Induction heating extension cables including control conductors are disclosed. An example cable assembly includes: a first plurality of conductors in a Litz cable arrangement; an outer protective layer configured to protect the plurality of conductors from physical damage; and a second plurality of conductors that are electrically isolated from the first plurality of conductors and are protected by the outer protective layer from physical damage.

A method includes a gateway node that obtains a data transmission parameter between a first-level node and each node in a first node set, where the first-level node is located on a first-level power distribution device in a power distribution grid, and the first node set includes a node located on a power distribution device at another level in the power distribution grid other than the first-level power distribution device; determines a second-level node directly coupled to the first-level node from the first node set based on the data transmission parameter between the first-level node and each node in the first node set; and generates a physical network topology of the power distribution grid.

Embodiments of this application disclose a data transmission time obtaining method, apparatus, and system. The method includes: A first device sends a first packet to a second device, and obtains a first send timestamp of the first packet; the first device receives a second packet that is sent by the second device and that corresponds to the first packet, and obtains a first receive timestamp of the second packet; the first device calculates, based on timing frequency of the second device, a second receive timestamp at which the second device receives the first packet and a second send timestamp at which the second device sends the second packet; and the first device calculates a data transmission time between the first device and the second device based on the first send timestamp, the first receive timestamp, the second send timestamp, and the second receive timestamp.

A data concentrator makes a collection from electricity meters in a powerline communication network. The electricity meters are distributed in a plurality of classes, and are ordered, in each class, according to an overall risk of collision incurred in the powerline communication network. When the data concentrator seeks to address another electricity meter to be addressed in parallel to an electricity meter currently being addressed, the data concentrator seeks to maximise the number of the electricity meters addressed in parallel, prioritising the electricity meters in a sequencing of the classes and a sequencing according to an overall risk of collision. This other electricity meter must present a risk of collision with each of the electricity meters currently being addressed below a predefined threshold.

A system includes a switch of an electric power distribution system, the switch being configured to receive data and to transmit data, and the system includes a controller configured to communicatively couple to the switch. The controller is configured to create a software defined network by instructing the switch to transmit data to a location, and the controller is configured to generate a set of keys and to provide the set of keys to the switch to enable the switch to communicate data via a Media Access Security (MACsec) communication link, a MACsec key agreement (MKA) connectivity association, or both.

A notification system including an outlet and a notification center. The outlet is configured to output a signal indicative of the availability of the outlet. The notification control unit is configured to receive the signal, determine availability of the outlet based on the signal, and output information corresponding to the availability of the outlet to at least one selected from a group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a tablet.

A network unit may be operatively attached to power lines of an interconnected power system and/or a device such as a power module that may further include a communication interface. The network unit may be operable to superimpose a first signal representative of a sensed parameter of the power system onto the power lines, thereby to transmit the first signal to other power modules in the interconnected power system or to a power device in interconnected power system. The network unit may receive a second signal of the parameter superimposed onto the power lines from another network unit.

A wireless communication system includes a plurality of sensors and a device. Each sensor is configured to measure data and communicate over a network using low power signal communication. The device is connected to an in-wall power source and configured to wirelessly communicate over the network using low power signal communication. Further, the device is configured to transmit data from the sensors to a remote gateway using high power signal communication.

A method and a device for transmitting a message from a first node device to one or more node devices that are neighbours of the node device, the node devices belonging to an electrical supply network using powerline and radio communications. The first node device detects a disconnection of the electrical energy supply; the first node device checks in a routing table whether it is connected by a radio link to a neighbouring node device, if so, the first node device sends a unicast message by the radio link to the neighbouring node device indicating a disconnection of the electrical energy supply to the first node device, if not, the first node device sends a radio broadcast message indicating that a disconnection of the electrical energy supply is detected by the first node device.

An electrical receptacle including an outlet and an electronic process. The outlet is configured to receive an electrical device. The electronic processor is configured to output a signal when the outlet receives the electrical device. Wherein the signal is received by a notification control unit, the notification control unit configured to determine an availability of the electrical outlet based on the signal, and output information corresponding to the availability of the electrical receptacle, wherein the information is included in a map accessed by at least one selected from a group consisting of a computer, a smart phone, and a tablet.