Abstract: Apparatus (and related methods) for a power line communication network include a processor configured to receive beacons over a communication interface. The processor determines a link quality indicator (LQI) for each received beacon and ignores the beacons for at most a predetermined maximum number of beacon receptions when each LQI is below a threshold. The processor responds to a received beacon if the LQI for such received beacon exceeds the threshold or if a predetermined maximum number of beacons have been received with LQIs below the threshold.

Abstract: A data receiving device capable of reducing power consumption. A data receiving device according to the present invention has a receiving circuit and a power reduction circuit. The receiving circuit includes a receiver for receiving differential signals, a decode circuit, and a control circuit. The power reduction circuit puts the receiver into an on state in accordance with timing of a data reception start by the receiving circuit, and puts the receiver into an off state in accordance with timing of a data reception end by the receiving circuit. Further, the control circuit puts the power reduction circuit into an off state in accordance with the timing of the data reception start by the receiving circuit, and puts the power reduction circuit into an on state in accordance with the timing of the data reception end by the receiving circuit.

Abstract: A signal line sharing protocol and hardware permit control of a remotely located active device configured to provide different load configurations to an antenna. As an example, the communication system may include a master device. The master device may include a general purpose output and a radio frequency port. The communication system may further include a first duplexer and a second duplexer. The first duplexer may include a first port, a second port, and a third port, where the second port is coupled to the radio frequency port and the third port is coupled to the general purpose output of the master device. The second duplexer may include a first port, a second port, and a third port, where the first port of the second duplexer is in communication with the first port of the first duplexer, wherein the second port is coupled to an antenna, and where the third port is in communication with a slave device. The slave device may be coupled to the antenna.

Abstract: Provided are a power line communication device and the like capable of keeping attenuation of electric power of a control signal to a minimum. The power line communication device includes a communication unit (220) and a switch unit (SW). The communication unit (220) is connected in parallel to a PV panel (10) that is connected in series to a power line (PL), and communicates the control signal relating to power generation by the PV panel (10) through the power line (PL). The switch unit (SW) is connected in parallel to the communication unit (220).

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention allow for electronic labeling and identification of electronic equipment. Contact-based and contactless systems and methods to electronically associate hardware are described.

Abstract: A communications device includes a PLC interface operable to couple at least two differing communication signals to at least two differing pairs of at least three conductors of a powerline medium. A processing module of the device and the PLC interface interact with a remote PLC device to determine connectivity of the remote PLC device to the PLC device via the at least three conductors of the powerline medium, select at least two conductor pairs of the powerline medium that communicatively couple the PLC device to the remote PLC device for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) signal servicing, and simultaneously transmit MIMO PLC signals to the remote PLC device via the at least two conductor pairs. The communications device may also include a non-PLC interface, with the communications device operable to divide MIMO communications between a powerline medium and a non-PLC medium, e.g., coaxial cable, cat-5 cable.

Abstract: A LIN network comprises a transmit driver for communicating on a single communication bus. A slope control module is operably coupled to a supply voltage and arranged to identify a voltage transition, and in response thereto and via control of the transmit driver selectively apply one of: a first voltage transition mode comprising a constant DV/DT slope transition, or a second voltage transition mode comprising a fixed time transition.

