Power line communication system

A power line communication system programmer for a system comprising a plurality of addressable devices, each addressable device having an electric connector for connection to a power line, means for storing a programmable address code, and an electrical programming port connector, the programmer comprising:

• means for receiving electric power, the electric power receiving means separate from the electric connectors of the plurality of addressable devices,
• a mating connector for connection to the electrical programming port connector of an addressable device,
• means for specifying an address code to be transmitted to the addressable device, and
• means for electronically transmitting the specified address code to the addressable device via the electrical programming port connector such that the specified address code is stored by the programmable address code storing means of the addressable device.

A power line communication system receiver comprising:

• means for connecting the receiver to a power line over which command signals including an address are transmitted, the power line transmitting a level of power,
• means for connecting the receiver to an electrical appliance,
• switch means for selectively controlling the level of power from the power line which is connected to the means for connecting the receiver to the electrical appliance, the switch means being responsive to command signals transmitted on the power line,
• means for storing an address code, and
• an electrical communications port operably connected to the address code storing means, the electrical communications port separate from the power line connecting means,
• such that the receiver receives a transmitted address code through the electrical communications port and stores the transmitted address in the storing means, and
• such that the switch means responds only to command signals having an address corresponding to the address stored by the address code storing means.

A power line communication system transmitter comprising:

• means for connecting the transmitter to a power line,
• means for transmitting command signals onto the power line to control receivers connected to the power line,
• means for storing an address code operably connected to the command signal transmitting means,
• an electrical communications port operably connected to the address code storing means, and
• means for receiving a transmitted address code received through the electrical communications port and storing the transmitted address in the storing means, the receiving means operably connected to the electrical communications port,
• such that the command signals transmitted onto the power line by the transmitter include an address corresponding to the address stored by the storing means.

A power line communication system receiver for a power line communication system capable of generating command signals of a plurality of different protocols, the power line communication system including a power line transmitting a level of power and an AC power line signal of known frequency and having zero crossings, the system further comprising a command signal of data bits transmitted over the power line at a frequency greater than the frequency of the power line with the command signal's data bits transmitted at the zero crossing of the power line, the receiver comprising:

• means for connecting the receiver to a power line,
• means for connecting the receiver to an electrical appliance,
• means for storing an address, and
• switch means for selectively controlling the level of power from the power line which is connected to the means for connecting the receiver to the electrical appliance, the switch means being responsive to command signals transmitted on the power line that include the stored address of the receiver, the switch means operably connected to the address storing means, means for connecting the receiver to a power line, and means for connecting the receiver to an electrical appliance, and
• the switch means being responsive to command signals of the plurality of different protocols transmitted on the power line.

A power line communication system transmitter comprising:

• means for connecting the transmitter to a power line,
• means for storing an address code,
• means for transmitting command signals onto the power line to control receivers connected to the power line such that the command signals transmitted onto the power line by the transmitter include an address corresponding to the address stored by the storing means, the command signal transmitting means operably connected to the means for connecting the transmitter to a power line and the address code storing means,
• means for changing the stored address code,
• means for storing a password, and
• preventing means operable to prevent changing of the stored address code unless a password is specified which corresponds to the stored password, the preventing means operably connected to the means for changing the stored address code and the means for storing a password.

A power line communication system receiver comprising;

• means for connecting the receiver to a power line, the power line transmitting a level of power,
• means for connecting the receiver to an electrical appliance,
• means for storing an address code,
• switch means for selectively controlling the level of power from the power line which is connected to the means for connecting the receiver to the electrical appliance, the switch means being responsive to command signals transmitted on the power line, the switch means operably connected to the means for connecting the receiver to a power line, means for connecting the receiver to an electrical appliance, and the address code storing means,
• such that the switch means responds only to command signals having an address corresponding to the address stored by the storing means,
• means for changing the stored address code,
• means for storing a password, and
• preventing means operably to prevent changing the stored address code unless a password is specified which corresponds to the stored password, the preventing means operably connected to the means for changing the stored address code and operably connected to the means for storing a password.

A power line communication system transmitter comprising:

• means for connecting the transmitter to a power line, the power line transmitting a level of power,
• means for storing an address code,
• means for transmitting command signals onto the power line to control receivers connected to the power line such that the command signals transmitted ont the power line by the transmitter include an address corresponding to the address stored by the storing means, and
• timing means automatically retransmitting a previously transmitted command signal onto the power line after a predetermined time period, the timing means operably connected to the means for transmitting command signals.

