System and method for providing access in powerline communications (PLC) network

• US 20070135085A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• 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 7,876,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Abstract

To facilitate simultaneous PLC communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, frequency bands are dynamically assigned on demand to first and second PLC home networks that use the respective first and second PLC protocols.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating simultaneous PLC communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, comprising:

dynamically assigning frequency bands on demand to first and second PLC home networks using the respective first and second PLC protocols.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising monitoring a frequency spectrum to identify unused bands in the spectrum.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising sending at least one frequency band test tone from a transmitter in a PLC network to a receiver in the PLC network to determine whether a frequency band associated with tone is acceptable.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a frequency band is acceptable if the tone check indicates at least a threshold bandwidth.

5. The method of claim 3 comprising sending test tones only on bands in the spectrum determined to be currently available.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising determining, in response to determining that a frequency is acceptable, whether the frequency band determined to be acceptable has sufficient bandwidth for an intended communication, and if not testing an additional band in the spectrum for acceptability.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein a highest available band in the spectrum is tested first for acceptability.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring bands in a spectrum for a monitoring period to determine which bands are unused.

9. A network comprising:

at least one transmitting device;

at least one receiving device to receive information from the transmitting device, wherein

the transmitting device and receiving device exchange test tone information to facilitate dynamic assignation of at least one band in a spectrum over which the information is subsequently sent from the transmitting device to the receiving device in a home network.

10. The network of claim 9 comprising at least one master device monitoring a frequency spectrum to identify unused bands in the spectrum.

11. The network of claim 9, wherein test tones are sent only on bands in the spectrum determined to be currently available.

12. The network of claim 10, wherein at least one of the transmitting device, receiving device, and master device determines whether a frequency band determined to be acceptable has sufficient bandwidth for an intended communication, and if not testing an additional band in the spectrum.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein a highest available band in the spectrum is tested first.

14. The network of claim 12, wherein at least one of the transmitting device and master device monitors bands in a spectrum for a monitoring period to determine which bands are unused.

15. The network of claim 9, wherein the network is a power line communication (PLC) network.

16. A network comprising:

at least one transmitting device;

at least one receiving device to receive information from the transmitting device, wherein

in response to a signal for the transmitting device to send information to the receiving device over a home network, a network component dynamically identifies at least one frequency band in a spectrum that is available for use, with the information being sent over the at least one frequency band that is available for use.

17. The network of claim 16, wherein the network component is a master device communicating with the network.

18. The network of claim 16, wherein the transmitting device and receiving device exchange test tone information to facilitate dynamic assignation of at least one band in a spectrum over which the information is subsequently sent from the transmitting device to the receiving device.

19. The network of claim 18, wherein test tones are sent only on bands in the spectrum determined to be currently available.

20. The network of claim 16, wherein the network is a power line communication (PLC) network.