Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20110051786A1/en
Timestamp: 2018-10-18 04:03:29
Document Index: 49650217

Matched Legal Cases: ['§120', '§119', 'Application No. 04023603', 'art,1', 'art,1', 'art,1', 'art,1', 'art,1', 'art,1', 'art,1', 'art,1']

US20110051786A1 - Power line communication methods and devices - Google Patents
Power line communication methods and devices Download PDF
US20110051786A1
US20110051786A1 US12940638 US94063810A US2011051786A1 US 20110051786 A1 US20110051786 A1 US 20110051786A1 US 12940638 US12940638 US 12940638 US 94063810 A US94063810 A US 94063810A US 2011051786 A1 US2011051786 A1 US 2011051786A1
US12940638
US8811933B2 (en )
This application is a Continuation of and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 for U.S. Ser. No. 11/576,634, filed Jan. 23, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Ser. No. 11/576,634 is a National Stage of PCT/EP05/10673, filed Oct. 4, 2005 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from European Patent Application No. 04023603.6 filed Oct. 4, 2004.
According to a first concept of the present invention, the object underlying the present invention is achieved by a power line communication method with the features of independent claim 1. The object is further achieved by a system for power line communication, a device for power line communication, a computer program product, and a computer readable storage medium according to independent claims 17, 18, 34, and 35, respectively. Preferred embodiments of the method and the device for power line communication are within the scope of the respective dependent sub-claims.
In the following, the inventive method for power line communication according to the invention's first concept is described.
The inventive method for power line communication—according to the invention's first concept—is adapted in order to realize data communication between at least one first or sending power line communication partner device and at least one second or receiving power line communication partner device. The inventive method comprises a step (a) of checking transmission conditions of a plurality of possible communication channels between said at least one first or sending power line communication partner device and said at least one second or receiving power line communication partner device, thereby generating transmission condition data which are descriptive for the communication conditions of the respective possible communication channels. The inventive method further comprises a step (b) of selecting communication conditions of the plurality of possible communication channels as actual communication conditions based on said transmission condition data between said at least first or sending power line communication partner device and said at least one second or receiving power line communication partner device.
This means in other words, that by looking for possible foreign interferences and avoiding the same by avoiding respective channels, frequency bands, frequency spectra and/or time slots and/or by reducing transmission gain/power not only other PLC communicating partner devices are left undisturbed but also by the same measures interferences with communicating systems of other types—e.g. outside the PLC field and for instance amateur, AM or DRM radio services—are avoided or least reduced.
C = ∫ t start t stop  ∫ f start f stop  ld  ( 1 + SNR )   f   t ( 1 )
wherein C denotes the channel capacity, t denotes the time variable for data transmission, tstart denotes the starting time, tstop denotes the stopping time, f denotes the frequency variable, fstart denotes the starting frequency, fstop denotes the stopping frequency, ld(. ) denotes the dual logarithmic function, and SNR denotes the respective signal-to-noise-ratio.
According to a further additional or alternate embodiment, for a plurality of time gaps with respective starting times tstart,1, . . . , tstart,n and stopping times tstop,1, . . . tstop,n fulfilling the conditions tstart,j≦tstart,j+1, tstop,j≦tstop,j+1, and tstart,j<tstop,j for j=1, . . . , n and/or for a plurality of frequency gaps with respective starting frequencies fstart,1, . . . , fstart,m and stopping frequencies fstop,1, . . . , fstop,m fulfilling the conditions fstart,k≦fstart,k+1, fstop,k≦fstop,k+1, and fstart,k<fstop,k for k=1, . . . , m a full channel capacity Cfull may be evaluated according to the following formula (2a):
C full = ∑ j = 1 n  ∑ k = 1 m  C j , k ( 2  a )
C j , k = ∫ t start , j t stop , j  ∫ f start , k f start , k  ld  ( 1 + SNR )   f   t ( 2  b )
wherein t denotes the time variable for data transmission, f denotes the frequency variable, ld(. ) denotes the dual logarithmic function, and SNR denotes the respective signal-to-noise-ratio.
