초록 ▼

A communication system for use in a network of interconnected communication paths such as electrical power lines utilized for distributing electrical power. The system includes two or more remote units and a master unit, each having an associated address, which are connected to the network. The remo

A communication system for use in a network of interconnected communication paths such as electrical power lines utilized for distributing electrical power. The system includes two or more remote units and a master unit, each having an associated address, which are connected to the network. The remote units are each capable of initiating a down link message sequence wherein a data package containing data, such as data relating to power consumption, is transferred from one of the remote units to the master unit. The down link message sequence may include the transmission of one or more messages containing the data package by the remote units with the particular path taken being a function of network conditions. The master unit acknowledges receipt of the data package by initiating an up link message sequence wherein the remote units transmitting during a down link sequence are informed of the receipt. In addition to addresses and data package the messages include information regarding network conditions. By way of example, a message may include information which indicates the amount of noise present in the message path between the transmitting remote unit and the master unit and information which indicates the number of message transmissions required to transfer a data package from the transmitting unit to the master unit. Remote units ascertain network conditions for selecting optimum message paths by examining messages received on the network, including messages not directed to the receiving remote unit.

대표청구항 ▼

A communication system for use in a network of interconnected communication paths, said system comprising a plurality of communication nodes capable of transmitting messages over the network including a master unit and a plurality of remote units which are also capable of receiving said messages ove

A communication system for use in a network of interconnected communication paths, said system comprising a plurality of communication nodes capable of transmitting messages over the network including a master unit and a plurality of remote units which are also capable of receiving said messages over the network, with each of said nodes having an associated identifying address, wherein said remote units are capable of initiating a down link message sequence wherein a data package associated with one of said nodes is transferred from a sequence-originating remote unit to said master unit by transmission of at least one of said messages, designated as down link messages, with said down link messages including said data package a source address identifying which of said nodes is associated with said data package in said message, an intermediate source address identifying which of said nodes transmitted said down link message, an intermediate destination address identifying which of said nodes is intended to receive said down link message and wherein said master unit is capable of initiating a responding up link message sequence in response to receipt by said master unit of one of said down link messages, wherein said sequence-originating remote unit is informed of said receipt by said master unit of said data package by transmission of at least one of said messages, designated as an up link message, with said up link messages including an intermediate source address identifying which of said nodes transmitted said up link message, an intermediate destination address identifying which of said nodes is intended to receive said up link message and a final destination address identifying said node associated with said data package received by said master unit with each of said remote units including: (a) remote input means for receiving said data package, said remote input means including remote receiver means for receiving said messages, said remote receiver means including direction means for discriminating between said up and down link messages and store and forward means for identifying received messages requiring a transmit action by said receiving remote unit; (b) remote transmitter means for transmitting said messages in response to receipt of one of said messages requiring said transmit action by said receiving remote unit, said remote transmitter means including down link transmit means for transmitting one of said down link messages containing said data package obtained from said received message in the event said received message is one of said down link messages, said down link transmit means including down link address means for determining said intermediate destination address of said down link messages transmitted by said receiving remote unit utilizing at least one parameter indicative of network conditions obtained, at least in part, from said messages received by said receiving remote unit containing one one of said intermediate destination addresses other than said address of said receiving remote unit and including up link transmit means for transmitting one of said up link messages in the event said received message is one of said up link messages, said up link transmit means including up link address means for determining said intermediate destination address of said transmitted up link message; and wherein said master unit includes: (a) master receiver means for receiving said messages, said master receiver means including direction means for discriminating between said up and said down link received messages; and (b) master transmitter means for transmitting said up link messages in response to receipt by said master unit of one of said down link messages.