Power Line Communication Device having Virtual Local Area Network Functionality

Abstract

A power line based communication system includes a power line termination module, a plurality of power line gateways, and a plurality of power line nodes. The power line termination module manages data for local area networks within the power line based communication system. The plurality of power line gateways is arranged in sets of power line gateways, wherein each set of power line gateways constitutes a local area network. Each of the plurality of power line nodes is operably coupled to the power line termination module via a high-speed communication path. In addition, each power line node is operably coupled to set of power line gateways, i.e., to a local area network, via power lines of a local transformer. Each of the power line nodes receives data for its respective LAN from the power line termination module and provides the data to the power line gateways of its LAN via the power lines of the local transformer. Virtual local area networks are enabled between the power line termination module and the power line gateways.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . A power line communication device for communicating over a power line, comprising:
 a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch;   a power line interface communicatively coupled on a first side to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to the power line;   a plurality of ports communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch;   wherein each of said plurality of ports is configured to be communicatively coupled to a user device;   a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch;   wherein said VLAN data packet switch is configured to:
 receive first data from a first user device via a first port of the plurality of ports; 
 determine a first VLAN identifier associated with the first port; and 
 formulate one or more data packets that include the first data and the first VLAN identifier; and 
   wherein said processor is configured to cause said power line interface to transmit the one or more data packets over the power line.   
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to establish a VLAN via the power line. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 36 , further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to store a different VLAN identifier in association with each of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to communicate over the power line via an administrative VLAN. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to communicate via the power line in accordance with a QoS level associated with one of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to receive software via the power line and to execute the received software. 
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said processor is configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to receive service profile information via the power line. 
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein each of said plurality of ports is configured to communicate via a non-power line communication medium. 
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein the first user device comprises a utility meter. 
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 36 , wherein said VLAN data packet switch is further configured to:
 receive a plurality of data packets containing second data from said power line interface that have been received via the power line;   select one of the plurality of a ports based on a VLAN identifier in the plurality of data packets; and   provide the second data to the selected port to be output to a second user device.   
   
   
       46 . A power line communication device for communicating over a power line, comprising:
 a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) data packet switch;   a power line interface communicatively coupled on a first side to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to be communicatively coupled on a second side to the power line;   a plurality of ports communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch;   wherein each of said plurality of ports is configured to be communicatively coupled to a user device;   wherein said VLAN data packet switch is configured to:
 receive a plurality of data packets containing first data from said power line interface that have been received via the power line; 
 select one of the plurality of a ports based on a VLAN identifier in the plurality of data packets; and 
 provide the first data to the selected port to be output to a first user device. 
   
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to establish a VLAN via the power line. 
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the VLAN data packet switch and configured to store a different VLAN identifier in association with each of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to communicate via an administrative VLAN. 
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to communicate via the power line in accordance with a QoS level associated with a first port of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to receive software via the power line and to execute the received software. 
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 46 , further comprising a processor communicatively coupled to said VLAN data packet switch and configured to execute a plurality of instructions that causes the power line communication device to receive service profile information via the power line. 
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the first user device comprises a utility meter. 
   
   
       54 . A method of providing communications over a power line, comprising:
 receiving first data from a user device via a non-power line communication medium;   wherein the first data is received at a first port of a plurality of ports;   determining a first VLAN identifier associated with the user device connected to the first port;   formulating one or more data packets with the first data and the first VLAN identifier; and   transmitting the one or more data packets over the power line.   
   
   
       55 . The method according to  claim 54 , further comprising:
 receiving a plurality of data packets containing second data via the power line;   identifying a second VLAN identifier included in the plurality of data packets;   selecting one of the plurality of a ports based on the second VLAN identifier; and   outputting the second data out the selected one port.   
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising establishing a VLAN via the power line. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising storing in a memory a different VLAN identifier in association with each of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising communicating over the power line via an administrative VLAN. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising communicating via the power line in accordance with a QoS level associated with a first port of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising:
 receiving software via the power line; and   executing the received software.   
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising receiving service profile information via the power line. 
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the user device comprises a utility meter. 
   
   
       63 . A method of providing communications over a power line, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of data packets containing first data via the power line;   identifying a first VLAN identifier included in the plurality of data packets;   selecting one of a plurality of a ports based on the first VLAN identifier in the plurality of data packets; and   outputting the first data out the selected one port to a user device.   
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising establishing a VLAN via the power line. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising storing in a memory a different VLAN identifier in association with each of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising communicating over the power line via an administrative VLAN. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising communicating via the power line in accordance with a QoS level associated with a first port of the plurality of ports. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising:
 receiving software via the power line; and   executing the received software.   
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising receiving service profile information via the power line. 
   
   
       70 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein the user device comprises a utility meter.