Thereby a TD approach with a plurality of time gaps with respective starting times tstart,1, . . . , tstart,n and stopping times tstop,1, . . . , tstop,n and/or a FD approach with a plurality of frequency gaps with respective starting frequencies fstart,1, . . . , fstart,m and stopping frequencies fstop,1, . . . fstop,m is realized and the full available channel capacity or channel capability is the some of the respective partial channel capacities Cj,k.
SNR=PSDfeed−ATT−NPSDreceive (3)
According to a further preferred embodiment of the inventive method for power line communication a plurality of power line communication systems may be managed, in particular each having a plurality of power line communication partner devices and/or each without inter system communication between each of said systems of said plurality of power line communication systems. In the following, the inventive device for power line communication according to the invention's first concept is described.
The present invention inter alia relates to a dynamic FD and/or TD coexistence method for power line communication system or PLC systems.
Power line networks are open networks. Signals from PLC system installed in adjacent flats may crosstalk to other PLC systems. Data-throughput of both systems is degraded due to this interference. This invention shows a method to share resources in Time and Frequency Domain that both systems do not interfere. Using this coexistence method, the total throughput of both systems is higher than if there is interference of the communication signals. There is no compatibility or data exchange needed between PLC systems.
1 Time and Frequency Diversity for Known and Unknown Communication Systems in a Quasi Static Channel 1.1 Introduction
1. Two outlets that want to communicate to each other are making use of the best possible communication link in the time- and frequency-domain
2. The communication link between two outlets are occupying only the undisturbed capacity in frequency and time
1.4 Centralized Medium Access Control or MAC Overview
The proposed invention is inter alia intended for centralized MAC architectures, where a central controller is responsible for the coordination of the time slot (channel) assignments for each MAC frame. A centralized MAC frame is typically divided into the following phases:
A broadcast phase where the central controller sends frame synchronization and resource allocation information (time slot or channel assignments) to the listening terminals.
A downlink phase where data is sent from the central controller to one or more of the listening terminals.
An uplink phase where terminals send data to the central controller.
Optionally, a direct link phase where terminals send data directly to other terminals.
A resource request phase where terminals may requests resource reservations in a random access fashion, i.e. all terminals content for the medium during this phase.
1.5 Adaptive OFDM Overview
1.6 Allocation of a Communication Link Between Two Outlets in a First Flat 1
A further embodiment of the invention my be realized at least in part according to the following processing steps:
1. P10 is monitoring the amplitude or field strength over the PLC frame period or the PLC MAC frame period within the frequency band, e.g. 4 MHz to 30 MHz. P10 detects the time slot which has minimum interferer.
2. P10 requests the data from P1 to be transmitted at the best time slot within one PLC frame. This may be coordinated by a master of centralized MAC.
3. P1 sends 1st initial data packet with robust modulation pattern at defined time slot to P10.
4. P10 defines the frequency dependent modulation pattern out of the received signal from P1 and the measured interferer and noise (SNR calculation).
5. P10 requests data as ongoing payload from P1 with specific modulation pattern at specific time slot within the PLC frame.
6. P1 sends data to P10 with requested modulation pattern.
If P10 detects difficulties in time or frequency with the received data from P1, immediate retransmission will be requested at higher layer. Then P10 requests further data at a new timeslot within the PLC frame and/or with a new modulation pattern from P1.
1.8 Case 2: PLC System of a Second Flat 2 is a Known PLC Interferer, e.g. a PLC System with the Same System Architecture as the PLC System in a First Flat 1
Changing the time slot provides a big advantage even if the two PLC systems are of first and second flats 1 and 2 not fully synchronized because the relative movement of the PLC frames is expected to be very slow as the clock deviation is very small.
C = ∫ t start t stop  ∫ f start f stop  ld  ( 1 + SNR )   f   t . ( 1 )
In a TD approach with a plurality of time gaps with respective starting times tstart,1, . . . , tstart,n and stopping times tstop,1, . . . , tstart,n, and a FD approach with a plurality of frequency gaps with respective starting frequencies fstart,1, . . . , fstart,m and stopping frequencies fstop,1, . . . , fstop,m the full available channel capacity or channel capability is the sum of the respective partial channel capacities Cj,k.
In this case, a plurality of time gaps with respective starting times tstart,1, . . . , tstart,n and stopping times tstop,1, . . . , tstop,n fulfilling the conditions tstart,j≦tstart,j+1, tstop,j≦tstop,j+1 and tstart,j<tstop,j for j=1, . . . , n and/or for a plurality of frequency gaps with respective starting frequencies fstart,1, . . . , fstart,m and stopping frequencies fstop,1, . . . , fstop,m fulfilling the conditions fstart,k≦fstart,k+1, fstop,k≦fstop,k+1, and fstart,k<fstop,k for k=1, . . . , m are given. The full channel capacity Cfull is then evaluated according to the following formula (2a):
wherein t denotes the time variable for data transmission, f denotes the frequency variable, ld(. ) denotes the dual logarithm function, and SNR denotes the respective signal-to-noise-ratio.
SNR=PSDfeed−ATT−NPSDreceive. (3)
In the following these and further aspects of the present invention will be explained in more detail based on preferred embodiments of the present invention and by taking reference to the accompanying figures which schematically demonstrate aspects of the present invention. The red curve in FIG. 6 shows the attenuation from P15 to P10, which is identical to the interference to P10 caused by the communication between P15 and P21. The example in FIG. 6 shows a rare case, where the interference signals from outside are in meridian less attenuated than the signals from inside the Flat. Even under this constrains, there are some frequency ranges where the desired connection has less attenuation than the interfering signals.
In FIG. 9 for an embodiment of an inventive receiving PLC partner device P10 an AFE or analog front end is comprised and the calculation of best amplitude, time and frequency span is novel in this invention when compared to the state of the art PLC modems today. The respective information may be send back to the transmitting modem or device.
1. Make use of coding together with time and frequency interleaving within a channel that is varying over time and frequency. Useful and efficient for fast changing channels
2. State of the art OFDM systems, e.g. wireless systems, do not use the benefits of quasi-static channels like PLC.
3. Allocating fixed frequency blocks for different users realizes coexistence.
4. Allocating fixed time slots for different users realizes coexistence (synchronized systems are needed).
5. Having enough distance to other users enables coexistence (strong attenuation between users)
Some possible properties of the new approach are listed in the following:
1. System may be realized adapt fast to changing channels. The overhead is only spend during the changes of the channel. This is efficient for quasi static channels.
2. Unused frequency blocks may become available for others.
3. Fully synchronized systems may be not required to make use of free time slots.
4. System can make use of the specific channel conditions between nodes and external or outside interference.
5. The coexistence mechanism (Frequency Domain, Time Domain or Power Domain) that provides maximum channel capacity or channel capability shall be used for the communication.
According to a second concept of the present invention, the object underlying the present invention is achieved by a method for operating a PLC modem device with the features of independent claims 36 and 37. Additionally the object is achieved by a method for operating a communication arrangement, a PLC modem device, a communication arrangement, a computer program product, as well as with a computer readable storage medium according to the characterizing features of independent claims 73, 74, 82 and 83, 84, and 85, respectively. Preferred embodiments of the method and the device for power line communication are within the scope of the respective dependent sub-claims.
According to the present invention one the one a method for operating a PLC modem device in a communication arrangement is proposed wherein the presence of interferences from other PLC modem devices or from radio services is monitored and wherein in the case that interferences from other PLC modem devices or from radio services are detected power line communication is at most performed on communication channels or communication spectra where said interferences from other PLC modem devices or from radio services are not detected. Thereby, simultaneously interferences to and from other PLC modem devices and radio services are avoided.
