EP3138188A1

EP3138188A1 - Energy supply device

Info

Publication number: EP3138188A1
Application number: EP15721596.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jochen Zeuch; Hartmut Henkel; Patrick Schweer
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2014-04-28
Filing date: 2015-04-23
Publication date: 2017-03-08
Also published as: WO2015165791A1; CN106464010A; US20170046939A1; EP3836375A1; US10297134B2; DE102014105909A1; CN106464010B

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy supply device (100), comprising an analysis unit (101) for determining a signaling information which indicates a state of operation of the energy supply device (100); and a communication interface (103) for outputting said signaling information; the analysis unit (101) being designed to detect an operating variable of the energy supply device (100); to set a characterization parameter; and to characterize the detected operating variable of the energy supply device (100) as a function of the characterization parameter in order to obtain the signaling information.

Description

POWER SUPPLY UNIT

The present invention relates to a power supply device with a

Communication interface for signaling an operating state. A power supply device, such as a universal power supply or a universal power supply, often includes a detection device for

Detecting an operational quantity, such as an output voltage. The operating variable can be checked for exceeding or falling below a predetermined threshold value to obtain a signaling information that can be output via a signaling output of the power supply unit. For example, the

Signaling information on whether the output voltage of the power supply device exceeds or falls below a predetermined amplitude threshold for the output voltage. In this case, frequently both the operating variable used to determine the signaling information and the predetermined threshold value are fixed. This can be perceived as uncomfortable.

It is the object underlying the invention to provide an efficient concept for an adjustable signaling of an operating state of a power supply device.

This object is achieved by articles having the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims. According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by

Power supply device solved, comprising: an evaluation unit for determining a

Signaling information indicating an operating state of the power supply device; and a communication interface for issuing the

Signaling information; wherein the evaluation unit is designed to detect an operating variable of the power supply device; a characterization parameter

set; and to characterize the detected operating quantity of the power supply device as a function of the characterization parameter in order to obtain the

To receive signaling information. This achieves the advantage that a

Power supply device can be provided with an adjustable signaling an operating state of the power supply device. The power supply device may be an electric power supply device such as a universal power supply or a universal power supply. Furthermore, the operating variable may be an input voltage, an input current, an output voltage or an output current of the power supply device.

The operating state may be a valid or invalid input voltage, a valid or invalid input current, a valid or invalid output voltage, and / or a valid or invalid output current. The characterization parameter may have an amplitude threshold of

Input voltage, an amplitude threshold of an input current, a

Amplitude threshold of an output voltage, an amplitude threshold of an output current or a frequency threshold of a frequency include. Furthermore, the characterization parameter can be selected by the evaluation unit from a plurality of prestored characterization parameters in order to determine the

Set characterization parameters. The signal information may be one bit or a sequence of bits.

The evaluation unit may be a microcontroller or comprise a microcontroller. Furthermore, the evaluation unit may comprise a processor, a logic module and / or a discrete analog circuit. The evaluation unit can also be configured to detect the detected operating variable of the energy supply device for exceeding or

Checking below a threshold value to characterize the recorded operating size. For example, the evaluation unit checks the output voltage of the power supply unit to exceed a minimum output voltage in order to obtain the signaling information. The signaling information may in this case comprise a signal Power Good or DCOK, which signals that the

Output voltage of the power supply device exceeds the minimum output voltage or a minimum value. Furthermore, the evaluation unit can be designed to invert the result of characterizing the detected operating variable of the energy supply device as a function of the characterization parameter.

