Powerline Network Bandwidth Management via Dynamic Tone Maps

Solution Overview

Problem

Powerline networks face challenges in managing bandwidth and ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) due to varying transmission characteristics and unpredictable bandwidth requirements, making it difficult to achieve reliable high-quality data transmission in home networking environments.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for bandwidth management in powerline networks, where each station generates tone maps for communication with other stations, monitors bandwidth needs, and requests additional resources from a central coordinator, using channel estimation procedures to adapt to changing channel conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If powerline networks use fixed bandwidth allocation, then device complexity is reduced, but quality of service deteriorates due to inability to adapt to varying transmission characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidbandwidth management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the central coordinator continuously monitors channel conditions and adjusts bandwidth assignments in real-time. The system transitions from fixed to dynamic resource allocation, allowing adaptive modulation and coding rates based on measured signal quality, thereby maintaining high QoS while managing complexity through centralized control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where stations report channel conditions to the central coordinator, which then adjusts bandwidth allocations accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the network to respond to varying transmission characteristics, ensuring optimal QoS while distributing the complexity management burden through coordinated feedback protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If powerline networks implement dynamic bandwidth adjustment, then quality of service improves through better adaptation to channel conditions, but device complexity increases due to additional monitoring and coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to channel conditionsVSAvoidbandwidth management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the central coordinator continuously monitors channel conditions and adjusts bandwidth assignments in real-time. The system transitions from fixed to dynamic resource allocation, allowing adaptive modulation and coding rates based on measured signal quality, thereby maintaining high QoS while managing complexity through centralized control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The central coordinator performs multiple functions including channel monitoring, bandwidth allocation, quality measurement, and coordination of bandwidth requests from multiple stations. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity management in a single device, allowing other stations to maintain simpler implementations while still benefiting from adaptive bandwidth management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If powerline networks use traditional bandwidth management, then device complexity is low, but productivity deteriorates due to inefficient resource utilization and inability to meet varying bandwidth demands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidbandwidth management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the central coordinator continuously monitors channel conditions and adjusts bandwidth assignments in real-time. The system transitions from fixed to dynamic resource allocation, allowing adaptive modulation and coding rates based on measured signal quality, thereby maintaining high QoS while managing complexity through centralized control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary channel estimation and bandwidth determination before actual data transmission begins. The central coordinator pre-calculates optimal bandwidth allocations based on measured signal characteristics, allowing efficient resource utilization from the start of communication and avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments during data transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8737420B2Bandwidth management in a powerline network

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 SHARP KK

AI summary

There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. Each of the stations is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with each of the other stations in the powerline network. Each tone map includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between two of the stations. Each tone map further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone. Each of the stations is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with each of the other stations, where the default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle. Each of the stations is further configurable to monitor its bandwidth needs and to request additional bandwidth from the central coordinator.