Abstract: A Powerline Communications (PLC) device includes processing circuitry, memory coupled to the processing circuitry, and a PLC interface coupled to the processing circuitry. The PLC device transmits a plurality of PLC queries, two of the plurality of PLC queries complying with differing PLC communication standards, receives a plurality of responses from a plurality of other PLC devices, responses received from two PLC devices complying with differing PLC communication standards, directs the two PLC devices to transmit communications according to respective differing PLC communication standards in an attempt to avoid PLC communication conflicts. The differing PLC communication standards may include a HomePlug communication standard and an ITU home networking (G.hn) communication standard. The PLC device may convert communications between the differing PLC communication standards.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a method of performance stabilization for multi-carrier DSL. A real signal-to-noise ratio is measured for each of a plurality of channels. A reference signal-to-noise ratio is calculated based on both the real signal-to-noise ratio and a virtual signal-to-noise ratio. Bit loading is set for at least one of the plurality of channels based on the reference signal-to-noise ratio. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method provides digital communication over an electrical power supply cable between a management processor in a circuit breaker panel (CBP) and a management processor in a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the CBP has a CBP identification code (ID) and the PDU has a PDU ID. The digital communication provides the CBP management processor with the PDU ID for the PDU that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the CBP, or the digital communication provides the PDU management processor with the CBP ID for the CBP that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the PDU. The method further comprises identifying the electrical power supply cable connection by communicating first and second endpoints of the electrical power cable connection to a cluster management entity, wherein the first endpoint is identified by the CBP ID and the second endpoint is identified by the PDU ID.

Abstract: A differential signal output device includes a first transmitting terminal and a second transmitting terminal that superimpose a differential signal and a common mode signal and output the superimposed signals. The differential signal output device includes a differential signal generating circuit that generates the differential signal in response to a data signal and outputs the differential signal to the first transmitting terminal and the second transmitting terminal. The differential signal output device includes a common mode signal generating circuit that generates the common mode signal in response to a clock signal, outputs the common mode signal to the first transmitting terminal and the second transmitting terminal, and controls a slew rate of the common mode signal in response to a control signal.

Abstract: An opening area between twisted portions of a pair of twisted wires is arranged to be opposite to an opening area of an aperture antenna of each of communication apparatuses. Thus, the use of the pair of twisted wires permits division of electric power among the communication apparatuses and also communication of signals. In particular, among the opening areas between the twisted portions of the pair of twisted wires, only an opening area, which is in between the twisted portion and the twisted portion and is opposite to the aperture antenna, is formed to be larger than a different opening area. This provides a vehicular power line communication system and a transmitter in the system; the system strengthens electromagnetic induction connection between the transmitter and the receiver to permit power line communication.

Abstract: A method for receiving signals over a power line network, within the power line network at least one transmitter and at least one receiver communicate via at least two channels, each of the channels having a respective feeding port of the at least one transmitter and a respective receiving port of the at least one receiver, and the receiver having at least two receiving ports. The method determines a channel characteristic of each of the channels, applies a receiving port selection criterion based on the channel characteristic, and selects an excluded receiving port among the at least two receiving ports based on the receiving port selection criterion, the excluded receiving port is not used during further communication.

Abstract: An information handling system device includes a plurality of electronic components; an electric circuit including at least one trace for connecting two or more of the plurality of electronic components and transmitting data between the plurality of electronic components via at least one electric signal; and a substrate including an insulating material for serving as a base for the electric circuit, wherein each of the at least one electric signal transmitted between the plurality of electronic components is transmitted utilizing slope manipulation by manipulating each of the at least one electric signal to provide a slope substantially proportional to a discrete integer data value of n discrete integer data values, n being a positive integer greater than or equal to 3, said discrete integer data value represented by using one of n distinct slopes transmitted utilizing a particular reference voltage of n predetermined reference voltages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a delay detector circuit that delivers performance at low cost and can reduce power consumption, and a receiver apparatus that uses this delay detector circuit. The delay detector circuit according to the present invention performs a part of the decoding processing for decoding data transmitted by a transmitter apparatus based on a received wave. The receiver apparatus according to the present invention uses the delay detector circuit described above. Therefore the delay detector circuit and receiver apparatus of the present invention deliver performance at low cost and can reduce power consumption.

Abstract: A receiver circuit to receive signals from first and second pairs of transmission lines includes first and second interfaces, each with first and second input nodes to receive respective signals. The receiver circuit also includes a resistor network with first, second, third, and fourth resistive elements. The first and second resistive elements are each connected between the input nodes of a respective interface. The third and fourth resistive elements each include a pair of resistors connected in series between the input nodes of a respective interface, and an intermediate node between the resistors. The intermediate nodes are connected to an AC ground. The receiver circuit further includes a differential amplifier with first and second inputs coupled respectively to the first and second interfaces and an output to provide a signal derived from common mode components of the signals received at the input nodes.