The evaluation unit can also be designed to have a temperature, such as a

Housing temperature of the power supply unit or an ambient temperature of the power supply device to capture. For example, falls below a first temperature threshold by the housing temperature of

Power supply device, a heating of the housing of the power supply device or a warm-up of the power supply device can be carried out by means of a load resistor. For this purpose, a current can be passed through the load resistor, which is heated by the current flow. The first temperature threshold can be -60 ° C, -50 ° C; -40 ° C, -30 ° C, -20 ° C, -10 ° C, 0 ° C or 10 ° C. Furthermore, when a second temperature threshold is exceeded by the housing temperature of the

Power supply unit, an output power of the power supply unit can be reduced or a derating of the power supply unit to be performed. The second temperature threshold may be 30 ° C, 40 ° C, 50 ° C, 60 ° C, 70 ° C, 80 ° C, 90 ° C, 100 ° C, 1 10 ° C, 120 ° C or 130 ° C.

Furthermore, the evaluation unit can be designed to record an operating time, such as operating hours, of the energy supply device. For example, this includes

Power supply device an electrolytic capacitor with a limited life. By means of the signaling information, reaching a prewarning threshold or a time threshold, for example 70%, 80% or 90% of the lifetime of the

Electrolytic capacitor, signaled by the operating time.

The communication interface may include a wired and / or a wireless communication interface. For example, the

Communication interface A serial interface, a standard Power Management Bus (PMBus) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, an interface for wireless communication using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), such as the ISO / ISO standard. IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18000-3, an interface for wireless communication by means of Near Field Communication (NFC), for example according to the standard ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18092, or an interface for wireless communication according to one of the standards Bluetooth , ZigBee or Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN). Furthermore, the communication interface may include a signaling output.

In an advantageous embodiment of the power supply device is the

Evaluation unit is adapted to select the characterization parameter from a plurality of pre-stored characterization parameters to the

Set characterization parameters. This provides the advantage that the characterization parameter can be set efficiently. In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the evaluation unit is designed to check the detected operating variable of the power supply device to exceed or fall below a threshold value to the detected operating variable of the power supply device in dependence on the

Characterizing characterization parameters. Thereby, the advantage is achieved that an operating state of the power supply device can be efficiently determined.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the characterization parameter comprises at least one of the following parameters: a

Amplitude threshold of an input voltage, an amplitude threshold of an input current, an amplitude threshold of an output voltage, a

Amplitude threshold of an output current, a frequency threshold of a frequency, a power threshold of an input power, a power threshold of an output, a temperature threshold of a temperature, a time threshold of an operating time, a threshold of a ripple of an output voltage, or a threshold of a ripple of an output current. This provides the advantage that an efficient characterization parameter can be set.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the operating variable of the energy supply device is one of the following operating variables: a

Input voltage, an input current, an output voltage, an output current, a frequency, an input power, an output power, a temperature, a

Operating time, a ripple of an output voltage or a ripple of a

Output current. This achieves the advantage that the operating state of the

Power supply device can be signaled on the basis of an input variable or an output of the power supply unit.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the evaluation unit is designed to detect a further operating variable of the power supply device, and the detected operating variable of the power supply device and the further detected operating variable of the power supply device as a function of the

Characterizing characterization parameters to obtain the signaling information. This achieves the advantage that the operating state of the

Power supply device can be signaled on the basis of a plurality of input variables and / or output variables of the power supply device. For example, the detected operating variable is an output voltage and the further operating variable is a corresponding output current of the energy supply device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the evaluation unit is designed to link the detected operating variable of the power supply device and the further detected operating variable of the power supply device by a logical operation in order to obtain the signaling information. This achieves the advantage that the operating state can be determined efficiently. The logical operation may be an AND operation, an OR operation, an OR operation (XOR), a non-AND operation (NAND), a NOR operation (NOR) and or a non-exclusive-OR operation (XNOR).

For example, the evaluation unit checks in each case an output voltage and a corresponding output current on exceeding a respective threshold value and combines the results of the respective check by an AND operation to obtain the signaling information.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the power supply device, the communication interface is designed to output a digital signal to indicate the operating state of the power supply device. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the signaling information can be further processed efficiently.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the communication interface is designed to receive the characterization parameter via a communication network. This provides the advantage that the characterization parameter can be set efficiently.

The communication network may be a telephone network, a cellular network, a computer network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN), or the Internet.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the energy supply device with a memory for storing the received

Characterization parameter formed, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to read the characterization parameter from the memory to the Set characterization parameters. This provides the advantage that the characterization parameter can be set efficiently.

The memory may include an electrically erasable programmable read only memory, such as an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) memory. Furthermore, the evaluation unit can be formed, the

Parametrisierungsdaten read when activating the power supply unit from the memory.

The power supply device may further be configured to include a plurality of

Characterization parameters to store in the memory, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to select the characterization parameter from the plurality of stored characterization parameters to set the characterization parameter. In a further advantageous embodiment of the power supply device, the communication interface is designed to receive the characterization parameter via the communication network from a communication device. This achieves the advantage that the characterization parameter is efficiently connected to the

Power supply device can be transferred.

The communication device may be a computer, a smartphone or a handheld device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the power supply device, the communication interface comprises a wireless communication interface. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the power supply device and the communication device can be galvanically isolated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the power supply device, the communication interface comprises a Nahfeldkommunikationsschnittstelle. This provides the advantage that an efficient communication interface can be used to receive the characterization parameter.

The near-field communication interface can be designed for communication by means of near field communication (NFC), for example according to the standard ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18092. In a further advantageous embodiment of the power supply device, the communication interface can be supplied with electrical energy wirelessly. Thereby, the advantage is achieved that the characterization parameter can be set in a deactivated state of the power supply device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the energy supply device, the communication interface comprises an antenna, which within a housing of the

Power supply unit is arranged or integrated in a housing wall of a housing of the power supply unit. As a result, the advantage is achieved that the power supply device can have a particularly compact design.

The antenna may be formed by printed conductors on a circuit board or a printed circuit board. Further, the housing of the power supply device may be a plastic housing or comprise a housing element permeable to electromagnetic signals.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for determining a signaling information, which is an operating state of a

Power supply unit displays, solved, with: Detecting an operating size of the

Power supply unit; Setting a characterization parameter;

Characterize the recorded operating size as a function of the

Characterization parameters to obtain the signaling information; and outputting the signaling information via a communication interface of the

Power supply unit. Thereby, the advantage is achieved that the signaling of the operating state of the power supply device can be set efficiently.

For setting the characterization parameter, the characterization parameter can be selected from a plurality of prestored characterization parameters. In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method further comprises:

Detecting a further operating variable of the power supply device; and

Characterizing the detected operating variable of the energy supply device as well as the further detected operating variable of the energy supply device as a function of the characterization parameter in order to obtain the signaling information. This will achieves the advantage that the operating state of the power supply device can be signaled on the basis of a plurality of input variables and / or output variables.

The detected operating variable of the energy supply device and the further detected operating variable of the energy supply device can be linked by a logical operation to characterize the detected operating variable of the energy supply device and the further detected operating variable of the energy supply device as a function of the characterization parameter. The logical operation may be an AND operation, an OR operation, an OR operation (XOR), a non-AND operation (NAND), a NOR operation (NOR), and or a non-exclusive OR (XNOR) operation. For example, one each

Output voltage and an output current on exceeding a respective

Threshold checked and the results of the respective check are linked by an AND operation to obtain the signaling information. In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the method further comprises: receiving the characterization parameter via a communication network. This provides the advantage that the characterization parameter can be set efficiently. The communication network may include a telephone network, a mobile radio network

Computer Network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wireless Local Area Network (W-LAN), or the Internet.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below.

Show it:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a power supply device according to FIG

embodiment;

2 is a schematic diagram of a method for determining a

Signaling information indicating an operating state of a

Power supply device indicates, according to an embodiment; and 3 is a schematic diagram of a method for determining signaling information, which indicates an operating state of a

Power supply device indicates, according to another embodiment.

1 shows a schematic diagram of a power supply device 100 according to one embodiment. The energy supply device 100 comprises an evaluation unit 101 and a communication interface 103.

