Configurable frequency band elimination for powerline network

• US 20060165117A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Iwamura, Ryuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/464
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5491 using filtering and bypassing
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals

Abstract

A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network consistent with certain embodiments has a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals at a plurality of frequencies. A user configurable notch filter, receives the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output. A network communication medium interface receives the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over a network communication medium. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network, comprising:

a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals at a plurality of frequencies;

a user configurable notch filter, receiving the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output; and

a network communication medium interface receiving the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over a network communication medium.

2. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data transmitter comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmitter.

3. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the communication medium comprises a power line and the data transmitter comprises a power line communications (PLC) transmitter.

4. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

5. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for activation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

6. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select at least one day of the week for activation and deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band for at least a portion of the selected day.

7. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for generating a notch filter configuration request message specifying notch filter configuration parameters and transmitting the notch configuration request using the data transmitter.

8. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a receiver that receives a notch configuration request message specifying notch filter parameters, and means for configuring the user configurable notch filter in accordance with the specified notch filter configuration parameters received in the notch filter configuration request message.

9. The communication device in accordance with claim 1, wherein activation of the user configurable notch filter is limited to at least one of the following:

a specified duration of time;

a specified number of sub-carriers and a specified percentage of available bandwidth.

16. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 1, wherein activation of the user configurable notch filter is limited to at least one of the following:

a specified duration of time;

a specified number of sub-carriers and a specified percentage of available bandwidth.

10. A power line communication (PLC) device for use in adapting an appliance to a PLC computer network, comprising:

a PLC data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals at a plurality of frequencies;

a user configurable notch filter, receiving the output signals from the data transmitter, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output; and

a PLC interface receiving the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over the power line.

11. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

12. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for activation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

13. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select at least one day of the week for activation and deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band for at least a portion of the selected day.

14. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising means for generating a notch filter configuration request message specifying notch filter configuration parameters and transmitting the notch configuration request using the data transmitter.

15. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a receiver that receives a notch configuration request message specifying notch filter parameters, and means for configuring the user configurable notch filter in accordance with the specified notch filter configuration parameters received in the notch filter configuration request message.

17. A power line communication (PLC) device for use in adapting an appliance to a PLC computer network, comprising:

a PLC data transmitter, comprising;

a forward error correction encoder receiving data to be transmitted and error correction encodes the data to produce an error corrected output;

an interleaver that receives the error corrected output and interleaves the error corrected output to produce interleaved output data;

a serial to parallel converter receiving the interleaved output data and producing a parallel output signal;

a modulator receiving the parallel output signal and producing a modulated output therefrom;

an inverse fast Fourier transformer receiving the modulated output and producing a transformed output signal at a plurality of frequencies;

a user configurable notch filter, receiving the transformed output, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output; and

a PLC interface receiving the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over the power line.

18. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

19. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for activation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

20. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select at least one day of the week for activation and deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band for at least a portion of the selected day.

21. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 17, further comprising means for generating a notch filter configuration request message specifying notch filter configuration parameters and transmitting the notch configuration request using the data transmitter.

22. The power line communication (PLC) device in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a receiver that receives a notch configuration request message specifying notch filter parameters, and means for configuring the user configurable notch filter in accordance with the specified notch filter configuration parameters received in the notch filter configuration request message.

23. A power line communication (PLC) device for use in adapting an appliance to a PLC computer network, comprising:

a PLC data transmitter, comprising;

a forward error correction encoder receiving data to be transmitted and error correction encodes the data to produce an error corrected output;

an interleaver that receives the error corrected output and interleaves the error corrected output to produce interleaved output data;

a serial to parallel converter receiving the interleaved output data and producing a parallel output signal;

a modulator receiving the parallel output signal and producing a modulated output therefrom;

an inverse fast Fourier transformer receiving the modulated output and producing a transformed output signal at a plurality of frequencies;

a user configurable notch filter, receiving the transformed output, for reducing the amplitude of a user selected range of frequencies, and producing a filtered output;

a PLC interface receiving the filtered output and transmitting the filtered output over the power line;

wherein the user configurable notch filter is configured via a user interface, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select;

a time for deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band, a time for activation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band, and at least one day of the week for activation and deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band for at least a portion of the selected day;

means for generating a notch filter configuration request message specifying notch filter configuration parameters and transmitting the notch configuration request using the data transmitter;

a receiver that receives a notch configuration request message specifying notch filter parameters; and

means for configuring the user configurable notch filter in accordance with the specified notch filter configuration parameters received in the notch filter configuration request message.

24. A method, comprising:

receiving an input from a user via a user interface for configuring a user configurable notch filter;

generating a first notch filter configuration request message specifying notch filter configuration parameters established using the user input; and

transmitting the first notch configuration request message over a power line to a power line communication (PLC) device in order to configure a transmitter notch filter at the power line communication (PLC) device.

25. The method in accordance with claim 24, further comprising receiving a second notch configuration request message transmitted over the power line specifying notch filter parameters, configuring a configurable notch filter in accordance with the specified notch filter configuration parameters received in the notch filter configuration request message.

26. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

27. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for activation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

28. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein the user interface is adapted to permit the user to select a frequency band to be attenuated by the user configurable notch filter, and wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select at least one day of the week for activation and deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band for at least a portion of the selected day.

29. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein activation of the user configurable notch filter is limited to at least one of the following:

a specified duration of time;

a specified number of sub-carriers and a specified percentage of available bandwidth.

30. A communication device for use in adapting an appliance to a computer network, comprising:

a data transmitter that receives data to be transmitted and generates output signals at a plurality of frequencies;

a user interface for specifying ranges of frequencies that should not be transmitted; and

user configurable notching means for controlling the plurality of output frequencies in response to the user interface.

31. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, wherein the data transmitter comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmitter.

32. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, wherein the communication medium comprises a power line and the data transmitter comprises a power line communications (PLC) transmitter.

33. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

34. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select a time for activation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band.

35. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, wherein the user interface is further adapted to permit the user to select at least one day of the week for activation and deactivation of the attenuation of the selected frequency band for at least a portion of the selected day.

36. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, further comprising means for generating a notch configuration request message specifying frequencies to be notched as configuration parameters and transmitting the notch configuration request using the data transmitter.

37. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, further comprising means for generating a tone map that specifies carrier frequencies that are to be notched in accordance with frequencies specified by the user interface.

38. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, further comprising a receiver that receives a notch configuration request message specifying notch parameters, and means for configuring the user configurable notching means in accordance with the specified notch configuration parameters received in the notch configuration request message.

39. The communication device in accordance with claim 30, wherein activation of the user configurable notching means is limited to at least one of the following:

a specified duration of time;

a specified number of sub-carriers and a specified percentage of available bandwidth.