The method for operating a PLC modem device according to the present invention is adapted in particular for PLC modem device operation in a communication network or in a communication arrangement. The inventive method on the other hand comprises a step of generating and/or providing communication quality data and/or of at least one communication channel, a step of determining at least communication spectrum data and communication channel data, a step of determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel, and a step of communicating with at least one communication partner device via said selected communication channel and/or said selected communication spectrum. The respective communication quality data are generated and/or provided with respect to at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device. Said communication quality data are descriptive at least for communication capabilities, a communication quality and for communication features at least of said at least one communication partner device and/or of said at least communication channel. Said communication spectrum data and/or said communication data are determined based on said communication quality data and they are descriptive for at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and/or for said at least one communication channel each of which with respect to said at least one communication partner device. Said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel are determined and/or selected from at least one communication channel each of which on the basis of said communication spectrum data and/or said communication channel data.
The transmission gain and/or transmission power may be raised in order to increase a possible quality of service value or QoS value for quality of service data streams or QoS streams.
It is a further idea of the present invention to use said communication quality data so as to determine communication spectrum data and/or communication channel data on the basis of said communication quality data. Said communication spectrum data and/or said communication channel are chosen to be descriptive for at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and/or for said at least one communication channel each of which in relation to said at least one communication partner device. Based on, said communication spectrum data and/or on said communication channel data a communication spectrum is determined and/or selected for a possible communication with said communication partner device. Additionally or alternatively said communication spectrum data and/or said communication channel data are used as a basis for determining and/or for selecting a respective communication channel too for realizing said communication process between said PLC modem device and said communication partner device.
Still a further preferred embodiment is proposed, wherein within said process of checking the presence, existence and/or activity of other and external radio sources and/or radio services PLC modem devices snoop in the air if there are any radio services and/or radio sources available and wherein—if a relevant service and/or source is found at any frequency location—the respective frequency band is omitted in power line communication.
Still an alternative or additional embodiment is provided, wherein a predefined reference signal is generated by at least one PLC modem device and transmitted via at least one available communication channel, wherein possible communication partner devices measure said pre-defined reference signal via channels other than said available communication channels and/or analyze the respective measurement data, wherein based on said measurements said communication quality data, said communication spectrum data, said communication channel data, said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel are chosen or selected, in particular in order to avoid spectral ranges where other and external radio sources and/or radio services exist, are present and/or are active.
A PLC communication or modem device according to the present invention may comprise means for monitoring a presence of interferences caused by operating other PLC modem devices, caused by a communication line used for own power line communication and/or from operating radio services and may comprise means for performing power line communication in the case that interferences from said operating other PLC modem devices, form said communication line used for own power line communication and/or from said operating radio services are detected at most or essentially on communication channels or communication spectra where said interferences from other PLC modem devices or from radio services are not detected, and is thereby adapted for simultaneously avoiding interferences to and from other PLC modem devices and radio services.
Said means for performing said step of at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel is adapted to at least one of select and choose at least one of an actual communication spectrum and an actual communication channel for said step of communicating for which a comparable low interference from signal sources or signals other than the communication partner devices associated in said step communicating and the signal stemming there from, respectively, is given.
Furthermore, a computer program product is provided according to the present invention which comprises computer program means which is capable of performing and/or realizing the method for operating a PLC modem device according to the present invention and/or the method for operating a communication arrangement according to the present invention and/or the steps thereof, when it is executed on a computer, a digital signal processing means and/or the like.
Using better spectrum placements coexistence problems between PLC modems can be solved.
Available Bandwidth can be used more efficiently which results in higher throughput capabilities.
If a later starting communication decides to use the same frequency location that was already allocated by an other communication the communication of the shorter distance between the modems shall move to a second “best fit” location at a higher frequency. The communication via the longer distance shall use the spectrum at lower frequencies.
The transmitted signal is known to all modems.
Transmitting a known signal and measuring this at the receiver side attenuation between two modems can be calculated.
Snooping on the power line wire locally at the receiver measures the noise.
With the knowledge of the transmission level, attenuation and noise the available SNR can be calculated.
Channel capabilities can be calculated for various possible communication windows of the SNR graph. E.g. possible communication windows can be found in FIG. 4 from 20 MHz to 40 MHz, 50 MHz to 60 MHz or 60 MHz to 80 MHz.
