Communication apparatus, integrated circuit, and communication method

• US 8,363,800 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Koga, Hisao, Kodama, Nobutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US13/039,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20110150104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.07, 379/93.36, 370/330, 370/310.1, 370/336, 370/342, 370/347, 370/447, 370/461, 370/468
• US Class Current: 379/93.36
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/542 using zero crossing information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5454 Adapter and plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0006 Assessment of spectral gaps suitable for allocating digitally modulated signals, e.g. for carrier allocation in cognitive radio for spectrum sharing between different networks H04W16/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1438 Negotiation of transmission parameters prior to communication modified according to link quality H04L1/0001

Abstract

A communication apparatus repeatedly outputs a first multi-carrier signal SS during predetermined periods T1, T2, T3, . . . , and outputs a second multi-carrier signal RS whose phase vector is different from that of the first multi-carrier signal SS, at a predetermined timing based on the first multi-carrier signal SS. The communication apparatus further detects the second multi-carrier signal RS output from another communication apparatus, which uses a different communication method from the communication apparatus. Accordingly, both communication apparatuses can differentiate the first multi-carrier signal SS from the second multi-carrier signal RS without performing relatively cumbersome modulation and other processes.

Claims

1. A power-line communication apparatus for transmitting a multi-carrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers to another communication apparatus through a power line, comprising:

a phase rotation section configured to rotate phase of at least one sub-carrier among the plurality of sub-carriers, by use of a first phase vector or a second phase vector that differs from the first phase vector;

a multi-carrier signal output section configured to output at least one of a first multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the first phase vector, and a second multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the second phase vector;

a band setting section configured to set up at least one of a time band and a frequency band, on the basis of at least one of the first multi-carrier signal and the second multi-carrier signal, which are outputted to a power line by the multi-carrier signal output section; and

a communication section configured to perform communication with another communication apparatus through a power line, by use of at least one of the time band and the frequency band, which are set up by the band setting section.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a frequency band setting section configured to set up a frequency band that is used in the second multi-carrier signal,

wherein, the phase rotation section sets up a rotation amount according to the frequency band that is set up by the band setting section, and changes the first phase vector to the second phase vector indicating the set rotation amount.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a time point detection section configured to detect a time point where an alternating voltage transmitted to the power line reaches a predetermined voltage value,

wherein, the multi-carrier signal output section outputs at least one of the first multi-carrier signal, and the second multi-carrier signal, by use of timing based on the time point detected by the time point detection section.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multi-carrier signal output section outputs the first multi-carrier signal repeatedly to a power line through a predetermined time, and outputs the second multi-carrier signal, by use of timing where the first multi-carrier signal was outputted.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the phase rotation section sets up a rotation amount by use of a PN sequence, and changes the first phase vector, to the second phase vector indicating the set rotation amount.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the PN sequence is a M sequence.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multi-carrier signal output section outputs the first multi-carrier signal in a first period, and output the second multi-carrier signal in a second period that differs from the first period.

8. An integrated circuit device for transmitting a multi-carrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers, to another communication apparatus through a power line, comprising:

a phase rotation section configured to rotate phase of at least one sub-carrier among the plurality of sub-carriers, by use of a first phase vector or a second phase vector that differs from the first phase vector;

a multi-carrier signal output section configured to output at least one of a first multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the first phase vector, and a second multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the second phase vector;

a band setting section configured to set up at least one of a time band and a frequency band, on the basis of at least one of the first multi-carrier signal and the second multi-carrier signal, which are outputted to a power line by the multi-carrier signal output section; and

a communication section configured to perform communication with another communication apparatus through a power line, by use of at least one of the time band and the frequency band, which are set up by the band setting section.

9. A communication method for transmitting a multi-carrier signal including a plurality of sub-carriers, to another communication apparatus through a power line, comprising the steps of:

rotating phase of at least one sub-carrier among the plurality of sub-carriers, by use of a first phase vector or a second phase vector that differs from the first phase vector;

outputting at least one of a first multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the first phase vector, and a second multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the second phase vector;

setting up at least one of a time band and a frequency band, on the basis of at least one of the first multi-carrier signal and the second multi-carrier signal, which are outputted to a power line in the multi-carrier signal outputting step; and

performing communication with another communication apparatus through a power line, by use of at least one of the time band and the frequency band, which are set up in the band setting step.