Interference control in a broadband powerline communication system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining, by an interference controller comprising a processor, over a first time period, first characteristics of usage of a radio environment over a range of carrier frequencies in a vicinity of a broadband powerline communication system; and
compiling a database of the first characteristics of usage, the first characteristics of usage comprising;
a geographical area in which a conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system;
time intervals during which the conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; and
carrier frequencies used by the conflicting user in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system.
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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
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, by an interference controller comprising a processor, over a first time period, first characteristics of usage of a radio environment over a range of carrier frequencies in a vicinity of a broadband powerline communication system; and compiling a database of the first characteristics of usage, the first characteristics of usage comprising; a geographical area in which a conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; time intervals during which the conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; and carrier frequencies used by the conflicting user in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory to store computer program instructions, the computer program instructions when executed on the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising; determining, over a first time period, first characteristics of usage of a radio environment over a range of carrier frequencies in a vicinity of a broadband powerline communication system; and compiling a database of the first characteristics of usage, the first characteristics of usage comprising; a geographical area in which a conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; time intervals during which the conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; and carrier frequencies used by the conflicting user in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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determining, over a first time period, first characteristics of usage of a radio environment over a range of carrier frequencies in a vicinity of a broadband powerline communication system; and compiling a database of the first characteristics of usage, the first characteristics of usage comprising; a geographical area in which a conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; time intervals during which the conflicting user interferes with the broadband powerline communication system; and carrier frequencies used by the conflicting user in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification