A method for differentiating power distribution areas and phases by using voltage characteristics, where the method includes performing similarity comparison on a voltage curve of a node to be determined and a voltage curve recorded by a concentrator to determine whether the node belongs to a current power distribution area. Using the method for identifying power distribution areas and phases according to voltage characteristics, the problem of inaccurate electric power measurement due to power distribution area archive errors, communication crosstalk, and others is effectively resolved, a collection success rate and meter reading stability of a power distribution area are improved, a line loss rate of a power distribution area is moderately reduced, correctness of ammeter archive information of an SG186 system is ensured, occurrences of power distribution area crossing of carrier communications and ammeter archive errors are eradicated, and delicacy management of a marketing system is realized.

A system for receiving and processing signals received from a plurality of endpoints. Each endpoint includes an endpoint transmitter in electrical communication with a power distribution line within a power distribution system. The system comprises a power line coupler. A substation receiver is in electrical communication with the power line coupler. A substation circuit is in electrical communication with the substation transceiver. The substation circuit is configured to simultaneously demodulate signals received from the plurality of different endpoints.

A method for access to a shared communication medium, referred to as the medium, access to the medium being of the carrier sense multiple access type, wherein an electronic device, in order to be able to send a message over the medium, the message including information representing a message type, waits for a backoff time before checking whether the medium is available to send the message, the backoff time being determined randomly and lying between a minimum backoff time and a maximum backoff time, wherein the maximum backoff time is dependent on the type of message to be sent over the medium by the electronic device.

A self-contained branch circuit monitor 2 is has a small form factor configured to fit in the limited space available in a load center 1, in association with a branch circuit breaker 10A occupying a branch location slot 45 in the load center 1. A flexible printed circuit board 4 is wrapped around an outside circumference of a toroidal sensor coil 6 of a current transformer. A current monitoring circuit 15 is formed on the flexible printed circuit board. The monitoring circuit is electrically connected to leads 7, 9 from the sensor coil and is powered by current 17 induced in the sensor coil from current 5 in the branch circuit wire. A branch circuit wire 3A is threaded through the current transformer's center. A transmitter 22 is part of the flexible printed circuit board, to transfer the monitored current data to other locations.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a network device that accesses internet protocol addresses associated with a group of end point devices where the network device is a closest network device to the group of end point devices, and transmitting data to another network device responsive to a determination that an internet protocol address associated with the data from an end point device is one of the internet protocol addresses associated with the group of end point devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Embodiments of methods and systems for supporting coexistence of multiple technologies in a Power Line Communication (PLC) network are disclosed. A long coexistence preamble sequence may be transmitted by a device that has been forced to back off the PLC channel multiple times. The long coexistence sequence provides a way for the device to request channel access from devices on the channel using other technology. The device may transmit a data packet after transmitting the long coexistence preamble sequence. A network duty cycle time may also be defined as a maximum allowed duration for nodes of the same network to access the channel. When the network duty cycle time occurs, all nodes will back off the channel for a duty cycle extended inter frame space before transmitting again. The long coexistence preamble sequence and the network duty cycle time may be used together.

Some embodiments describe a DC meter system that can be placed in-line between a power source and an electrical load. In some embodiments, the DC meter system includes a DC meter that has multiple inputs for receiving electricity from multiple power sources. In some embodiments, the DC meter has one or more outputs, each capable of delivering electricity to a different electrical load. In some embodiments, the DC meter can combine electricity from two or more of the multiple inputs into one of the outputs. In some embodiments, the DC meter has a controller that can enable a user to deliver electricity from a particular input to a particular output. In some embodiments, the DC meter is configured to enable transition of electricity between an input and an output in a bi-directional manner. In some embodiments, the DC meter can record an amount of electricity transmitted in either direction.

A method for transmitting data, in the form of messages, in a power line communication network, the method being executed in a first node device of said network configured so as to communicate in a plurality of separate frequency bands with a second node device of said network, the method comprising transmitting a message in a transmission mode using at least two separate frequency bands from among said plurality of separate frequency bands in parallel. It is thus possible to have a wider bandwidth by using various separate frequency bands in parallel. The invention also relates to a communication node device configured so as to execute the abovementioned method.

In a disclosed embodiment, a power line communication (PLC) device sends an active channel scan request from a host layer to an adaptation layer. In response to the adaptation layer receiving the request, a MAC layer is instructed to broadcast a beacon request frame. The PLC device receives from each of one or more neighboring devices that respond to the beacon request frame a beacon frame including an address and a personal area network (PAN) identifier. A listing of PAN identifiers indicated by the beacon frames is provided to the host layer. The host layer selects a target network corresponding to a selected PAN identifier and selects one of the one or more neighboring devices associated with the selected PAN identifier as a target bootstrapping agent. The host layer instructs the adaptation layer to join the target network using the target bootstrapping agent.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving wirelessly a first transmission of data from a network interface device, wherein the network interface device includes a receiver and a transmitter. The network interface device receives, via the receiver, electromagnetic waves that propagate on a surface of a dielectric transmission medium. The network interface device converts, via the receiver, the electromagnetic waves to an electrical signal, and transmits, via the transmitter, a first transmission of the data based on the electrical signal. A determination is made that the data is to be directed towards a recipient device connected to at least one electrical circuit and, based on the determination, a second transmission of the data is initiated as a power line communication transmission of a utility power line via the at least one electrical circuit. Other embodiments are disclosed.