Method and system to increase the throughput of a communications system that uses an electrical power distribution system as a communications pathway

• US 20040070912A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amperion Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Amperion Incorporated
• Inventors: Kopp, Lowell Ellis
• Granted Patent: US 7,307,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/119
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0076 by superposition on the watched current
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5495 having measurements and testing channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

A method and system to increase the throughput of a communications system that uses an electrical power distribution system as a communications pathway, determines the phase of the power distribution power cycle and compares this determined phase to predetermined regions of the power cycle. If the power cycle is within a predetermined region, a particular communication scheme is used for transmitting and receiving information. The power cycle can have two or more predetermined regions. Optionally, the throughput for any or all regions can be determined so as to provide for modification of the associated communication scheme if the throughput is determined to be outside some predetermined range.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting the throughput of a communications system that uses a cable of an electrical power distribution system as a communication pathway, wherein the power distribution has a repetitive power cycle period, comprising the steps of:

a) determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle; and

b) determining if the phase of the power distribution power cycle is within a predetermined region R_i, for i=1, . . . , N, were N is an integer >

2, where each region R₁ extends over a portion of the power distribution power cycle, and if so, using a predetermined communication scheme during said region R₁ for transmitting and receiving information that is communicated over the electrical power distribution system cable.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle is performed by determining when there is a zero crossing of the power cycle.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein N=2 and wherein Region₁ is centered on the zero crossing of the power cycle and extends a predetermined number of degrees on each side of the zero crossing, and where Region₂ is the remainder of the power cycle.

4. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the voltage of the power distribution power cycle is used for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

5. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the current of the power distribution power cycle is used for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

6. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein Region₂ is related to high frequency noise and wherein the predetermined communication scheme for said region has increased reliability of communicating information than the predetermined communication scheme for Region₁.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein a predetermined communication scheme associated with a particular Region_j where j is a single integer, is a null communication scheme for said region.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for Region_j that uses a modulation scheme of lesser symbol efficiency than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for Region_j that uses an error correction scheme that has greater error correcting capability than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining the throughput for communications in at least one Region_j and if the throughput for Region_j is outside a predetermined range of throughput values for said region, then modifying the predetermined communication scheme for use in Region_j, where j is an integer.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the step of determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle is performed by determining when there is a zero crossing of the power cycle.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein N=2 and wherein Region₁ is centered on the zero crossing of the power cycle and extends a predetermined number of degrees on each side of the zero crossing, and where Region₂ is the remainder of the power cycle.

13. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the voltage of the power distribution power cycle is used for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

14. A method as defined in claim 12, wherein the current of the power distribution power cycle is used for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

15. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for Region_j that uses a modulation scheme of lesser symbol efficiency than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.

16. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for that uses an error correction scheme for Region_j that has greater error correcting capability than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.

17. A system for adjusting the throughput of a communications system that uses a cable of an electrical power distribution system as a communication pathway, wherein the power distribution has a repetitive power cycle period, comprising:

a) means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle; and

b) means for determining if the phase of the power distribution power cycle is within a predetermined region R_i, for i=1, . . . , N, were N is an integer >

2, where each region R₁ extends over a portion of the power distribution power cycle; and

c) means for using a predetermined communication scheme during said region R₁ for transmitting and receiving information that is communicated over the electrical power distribution system cable if the determined phase of the power distribution power cycle is within region R_i.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle determines when there is a zero crossing of the power cycle for purposes of determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

19. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein N=2 and wherein Region₁ is centered on the zero crossing of the power cycle and extends a predetermined number of degrees on each side of the zero crossing, and where Region₂ is the remainder of the power cycle.

20. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein the voltage of the power distribution power cycle is used by the means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle as the parameter that is measured for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

21. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein the current of the power distribution power cycle is used by the means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle as the parameter that is measured for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

22. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein Region₂ is related to high frequency noise and wherein the predetermined communication scheme for said region has increased reliability of communicating information than the predetermined communication scheme for Region₁.

23. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein a predetermined communication scheme associated with a particular Region_j where j is a single integer, is a null communication scheme for said region.

24. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for Region_j that uses a modulation scheme of lesser symbol efficiency than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.

25. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for Region_j that uses an error correction scheme that has greater error correcting capability than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.

26. A system as defined in claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining the throughput for communications in at least one Region_j; and

means for modifying the predetermined communication scheme for use in Region_j if the determined throughput for Region_j is outside a predetermined range of throughput values for said region, where j is an integer.

27. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle determines when there is a zero crossing of the power cycle for purposes of determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

28. A system as defined in claim 27, wherein N=2 and wherein Region_j is centered on the zero crossing of the power cycle and extends a predetermined number of degrees on each side of the zero crossing, and where Region₂ is the remainder of the power cycle.

29. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the voltage of the power distribution power cycle is used by the means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle as the parameter that is measured for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

30. A system as defined in claim 28, wherein the current of the power distribution power cycle is used by the means for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle as the parameter that is measured for determining the phase of the power distribution power cycle.

31. A system as defined in claim 26, wherein the predetermined communication scheme used for any Region_j having a higher noise content than another Region_k, is to use a predetermined communication scheme for Region_j that uses a modulation scheme of lesser symbol efficiency than that used for Region_k;

where j and k are integers.