Asymmetric Channel Based Networking Algorithm of Broadband Power Line Communications

The popularity of the Power Line Communication (PLC) system has decreased due to significant deficiencies in the technology itself, even though new wire installation is not required. In particular, regarding the request for high-speed throughput to fulfill smart-grid requirements, Broadband Power Line (BPLC) can be considered. This paper approaches PLC technology as an object of simulation experimentation in the Broadband Power Line Communication (BPLC) area. Several experimental measurements in a real environment are also given. This paper demonstrates these experimental simulation results as potential mechanisms for creating a complex simulation tool for various PLC technologies focusing on communication with end devices such as sensors and meters. The aim is to demonstrate the potential and limits of BPLC technology for implementation in Smart Grids or Smart Metering applications.

For the new energy microgrid oriented communication technologies, the broadband power line communication (BPLC) is able to achieve high speed, but there still exists anti-jamming and the anti-attenuation problems. The two-way Automatic Communication System (TWACS) has better performance on anti-jamming and the anti-attenuation ability. In this article, analysis is conducted on the communication principle of both BPLC and TWACS. The transmission model is proposed for integrated communication of BPLC and TWACS based on Wegener distribution. The transmission characteristic model of BPLC and TWACS is evaluated by simulation. The channel state is also determined by the noise with Wegener distribution, which can be used for the carrier frequency selection to better the performance of BPLC.

This paper investigates the physical layer security of in-home and broadband power line communications (PLC) systems threatened by colluding wireless communication (WLC) eavesdroppers, which are localized near or far from the transmitter and operate in the same frequency band. In this regard, we show that PLC and hybrid PLC-WLC channels can be considered as uncorrelated random processes. In the sequel, we confirm the severity of a WLC eavesdropper or a group of them located near the transmitter. Also, we show that a group of colluding WLC eavesdroppers located far from the transmitter poses the same security risk of only one WLC eavesdropper located near the transmitter. Finally, a discussion of wiretap code rates for achieving effective secrecy throughput is presented.

Broadband PLC (power line communication) has become one of the most important communication technologies for Smart Gird applications, especially for AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) and HAN (Home Area Network). Currently, most broadband PLC products are based on OFDM, DMT or Spread-Spectrum technologies. Their performances differ from each other on certain circumstances. This paper proposes a performance testing model to test PLC devices' Transmitting Capacity and Noise Tolerance. Four PLC devices using different modulation technologies respectively are tested. In addition, the performances of different technologies are analyzed and some discussions are made. To reduce the affection of noise brought in by electric appliances, an "isolating socket" is introduced, which can filter the noises on the appliance side.

The great advantages and huge amount of profits that broadband PLC (power line communication) brought are becoming more and more attractive to us. MV (medium voltage) and LV (low voltage) broadband PLC system built on MV and LV power distribution network, which sufficiently use power grids resources and save investment spent during information construction, become powerful competitor of traditional network such as optical fiber, xDSL and so on. In this paper, we take Broadband PLC system produced by TaiYuan ZhongBo information scientific institution for example, and discuss the development, system structure, characteristics and application of MV and LV broadband PLC system in detail. (6 pages)

In this paper, we introduce a new scheme called Mutual Preamble Detection (MPD) to reduce the collision recovery time in broadband power line communication (BB-PLC) networks. Although latest BB- PLC products deliver a physical layer data rate of over 1000 Mbps, this is not efficiently translated into the medium access control (MAC) layer throughput due to several factors, including the long time intervals taken to recover from collisions. To address this, we use in-band full duplex operation to enable network nodes to transmit and simultaneously detect preambles, making them aware of a potential frame collision. With the detection of such a potential collision, we compel the network nodes to refrain from frame transmission in order to avoid the lengthy collision recovery time. The near-zero values of detection error and false alarm probabilities ensure the feasibility of our scheme in typical in-home BB-PLC networks. We present OMNeT++ simulation results to demonstrate the considerable increase in MAC efficiency obtained by using our proposed MPD scheme, over a traditional BB-PLC protocol.

Broadband power line communication (BPLC) networks are promising mediums for network access technology by which broadband services can be offered, such as remote meter reading, broadband internet access, digital entertainment and home networking services. This paper presents a modified multipath channel model for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems and analyzes the channel capacity and bit-error-rate performance of MIMO orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) based BPLC over that channel model. The widely-used single-input single-output (SISO) channel model (also called Zimmermann's model [3]) is extended to the MIMO channel model considering coupling effects among conductors.

