Power Line Adapters for Wireless Coverage Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies face challenges in providing ubiquitous coverage, especially for Smart Grid sensors and meters, due to limited outdoor-to-indoor penetration and high interference on power lines, and struggle with supporting a large number of machine-type terminals.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses adapters to select and transmit time-division duplex (TDD) or frequency-division duplex (FDD) frequency channels over power lines, reducing interference and enhancing wireless communication performance by coupling nodes with power line networks and broadcasting central frequency points, while enabling MIMO operations using a single pair of power line conductors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If wireless signals are transmitted over power lines to extend coverage, then wireless coverage is improved, but interference on power lines increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (frequency selection and channel assessment) between the wireless signal and power line medium to reduce direct interference. By selecting optimal frequency channels and using power lines as a relay rather than direct transmission medium, the system extends coverage while managing interference through intermediate processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes frequency parameters to avoid interfered channels. By assessing power line conditions and selecting frequency channels with less interference, the system adapts transmission parameters to maintain coverage extension while minimizing harmful interference effects on the power line medium.
2Reliability
If frequency channels are selected to reduce interference, then communication performance is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-assessment of power line interference conditions and automatically selects optimal frequency channels without external intervention. Each node assesses its own channel quality and makes autonomous frequency selection decisions, reducing the need for complex centralized control while maintaining reliable communication performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where nodes assess channel conditions and adjust frequency channel selection based on measured interference levels. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain optimal communication performance by continuously adapting to changing power line conditions without requiring overly complex predetermined configurations.
3Productivity
If MIMO operations are enabled using power line conductors, then data transmission capacity is improved, but interference management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MIMO transmission across multiple frequency channels on the power line conductors. By dividing the data transmission capacity across different frequency segments rather than using a single channel, the system achieves high throughput while distributing interference management across multiple independent segments, making interference control more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-dimensional interference management to multi-dimensional control by utilizing frequency division. MIMO operations are enabled across multiple frequency dimensions on the power line conductors, allowing the system to achieve high data capacity while managing interference in the frequency domain rather than time or space alone.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of extending the coverage of a wireless communication network having two or more nodes communicating over power lines network is provided herein. The method includes: providing the nodes with respective adapters, each one of the adapters coupling its respective node with the power lines network and being further operable in at least one of: receiving mode, transmitting mode; selecting one or more time-division duplex frequency channel or two or more frequency-division duplex frequency channels for communication over the power line media, such that less interfered frequencies are used, to maintain or to yield an increase in wireless communication performance between the nodes; broadcasting over the power line, via at least one of the adaptors, signals or information indicative of a central frequency point for each one of the selected frequency channels; and establishing a communication link over the power lines network between the nodes via the adaptors.