Power line communication apparatus and power line communication system

A power line communication apparatus comprising:

• a reader having an antenna, for reading information stored in a near-field communication unit via said antenna by way of a near-field communication using any one of electromagnetic waves and a magnetic field;
• and
• a power line communication unit for performing a power line communication via a power line,
• wherein when communication setting information related to another power line communication apparatus is read by said reader from a near-field communication unit mounted on said another power line communication apparatus, said power line communication unit performs a power line communication operation with respect to said another power line communication apparatus based upon said read communication setting information.

A power line communication system comprising:

• a first power line communication apparatus and a second power line communication apparatus, which perform a power line communication operation via a power line,
• wherein said first power line communication apparatus includes:
• a first power line communication unit for performing a power line communication operation via the power line;
• and
• a near-field communication unit for storing thereinto communication setting information which is employed when said first power line communication unit performs the power line communication operation;
• and
• wherein said second power line communication apparatus includes:
• a reader having an antenna, for reading information stored in the near-field communication unit via said antenna by employing a wireless communication operation;
• and
• a second power line communication unit for performing a power line communication operation via the power line;
• when the communication setting information employed in such a case that said first power line communication apparatus performs the power line communication operation is read out from the near-field communication unit mounted on said first power line communication apparatus by said reader, said second power line communication unit performs the power line communication operation with said first power line communication apparatus based upon said communication setting information.