Measuring transfer function in frequency domain, calculation of channel impulse response, selecting the main impulse, calculate distance with the help of signal transmission speed and the time of arrival of main impulse
Measuring Impulse Response in time domain with the help of pn-sequences and calculate distance with the help of the arrival time of the main impulse and of the of signal transmission speed.
The PLT system shall implement a so called ‘Distance Map’ that stores the distances between all PLT modems to each other. The ‘Distance Map’ must be readable from all modems. Arbitration of the frequency allocation shall be done with the help of the distance map.
FIGS. 11, 11A, 11B is a schematical block diagram elucidating a preferred embodiment of the inventive method for operating a PLC modem device.
FIG. 2 is a schematical block diagram of a MAC frame structure according to which power line communication between a first or sending power line communication partner device P1 and a second or receiving power line communication partner device P10 as shown in FIG. 1 can be realized. According to FIG. 2 the data to be communicated between interacting power line communication partner devices P1, P10 are transmitted within the structure of so-called MAC frames or media access control frames as shown in FIG. 2. The data is distributed within a concatenation of MAC frames, each of which are composed of five major sections, namely the broadcast channel section, a downlink face section, a direct link face section, an uplink face section, as well as a resource face section.
In FIG. 7 the frequency bands are emphasized and indicated at which the latter described situation is not given, i.e. the scattered sections are frequency sections at which the signal strength for the data signal transmitted from first or sending power line communication partner device P1 is larger than the signal interfered from the sending power line communication partner device P15 of the second power line communication system P′ at the location of the second or receiving power line communication partner device P10 of said first power line communication system P.
Dearing a first section a step S1 a of detecting communication partner devices CP and additionally or alternative a step S1 b of detecting communication channels CC are performed. These both steps S1 a and S1 b may be alternatives, however, they may be also performed both. Thereby information with respect to possible communication partner devices CP and/or possible communication channels CC with respect to said communication partner devices CP can be obtained.
FIGS. 11A and 11B show in more detail sub-process of general scheme shown in FIG. 11, in particular a sub-process during a network initialization phase and a sub-process during a network communication phase, respectively. The respective steps T0 to T8 and U1 to U7 and U1′ to U3′ of the schemes of FIGS. 11A and 1B, respectively are essentially self-explanatory.
When applying the inventive method for operating the PLC modem device 10, PLC It may first be checked which communication channels are available for communicating to the appropriate communication partner device 20, CP. After the respective communication channels 31 and 32 are found respective communication quality data CQD are collected and evaluated on the basis of which respective communication spectrum data CSD as well as communication channel data CCD are derived. Based on the derived communication spectrum data CSD and communication channel data CCD for a next communication to be established between said PLC modern device 10 and the respective communication partner device 20 a respective channel and a respective spectrum for the communication are selected.
SNR:=Ptransmit[dBμV]−Attenuation[dB]−Noise [dB].
C := ∫ f start f stop  ld  ( 1 - SNR  ( f ) )   f .
Power line communication is realized by connecting said PLC modem device 10, PLC via a power line interface PLI to e.g. a socket of a power line system. transmitted and received data are composed and analyzed, respectively, by a provided CPU and an evaluating and estimating unit EEU. In addition, an antenna A together with an antenna interface AI are provided in order to wirelessly receive signals with respect to certain communication channels 31, 32, CC and/or communication spectra CS. By means of the evaluating and estimating unit EEU radiation, noise, interferences, and channel quality can be estimated. In order to ensure high PLC quality communication spectra CS and/or communication channels 31, 32, CC may be changed and/or the transmission conditions, e.g. the transmission power, may be adapted, with or without changing communication spectra CS and/or communication channels 31, 32, CC.