Abstract: Embodiments provide solutions to reduce power utilization (either at individual cable modems or in the overall network) in future cable modem networks. Particularly, embodiments seek to reduce power utilization at individual cable modems and in the overall network, by allocating upstream frequency bands and/or transmission modulation schemes among cable modems while accounting for cable loss experienced by individual upstream cable modem transmissions. According to embodiments, frequency spectrum and modulation scheme allocation techniques are provided to optimize power utilization and enable lower upstream transmission power by cable modems while maintaining similar signal strength of received signals or lower signal strength with reduced SNR requirements using lower capacity modulation at the headend.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive modulation and coding with frame size adjustment are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include identifying a temporal region of a cyclostationary noise over which a frame is to be sent across a PLC network, the cyclostationary noise having a plurality of temporal regions, each of the plurality of temporal regions having a distinct spectral shape. The method may also include applying a given one of a plurality of Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCSs) to the frame to produce a modulated frame, wherein the given one of the plurality of MCSs is selected based, least in part, upon the spectral shape corresponding to the identified temporal region. The method may further include transmitting the modulated frame across the PLC network, at least in part, over the identified temporal region.

Abstract: An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.

Abstract: A system for coordinating transmissions of power line communication (PLC) devices may include a processor and a memory. The processor may be configured to receive channel state information (CSI) from primary PLC devices. The primary PLC devices may be communicatively coupled to secondary PLC devices via collocated power lines, such as bundled power lines. Thus, the transmission of a primary PLC device over a power line to a secondary PLC device may be electromagnetically coupled onto the other power lines, thereby causing far-end crosstalk (FEXT) interference with respect to other secondary PLC devices. The processor may be configured to determine precoding information for compensating for the FEXT interference based at least on the received CSI. The processor may be configured to provide at least a portion of the precoding information to the primary PLC devices and to coordinate precoded transmissions of the primary PLC devices to mitigate the FEXT interference.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building, transmitting, and receiving frame structures in power line communications (PLC) are described. Various techniques described herein provide a preamble design using one or more symbols based on a chirp signal that yields a low peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). According to some techniques, the preamble may be constructed with one or more different types and/or number of symbols configured to identify a PLC domain operating in close physical proximity to another PLC domain. According to other techniques, one or more preamble symbols may be interspersed within a header portion of a PLC frame to facilitate estimation of a frame boundary and/or sampling frequency offset, for example, in the presence of impulsive noise. According to yet other techniques, a PLC detector may be capable of receiving and decoding two or more types of PLC frames (e.g., using different PLC standards).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of transferring data from a source to a destination on an alternating current (AC) power waveform propagating over a utility power distribution network, where the computer includes a processor operatively coupled to the utility power distribution network via a power supply, includes sending a request over the power distribution network to create a virtual communication channel between the source and the destination on the power distribution network. The method further includes generating, by the processor, a data packet to be transmitted from the source to the destination via the virtual communication channel, and modulating the power drawn from the power supply to encode a series of static pulses onto the AC at predetermined intervals according to a function of frequency that is unique to the virtual communication channel.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of transferring data from a source to a destination on an alternating current (AC) power waveform propagating over a utility power distribution network, where the computer includes a processor operatively coupled to the utility power distribution network via a power supply, includes sending a request over the power distribution network to create a virtual communication channel between the source and the destination on the power distribution network. The method further includes generating, by the processor, a data packet to be transmitted from the source to the destination via the virtual communication channel, and modulating the power drawn from the power supply to encode a series of static pulses onto the AC at predetermined intervals according to a function of frequency that is unique to the virtual communication channel.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and circuits cancel a reflection on a channel. A main signal conditioning module improves the quality of a signal for transmission on a channel. In addition, a reflection cancellation module generates a signal that cancels reflections generated on the channel in order to improve the quality of the transmitted signal for a receiver. A summer combines an output signal from the main signal conditioning module and the reflection cancellation module.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter relates to powerline communications (PLC) in an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) environment. A communications signal is applied to a power line by a PLC transmitting device. A receiver is provided that evaluates communications signals based on the power coupled to the power line by the transmitting device. In one present embodiment, PLC signal voltage and current levels are multiplied together to evaluate signal power to reproduce received PLC signals.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a transceiver includes a bidirectional data transmission circuit coupled to a direction control circuit and method for transmitting electrical signals in one or more directions. The direction control circuit generates a comparison signal in response to comparing input/output signals of the bidirectional data transmission circuit. Transmission path enable signals are generated in response to the comparison signal.