The power supply device 100 is formed with: the evaluation unit 101 for

Determining a signaling information indicating an operating condition of the

Power supply 100 indicates; and the communication interface 103 for outputting the signaling information; wherein the evaluation unit 101 is configured to detect an operation amount of the power supply apparatus 100; one

Set characterization parameters; and the recorded operating size of the

Power supply device 100 depending on the characterization parameter to obtain the signaling information.

The power supply apparatus 100 may be an electric power supply apparatus such as a universal power supply apparatus or a universal power supply apparatus. Furthermore, the operating variable may be an input voltage, an input current, an output voltage or an output current of the power supply device 100.

The operating state may be a valid or invalid input voltage, a valid or invalid input current, a valid or invalid output voltage, and / or a valid or invalid output current.

The characterization parameter may have an amplitude threshold of

Input voltage, an amplitude threshold of an input current, a

Amplitude threshold of an output voltage, an amplitude threshold of an output current or a frequency threshold of a frequency include. Furthermore, the characterization parameter can be selected by the evaluation unit 101 from a plurality of prestored characterization parameters in order to determine the

Set characterization parameters. The signal information may be one bit or a sequence of bits. The evaluation unit 101 may be a microcontroller or comprise a microcontroller. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 101 may comprise a processor, a logic module and / or a discrete analog circuit. The evaluation unit 101 can also be designed to check the detected operating variable of the energy supply device 100 for exceeding or dropping below a threshold value in order to characterize the detected operating variable. For example, the evaluation unit 101 checks the output voltage of the power supply device 100 to exceed a minimum output voltage in order to obtain the signaling information. The signaling information may in this case comprise a signal Power Good or DCOK, which signals that the

Output voltage of the power supply unit 100 exceeds the minimum output voltage or a minimum value. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 101 may be formed, the result of characterizing the detected operating quantity of the

Power supply device 100 in response to the characterization parameter to invert. The evaluation unit 101 may further be formed, a temperature, such as a

Case temperature of the power supply device 100 or an ambient temperature of the power supply device 100 to detect. For example, falls below a first temperature threshold by the housing temperature of the

Power supply unit 100, a heating of the housing of the

Power supply unit 100 or a warm-up of the power supply device 100 are performed by means of a load resistor. For this purpose, a current can be passed through the load resistor, which is heated by the current flow. The first temperature threshold can be -60 ° C, -50 ° C; -40 ° C, -30 ° C, -20 ° C, -10 ° C, 0 ° C or 10 ° C. Furthermore, when a second temperature threshold value is exceeded by the housing temperature of the energy supply device 100, an output power of the

Power supply 100 can be reduced or derating the

Power supply unit 100 are performed. The second temperature threshold may be 30 ° C, 40 ° C, 50 ° C, 60 ° C, 70 ° C, 80 ° C, 90 ° C, 100 ° C, 1 10 ° C, 120 ° C or 130 ° C.

Furthermore, the evaluation unit 101 may be configured to have an operating time, such as

Operating hours to capture the power supply unit 100. For example, the power supply device 100 includes an electrolytic capacitor with a limited

Lifespan. By means of the signaling information, reaching a Pre-warning threshold or a time threshold, for example, 70%, 80% or 90% of the life of the electrolytic capacitor, are signaled by the operating time.

The communication interface 103 may include a wired and / or a wireless communication interface. For example, the

Communication interface 103, a serial interface, an interface to the

Standard Power Management Bus (PMBus), an interface to the standard Universal Serial Bus (USB), an interface for wireless communication using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), for example according to the standard ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18000-3 , an interface for wireless communication by means of Near Field Communication (NFC), for example according to the standard ISO / IEC 14443 or ISO / IEC 18092, or a wireless communication interface according to one of the standards Bluetooth, ZigBee or Wireless Local Area Network (W -LAN). Furthermore, the communication interface 103 may include a signaling output. According to one embodiment, the communication interface 103 or a

Plurality of signaling outputs to be freely adjustable. Furthermore, different operating variables and / or characterization parameters can be freely adjustable.

