85 Mbps, 400 Mbps and 1 Gbps. In alternative embodiments, the shielded network module  300  can include other chipset designs that are suitable for the present methods and systems such as other powerline chipsets from suitable companies such as DS2, Panasonic, Coppergate, Sigma, Arkados, Yitran, Echelon, and others&#39;, as well as other networking technologies that are suitable for the present methods and systems such as HomePNA, MoCA, and UWB network chipsets from Coppergate, Entropic, and others. As noted, the chipsets and companies mentioned are merely an example and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. 
       FIG. 9  is a simplified block diagram of the co-axial controller software structure, according to an embodiment in the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. As shown, the co-axial controller software structure includes a variety of elements. Such elements include a user interface  900 , a web server  901 , an application layer  903 , a TCP/IP stack  905 , an Ethernet driver  907 , a powerline network stack  909 , and a MAC/PHY layer  911 . 
       FIG. 10  is a simplified block diagram of the co-axial controller software application modules, according to an embodiment in the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. As shown, the co-axial controller software application modules include a variety of elements. Such elements include a web server module  1000 , an account management module  1001 , a user management module  1003 , a bandwidth management module  1005 , a powerline network management module  1007  and a building control management module  1009 . 
       FIG. 11  is a simplified flow diagram for the bandwidth management  1100 . This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. As shown, the bandwidth management flow  1100  starts by obtaining the current network rate  1101 . The system will then locate what is the user&#39;s preconfigured network value  1103 . The next step, the system will check to see if the user&#39;s preconfigured network value is greater than the current network rate  1105 . If the answer given is “yes”, the system will reduce the network rate to the user preconfigured network value  1107 . Once the network rate is reduced to the user&#39;s preconfigured network value, the operation then terminates. If the answer given is “no”, the operation will then terminate. 
       FIG. 12  is a simplified flow diagram for the security encryption management of  1200 . This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives and modifications. As shown, the security encryption management flow starts  1201  by changing the shielded powerline network module to network encryption key (NEK) A  1203 , then the system checks to whether the shielded powerline network module NEK A matches the NEK to the Coax-Zigbee modem or not  1205 . If it does not match, the system loops back to change the shielded powerline network module to NEK A  1203 . If it does match, the system changes the NEK of the Coax-Zigbee modem to NEK B  1207 . The system then changes the shielded powerline network module to NEK B  1209 . The next flow process, the system ensures the shielded powerline network module and the Coax-Zigbee modem can see each other  1211 . If the shielded powerline network module and the Coax-Zigbee modem cannot see each other, then the system changes the NEK to the Coax-Zigbee modem  1207  and repeats the flow. If the shielded powerline network module and Coax-Zigbee modem can see each other, then the process ends  1209 . 
       FIG. 13  is an alternative simplified diagram of a high-speed network system for energy management  1300  according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of the ordinary skills in the art would recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications. As shown, the system  1300  for a high-speed network for energy management is included. The system  1300  has an external data source  1305 , which is derived from a modem or router  1303  that connects to the world-wide networks of computers or world-wide web (WWW)  1305  and provides multiple IP address to the system  1300 . A co-axial controller  1307  is coupled to the external data source  1305  through a virtual local area network (VLAN) switch  1309  that is coupled to the modem or router  1303 , and is then coupled to a plurality of co-axial wires  1311  and to a meter bank  1333  through a RS485-Ethernet Bridge  1335 . The co-axial controller  1307  is adapted to receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the co-axial controller is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61230. The co-axial controller  1307  is a local area network device that splits a first input/output port and a plurality of second input/output ports. Each of the second input/output ports is numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. A multiplexer  1313  is connected to each of the second input/output ports and is then connected to a splitter  1315  through a co-axial wire, which then connects to a co-axial apparatus  1317 . The multiplexer  1313  is adapted to combine an IP signal from the co-axial controller  1307  with a cable TV signal  1319  over a single co-axial wire  1321 , and receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the multiplexer  1313  is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61228. The splitter  1315  is adapted to separate the combined signal on the co-axial wire  1321  to an IP signal  1323  and a cable TV signal  1319  and receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the splitter  1315  is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61229. The co-axial apparatus  1317  is adapted to convert the signal from co-axial to an IP signal and can receive and transmit information. As merely an example, the co-axial apparatus is a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD61227. The co-axial apparatus  1317  may be adapted to collect, aggregate, store, receive and or transmit information, and is also adapted to bridge various network media together. The co-axial apparatus  1317  is adapted to bridge low speed and high-speed powerline technologies and ZigBee wireless technology together. In alternative embodiments, wireless technology can include other wireless technologies such as wireless 802.11 standards, Zwave, 6lowPAN, or others. Client devices may include a variety of apparatus connected through premises AC wiring  1323  or wirelessly  1325 , such as appliance module  1327 , panel meter  1329 , a circuit meter  1331 , or a variety of sensors  1333 . 
     An appliance module  1327  can connect to a variety of appliances and devices such as refrigerator, washer and dryer, range, stove, microwave, personal computer, television, or other appliance. An appliance module  1327  may be adapted to measure, store and or control energy usage of connected appliances or devices, bridge Zigbee wireless sensors and devices to the network, or receive and transmit information across network infrastructure. As merely an example, the appliance module  1327  may be a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD75613. 
     A circuit meter  1331  may be connected to an electrical circuit breaker panel or distribution panel. A circuit meter  1331  may be adapted to measure and or store energy consumption information of up to sixteen (16) circuits in a distribution panel. As merely an example, the circuit meter  1331  may be a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD75619. 
     A panel meter  1329  may be connected to an electrical circuit breaker panel or distribution panel. A circuit meter  1329  may be adapted to measure and or store energy consumption information of up to three (3) circuits in a distribution panel. As merely an example, the circuit meter  1329  may be a product manufactured by Jetlun Corporation of South San Francisco, Calif., under the part number RD75619. 
       FIG. 14  is a detailed diagram of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
       FIG. 15  is a detailed diagram of multiplexer  1313  according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
       FIGS. 16 to 18  are detailed diagrams of a multiplexer according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. These diagrams are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
       FIG. 19  is a detailed diagram of a multiplexer according to yet an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
       FIG. 20  is a detailed diagram of a multiplexer according to yet an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This diagram is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize other variations, modifications, and alternatives. 
     Although the above has been described in terms of specific embodiments, other variations, modifications, and alternatives can exist. The specific embodiments are not intended to unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. Further examples can be found throughout the present specification and more particularly below. 
     While the above is a full description of the specific embodiments, various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention which is defined by the appended claims.