Abstract: A single-ended data transmission system transmits a signal having a signal voltage that is referenced to a power supply voltage and that swings above and below the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage is coupled to a power supply rail that also serves as a signal return path. The signal voltage is derived from two signal supply voltages generated by a pair of charge pumps that draw substantially same amount of current from a power supply.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for aligning lanes of low speed serial links coupled to a transceiver. The transceiver cooperatively performs lane alignment operations with a low speed device during initialization of the transceiver and the low speed device. The lane alignment operations are performed in-band using the low speed serial links, and therefore, do not require additional out-of-band-signaling wires between the transceiver and the low speed device to perform the lane alignment operations. The lane alignment operations may be performed by a handshaking process performed by the transceiver and the low speed device, where the transceiver and the low speed device provide training pattern(s) of data that are used to align the low speed serial links. The low speed serial links are continuously monitored after initialization is complete to detect various transient impairments and to re-initiate lane alignment operations in response to detecting such impairments.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement with a transmission arrangement is disclosed including a transformer.

Abstract: A power line communication system includes a power distribution device connected to two power lines, a plurality of power line communication devices and a first coupler device electrically connected between the first power line and the second power line. The first coupler device is configured at the last end of the power line communication system. Before a transmitting device transmits data to a receiving device, the first coupler device determines whether to couple the power lines with each other according a first signal quality between the transmitting and the receiving device when the power lines are not coupled with each other and a second signal quality between the transmitting and the receiving device when the power lines are coupled with each other.

Abstract: A transceiver with a compensator circuit and a method for signaling are disclosed. A common mode signal detector in the transceiver detects a common mode signal, and the compensator circuit adjusts one or more component of a differential signal based on the common mode signal to pre-compensate the differential signal so that the effect of noise interference or imbalance in the circuitry is reduced.

Abstract: An ECU of a transmission side performs a first conversion of converting a single bit of original baseband data into a four-bit bit pattern, which indicates one of two kinds of “0” and “1” of the single bit, to thereby prepare after-conversion baseband data, and transmits the after-conversion baseband data as transmission data to a transmission line. An ECU of a reception side restores the original baseband data by performing a second conversion of the received transmission data. The second conversion is the reverse of the first conversion. The ECU of the transmission side transmits the transmission data that includes a training pattern, which indicates a bit period of the transmission data, in addition to the after-conversion baseband data. The ECU of the reception side specifies the bit period of the transmission data based on the training pattern in the received transmission data.

Abstract: In a method for communicating with a plurality of devices using different communication protocols, a signal is received at a transceiver device from a neighbor device via a physical layer of a communication media. At a first time the signal contains a header frame from a first device conforming to a first communication protocol and at another time the signal contains a header frame from a second device conforming to a second communication protocol. The transceiver determines which of the different communication protocols is being used by each of the plurality of devices. The transceiver may then process inbound payload data using the indentified protocol type. Data frames are transmitted to the first device using the first communication protocol and data frames are transmitted to the second device using the second communication protocol.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a demodulation and decoding method and apparatus for a given user equipment device to receive a one or more Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) symbols over a control channel, where the OFDM symbols comprise a plurality of resource element groups distributed in time and frequency that are combined to form control channel elements. Those resource element groups that form specific control channel elements for the user equipment device and those resource element groups that form common control channel elements for one or more user equipment devices including the given user equipment device are identified. The resource element groups that form the specific control channel elements and the resource element groups that form the common control channel elements are demodulated to generate encoded control messages comprising one or more control channel elements.