P21 receiving power line communication partner device
1 communication arrangement, communication network according to the present invention
1. Method for operating a PLC modem device in a communication arrangement, comprising:
monitoring a presence of interferences caused by operating other PLC modem devices, caused by a communication line used for own power line communication and/or from operating radio services,
in the case that interferences from said operating other PLC modem devices, form said communication line used for own power line communication and/or from said operating radio services are detected, performing power line communication at most or essentially on communication channels or communication spectra where said interferences from other PLC modem devices or from radio services are not detected, and
performing a power back off process in order to avoid interference with other power line communication services and/or radio services by reducing transmission power fed or to be fed,
thereby simultaneously avoiding interferences to and from other PLC modem devices or radio services.
wherein in said power back off process transmission power fed or to be fed is reduced to a minimum value or range which is still sufficient and/or appropriate for enabling and/or maintaining loss free or essentially loss free power line communication.
wherein said power back off process is performed individually for one or a plurality of different channels and/or carriers.
wherein said power back off process is performed on a distinct channel and/or carrier if an actual signal to noise ratio of said given channel and/or carrier is better than a signal to noise ratio necessary for an actual bit loading in said given channel and/or carrier.
wherein power line communication is performed with a transmission gain and/or transmission power on the transmission side which fits to at least one of a maximum sensitivity, maximum input gain and minimum input attenuation on a receiving side.
wherein said transmission gain and/or transmission power of said transmission side is at least one of set, requested, communicated and negotiated by or with said receiving side.
wherein said power back off process is performed in order to adjust transmission gain and/or transmission power in accordance to at least one of attenuations and distances to be bridged between devices under communication, or to reduce said transmission gain and/or transmission power for comparable short distances.
wherein transmission gain and/or transmission power are raised in order to increase a possible quality of service value or QoS value for quality of service data streams or QoS streams.
wherein information and/or signal components which need a higher QoS value are assigned and mapped to certain carriers and
wherein said certain carriers are given an increased amplitude and/or transmission power in the power line communication process.
wherein said increased amplitude and/or transmission power for the power line communication process are achieved by operating a respective spectral interleaver device in order to assign and map said information and bits which need a higher QoS value to said respective carriers.
avoiding and de-allocating partly or completely at least one of communication spectra (CS) and communication channels of devices and services other than devices and services associated in said step of communication and/or
12. Method for operating a PLC modem device in a communication arrangement according to claim 1,
at least one of generating and providing communication quality data with respect to at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device, said communication quality data being descriptive for at least one of communication capabilities, communication quality and communication features of at least one of said at least one communication partner device and said at least one communication channel,
determining at least one of communication spectrum data and communication channel data based on said communication quality data and being descriptive for at least one of at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and for said at least one communication channel each of which with respect to said at least one communication partner device,
at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel from said at least one communication channel each of which based on at least one of said communication spectrum data and on said communication channel data, and
communicating with said at least one communication partner device via at least one of said selected communication channel and said selected communication spectrum,
performing a power back of process in order to avoid interference with other power line communication services and/or radio services by reducing transmission power fed or to be fed,
wherein by a measurement process at least one of possible communication channels and communication spectra are monitored within said step of at least one of generating and providing said communication quality data and
wherein in said step of at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel at least one of an actual communication spectrum and an actual communication channel is selected and chosen for said step of communicating for which a comparable low interference from signal sources or signals other than the communication partner devices associated in said step communicating and the signal stemming there from, respectively, is given,
thereby avoiding and de-allocating partly or completely least one of communication spectra and communication channels of devices and services other than devices and services associated in said step of communication and
thereby avoiding and de-allocating partly or completely at least one of communication spectra and communication channels associated with one or a plurality of amateur, AM or DRM radio services.
13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said measurement process is performed wirelessly.
wherein said measurement process is performed by means of an antenna as a part of said PLC modem device.
15. Method according to claim 12, wherein said measurement process is performed by wire.
wherein said measurement process is performed by means of a sensor means connected to a respective communication wire means.
17. Method according to claim 12,
wherein said actual communication conditions are chosen in order to effect and select at least one of the group comprising a frequency band, a signal modulation scheme, a time slot, a transmission power, a transmission gain and a reception gain each of a possible or of said actual communication channel of the plurality of possible communication channels between said at least one first or sending power line communication partner device and said at least one second or receiving power line communication partner device.
