Identification of electrical grid phase information for end-points in a grid network

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor on a device in a computer network operable to:

• request a phase-related response from an end-point that does not know its phase in a polyphase power source system;
• receive the phase-related response from the end-point, the phase-related response configured to relay an identification of the end-point and related phase information without indicating an actual phase of the end-point;
• correlate the phase information of the phase-related response to a known phase of a known-phase device;
• and
• identify the actual phase of the end-point based on the correlation, wherein
• the phase-related response is a message transmitted on a particular power-line of the polyphase power source system, the related phase information of the phase-related response being the fact that the message was transmitted on the particular power-line.

A method, comprising:

• receiving a request for a phase-related response at an end-point that does not know its phase in a polyphase power source system;
• and
• returning the phase-related response from the end-point, the phase-related response configured to relay an identification of the end-point and related phase information without indicating an actual phase of the end-point, wherein
• the phase-related response is a message transmitted on a particular power-line of the polyphase power source system, the related phase information of the phase-related response being the fact that the message was transmitted on the particular power-line.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a power supply adapted to receive an alternating-current (AC) waveform of an electrical power source, the power source being part of a polyphase power source system, wherein the apparatus does not know its phase in the polyphase power source system;
• a network interface adapted to communicate in a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interface and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• receive a request for a phase-related response from a requestor;
• and
• return the phase-related response to the requestor, the phase-related response configured to relay an identification of the apparatus and related phase information without indicating an actual phase of the apparatus, wherein
• the phase-related response is a message transmitted on a particular power-line of the polyphase power source system, the related phase information of the phase-related response being the fact that the message was transmitted on the particular power-line.