Patent ID: 8666355
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method performed by data processing apparatus, the method comprising: for each of a plurality of communications channels of a power line communications system implemented in a power distribution system: monitoring, by a data processing apparatus, signal characteristic values for signals transmitted over the channel; determining, by the data processing apparatus and based on the monitored signal characteristic values, that a signal level value for the channel is less than a threshold signal level value for the channel; in response to determining that the signal level value for the channel is less than the threshold signal level value for the channel: computing, by the data processing apparatus, a signal to noise ratio for the communications channel; determining, by the data processing apparatus, that the signal to noise ratio for the channel exceeds a threshold value; in response to determining that the signal to noise ratio for the communications channel exceeds the threshold value, storing, by the data processing apparatus, data received over the communications channel as valid data; and in response to determining that the signal level value for the channel is less than the threshold signal level value and that the signal to noise ratio for the channel is greater than the threshold signal to noise ratio: determining that a capacitor bank has been activated in the power distribution system; and providing a notification that the capacitor bank has been activated in the power line distribution system.