WO2005074214A1

WO2005074214A1 - Broadband powerline access gateway

Info

Publication number: WO2005074214A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur Pickworth; Craig Small; Donald Yelland
Original assignee: Skynetglobal Limited
Priority date: 2004-01-30
Filing date: 2005-01-28
Publication date: 2005-08-11

Abstract

The invention concerns a gateway between a broadband data system (30) and the power wiring of a plurality of electricity account holders to enable data communication between power outlets of the account holders (22) and the broadband data system (30). The gateway includes an electrical connection to the power wiring of each account holder (36), and a signal carrying cable (38) having a first end connected to the electrical connection. The gateway further includes a remote interface enclosure (40) housing a series of accessible terminators (42), where the second ends of the signal carrying cables (38) each terminate at a respective terminator (42), and wherein each of the terminators includes a signal port. The gateway also includes a series of powerline modems (50) within the remote interface enclosure, each connected to the broadband data system and each comprising a terminator port to enable selective engagement and disengagement with the signal port of a terminator. The gateway described is implemented using a gateway server (48), and is illustrated as being used in a compartmentalised building (10).

Description

Broadband Powerline Access Gateway

Technical Field This invention concerns a broadband powerline access gateway between a broadband data system and power wiring, to enable data to be carried over the power wiring to and from power outlets. The invention also concerns an information network utilising the gateway, and a building having the information network installed.

Background Art Powerline corrrmunication involves sending data through electric power cables alongside electrical power. It allows electrical power outlets to double up as data network ports. Numerous powerline protocol standards are available. Powerline communication has the potential to turn the largest existing network in the world, the electricity distribution grid, into a data transmission network.

Disclosure of Invention In a first aspect, the -invention is a gateway between a broadband data system and the power wiring of a plurality of electricity account holders to enable data communication between power outlets of the account holders and the broadband data system, the gateway comprising: an electrical connection to the power wiring of each account holder, and a signal carrying cable having a first end connected to the electrical connection; a remote interface enclosure housing a series of accessible terminators, where the second ends of the signal carrying cables each terminate at a respective terminator, and wherein each of the terminators includes a signal port; a series of powerline modems within the remote interface enclosure, each connected to the broadband data system and each comprising a terminator port to engage with the signal port of a terminator; wherein, engagement and disengagement between a powerline modem and a terminator at the remote interface enclosure enables selective connection and disconnection of data communications between the broadband data system and the power outlets of the respective account holder. The gateway allows quick and easy physical connection of data communications to an account holder by a simple mechanical adjustment at the remote interface enclosure. The electrical connection to the power wiring may be accomplished by, but not limited to, capacitative coupling to the live and neutral wires. Optionally, it may involve a physical clamp which penetrates the insulation of the wires, or wire connections, The connection is generally made downstream of the account holder's electricity meter. The account holder will generally be the proprietors or tenant of apartments or office suites. The gateway is suitable for multistorey buildings. The remote interface enclosure will generally be located in a cupboard in the common area of each floor of the building, possibly in the meter cupboard. The terminators may be screwless modules such as Krone terminator disconnect modules. These modules receive live, neutral and optionally earth wires, and have test slots that connect to each. These modules also have mechanical link members that establish an electrical connection between each wire and its respective socket. The powerline modems may each be constructed on a printed circuit board (pcb) as wide as the terminator. At one end of the pcb there may be three prongs that fit the test slots of the terminator. Engagement and disengagement between the powerline modems and the terminators may be as simple as plugging the modems into the terminators, and removing them. Alternatively, or in addition, the mechanical link in the terminators may be operated. In either event, once the power wiring, interface enclosure and signal carrying cable are installed, the data communications can be connected or disconnected without the need for a licensed electrician. Also, within the remote interface enclosure there may be means for aggregating the data, for instance using an 802. lq tagging NLAN switch. The broadband data system may be capable of supporting a wide range of services, including simultaneous audio and video services, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), The data sent by the powerline modem may be received from the Internet. The gateway may be connected to the Internet with fibre optic cable Cat5e/Cat6 cabling or standard building telephone wiring using one of the xDSL technologies.. The powerline modem may receive DC power from a power supply independent of the power wiring, making it possible to pass the HF frequencies through the terminator, but not the AC mains. This also makes it possible to provide an uninterruptible power supply to the powerline modems, so that if there were a power outage coinmunications would still be possible. In a second aspect, the invention is a data transmission network, comprising: a gateway as described above in the first aspect, or any example thereof; a gateway server connected to the powerline mode s of the gateway by USB, Ethernet, optic or standard telephone cabling, wherein the gateway server obtains the data to be sent from the broadband communications system, for instance by a DSL mode , The gateway server may utilise a media access control (MAC) address of a device associated with a power outlet to identify the device. The server may assign an D? address to the device associated with the power outlet. The server may maintain a data store containing the user name, MAC address and assigned IP address of a device associated with the power outlet receiving sent information from the gateway server. This data store may contain information that can regulate a user's activities, such as maximum bandwidth, session idle limit and maximum duration of a connection to the gateway server. This data store may be used by the gateway to enable a user of the device associated with the power outlet to be billed for receiving the sent data through that device, The IP address of the device may or may not be emulated. The assigned IP address may be the actual IP address of the device, such as the actual address for a device having a fixed IP address. The gateway server may maintain a further data store containing the MAC address, assigned IP address and an indication of whether the assigned IP address is emulated. In a third aspect, the invention provides a compartmentalised building, where each compartment has a plurality of power outlets associated with a gateway or transmission network as described above. The building may comprise a plurality of floors each having a plurality of apartments, wherein one gateway may be installed on one or many floors of the building. The gateway of the floor may be associated with just the power outlets of the compartments on that floor, or power outlets located on a range of floors.

Brief Description of Drawings An example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a building equipped with gateways and a transmission network; and, Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a gateway. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an apartment building 10 comprising a number of apartments 12 on each floor 14 of the building. The apartment building also comprises public areas 16, such as a foyer 18. The apartments 12 and public areas 16 are each connected to a public mains power supply 20 via ah electricity meter. Each apartment 12 contains power outlets 22 into which appliances, such as computers 24, handhelds, VoIP phones, fridges and air conditioners, can be plugged. A gateway is provided between domestic mains power supply 36 and a broadband data system such as the Internet 30. The gateway connects to the load side 36 of the electricity meter 32 for each account holder, and enables data communication between power outlets 22 of the account holders and the broadband data system 30. The gateway comprises a connection 34 to the domestic power wiring 36 of each account holder, and a signal carrying cable 38 having a first end connected to the electrical power wiring connection 34. A remote interface enclosure 40 houses a series of accessible terminators 42. The second end of the signal carrying cable 38 terminates at a respective terminator 42, A series of powerline modems 44 at the remote interface enclosure connect to the broadband data system via a data concentrator such as an S02.1q VLAN tagging capable switch 85 and a communications network indicated generally at 46. A gateway server 48 and a broadband DSL modem 50 are situated in a rack in the building for communication with the Internet. Referring now to Fig. 2 the gateway will be described in greater detail. Conventional electrical power supply wiring 20 enters an account holders meter 32. Downstream of the meter 32 a clip-on ferrite choke 60 attenuates any communications signals escaping into the supply. Downstream of this, still in the circuit breaker box, a communications connection 62 is made. Here two options are possible. Either a weatherproof vampire clamp/fuse combination 64 is fitted to the active wire 66 of the electricity supply and connected to the active wire 70, Alternatively, one end of a mains rated capacitor is connected directly to the circuit breaker on the load side with the other end connected to the active wire 70 via a screw down terminal connection. The vampire clamp/fuse is attached by tightening a bolt which then shears once the correct pressure is reached to lock the clamp in place. Fine teeth surrounded by gel pierce any insulation and provide firm contact. The clamp has a rating of 63 Amps but is provisioned with a 10A fuse 68 to provide protection of the live wire 70 of signal cable 71. Neutral and earth connections are made to additional wires of the signal cable 71 from additional bars 72 and 74 installed in the circuit breaker box. The signal cable 71 terminates in a remote interface enclosure 40 as close to the electrical power wiring connection point 34 as possible. AU the signal cables 71 are sheathed, and labelled with the tenancy number at the beginning, middle and end. This is important for safety so as to help prevent the possibility of a mix up on the mains side. The signal cable consists of two core plus earth screened cable 71 which carries launch level strength signals for transfer via a balanced screened circuit to the power circuit. Any impedance mismatches leading to potential radiation or interference susceptibility occur within the remote interface enclosure 40, and not from the signal cable 71. To provide security for customers, the remote interface enclosure 40 is locked to prevent misuse or unwanted disconnection of the customer. Each cable 71 is connected to a dedicated DIN rail mounted and labelled terminator 42; a 3-way Krone Disconnect type allowing a simple punch down tool to fasten the signal cabling, The ends of the wires are punched down to the insulation piercing terminal in the terminator 42. All the terminators 42 have disconnect links that can be replaced with an additional 5A slow blow type fuse on the active conductor. The live disconnect link will be removed for any circuits not in use. The terminator maintains clearances between conductors of at least 4mm. A barrier 80 is mounted between the terminators 42 to provide effective segregation between the circuits of each apartment. Each of the terminators 42 has test slots to receive flat pins for electrical connection to the three conductors of the