Abstract: A communication system for a power line is described. A transmission system of the communication system divides the time axis into a number of time slots synchronized such that one time slot can start about a zero crossing of the power line signal. These time slots are referred to as channels and are numbered from 1 to n. A modulation method is described to is narrow band continuous phase FSK, where a number m of modulating frequencies are used, arranged such that an integral number of full cycles fit into each channel time slot for all m frequencies. The system transmits during only a subset of the available time slots (channels) concentrated near the zero crossing of the power line waveform where the noise is typically minimal.

Abstract: A communication system for a power line is described. A transmission system of the communication system divides the time axis into a number of time slots synchronized such that one time slot can start about a zero crossing of the power line signal. These time slots may be referred to as channels. Data may initially be modulated into at least one of these time slots over a first transmission period according to a modulation scheme. The time slots and/or modulation scheme used in subsequent transmission periods may be adjusted depending on transmission feedback relating to prior modulated data.

Abstract: The network comprises a master node and a plurality of slave nodes. To configure the network, the master node transmits over the network a hailing message at any attenuated level compared to normal communication signals to be transmitted over the network. Upon receiving the hailing message at one of the slave node, a reply message is transmitted, also at an attenuated level. Receiving the reply message at the master node allows it to configure the slave node from which the reply message originated. Also disclosed are a method of managing a network so as to monitor the connections between the slave nodes, and a method of managing a network when a recovery operation is required.

Abstract: A communication system for a power line is described. A transmission system of the communication system divides the time axis into a number of time slots synchronized such that one time slot can start about a zero crossing of the power line signal. These time slots are referred to as channels and are numbered from 1 to n. A modulation method is described to is narrow band continuous phase FSK, where a number m of modulating frequencies are used, arranged such that an integral number of full cycles fit into each channel time slot for all m frequencies. The system transmits during only a subset of the available time slots (channels) concentrated near the zero crossing of the power line waveform where the noise is typically minimal.

Abstract: The method is used for downloading firmware upgrades to a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a targeted remote programmable embedded field-deployed device over a communication network. The device is connected to the network and requires no human intervention at the remote site. The firmware includes a small upgrade program which performs programming tasks on the device according to commands received by the server. The method carried out by the upgrade program allows to upgrade the application program, the communication protocol stack, a set of mutable interrupt vector table or itself without the need of additional memory. It also has a bootstrap function which is responsible for verifying the integrity of the firmware upon reset of a device before transferring control to or back to the application program. Upgrades can be either server-initiated (the firmware provider pushes the new version out to the field) or device-initiated (the device pulls the latest firmware version from the server).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a network for interconnecting a plurality of electronic devices for their configuration and control, the network comprising at least one of the plurality of electronic devices being a local node including a controller, a memory and at least one local virtual variable having a value representative of a state of the local node, the local virtual variable being stored in the memory of the local node, the non-selected electronic devices being remote nodes including a controller and a memory, the memory having stored therein at least one remote virtual variable having a value representative of a state of the remote node, the remote virtual variable being reported by the controller of the remote node on the network in response to a change in the value of said remote virtual variable, and at least one action being stored in the memory of the local node for execution by the controller of the local node, the action using the local virtual variable and the remote virtual var

Abstract: The method is used for downloading firmware upgrades to a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a targeted remote programmable embedded field-deployed device over a communication network. The device is connected to the network and requires no human intervention at the remote site. The firmware includes a small upgrade program which performs programming tasks on the device according to commands received by the server. The method carried out by the upgrade program allows to upgrade the application program, the communication protocol stack, a set of mutable interrupt vector table or itself without the need of additional memory. It also has a bootstrap function which is responsible for verifying the integrity of the firmware upon reset of a device before transferring control to or back to the application program. Upgrades can be either server-initiated (the firmware provider pushes the new version out to the field) or device-initiated (the device pulls the latest firmware version from the server).