18. Method according to claim 12,
wherein said step of at least one of generating and providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring noise of said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof.
wherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a signal attenuation of said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof.
20. Method according to claim 12,
wherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a signal transmission level of said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof.
21. Method according to claim 12,
wherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a distance of said PLC modem device to said communication partner device with respect to said at least one communication channel, or with respect to a power line thereof.
22. Method according to claim 12,
wherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a signal-to-noise ratio with respect to said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof and/or based on said noise, attenuation, signal transmission level, distance determined and/or measured.
further comprising at least one of
detecting at least one communication partner device, which is connected to said PLC modem device via at least one communication channel, and
detecting said at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device.
wherein for said at least one communication partner device a plurality of communication channels, all available communication channels, are analyzed, within said steps of detecting said at least one communication partner device and/or said at least one communication channel, within said step of generating and/or providing said communication quality data, within said step of determining at least said communication spectrum data and/or said communication channel data, and/or within said step of determining and/or selecting said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel.
wherein a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel are selected and/or used which are not simultaneously used by communication processes of and/or between other communication partner devices within said communication network or communication arrangement, and/or within said step of determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel.
wherein for a communication channel having or realizing a larger communication distance between said PLC modem device and said selected communication partner device a lower frequency range is chosen for said communication spectrum, and/or within said step of determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum.
27. Method according to claim 1,
wherein for a communication channel having or realizing a shorter communication distance between said PLC modem device and said selected communication partner device a communication spectrum with a higher frequency range is chosen, and/or within said step of determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum.
28. Method according to claim 1,
wherein a process of checking at least one of the presence, existence and activity of at least one of other and external radio sources and radio services is performed, or within at least one of said step of at least one of generating and providing communication quality data, within said step of determining of at least one of communication spectrum data and communication channel data, and said step of at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel,
wherein at least one of said communication quality data, said communication spectrum data, said communication channel data, said communication spectrum and said communication channel are chosen or selected in order to avoid spectral ranges where at least one of other and external radio sources and radio services at least one of exist, are present and are active,
in order to at least one of reduce and avoid at least one of disturbances and interferences with, to and/or from at least one of other and external radio sources and/or radio services.
wherein within said process of checking the presence, existence and/or activity of other and external radio sources and/or radio services PLC modem devices snoop in the air if there are any radio services and/or radio sources available and
wherein, if a relevant service and/or source is found at any frequency location, the respective frequency band is omitted in power line communication.
wherein said process of checking the presence, existence and/or activity of other and external radio sources and/or radio services is performed in a wireless manner and/or in a wired manner.
31. Method for operating a communication arrangement,
said communication arrangement comprising a plurality of PLC modem devices,
wherein for each of said PLC modem devices the method for operating a PLC modem device according to claim 1 is performed.
wherein a pre-defined reference signal is generated by at least one PLC modem device and transmitted via at least one available communication channel,
wherein possible communication partner devices measure said pre-defined reference signal via said at least one available communication channel and/or analyze the respective measurement data,
wherein based on said measurements said communication quality data, said communication spectrum data, said communication channel data, said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel are chosen or selected, or to avoid spectral ranges where other and external radio sources and/or radio services exist, are present and/or are active.
33. Method according to claim 31,
wherein possible communication partner devices measure said pre-defined reference signal via channels other than said available communication channels and/or analyze the respective measurement data,
34. Method according to claim 31,
wherein said PLC modem device measures the radiation of the power line channel where it is connected to,
wherein one modem device sends a well known signal as a reference signal on the power lines channels and all participating modems receive and/or measure this signal over a wireless channel,
wherein with this measurement the modem devices determine the radiation of the power line channel depending on frequency, and
wherein the result of this measurements is exchanged to all modem devices in order to not use or to avoid the frequencies or spectral ranges with respect to the relevant radiation for PLC communication.
