Detection of broadcast signals for defining useable frequency bands for powerline communication

US7158013B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sony Deutschland GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Andreas Schwager · Stuttgart, DE
• Peter Buchner · Kirchheim unter Teck, DE
• Markus Zumkeller · Schwaikheim, DE
• Lothar Stadelmeier · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 14, 2004
• Grant date: Jan 2, 2007
• Expiry date: Oct 31, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04B2203/5495
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method for defining useable frequency bands for a powerline communication (PLC) system (101) using power supply lines of a power supply network (104a) for interconnecting a number of PLC nodes (302, 306) such that electromagnetic emissions generated by PLC signals (s(t)) transmitted via said power supply lines do not interfere with broadcast RF signals radiated in the same frequency bands. Before starting own communication activities, PLC nodes (302, 306) participating in a PLC session scan (S1a) the entire frequency range designated for powerline communication to detect (S1b) frequency bands which are occupied by broadcast services. During powerline communication the occurrence of broadcast signals is regularly checked (S2) by screening (S2a) the entire frequency range designated for powerline communication and detecting (S2b) relevant broadcast bands that should be omitted during powerline communication to avoid interference noise (n(t)). After that, new frequency bands for powerline communication are allocated (S3) within said frequency range, provided that these new bands are not occupied by any detected wireless service.