Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention includes a common node of a power line communications system for individually performing the register functions for a plurality of electrical metering devices operably connected to the node. The power line communications system includes at least one node having a plurality of registers, a respective one of which is associated with a respective electrical metering device. The electrical metering devices connected via the power lines to the node measure the power consumption of the electrical load associated therewith and transmit a signal indicative of the measured power consumption to the node and, in particular, to the respective register of the node associated with the electrical metering device. The node individually determines the power consumed by each electrical load operably connected to the node based upon the received signals. The results of such calculations are stored in the register associated with each respective electrical metering device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention includes a common node of a power line communications system for individually performing the register functions for a plurality of electrical metering devices operably connected to the node. The power line communications system includes at least one node having a plurality of registers, a respective one of which is associated with a respective electrical metering device. The electrical metering devices connected via the power lines to the node measure the power consumption of the electrical load associated therewith and transmit a signal indicative of the measured power consumption to the node and, in particular, to the respective register of the node associated with the electrical metering device. The node individually determines the power consumed by each electrical load operably connected to the node based upon the received signals. The results of such calculations are stored in the register associated with each respective electrical metering device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting signals transmitted via a power line to a node which have a source address portion equal to the predetermined address of an electrical metering device, but which were not transmitted by the metering device. Each electrical metering device of a power line communications system has a predetermined address and may monitor the source address portions of signals transmitted via the power lines. The electrical metering device thus detects or flags a power line signal if the source address portion of the transmitted signal matches the predetermined address of the electrical metering device. The electrical metering device may also count the signals having source address portions which match the predetermined address of the electrical metering device.