Interference control in a broadband powerline communication system
First Claim
1. A method of operation of a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of said broadband powerline communication system; and
masking certain ones of said carrier frequencies based on said characteristics.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A broadband powerline communication system is disclosed which makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve the performance of the system. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. Certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be masked (i.e., not used) by all or part of the broadband powerline system in order to avoid interference based on the determination. In various embodiments, the spectrum characteristics are determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of operation of a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of said broadband powerline communication system; and
masking certain ones of said carrier frequencies based on said characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for controlling interference in a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said apparatus comprising:
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means for determining the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of said broadband powerline communication system; and
means for masking certain ones of said carrier frequencies based on said characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling interference in a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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accessing a database comprising frequency masking parameters;
comparing said frequency masking parameters to current date/time information; and
transmitting frequency mask control instructions to at least one of a plurality of transmitter/receiver nodes in said broadband powerline communication system based on said step of comparing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for controlling interference in a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said apparatus comprising:
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a database comprising frequency masking parameters;
a network interface adapted for communication with a plurality of transmitter/receiver nodes; and
means for transmitting control instructions to said plurality of transmitter/receiver nodes based on said frequency masking parameters. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling interference in a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the radio environment in the vicinity of said broadband powerline communication system to detect conflicting users; and
masking certain ones of said carrier frequencies based on said step of monitoring. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for controlling interference in a broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies not used exclusively by said broadband powerline communication system, said method comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a unique identifier on a least one of said modulated carrier frequencies via said broadband powerline communication system; and
masking certain ones of said carrier frequencies based upon receipt of said unique identifier from a conflicting user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification