Patent ID: 8867629

Claim:
A method of power line communications, comprising: obtaining timing information for an AC mains signal transmitted on a power line in a power line communication (PLC) system that includes at least one receiver and at least one other device connected on said power line which provides variable loading during cycles of said AC mains signal, wherein said other device comprises a voltage regulator coupled to said power line which is in parallel to a capacitor that is connected to ground, and wherein said voltage regulator conducts current to charge said capacitor during said first loading interval, and wherein said voltage regulator does not conduct current so that said capacitor is not charged during said second loading interval; identifying a first loading interval within at least a first cycle of said cycles having lower loading and at least a second loading interval within said first cycle having higher loading using said timing information; and transmitting only during the first loading interval at least one data packet over said power line to said receiver.