modem. The powerline modem 44 is Homeplug 1.0 compatible. It may use an Intellon INT5200 powerline chip and has three flat prongs indicated generally at 82 which directly "plug" into the Krone block testing slots. The powerline modem 44 is supplied from a DC power supply independent of the tenant's power circuit 66; perhaps via the communications network. Backup batteries may be provided within the remote interface enclosure 40. Each modem 44 is connected to the broadband communicatiions network 46 via an 802. lq tagging VLAN capable switch or directly to the gateway server 48. The broadband communications system 46 makes use of USE, fibre optic, xDSL or Cat5e/Cat6 cabling. This runs in telecommunications or video building risers. All cables and jacks must be clearly labelled, A telecommunications rack in the building will hold the backend communications equipment including the gateway server 48 if these are not located witMn the remote interface enclosure 40, as well as caching servers, primary switches, patch panels and possibly other video and VoIP servers. This will provide gatekeeper services for all users. It will stand between the users and their direct access to the offered telecommunications services. For existing users, the gateway server 48 will directly communicate with a backend authentication server. Following successful login, their users attributes will be returned from this backend authentication Server, These attributes will permit the users MAC/IP address to access the paid for services. New users will be redirected by the gateway server 48 to a signup server able to capture key information, refer the signup to a credit card service, and capture verification questions for later use. Captured information is stored in a data store 100, Authentication protocols will use an equipment identifier such as the MAC address, tied to an IP address, and associate it with a user during the logon process, and for the duration of that current session's transactions. The user activates their equipment on a LAN segment able to listen for traffic from all IP addresses. The users- equipment will send broadcast packets with the users equipment identifier to be captured by the gateway, If the equipment identifier does not appear on the blocked or system list an internal Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) process will be initiated and allowed to associate an IP lease to the MAC address. Alternatively, an emulated IF address for users with fixed IP addresses can be used. The user will primarily authenticate by forcing a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) web page redirect to push a secure web page to the user to identify by user name and password, to refer the useraame and password to a backend Radius Server for authentication, and to upload the associated service and other dynamic attributes from the Radius server to an associated table, along with the authentication. Alternatively the user will authenticate using one of the Extensible Authentication Protocols (EAP). The attributes passed and received will be utilised by the gateway server to regulate the users activities such as maximum bandwidth, session idle.Timit, max duration, and be available to the logon Web browser to pass information back to the user at logon via the web page should the gateway server operator wish it. Each user account can have multiple sessions to allow movement within the apartment or public areas of the building. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 , A gateway between a broadband data system and the power wiring of a plurality of electricity account holders to enable data communication between power outlets of the account holders and the broadband data system, the gateway comprising; an electrical connection to the power wiring of each account holder, and a signal carrying cable having a first end connected to the electrical connection; a remote interface enclosure housing a series of accessible terminators, where the second ends of the signal carrying cables each terrmnate at a respective terminator, and wherein each of the terminators includes a signal port; and a series of powerline modems within the remote interface enclosure, each connected to the broadband data system and each comprising a terminator port to engage with the signal port of a terminator; wherein, engagement and disengagement between a powerline modem and a terminator at the remote interface enclosure enables selective connection and disconnection of data communications between the broadband data system and the power outlets of the respective account holder.