According to a further embodiment, the energy supply device 100 can detect a plurality of different operating variables by means of an evaluation unit 101 or in a microcontroller and evaluate or characterize these. For evaluating or characterizing the operating variables for signaling, the

Operating variables via the communication interface 103, an interface at the

Evaluation unit 101 or an interface to a microcontroller can be parameterized as desired. The signals obtained in the evaluation or in the characterization can be further processed and output as a digital signal, for example via the communication interface 103 or a signaling output.

According to a further embodiment, the evaluation unit 101 or a

Microcontroller capture different operating variables. For evaluation or for

Characterizing for signaling, operating variables can be checked for falling below or exceeding a respective threshold value. The operating variables and / or the respective threshold values can be arbitrarily parameterized via the communication interface 103, an interface of the evaluation unit 101 or an interface of the microcontroller. The received signals can be further processed as desired. For example, a signal of an operation quantity is inverted or non-inverted and linked to a signal associated with another operation amount by a logical operation such as an AND operation (OR) or an OR operation (OR). In the further course, the obtained signaling information can be output as a digital signal. Furthermore, an operating variable can also be used or linked several times.

For example, an operating variable, such as an output current, is checked for falling below or exceeding a threshold value, and the result of the check is signaled by means of the signaling information.

2 shows a schematic diagram of a method 200 for determining signaling information indicating an operating state of a power supply 100, according to an embodiment. The method 200 includes the

Method steps of detecting 201, setting 203, characterizing 205 and outputting 207. The method 203 for determining signaling information, which includes a

Indicates operating state of the power supply apparatus 100, comprising: detecting 201 an operation amount of the power supply apparatus 100; Set 203 one

Characterization parameter; Characterize 205 of the recorded farm size in

Dependence on the characterization parameter to obtain the signaling information; and outputting 207 the signaling information via a

Communication interface 103 of the power supply device 100th

For setting 203 of the characterization parameter, the

Characterization parameters from a plurality of pre-stored

Characterization parameters are selected.

3 shows a schematic diagram of a method 200 for determining signaling information, which indicates an operating state of a power supply device 100, according to a further embodiment. The method includes a first processing branch 301 for processing a first operation size and a second processing branch 303 for processing a second operation size. The method 200 may be extended to any number of processing branches and operating quantities. For clarity, only two processing branches are shown. Further, the method 200 includes the steps of linking 309 and output 207, and method steps 305 and 307. The first processing branch 301 comprises a detection 201 of the first operating variable, for example an output voltage or an "electric variable 1." Furthermore, when setting 203 of the characterization parameter, a first threshold value, such as a

In the case of characterizing 205 of the detected first operating variable as a function of the characterization parameter, the first operating variable may be set to undershot or amplitude threshold value for the output voltage or a "threshold level 1."

Exceeding the set first threshold value are checked to obtain a result of the check. The checking can be carried out in a comparator or comparator. For example, the result of the check is 0 or 1. In the further course, the result of the check in process steps 305 and 307 can be further processed. For example, the result in step 305 is inverted or not inverted. Furthermore, in method step 307, the first

Processing branch 301 can be activated or deactivated. When passing through the first processing branch 301, first information can be generated.

The second processing branch 303 comprises a detection 201 of the second operating variable, for example an output current or an "electric variable n." Furthermore, when adjusting 203 the characterization parameter, a second threshold value, such as a

Amplitude threshold for the output current or a "threshold level n"., When characterizing 205 the detected second operating variable as a function of the

Characterization parameter, the second operating variable can be checked for falling below or exceeding the set second threshold value to obtain a result of the check. The checking can be carried out in a comparator or comparator. For example, the result of the check is 0 or 1. In the further course, the result of the check in the method steps 305 and 307 can be further processed. For example, the result in step 305 is inverted or not inverted. Furthermore, in the method step 307, the second

Processing branch 303 be activated or deactivated. When passing through the second processing branch 303, a second information may be generated.