Abstract: A method of processing a boot sequence for a processor forming a part of a module apparatus involves interrogating a host television device to determine if the host television device requires use of an application execution engine residing on the module apparatus; receiving a reply to the interrogation; and responsive to the reply, establishing a mode of operation wherein the application execution engine is used to execute application code for the host television device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: A signal transmission device includes: a detector circuit that detects impulse noises having been applied to the transmission line, the detector circuit being composed of an analog circuit; a noise counter that counts the impulse noises detected by the detector circuit and observes occurrence intervals of the impulse noises; and a data length changer that varies a data length of the communication frames depending on the occurrence intervals of the impulse noises observed by the noise counter.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a customer node configured to couple to an access node and to receive via a channel from the access node a time of day (TOD) value and a corresponding sample index (SNUM) value, wherein the TOD value and the SNUM value are used to estimate a second time of day (TOD?) value based on a propagation delay of the channel (L-Delay), and wherein the TOD value and the TOD? value are used to estimate a second SNUM value (SNUM?) based on L-Delay and a plurality of parameters.

Abstract: A method and a system for transferring a digital signal through a transformer, in which the current in a primary winding of the transformer is a frequency-modulated signal exhibiting sinusoidal trains of different durations according to the rising or falling edge of the digital signal to be transferred.

Abstract: A method for transmitting a signal from a transmitter over a channel to a receiver on a Power Line Network, wherein said signal is OFDM-modulated on a set of sub-carriers, is proposed, wherein an OFDM tonemap and an eigenbeamforming encoding matrix are determined based on a channel estimation for each sub-carrier, a tonemap feedback signal and an eigenbeamforming feedback signal are generated, which are descriptive of said OFDM tonemap and said eigenbeamforming encoding matrix, respectively, and transmitted to the transmitter. A corresponding receiver, a transmitter, a power line communication and a power line communication system are described as well.

Abstract: A player and an AV amplifier are connected via a cable. An amplifying device amplifies an output signal supplied to an output terminal 14, and outputs the amplified output signal as a transmission signal to the cable. An amplifying device amplifies an output signal supplied to an output terminal, and outputs the amplified output signal as a transmission signal to a cable. An operation device subtracts the output signal supplied to the output terminal from the transmission signal output to the cable. An operation device subtracts the output signal supplied to the output terminal from the transmission signal output to the cable. Therefore, the transmission signal from the AV amplifier is supplied to an input terminal, and the transmission signal from the player is supplied to an input terminal. The transmission signal includes a two-way communication bit indicating whether two-way communication is enabled.

Abstract: A switch circuit connects a switch (SW) to a connector when a connector receives a signal and connects the switch (SW) to a terminal when the connector receives power. The connector receives a signal and power transmitted at the same frequency, outputs the received signal to a communication unit through an attenuator, and outputs the received power to a power receiving unit. The communication unit carries out reception processing to the signal and outputs the processed signal to a computer. The power receiving unit carries out reception processing to the power and stores the processed power. The power receiving unit supplies the communication unit or the computer with the stored power.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter with increased sub-range resolution. The device includes an analog front end that produces an analog communication signal, a digital front end that receives a digital communication signal, and an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) that samples the analog communication signal across a full-range. The ADC includes a full-range ADC having a first quantization accuracy configured to sample the analog communication signal across the full-range and a central sub-range ADC having a second quantization accuracy greater than the first quantization accuracy and configured to sample the analog communication signal across a central sub-range of the full-range. The ADC also includes signal combining circuitry configured to process outputs of the full-range ADC and the central sub-range ADC to create the digital communication signal.