2. The gateway according to claim 1, where the powerline modem receives DC power from a power supply independent of the power wiring.

3. The gateway according to claim 1 or 2, where the electrical connection to the power wiring is accomplished by capacitative coupling to live and neutral wires of the power wiring,

4. The gateway according to claim 1 or 2, where the electrical connection to the power wiring is accomplished by a physical clamp which clamps to the active wire of the power wiring.

5. The gateway according to any one of the preceding claims, where the electrical connection to the power wiring of the account holder is made downstream of an electricity meter of the account holder.

6. The gateway according to any one of the preceding claims, where the terminators are screwless modules.

7, . The gateway according to claim 6, where the modules include test slots, each to receive a wire of the signal carrying cable.

8. The gateway according to claim 7, where the modules further include mechanical link members that establish an electrical connection between each wire and its respective slot.

9. The gateway according to claim 7 or 8, where the powerline modems are each ^• constructed on a printed circuit board substantially as wide as the terminator to which it engages with.

10. The gateway according to claim 9, where prongs are provided at one end of each printed circuit board and each prong is engageable with a test slot of the respective terminator.

11. The gateway according to any one of the preceding claims, where the remote interface enclosure includes aggregation means for aggregating data.

12. The gateway according to claim 11, where the aggregation means is an 802.ϊq tagging VLAN switch.

13. The gateway according to any one of the preceding claim s, where the broadband_. data system is capable of supporting simultaneous audio and video services and/or voice over Internet protocol.

14, The gateway according to any one of the preceding claims, where data sent by the powerline modem is received from the Internet.

15. The gateway according to claim 14, where the gateway is oonnectable to the- Internet with fibre optic cable, Cat5e/Cat6 cabling or standard building telephone wiring using one of the xDSL technologies.

16. A data transmission network, comprising: a gateway as described in any one of the preceding claims; and a gateway server connected to the powerline modems of the gateway by USB, Ethernet, optic or standard telephone cabling; where the gateway server obtains data to be sent from the broadband communications system,

17. The data transmission network according to claim 16, wherein the gateway server utilises a media access control (MAC) address of a device associated with a power outlet so as to identify the device.

IS. The data transmission network according to claim 17, where the gateway server is operable to assign an IP address to the device associated with the power outlet,

19. The data transmission network according to claim 18, where the assigned IP address is emulated.

20. The data transmission network according to 18, where the device includes a fixed IP address and the assigned IP address is the fixed IP address.

21. The data transmission network according to any one of claims 18 to 20, where the gateway server maintains a data store containing a user name, MAC address and assigned IP address of the device associated with the power outlet which received sent information from the gateway server.

22. The data transmission network according to claim 21, where the data store further contains information that regulates a user's activities.

23. The data transmission network according to claim 22, where the user's activities include one or more of maximum allowable bandwidth, session idle limit and maximum duration of a connection to the gateway server,

24. The data transmission network according to any one of claims 21 to 23, where the gateway accesses the datastore to enable a user of the device associated with the power outlet to be billed for receiving the sent data through that device.

25. A compartmentalised building, where each compartment has a plurality of power outlets associated with a gateway in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 15 or transmission network in accordance with anyone of claims 16 to 24.

26. The compartmentalised building according to claim 26, the building comprising a plurality of floors each having a plurality of apartments, wherein one gateway is installed on one or many floors of the building.

2 -7,. The compartmentalised building according to claim 27, where the gateway installed on the floor is associated with the power outlets of the compartments located on more than one floor.