In the linking 209, the first information determined in the first processing branch 301 and the second information determined in the second processing branch can be linked by means of a logical operation in order to obtain the signaling information. The logical operation may be an AND, an OR, an OR Exclusive OR operation (XOR), a non-AND operation (NAND), a NOR operation (NOR) and / or a non-exclusive-OR operation (XNOR).

When outputting 207 the signaling information, the signaling information or an "output 1" via a communication interface 103 or a

Signaling output of the power supply unit 100 are output.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

, _

1 ο REFERENCE LIST

100 power supply unit

101 evaluation unit

103 communication interface

200 procedures

201 Capture

203 Setting

205 Characterize

207 Output

301 First processing branch

303 Second processing branch

305 process step

307 process step

309 Linking

Claims

1 . A power supply apparatus (100), comprising: an evaluation unit (101) for determining signaling information indicative of an operation state of the power supply apparatus (100); and a communication interface (103) for outputting the signaling information; wherein the evaluation unit (101) is designed to detect an operating variable of the energy supply device (100); set a characterization parameter; and characterize the detected operational size of the power supply (100) in dependence on the characterization parameter to obtain the signaling information.

The power supply apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein the evaluation unit (101) is adapted to select the characterization parameter from a plurality of prestored characterization parameters to set the characterization parameter.

3. Energy supply device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the evaluation unit (101) is adapted to check the detected operating variable of the power supply device (100) to exceed or fall below a threshold value to the detected operating variable of the power supply device (100) in dependence the

Characterizing characterization parameters.

4. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the characterization parameter comprises at least one of the following parameters: a

Amplitude threshold of an output current, a frequency threshold of a frequency, a power threshold of an input power, a power threshold of an output, a temperature threshold of a temperature, a time threshold an operation time, a threshold value of a ripple of an output voltage or a threshold value of a ripple of an output current.

5. The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation amount of the power supply apparatus is one of the following operation amounts: an input voltage, an input current, an output voltage, an output current, a frequency, an input power, an output power, a temperature, an operation time, a ripple of an output voltage or a ripple of a

Output current.

6. Energy supply device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaluation unit (101) is formed, a further operating size of

To detect energy supply device (100), and the recorded operating size of the

Energy supply device (100) and the other recorded operating size of

Power supply device (100) depending on the characterization parameter to obtain the signaling information.

The power supply apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to combine the detected operation amount of the power supply apparatus and the further detected operation amount of the power supply apparatus by a logical operation to obtain the signaling information.

The power supply apparatus (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (103) is adapted to output a digital signal to indicate the operating state of the power supply apparatus (100).

The power supply apparatus (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (103) is adapted to receive the characterization parameter over a communication network.

The power supply apparatus (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (103) comprises a near field communication interface.

1 1. Power supply device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (103) can be supplied with electrical energy wirelessly.

12. Energy supply device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (103) comprises an antenna which is disposed within a housing of the power supply device (100) or integrated in a housing wall of a housing of the power supply device (100).

13. A method (200) for determining signaling information indicating an operating state of a power supply device (100), comprising:

Detecting (201) an operation amount of the power supply apparatus (100); Adjusting (203) a characterization parameter;

Characterizing (205) the detected operating variable as a function of the

Characterization parameters to obtain the signaling information; and outputting (207) the signaling information via a communication interface (103) of the power supply device (100).

The method (200) of claim 13, comprising: detecting (201) another operation amount of the power supply apparatus (100); and

Characterizing (205) the detected operating variable of the energy supply device (100) as well as the further detected operating variable of the energy supply device (100) as a function of the characterization parameter in order to obtain the signaling information.

The method (200) of claim 13 or 14, comprising: capturing the characterization parameter over a communication network.