GB2437353A

GB2437353A - Distributing data from a pc server through ethernet or wireless connections to portable network devices through low voltage conductors

Info

Publication number: GB2437353A
Application number: GB0606097A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Daniel; Nigel Bass
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-27
Filing date: 2006-03-27
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Also published as: GB0606097D0

Abstract

Distribution of data from a mains power server PC connected to multiples of mini network devices via mini routers via Ethernet wiring or wireless network through extra low voltage power conductors which transfer power and data to the devices. Data is returned and shared through the large network with the main server. The invention could be applied to movable shelving systems in supermarkets or large warehouses.

Description

Method and System for high capacity powerline network device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTiON

This invention relates to a powerline networking devices. More specifically it relates to powerline networking device, which transceives data from a router connected to a PC server by conventional means such as Ethernet or wireless connections and distributes data to multiples of movable data network devices through extra low voltage powerline conductors.

Background of the invention

Up and until now there are mainly three ways of networking data to network devices.

Firstly there is the standard Ethernet connection through various types of Ethernet wiring which has been in existence for several years. Secondly there is a wireless network connection, which is growing steadily over the years, and lastly there are powerline-networking connections, described by Homeplug powerline alliance, which connects data to network devices through mains wiring in a building.

There is a growing demand for movable network PCs and other electronic network devices being audio, visual, telecommunication or radio frequency devices, which besides being non-fixed are also capable of receiving large amount of data.

These devices would require two connections for power supply (positive and negative polarity) and two connections for data.

Summary of the invention

This invention intends to receive large amount of data from a PC server through either standard Ethernet or wireless connections and distribute this data to several movable electronic network devices through extra low voltage conductors (i.e. a supply not exceeding 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC), which also provide the power to these devices.

The present invention provides a mini-router with either or a combination of Ethernet data input or\and wireless data input, and an extra low voltage powerline transceiver output with a number of data cards installed in individual network devices capable of sharing data with the mini-router over the extra low voltage (ELV) power conductors and subsequently the data is shared with the main PC server through the mini routers and modem\router connected to the server. The input data source is connected to the output data source through the mini router. The mini powerline router is capable of translating data transmission and reception between the Ethernet or wireless data connections and the ELV data connections.

There are few limitations in using existing data networking methods of connecting network devices namely, the standard Ethernet network, although it is capable of transmitting large amount of data, because the devices are connected through wires, it is only possible to use this method on fixed non movable devices and it would require additional amount of wires besides power supply wires. Wireless network connection overcomes the problems of extra wires and devices move-ability, however this method is limited to the amount, speed, security of data and it is also vulnerable to distortions when applied over multiples of devices in one large area such as supermarkets. It is also expensive to apply it on a commercial scale. Ilomeplug type of networking is generally used to network data over mains powerline in a building most of this technology is merely used as power signalling network to switch devices on and off. This technology is very limited to amount of data it could handle in comparison to Ethernet network hence it could never be applied on a commercial scale.

These new devices would overcome all limitations associated with above types of network devices and it could successfully be applied on a large commercial applications such as a supermarket or a warehouse involving multiples of non-static extra-low voltage powered network devices whereby sufficient, secure and clean amount of au4jp, visual or other data is required. These devices are especially useful when applied on a system described in W00306365, involving a large-scale installation of movable shelving system, whereby each shelf incorporates electronic network devices.

Brief description of the Drawings.

An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention typically applied on one row of shelving bay on a movable shelving system in a typical large supermarket installation.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention typically applied on multiples of rows of shelving bays on a movable shelving system in a typical large supermarket installation

Detailed description of Embodiments

The network device configuration illustrated in figure 1, compromises of a mains power server PC 1, which is connected to modem\router 3. The modem\router is connected to worldwide network to a telecommunication outlet 2. l'he modem\ router 3 is connected to multiples of mini-routers 4 through Ethernet wires or\and wireless network. A low voltage power supply or transformer 5 is providing power to network devices 6. The output of mini-router 4 is connected to the two separate power outputs of the transformer through extra low voltage conductors, which transmit power and data to network devices 6.

Figure 2 illustrates an extra low voltage powerline network device applied on a row movable shelving bay in a supermarket Figure 3 illustrates the entire network of powerline devices with the total connection of minirouters and main server on multiple rows of shelving.

Claims

Claims: I) A network device system compromising of a mini muter

connected to the main server via Ethernet wiring or wireless network and transmitting its data to multiples of mini network devices through extra low voltage power conductors which transfer power and data to these devices, whereby the data is connected and shared through the large network to the main server. A network device is a device whereby the power and data are transferred through the power conductors.

2) A network device according to claim I, maybe a powerline device or any other kind of device whatsoever 3) A network device according to claim 1, is where the power supply to the networkable electronic device or devices that has an extra low voltage power supply, or other kind of power supply 4) A network device as in claim 1 compromising a receiver electrically connected to the said network device by said shared line, the receiver being for receiving data from an external source for onward transmission to the said networkable device over said shared line 5) A network device as in claim 1 wherein the data from the external source is transmitted to the receiver thmugh Ethernet, wireless connection or power cables.

6) Data refers to audio, visual, telecommunication, signals, radio frequency and any other form of data whatsoever.

7) Extra low voltage supply means a power supply not exceeding 50 volt AC or 120 volt DC 8) Routers and data cards refer to any form of electronic components capable of transmitting and receiving data over powerlines.