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A method for concurrently communicating over each phase of an electrical power distribution network (N). A first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted over one phase (AN-A) of a bus (S) by an outbound modulation unit. The unit is released as soon as the first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted so the unit can transmit a second outbound signal (SO2) over a second phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus. The second outbound signal is transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB1) sent in response to the first outbound signal (SO1). The unit is again released, as soon as the second outbound signal (SO2) is transmitted, so the unit can transmit a third outbound signal (SO3) over the third phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus. This third outbound signal is transmitted concurrently with a second inbound signal (IB2) sent in response to the second outbound signal (SO2). The method allows concurrent communications over all three phases of the network (N).

Inventors: Benjamin A. Hammond, John B. Hessling, Jr., Krister Lagerstrom
Original Assignee: Distribution Control Systems, Inc.
Primary Examiner: Jeffery Hofsass
Secondary Examiner: George A Bugg
Attorney: Polster, Lieder, Woodruff & Lucchesi
Current U.S. Classification: 370/276; 307/3; 307/13; 340/12.33; 340/12.37; 340/310.12; 340/310.16; 340/870.02; 340/870.12; 370/483; 375/240
International Classification: H04M011/04

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Citations

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US7965758Sep 10, 2007Jun 21, 2011Itron, Inc.Cell isolation through quasi-orthogonal sequences in a frequency hopping network
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US8054821Sep 11, 2007Nov 8, 2011Itron, Inc.Beacon requests and RS bit resolving circular routes
US8055461Sep 13, 2007Nov 8, 2011Itron, Inc.Distributing metering responses for load balancing an AMR network
US8059009Sep 10, 2007Nov 15, 2011Itron, Inc.Uplink routing without routing table
US8059011Sep 10, 2007Nov 15, 2011Itron, Inc.Outage notification system
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Claims

1. In a two-way communications system (10) used with an electrical power distribution network (N), a method for concurrently transmitting and receiving communication signals over each phase of the network comprising:

transmitting a first outbound signal (SO1) over one phase (AN-A) of a bus by a transmission means (OMU); and,

as soon as the first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted, releasing the transmission means to transmit a second outbound signal (SO2) over a second phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus, the second outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB1) sent in response to the first outbound signal (SO1), thereby to provide concurrent communications over two phases of the network.

2. The method of claim 1 further including as soon as the second outbound signal (SO2) is transmitted, releasing the transmission means to transmit a third outbound signal (SO3) over a third phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus, the third outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with a second inbound signal (IB2) sent in response to the second outbound signal (SO2), whereby there is concurrent communications over all three phases of the network (N).

3. The method of claim 2 further including repeating the steps of claims 1 and 2 so there is ongoing concurrent communications on all three phases of the network (N) thereby to substantially increase the communication's bandwidth of the network.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the transmission means includes an outbound modulation unit (OMU) having six possible output paths (A-N, B-N, C-N, A-B, B-C, C-A) for the three phases with the transmission of the first outbound signal (SO1) restricting the number of output paths available for the second outbound signal, and with the transmission of the second outbound signal further limiting the number of output path available for the third outbound signal.

5. The method of claim 4 further including receiving each inbound signal on a communications path corresponding to the output path over which the respective outbound signal is transmitted.

6. The method of claim 5 further including connecting a receiver means (IPU) in the communications path for receiving an inbound signal.

7. The method of claim 6 further including connecting a receiver means in each communications paths with inputs to the receiver means being connected in parallel for any receiver means to receive an inbound signal on any communications path.

8. In a two-way communications system (10) for an electrical power distribution network (N), a communications method for sending and receiving information over each phase of the network comprising:

transmitting a first outbound signal (SO1) over a first phase (AN-A) of a power distribution bus (B);

after the first outbound signal (SO1) has been transmitted, transmitting a second outbound signal (SO2) over a second phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus with the second outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB1) sent in response to the first outbound signal (SO1);

after the second outbound signal (SO2) is transmitted, transmitting a third outbound signal (SO3) over a third phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus, the third outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with a second inbound signal (IB2) sent in response to the second outbound signal (SO2), thereby to provide concurrent communications over all three phases of the network (N).

9. The method of claim 8 further including repeating the steps set forth in claim 8 to provide ongoing concurrent communications on all three phases of the network (N) thereby to substantially increase the communication's bandwidth of the network.

10. The method of claim 8 further including receiving each inbound signal on a communications path corresponding to the phase over which the respective outbound signal is transmitted.

11. The method of claim 10 further including connecting a receiver means (IPU) in the communications path for receiving an inbound signal.

12. The method of claim 11 further including connecting a receiver means in each communications paths with inputs to the receiver means being connected in parallel for any receiver means to receive an inbound signal on any communications path.

13. A two-way communications system (10) for an electrical power distribution network (N) for concurrently transmitting and receiving communication signals over each phase of the network comprising:

a transmitter (OMU) for transmitting a first outbound signal (SO1) over a first phase (AN-A) of a bus (B); and,

a controller (12) responsive to the transmission of the first outbound signal to release the transmitter from the first phase of the bus, as soon as the first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted, for the transmitter to transmit a second outbound signal (SO2) over a second phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus, the second outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB1), sent over the first phase in response to the first outbound signal (SO1), occurring on the first phase, thereby to provide concurrent communications over two phases of the network.

14. The communications system of claim 13 wherein the controller is further responsive to the transmission of the second outbound signal to release the transmitter from the second phase of the bus, as soon as the second outbound signal (SO2) is transmitted, for the transmitter to transmit a third outbound signal (SO3) over a third phase (BN-B or CN-C) of the bus, the third outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB2), sent over the second phase in response to the second outbound signal (SO2), occurring on the second phase, to provide concurrent communications over three phases of the network.

15. The system of claim 14 further including receiving means (IPU) in each communications path corresponding to the output path over which the respective outbound signal is transmitted, for receiving an inbound signal sent in response to the outbound signal.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the receiver means are connected in parallel for any receiver means to receive an inbound signal traveling over on any communications path.

17. A two-way communications system (10) for a three-phase electrical power distribution network (N) for concurrently transmitting and receiving communication signals over each phase of the network comprising:

a transmitter (OMU) for transmitting a first outbound signal (SO1) over a first phase (AN-A) of a bus (B); and,

a controller (12) responsive to the transmission of the first outbound signal to release the transmitter from the first phase of the bus, as soon as the first outbound signal (SO1) is transmitted, for the transmitter to transmit a second outbound signal (SO2) over a second phase (BN-B or CN-C), the second outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB1), sent over the first phase in response to the first outbound signal (SO1), occurring on the first phase, thereby to provide concurrent communications over two phases of the network, the controller being further responsive to the transmission of the second outbound signal to release the transmitter from the second phase, as soon as the second outbound signal (SO2) is transmitted, for the transmitter to transmit a third outbound signal (SO3) over the third phase (BN-B or CN-C), the third outbound signal being transmitted concurrently with an inbound signal (IB2), sent over the second phase in response to the second outbound signal (SO2), occurring on the second phase, to provide concurrent communications over three phases of the network.

18. The system of claim 17 further including receiving means (IPU) in each communications path corresponding to the phase over which the respective outbound signal is transmitted, for receiving an inbound signal sent in response to the outbound signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the receiver means includes a multiplexer capable of receiving an inbound signal transmitted over any communications path.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the receiver means are connected in parallel for any receiver means to receive an inbound signal traveling over on any communications path.

Drawings