A power line communication system receiver, comprising:

• means for connecting the receiver to a power line and to an electrical appliance, the power line transmitting a level of power,
• means for storing an address code,
• switch means for selectively controlling the level of power from the power line is connected to the means for connecting the receiver to the electrical appliance, the switch means having a default state, the switch means being responsive only to command signals transmitted on the power line having an address corresponding to the address code stored by the storing means,
• means for measuring time elapsed since the receiver last received a command signal that included an address corresponding to its address code, and
• means for causing the switch means to enter its default state upon passage of a predetermined amount of time.

A power line communication system comprising:

• at least one power line communication transmitter comprising
• means for connecting the transmitter to a power line,
• means for storing a transmitter address code,
• means for transmitting command signals onto the power line to control receivers connected to the power line such that the command signals transmitted on to the power line by the transmitter include an address corresponding to the address code stored by the transmitter address code storing means, the command signal transmitting means operably connected to the transmitter address code storing means,
• a transmitter electrical communications port separated from the means for connecting the transmitter to the power line, and
• transmitter status transmit means for transmitting information regarding the transmitter's status to the transmitter communications port, the transmitter status transmit means being responsive to a predetermined command signal received from the transmitter communications port;
• and
• at least one power line communication system receiver, comprising
• means for connecting the receiver to a power line, the power line transmitting a level of power,
• means for connecting the receive to an electrical appliance,
• means for storing a receiver address code,
• switch means for selectively controlling the level of power from the power line which is connected to the means for connecting the receiver to the electrical appliance, the switch means being responsive to command signals transmitted on the power line, such that the switch means responds only to command signals having an address corresponding to the address stored by the receiver address code storing means,
• a receiver electrical communications port separate from the means for connecting the receiver to a power line, and
• receiver status transmit means for transmitting information regarding the receiver's status to the receiver communications port, the receiver status transmit means being responsive to the same predetermined command signal received from the receiver communications port to which the transmitter is responsive.

A power line communication system programmer for use in connection with a power line communication system having

• at least one power line communication transmitter including
• means for connecting the transmitter to a power line,
• means for storing a transmitter address code,
• means for transmitting command signals onto the power line to control receivers connected to the power line such that the command signals transmitted onto the power line by the transmitter include an address corresponding to the address code stored by the transmitter address code storing means, the command signal transmitting means operably connected to the transmitter address code storing means, and
• a transmitter electrical communications port operably connected to the transmitter address code storing means, and separate from the means for connecting the transmitter to a power line;
• at least one power line communication system receiver including
• means for connecting the receiver to a power line, the power line transmitting a level of power,
• means for connecting the receiver to an electrical appliance,
• means for storing a receiver address code,
• switch means for selectively controlling the level of power from the power line which is connected to the means for connecting the receiver to the electrical appliance, the switch means being responsive to command signals transmitted on the power line, such that the switch means responds only to command signals having an address corresponding to the address stored by the receiver address code storing means, the switch means operably connected to the address code storing means, and
• a receiver electrical communications port separate from the means for connecting the receiver to a power line;
• the programmer comprising:
• a programer electrical communications port capable of mating with the electrical communications ports of both the transmitter and receiver;
• and
• a command generation means for generating a command to be transmitted to the electrical communications port of the programmer to thereby cause a transmitter or receiver to transmit information regarding the transmitter's or receiver's status to the electrical communications port of the programmer.

A power line communication system receiver for use in connection with the power line communication system having

• a plurality of power line communication transmitters, each transmitter comprising
• means for connecting the transmitter to a power line,
• means for storing an address code,
• means for transmitting command signals onto the power line to control receivers connected to the power line such that the command signals transmitted onto the power line by the transmitter include an address corresponding to the address stored by the storing means, and such that the command signals comprise at least one of a plurality of actions codes specifying different actions for receivers to take;
• the receiver comprising:
• means for connecting the receiver to a power line;
• and
• means for displaying the address of a command signal transmitted by a transmitter onto the power line, the means for displaying the address operably connected to the means for connected the receiver to a power line.