Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure are directed to methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying network events. In one aspect, a method includes monitoring signal characteristic values for signals transmitted over a communications channel of a power line communications system and determining that a signal level value for the channel is less than a threshold signal level value for the channel. In response to determining that the signal level value for the channel is less than the threshold signal level value for the channel, a signal to noise ratio for the communications channel is computed and it is determined that the signal to noise ratio for the channel exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the signal to noise ratio for the communications channel exceeds the threshold value, data received over the communications channel is stored as valid data.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for dividing workload in a digital signal processing system. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to receive a three phase analog waveform and a digital waveform. The system can also include a first DSP configured to interface with an external computer and a second DSP configured to receive the digital waveform and isolate a specified frequency range. The system can also include a plurality of DSP's configured to extract specified channels from the specified frequency range and output the extracted channel data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting receiver gain adjustment values. In one aspect, a method includes receiving aggregate signal characteristic values (“aggregate values”) for a plurality of signals being received over active channels of a power line communications network, the aggregate values being computed based on signal characteristic values for each of the signals being received over the active channels. Using the aggregate values, a determination is made that one or more of the aggregate values have been outside of a valid range of signal characteristic values over a specified period. In response to determining that the aggregate values have been outside of the valid range, a receiver gain adjustment value is selected based on the aggregate values and a receiver gain of a receiver that receives the signals is adjusted.

Abstract: An embodiment of a communication system can control transmission of a data signal to a power distribution network based on signal data measured from the power distribution network. The signal data may represent an amount of crosstalk or an amount of noise experienced on the power distribution network. The signal data and an identification of at least one active power line coupler unit can be used to determine an adjustment to one or more power line coupler units. A control signal that represents the adjustment can be used to adjust the power line coupler units.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for. In one aspect, a method includes detecting, by an end point, a first broadcast message specifying a first network identifier for a first PLC network and a first unique substation identifier for a first substation processing unit that belongs to the first PLC network. Data is encoded with the first network identifier and the first unique substation identifier and the encoded first data is transmitted to the first substation processing unit.

Abstract: An embodiment of a communication system can generate a composite signal that includes two or more different signals, where the signals represent different types of data. A data signal having one or more pulses that represent digital data of a first type is provided. A control signal that is a digital bit stream is provided. A composite signal is generated by multiplying a frequency of the data signal by a factor and modifying widths of pulses based on the bits of the control signal. The composite signal can be provided to a receiver device over a communication medium. The receiver device can determine the data signal and the control signal from the composite signal.

Abstract: A network status is determined based on channel data specifying at least one channel characteristic of a communications channel. Changes in various channel characteristics are indicative of changes in a status of a distributed network. Therefore, these channel characteristics can be monitored over time to identify changes to the status of the distributed network. Changes to channel characteristics can be identified based on normalized channel data that is normalized relative to reference channel data. Status scores are generated based on the normalized channel data. The status scores are, in turn, normalized for channels that are identified as valid channels. The normalized status scores are adjusted based on variations of the channel data and the network status is identified based on status score variations. Status data identifying the network status is generated based on the status of the network.