Adaptive Power Mask for Echo Compensation in PLT

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Solution Overview

Problem

In digital communication systems, especially in Power Line Transmission (PLT), echo reflections cause power loss, leading to reduced signal quality and bit rates due to the fixed power mask not accounting for echo-induced power loss.

Innovation Solution

Adapting the transmission power mask to account for the echo function, estimated from a known sequence, to increase the received power by compensating for the lost power, thereby enhancing signal quality and bit rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a fixed power mask is used for transmission, then regulatory compliance is ensured, but received power is reduced due to echo-induced power loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower lossVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed power mask to an adaptive power mask that dynamically adjusts transmission power based on real-time echo conditions. The system estimates the echo function continuously and modifies the power mask accordingly, allowing the transmission power to adapt to changing channel conditions while maintaining regulatory compliance through controlled adjustment within acceptable ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the power mask parameters based on echo function estimation. The system changes the transmission power parameters adaptively according to the estimated echo characteristics, optimizing the balance between received power and regulatory compliance. This involves adjusting power levels across different frequency carriers based on their specific echo conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If transmission power is increased to compensate for echo loss, then received power improves, but regulatory power limits may be exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceived powerVSAvoidregulatory compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing per-carrier power adaptation rather than uniform power increase across all frequencies. Each frequency carrier's power is adjusted independently based on its specific echo conditions and channel characteristics. This allows selective power enhancement only where necessary and where it benefits received power without universally exceeding regulatory limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms by continuously estimating the echo function from received signals and using this information to adjust the power mask. The echo estimation provides real-time feedback about channel conditions, enabling the system to make informed power adjustments that compensate for echo losses while monitoring and maintaining compliance with regulatory power limits through controlled adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If echo cancellation is implemented, then signal quality improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using echo function estimation as a intermediate step between receiving the signal and canceling the echo. Rather than directly implementing complex echo cancellation, the system first estimates the echo characteristics through correlation processing and uses this intermediate information to adapt the power mask. This intermediary estimation process simplifies the overall complexity by breaking down the echo cancellation task into manageable stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The adapted power mask increases the power received by the remote receiver, combating echo-induced power loss and improving signal quality and bit rates, while adhering to regulatory power limits.

Implementation Method 1

The transmission may be subject to various phenomena and in particular to reflection phenomena. The signal emitted by the transmitter device is reflected, typically at the level of terminations and junctions for a wired channel or at the level of obstacles for a radio channel. These reflections cause part of the power emitted by the transmitter device to return to the level of the transmitter device.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2351241B1Transmission method taking echo into account
Publication Date: 2017.09.06 ORANGE SA
  • EP2351241B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP2351241B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP2351241B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

The invention relates to a transmission method (1) and to a transmission device which take echo into account. The method and the device adapt (4) the transmission power mask in order to take into account the echo power estimated from an echo function (hAA), the echo resulting from the transmission of a sequence transmitted by the transmitter device on a transmission channel.