Communication apparatus, integrated circuit, and communication method

• US 8,494,129 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• 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:
  US13/039,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20110150105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.05, 379/93.07, 379/93.36, 370/330, 370/310.01, 370/336, 370/342, 370/347, 370/447, 370/461, 370/463
• 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 base vector;

a multi-carrier signal output section configured to output a multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the 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 the multi-carrier signal, which is outputted to a power line by the multi-carrier signal output section;

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; and

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 the multi-carrier signal, by use of timing based on the time point detected by the time point detection section.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multi-carrier signal output section outputs the multi-carrier signal repeatedly to a power line through a predetermined time.

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

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined voltage is zero.

5. 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 phase vector,

a multi-carrier signal output section configured to output a multi-carrier signal in which phase of at least one sub-carrier is rotated with the 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 the multi-carrier signal, which is outputted to a power line by the multi-carrier signal output section;

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; and

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 the multi-carrier signal, by use of timing based on the time point detected by the time point detection section.

6. 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 phase vector;

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

setting up at least one of a time band and a frequency band, on the basis of the multi-carrier signal, which is 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 and

detecting a time point where an alternating voltage transmitted to the power line reaches a predetermined voltage value,

wherein the multi-carrier signal is outputted by use of timing based on the time point.