Abstract: A method for operating a Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes identifying at least one proximately located load device using the wireless interface, determining device characteristics of the at least one proximately located load device using the wireless interface, communicating with a remote PLC device via the PLC interface, and transmitting to the remote PLC device via the PLC interface the device characteristics of the at least one proximately located load device. Operation may further include establishing wireless communications with the at least one proximately located device, querying the at least one proximately located device wirelessly, and receiving the device characteristics wirelessly. Other operations include creating a diagrammatic representation of a premises representing a plurality of areas and passages between the plurality of areas and including wireless reception quality for each of the plurality of spaces.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards a circuit-based apparatus for receiving data communications over power distribution lines that carry power using alternating current (AC). The apparatus has a processing circuit that is configured and arranged to receive an input signal representing the data communications over power distribution lines. For a quadrature encoded signal, the input signal is separated into intermediary signals representing a real portion of and an imaginary portion. The processing circuit can then determine timing information from the real portion of and the imaginary portion. The intermediary signals can then be decimated according to a variable rate of decimation that is responsive to the determined timing information. The decimated intermediary signals are also filtered.

Abstract: A universal OFDM synchronizer for power line communication is provided. The universal OFDM synchronizer can be used for all known OFDM standards and allows maximum flexibility with best performance. The OFDM synchronizer comprises of a preamble averaging, a correlator and a peak discriminator. The OFDM synchronizer can be used with signals having 256 sample size preamble or 512 sample size preamble.

Abstract: A vectored DSL system reduces or eliminates correlated alien interference in active DSL lines in the vectored system by collecting pseudo signals from inactive lines that do not carry upstream DSL transmissions and/or from common-mode voltage signals from active lines. The collected pseudo signals contain in-domain interference, such as FEXT interference from the active DSL lines in the vectored system, and correlated alien interference. After removing the in-domain interference from the pseudo signals, the remaining alien interference data can be used to generate FEXT cancellation coefficients or the like that are used in DSL vectoring to remove the correlated alien interference from upstream DSL user signals from the active DSL lines. The generated FEXT cancellation coefficients are used in a manner analogous to in-domain FEXT data collected from the active lines during training, tracking, etc.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for discriminating between two types of encoding schemes for the frame control header (FCH) used in G3-type narrow band OFDM communications. The two modes for encoding are Differential with respect to the previous Symbol (DS) and Differential with respect to the Preamble (DP).

Abstract: A signal transmission device including: a differential signal transmission unit having two output terminals for outputting a differential signal to a paired signal lines including first and second signal lines; a single-ended signal transmission unit having two output terminals for outputting independent two-channel single-ended signals to the paired signal lines; and a filter unit having first and second common mode filters. One terminal of the differential signal transmission unit and one terminal of the single-ended signal transmission unit are connected to the first signal line via one inductor of the first common mode filter of the filter unit. The other one terminal of the differential signal transmission unit and the other one terminal of the single-ended signal transmission unit are connected to the second signal line via one inductor of the second common mode filter of the filter unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for estimating properties of a transmission line by means of features of a noise spectrum generated by noise entering said transmission line at an intermediate location between the ends of the line. The invention provides possibility to estimate a number of properties, e.g. length of a portion of the transmission line, line attenuation of said line portion and even line termination.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to aspects of the subject technology provide non-interruptive filtering of transmission line communications. The non-interruptive filtering may physically isolate, in the frequency domain, independent networks that share a common transmission media, such as mains wires that are used to deliver both alternating current (AC) power and power line communication signals. The isolation provided by the non-interruptive filtering prevents the transmissions from the independent networks from interfering with each other. In one or more implementations, the non-interruptive filtering may be provided by one or more filters that include cores, such as ferrite cores, around which two mains wires, e.g. a mains live wire and a mains neutral wire, can be wound in opposite directions, respectively. Currents traveling on the mains wires through the filter in opposite phases cancel each other out, thereby blocking symmetric power line transmissions, while allowing AC power to pass through.