Abstract: A transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter receives a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal, and generates a first analog signal based on the first OFDM signal. The first OFDM signal has a first bandwidth, a first spectral position, and a first frequency spectrum. The first frequency spectrum of the first OFDM signal has a first set of frequencies with first amplitudes. The receiver receives a second analog signal, and generates a second OFDM signal based on the second analog signal. The second OFDM signal has a second bandwidth, a second spectral position, and a second frequency spectrum. The second frequency spectrum of the second OFDM signal has a second set of frequencies with second amplitudes. The transmitter varies the first bandwidth, the first spectral position, and the first amplitudes independent of the second bandwidth, the second spectral position, and the second amplitudes.

Abstract: A Powerline Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory coupled to the processing module, and a PLC interface coupled to the processing module. The PLC device transmits a plurality of PLC queries, two of the plurality of PLC queries complying with differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. It then receives a plurality of responses from a plurality of other PLC devices, two responses received from respective PLC devices complying with two differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. The PLC device then directs each of the two PLC devices to transmit communications of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards in an attempt to avoid PLC communication conflicts. The PLC device may establish non-PLC communications with a remote communications device. The PLC device may bridge communications between remote PLC devices and between a remote PLC device and a remote non-PLC device.

Abstract: A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory, a first PLC interface, and a second PLC interface. The PLC device determines that the PLC device will service communications with a first remote PLC device according to a first PLC communication standard and configures the first PLC interface to service communications to support the first PLC communication standard. The PLC device also determines that the PLC device will service communications with a second remote PLC device according to a second PLC communication standard and configures the second PLC interface to service communications to support the second PLC communication standard. The PLC device may service communications via the first and second PLC devices concurrently when the first and second PLC communication standards are not conflicting. The PLC device may transmit communications via the first PLC interface and receive ACKs via the second PLC interface.

Abstract: A Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes a PLC interface, a wireless interface, a processing module, and memory. The PLC device communicates with a second PLC device via the PLC interface to establish a wireless transmission timing base, communicates with the second PLC device via the power mains to coordinate simultaneous wireless data transmissions to a client device from the PLC device and the second PLC device, wirelessly transmits data to the client device based upon the wireless transmission timing base and the coordination with the second PLC device. In combination the PLC devices' simultaneous wireless data transmissions may be Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transmissions, diversity transmissions, and/or beam formed transmissions. In another operation, the PLC device characterizes its surroundings based upon concurrent directional transmission and receipt of wireless transmissions by the PLC device.

Abstract: Communication systems that use different physical layer (PHY) protocols can coexist on a communication medium (e.g., a powerline medium) by using an Inter-PHY Protocol (IPP). The different protocols may use different signal modulation schemes but still may have some features in common. The IPP includes a resource sharing mechanism that regulates access to the communication medium by devices functioning as communication devices (for example, devices communicating over a power line). A subset of devices that communicate among each other form a logical network that shares the medium with other logical networks that use either the same PHY protocol or a different PHY protocol.

Abstract: It is characterized in that, maintaining the sampling frequency of the digital-analog converter of the transmitter and the analog-digital converter of the receiver, the bandwidth, the spectral position of the OFDM signal, the shape of the spectrum of the OFDM signal that is transmitted, the level of the spectrum of the OFDM signal that is transmitted, or any combination of the above, are selectively and independently varied for the transmission path and for the reception path, in order to permit the configuration of the spectrum of the OFDM signal in terms of bandwidth, position in frequency and power transmitted for being adapted to the regulations of different countries and to the channels found in the different sections of the electrical network. All these changes are carried out without affecting the analog components of the system, in other words, with the same physical implementation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network apparatus and associated method configured to form a network of operative devices using, in a main embodiment, powerlines as the network medium. The network medium provides for communication of data between operative devices. The network apparatus comprises plural network node apparatus, each of which comprise a network connector and an operative device connector. At least one of the network node apparatus also comprises a power saving apparatus which provides less power to operative parts of the network node apparatus itself and the operative device to which the network node apparatus is attached during a second operating condition than when in a first operating condition, thereby providing for reduced power consumption in the second operating condition.

Abstract: A power-line communications (PLC) device communicates with a second PLC device via a PLC medium and includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits a Request to Send (RTS) communication to the second PLC device at a first power level. The receiver receives a Clear to Send (CTS) communication from the second PLC device. The transmitter transmits data to the second PLC device at a second power level that is less than the first power level. The transmitter transmits a TDM frame to the second PLC device that includes a preamble and header transmitted at a first power level and at least one special data symbol and a payload transmitted at a second power level that is less than the first power level. The special data symbol resides between the preamble or header and the payload and is usable by the second PLC device for processing of the payload.

Abstract: A communications device includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a wired medium interface circuit that is configured to, in use, communicate data over a wired medium. The second circuit includes a wireless medium interface circuit that is configured to, in use, communicate data over a wireless medium. A destination address controller is included in the first circuit and is operative to determine to which of a plurality of destination addresses at a communications device data is to be communicated from the second circuit. The communications device can have individual visibility of a plurality of destination addresses (e.g. for respective devices) when data is received or transmitted by the wireless medium interface circuit (second circuit).

