Carrier Current Interference Reduction via Dynamic Frequency Reallocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Interference occurs between carrier-type signals transmitted on an electrical network and signals from another network, such as DSL or carrier-current networks, due to shared frequency bands and encoding methods, leading to deteriorated transmission performance and loss of transmission rate.

Innovation Solution

A method involving measurement and analysis of transmission characteristics by each modem to detect interfering carrier frequencies and optimize data distribution to minimize transmission power levels on those frequencies, while maintaining or optimizing transmission rates, by reallocating data to non-interfering carrier frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carrier-type technology is implemented on local electrical network and another broadband technology (DSL or carrier-current) is implemented on another local network, then transmission capacity is high and existing distribution network is utilized, but interference occurs between carrier current signals on electrical network and signals on other network

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission capacityVSAvoidinterference between networks
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the frequency parameter by detecting degraded transmission characteristics on specific carrier frequencies and reallocating data from interfering frequencies to non-interfering frequencies within the same frequency band, thereby maintaining high transmission capacity while eliminating interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic frequency reallocation where modems continuously monitor transmission characteristics and adaptively adjust carrier frequency assignments based on detected interference conditions, transitioning from static to dynamic resource allocation to resolve interference while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If data is distributed over carrier frequencies using OFDM encoding on both networks, then transmission rate is optimized, but transmission performance deteriorates when lines are in vicinity due to shared frequency band

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidtransmission performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the frequency assignment parameter by detecting degraded transmission characteristics and reallocating data from interfering carrier frequencies to alternative non-interfering frequencies, thereby maintaining optimized transmission rate while improving transmission reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the frequency band into interfering and non-interfering carrier frequencies, separating data transmission on different frequency subsets to eliminate mutual interference while maintaining overall transmission rate through parallel channels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Use of energy by moving object

If modems are powered by same electrical source, then power distribution is efficient, but coupling by conduction occurs and interference is amplified

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower distribution efficiencyVSAvoidconduction coupling interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the transmission power parameter on specific carrier frequencies by detecting interference conditions and reducing power allocation on interfering frequencies while maintaining total power distribution efficiency through reallocation to non-interfering frequencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2481181B1Method for reducing interferences between a first carrier current signal transmitted between modems of a power grid and a second signal transmitted between modems of another grid
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
  • EP2481181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2481181B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2481181B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and device for reducing interferences between a first carrier current signal (Se) transmitted between modems (MCPL) of a power grid (Re) and a second signal (S) transmitted between modems (M) of another grid (R), said signals (Se, S) being encoded by data distribution over allocated carrier frequencies of a single reserved frequency band (BF). The method is characterized in that it comprises: a step (1) of measuring, by each modem (MCPL) of the power grid, the transmission characteristics of each carrier frequency (F) that may be used for encoding the first signal (Se); a step (2) of detecting, by analyzing the measured transmission characteristics, at least one carrier frequency ( F2,n ), referred to as a second carrier frequency, which is or may be allocated for encoding the second signal (S), and which is common to at least one carrier frequency (F1,m), referred to as a first carrier frequency, which is allocated for encoding the first signal (Se), and measured transmission characteristics of which are degraded relative to those of a previous measurement; and a step (3) of optimizing the data distribution of the first signal (Se) over the carrier frequencies in order to minimize the transmission power level of the first carrier frequencies (F1,m) that are common to the thus-detected second carrier frequencies (F2,n) while optimizing the transmission rate of the first signal (Se).