Breaker box powerline communication device

Abstract

A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory, and a plurality of PLC communication interfaces coupled to the processing module. Each PLC communication interface couples to a respective PLC media segment. The processing module, the plurality of PLC communication interfaces, and the memory are operable to receive a PLC communication from a first PLC device via a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, process the PLC communication to identify a second PLC device, and transmit the PLC communication to the second PLC device via a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces. The PLC device may include one or more non-PLC interfaces that support non-PLC communications.

1 . A Power Line Communications (PLC) device comprising:
 a processing module;   memory coupled to the processing module;   a plurality of PLC communication interfaces coupled to the processing module, each PLC communication interface for coupling to a respective PLC media segment, wherein the processing module, the plurality of PLC communication interfaces, and the memory are operable to:
 receive a PLC communication from a first PLC device via a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces; 
 process the PLC communication to identify a second PLC device; and 
 transmit the PLC communication to the second PLC device via a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces. 
   
     
     
         2 . The PLC device of  claim 1 , wherein the processing module, the plurality of PLC communication interfaces, and the memory are operable to:
 configure a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of PLC communication interfaces to communicate with the first PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard; and   configure a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces to service communications according to a second PLC communication standard, wherein the first PLC communication standard and the second PLC communication standard are differing and incompatible PLC communication standards.   
     
     
         3 . The PLC device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a first one of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards comprises a HomePlug communication standard; and   a second one of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards comprises an ITU home networking (G.hn) communication standard.   
     
     
         4 . The PLC device of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first PLC communication standard is a narrowband PLC communication standard; and   the second PLC communication standard is a wideband PLC communication standard.   
     
     
         5 . The PLC device of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-PLC communication interface coupled to the processing module, wherein the processing module is operable to bridge communications between the non-PLC communication interface and the plurality of PLC communication interfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The PLC device of  claim 5 , wherein the processing module, the plurality of PLC communication interfaces, and the memory are operable to:
 provide Internet access to a first group of devices via a first PLC communication interface; and   provide Internet access to a second group of device via a second PLC communication interface.   
     
     
         7 . The PLC device of  claim 5 , wherein the non-PLC communication interface is operable to support a non-PLC communication standard comprising at least one of:
 a Local Area Network (LAN) communication standard;   a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) communication standard;   a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication standard;   a coaxial communication standard;   a millimeter wave communication standard;   a cellular telephony communication standard;   a Near Field Communication (NFC) standard;   an infrared communication standard; and   an optical communication standard.   
     
     
         8 . The PLC device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of signal coupling circuits corresponding to the plurality of PLC communication interfaces and operable to couple respective PLC communication signals to respective PLC media segments; and   PLC signal shunt circuitry operable to be coupled to the plurality of PLC media segments on a power feed side to shunt the plurality of respective PLC communication signals.   
     
     
         9 . The PLC device of  claim 8 , wherein the PLC signal shunt circuitry comprises a plurality of PLC shunt circuits respective to the plurality of signal coupling circuits operable to preclude back-feeding of PLC communication signals. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a Power Line Communications (PLC) device having a processing module, memory coupled to the processing module, and a plurality of PLC communication interfaces coupled to the processing module, each PLC communication interface for coupling to a respective PLC media segment, the method comprising:
 receiving a PLC communication from a first PLC device via a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces;   processing the PLC communication to identify a second PLC device; and   transmitting the PLC communication to the second PLC device via a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 configuring a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of PLC communication interfaces to communicate with the first PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard; and   configuring a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces to service communications according to a second PLC communication standard, wherein the first PLC communication standard and the second PLC communication standard are differing and incompatible PLC communication standards.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 a first one of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards comprises a HomePlug communication standard; and   a second one of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards comprises an ITU home networking (G.hn) communication standard.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first PLC communication standard is a narrowband PLC communication standard; and   the second PLC communication standard is a wideband PLC communication standard.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selectively shunting PLC communication signals to preclude back-feeding of the PLC communication signals. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a Power Line Communications (PLC) device having a processing module, memory coupled to the processing module, a plurality of PLC communication interfaces coupled to the processing module, each PLC communication interface for coupling to a respective PLC media segment, and a non-PLC communication interface coupled to the processing module, the method comprising:
 receiving a PLC communication from a first PLC device via a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces;   processing the PLC communication to identify a second PLC device;   transmitting the PLC communication to the second PLC device via a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces; and   bridging communications between the non-PLC communication interface and the plurality of PLC communication interfaces.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing Internet access to a first group of devices via a first PLC communication interface; and   providing Internet access to a second group of device via a second PLC communication interface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the non-PLC communication interface is operable to support a non-PLC communication standard comprising at least one of:
 a Local Area Network (LAN) communication standard;   a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) communication standard;   a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) communication standard;   a coaxial communication standard;   a millimeter wave communication standard;   a cellular telephony communication standard;   a Near Field Communication (NFC) standard;   an infrared communication standard; and   an optical communication standard.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 configuring a first PLC communication interface of the plurality of PLC communication interfaces to communicate with the first PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard; and   configuring a second PLC communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces to service communications according to a second PLC communication standard, wherein the first PLC communication standard and the second PLC communication standard are differing and incompatible PLC communication standards.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a first one of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards comprises a HomePlug communication standard; and   a second one of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards comprises an ITU home networking (G.hn) communication standard.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first PLC communication standard is a narrowband PLC communication standard; and   the second PLC communication standard is a wideband PLC communication standard.