35. Method according to claim 31,
wherein said at least one PLC modem device and/or said possible communication partner devices communicate and/or transmit the respective measurement data, its respective analysis results, said communication quality data, said communication spectrum data, said communication channel data, said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel to said possible communication partner devices and/or said at least one PLC modem device.
36. Method according to claim 31,
wherein said processes of generating, of transmitting said pre-defined reference signal, of measuring, of analyzing the measurement, and/or of communicating the respective data to said possible communication partner devices and/or said at least one PLC modem device are performed during said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data, within said step of determining at least communication spectrum data and/or communication channel data, and/or within said step of determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel.
37. PLC communication or modem device,
which is capable of and which comprises means for realizing the method for operating a PLC modem device according to claim 1 and the steps thereof.
38. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
means for monitoring a presence of interferences caused by operating other PLC modem devices, caused by a communication line used for own power line communication and/or from operating radio services and
means for performing power line communication in the case that interferences from said operating other PLC modem devices, form said communication line used for own power line communication and/or from said operating radio services are detected at most or essentially on communication channels or communication spectra where said interferences from other PLC modem devices or from radio services are not detected,
means for performing a power back of process in order to avoid interference with other power line communication services and/or radio services by reducing transmission power fed or to be fed,
thereby being adapted for simultaneously avoiding interferences to and from other PLC modem devices and radio services.
39. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
means for performing a step of at least one of generating and providing communication quality data with respect to at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device, said communication quality data being descriptive for at least one of communication capabilities, communication quality and communication features of at least one of said at least one communication partner device and said at least one communication channel,
means for performing a step of determining at least one of communication spectrum data and communication channel data based on said communication quality data and being descriptive for at least one of at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and for said at least one communication channel each of which with respect to said at least one communication partner device,
means for performing a step of at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel from said at least one communication channel each of which based on at least one of said communication spectrum data and on said communication channel data, and
means for performing a step of communicating with said at least one communication partner device via at least one of said selected communication channel and said selected communication spectrum,
said PLC modem device being adapted to monitor by a measurement process at least one of possible communication channels and communication spectra within said means for performing said step of at least one of generating and providing said communication quality data and
wherein said means for performing said step of at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel is adapted to at least one of select and choose at least one of an actual communication spectrum and an actual communication channel for said step of communicating for which a comparable low interference from signal sources or signals other than the communication partner devices associated in said step communicating and the signal stemming there from, respectively, is given,
thereby being adapted in order to avoid and de-allocate partly or completely at least one of communication spectra (CS) and communication channels of devices and services other than devices and services associated in said step of communication and
thereby being adapted in order to avoid and de-allocate partly or completely at least one of communication spectra and communication channels associated with one or a plurality of amateur, AM or DRM radio services.
40. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
comprising means for at least one of wirelessly and by wire receiving at least one of radio sources and radio services.
41. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
comprising terrestrial tuner device and/or an antenna device for receiving radio sources and/or radio services.
42. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
comprising an antenna device and an antenna interface connected thereto for receiving radio sources and/or radio services and for feeding and providing respective signals for evaluation.
43. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
comprising a power line sensing means and/or a terrestrial tuner device as well as a power line interface connected thereto for receiving radio sources and/or radio services and for feeding and providing respective signals for evaluation.
44. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
comprising an evaluating and estimation unit for evaluating radiations and/or noise and for estimating channel.
45. PLC communication or modem device according to claim 37,
comprising a central processing unit which is connected to said antenna interface and/or to said power line interface, and configured to control the same.
46. Communication arrangement,
which is capable of and which comprises means for realizing the method for operating a communication arrangement according to claim 31 and the steps thereof.
47. Communication arrangement,
which comprises a plurality of PLC communication or modem devices according to claim 37.
48. Computer program product,
comprising computer program means which is capable of performing and realizing at least one of the method for operating a PLC modem device according to claim 1, the method for operating a communication arrangement according to claim 31, and the steps thereof when it is executed on a computer or a digital signal processing means.
49. Computer readable storage medium,
comprising a computer program product according to claim 48.
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