Abstract: An OFDM frame synchronisation method in which the symbols of the preamble carry a code. The detection of the code allows the frame synchronization in presence of low SNR.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system comprising a transmitter and receiver in communication for transmitting signals through one or more communications channels, wherein at least one of the transmitter and the receiver each comprise a quality measure, which contributes to an overall quality measure for the system and wherein the or each communications channel comprises a plurality of sub-bands between at least two nodes, wherein the plurality of sub-bands each having a specific maximum power spectral densities (PSDs) and wherein one or more sub-bands between the transmitter and the receiver are identified as having a higher maximum PSD than other sub-bandsand wherein the PSD of the one or more identified sub-bands is reduced in a predetermined manner to thereby increase the overall quality measure for the system.

Abstract: A system for performing adaptative multi-carrier code division multiple access (AMC-CDMA) includes first circuitry and modulator circuitry. The first circuitry determines a channel performance metric for each of a plurality of channels. The first circuitry determines at least one parameter of bit loading for each of the channels based on the channel performance metric. The modulator circuitry modulates AMC-CDMA signals using the parameters for bit loading in each of the channels for transmission over a wired connection.

Abstract: A system for performing adaptative multi-carrier code division multiple access (AMC-CDMA) includes first circuitry and modulator circuitry. The first circuitry determines a channel performance metric for each of a plurality of channels. The first circuitry determines at least one parameter of bit loading for each of the channels based on the channel performance metric. The modulator circuitry modulates AMC-CDMA signals using the parameters for bit loading in each of the channels for transmission over a wired connection.

Abstract: A system for performing adaptative multi-carrier code division multiple access (AMC-CDMA) is provided. The system determines a channel performance metric for each of a plurality of carriers and then determines at least one AMC-CDMA parameter for each of the carriers based on the channel performance metric. Modulator circuitry then modulates the signal on each carrier using the specified AMC-CDMA parameters for transmission over a wired connection.

Abstract: A method is described for communicating among multiple devices over a shared communication medium. The method includes, in a schedule among multiple subsets of the devices that includes at least one respective time slot for each subset, transmitting from at least one of the devices in a given subset a presence signal associated with the given subset within a time slot for the given subset. A presence signal associated with a given subset is configured to indicate the presence of at least one device in the given subset. The method also includes communicating among devices in a given subset based on presence signals detected from one or more devices in at least one different subset.

Abstract: The system includes a plurality of user kits and a head-end kit in bi-directional communication over the electricity network. Its essential characteristics are: carrier by carrier treatment of transmission and reception signals and control of transmission power in each kit. The system makes it possible to reach the maximum the number of users, it maximizes transmission capacity, it admits signals coming from users situated at varying distances both near and far, it avoids the production of overflows, it introduces the maximum average power for the range available to the communication and it minimizes the number of bits necessary for the analog/digital conversion in reception.

Abstract: This permits the transmission of signals over the electricity network in such a way that the spectral density of power is adjusted to the regulations in the current rules by means of the possibility of introducing notches in transmission in an efficient manner. It is characterised by the adjustment of the power in one or more carriers of an OFDM signal for generating these notches, through the use of IDFTs of at least 1024 points (if the IDFT is complex) or at least 2048 points (if the IDFT is real) and through the use of a window to multiply the symbols to be transmitted in time.

Abstract: A system for performing adaptative multi-carrier code division multiple access (AMC-CDMA) includes first circuitry and modulator circuitry. The first circuitry determines a channel performance metric for each of a plurality of channels. The first circuitry determines at least one parameter of bit loading for each of the channels based on the channel performance metric. The modulator circuitry modulates AMC-CDMA signals using the parameters for bit loading in each of the channels for transmission over a wired connection.

Abstract: It is characterized in that, maintaining the sampling frequency of the digital-analog converter of the transmitter and the analog-digital converter of the receiver, the bandwidth, the spectral position of the OFDM signal, the shape of the spectrum of the OFDM signal that is transmitted, the level of the spectrum of the OFDM signal that is transmitted, or any combination of the above, are selectively and independently varied for the transmission path and for the reception path, in order to permit the configuration of the spectrum of the OFDM signal in terms of bandwidth, position in frequency and power transmitted for being adapted to the regulations of different countries and to the channels found in the different sections of the electrical network. All these changes are carried out without affecting the analog components of the system, in other words, with the same physical implementation.

Abstract: This permits the transmission of signals over the electricity network in such a way that the spectral density of power is adjusted to the regulations in the current rules by means of the possibility of introducing notches in transmission in an efficient manner. It is characterised by the adjustment of the power in one or more carriers of an OFDM signal for generating these notches, through the use of IDFTs of at least 1024 points (if the IDFT is complex) or at least 2048 points (if the IDFT is real) and through the use of a window to multiply the symbols to be transmitted in time.