Systems and methods for use in providing local power line communication

Abstract

The present embodiments provide systems and methods for implementing and controlling local power line communication (PLC) networks. Some embodiments include a central controller communicationally coupled with a PLC power line, a sensor adaptor coupled between the PLC power line and a consumer product, with the sensor adaptor comprising a current detector that detects a current usage level passed through the sensor adaptor, a PLC interface through which the current usage level is communicated over the PLC power line to the central controller, and an adaptor switch that interrupts current flow to the consumer product in response to a command received over the PLC power line from the central controller when the current usage through the sensor adaptor has a predetermined relationship to a first threshold.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A power line communication (PLC) network, comprising:
 a first PLC circuit breaker configured to couple with a first local PLC power line of a plurality of local PLC power lines that are distributed through different portions of a building providing electrical power through the building and communication paths, the first PLC circuit breaker comprising a first breaker switch configured to couple with the first local PLC power line and to interrupt power to the first local PLC power line when open, and a first breaker PLC coupler configured to couple across the first breaker switch and to maintain a PLC signal path between the first local PLC power line and another local PLC power line when the first breaker switch is open;   a sensor adaptor configured to couple with the first local PLC power line and one or more consumer products, wherein the sensor adaptor is configured to control current flow from the first local PLC power line to the one or more consumer products; and   a central controller configured to couple with the first local PLC power line and to communicate with the sensor adaptor over the first local PLC power line, the central controller comprising:
 a PLC interface configured to couple with the first local PLC power line; and 
 a controller configured to couple with the PLC interface; 
   wherein the controller is configured to receive current usage information over the first local PLC power line from the sensor adaptor, to determine whether the current usage information has a predetermined relationship with a first threshold, to generate an interrupt command for the sensor adaptor when the current usage information has the predetermined relationship with the first threshold, and to communicate the interrupt command over the first local PLC power line; and   wherein the sensor adaptor is further configured to receive the interrupt command and to interrupt, in response to receiving the interrupt command, power to the one or more consumer products.   
     
     
         21 . The PLC network of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a second circuit breaker configured to couple between the first circuit breaker and an external PLC network, the second circuit breaker comprising:
 a second breaker switch configured to couple between the first circuit breaker and the external PLC network, wherein the second breaker switch is configured to allow power to pass between the external PLC network to the first local PLC power line through the first circuit breaker when the first and second breaker switches are closed; and 
 a second breaker PLC signal coupler configured to couple across the second breaker switch to provide a communication path between the first local PLC power line and the external PLC network regardless of the state of the second breaker switch. 
   
     
     
         22 . The PLC network of  claim 20 , wherein the sensor adaptor comprises:
 an adaptor switch configured to couple between the first local PLC power line and the one or more consumer products, wherein the adaptor switch is further configured to interrupt the current to the one or more consumer products when open;   a current sensor configured to detect current passing through the sensor adaptor; and   a PLC interface configured to provide a communication path through which the current usage information is communicated over the first local PLC power line.   
     
     
         23 . The PLC network of  claim 22 , wherein the sensor adaptor further comprises an adaptor controller coupled with the PLC interface, the current sensor and the adaptor switch, such that the adaptor controller communicates with the central controller over the first local PLC power line through the PLC interface to transmit the current usage information through the sensor adaptor and receive the interrupt command to interrupt the current flow to the one or more consumer products, and activates the adaptor switch to interrupt the current flow to the one or more consumer product. 
     
     
         24 . The PLC network of  claim 23 , wherein the sensor adaptor further comprises a PLC coupler communicationally coupled with the first local PLC power line coupling PLC signal data between the adaptor controller and the first local PLC power line and to block AC power carried on the first local PLC power lines from the adaptor controller. 
     
     
         25 . The PLC network of  claim 23 , wherein the sensor adaptor includes a plug to connect with an outlet of the first local PLC power line, and a receptacle to receive a plug from at least one of the one or more consumer products. 
     
     
         26 . The PLC network of  claim 25 , wherein the central controller further comprises a user interface through which the controller receives user input and supplies local PLC network statistics. 
     
     
         27 . The PLC network of  claim 22 , wherein the central controller is not part of a circuit breaker and the one or more consumer products is not part of a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         28 . The PLC network of  claim 27 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the current usage information
 corresponding to current usage by the one or more consumer products that receive power from over the local PLC network and are remote from the central controller, such that the local current usage information is communicated within the local PLC network to the central controller, where the local PLC network is electrically coupled with an external power line that delivers electrical power to the local PLC network, and wherein the external power line is not part of the local PLC network.   
     
     
         29 . The PLC network of  claim 20 , wherein the sensor adaptor includes a plug to connect with an outlet of the first local PLC power line, and a receptacle to receive a plug from at least one of the one or more consumer products. 
     
     
         30 . The PLC network of  claim 20 , wherein the central controller further comprises a user interface through which the controller receives user input and supplies local PLC network statistics. 
     
     
         31 . The PLC network of  claim 20 , wherein the central controller is not part of a circuit breaker and the one or more consumer products is not part of a circuit breaker. 
     
     
         32 . The PLC network of  claim 31 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the current usage information
 corresponding to current usage by the one or more consumer products that receive power from over the local PLC network and are remote from the central controller, such that the local current usage information is communicated within the local PLC network to the central controller, where the local PLC network is electrically coupled with an external power line that delivers electrical power to the local PLC network, and wherein the external power line is not part of the local PLC network.