Broadband Power Line Communications (BPL) has the potential to play a significant role in smart metering and smart grid, due to its ability to transfer data with high rate and low latency over the existing infrastructure. The current planning and design of BPL networks for smart grid is manual, experience based, time consuming, and sub-optimal. In order to automate the planning process, compare multiple scenarios, and optimize the roll-out taking into account various input criteria and constraints, a planning tool is needed. In this paper, evaluation and validation results from the field test of an BPL planning tool for smart grid networks are presented. Two network setups has been first initiated in the laboratory to validate the concept of the BPL planning tool. The BPL planning tool has been then evaluated in the field. The simulation results of the BPL planning tool were fitting with the results of the field test.

This paper presents a feasible set of analog ASIC requirements optimized to achieve co-existence in a broadband power line communications (PLC) system based on frequency division multiplexing (FDM). FDM is the most straightforward way to achieve co-existence between different systems, however, this involves many design challenges at the circuit level. First, a short description will be given of the PLC system, which is under development in the EU funded IST POWERNET project. It will be shown that conventional receiver architectures, typically designed for time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes, are not well suited for FDM systems e.g. due to challenges arising from near/far situations. Solutions to improve the performance will be discussed and simulation results will be presented of the proposed architecture, based on parameters extracted from circuit designs, to show the feasibility of high bit rates in FDM transceivers.

We consider the problem of promoting the Real-Time Pricing (RTP) data service in Smart Grid under the threat of likely unauthorized data redistribution between subscribers (i.e., sellers) and non-subscribers (i.e., secondary buyers). The secondary buyers can obtain the RTP copies from neighboring sellers, provided that the data cost can be shared wisely. Such stealthy behaviors could jeopardize the market revenue of Smart Grid Data Service Provider (DSP) and is very difficult to trace due to its understated manner. In this paper, we analyze the optimal price setting for DSP to protect or maximize its profit. We model the behavior between the subscribers and the secondary buyers as an evolutionary game and find the optimal payoffs for both groups of users. Based on the behavior analysis of users in the redistribution network, we investigate the evolutionarily stable fraction of users who decide to subscribe versus different subscription cost. Such analysis can help DSP restrain such unauthorized redistribution behavior, and hence preserve its profit.

Broadband power line communication (BPLC) systems use the existing electrical cables to transfer high-frequency communication signals. Its aim is to provide customers with a high-speed access to communication services such as Internet. The traditional methods which used to solve the parameters of the multi-conductor transmission line with the electromagnetic theory are very complex. By introducing transformation matrix, we can reach the purpose of simplifying the calculations. In the light of transformation matrix, parameters are presented in two forms. Transformation matrix originates from the definition of each transmission mode in various types of cables. Attenuation and characteristic impedance are computed for tow practical power cables. In order to achieve optimal communication, we can adopt a reasonable choice for cable, transmission mode in accordance with the results.

In this paper, the couplers with transformers for the purpose of impedance matching at signal input terminal of Medium Voltage(MV) power distribution lines for Broadband Power Line Communication(BPLC) which used in the frequency range of 1 MHz to 35 MHz have been designed, and the performance of those has been verified experimentally. In fact, the input impedance values of MV power distribution lines have been obtained between 200Omega and 300Omega[6]. In the range of these values, we have designed the transformers with general specific values of impedance: 50Omega, 112Omega, 253Omega, 356Omega, and 450Omega by utilizing the Ruthroffs transmission line transformer method[7]. The most proper transformer, matching well is embedded in a coupler and is implemented to transfer a transmitting signal with maximum power into the MV distribution lines. The performance of the designed coupler with a transformer is verified through measuring the reflection characteristics and signal attenuation in given MV test field. The measured results have informed that the couplers with transformers with impedance values of 253Omega or 356Omega have represented the best performance of them.

In this paper, we advocate implementing carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) in the broadband power line communication (BB-PLC) standard, G.hn, and show the gain in data rate obtained over carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA). The use of CSMA/CD is made feasible due to the recent implementation of in-band full duplex operation in BB-PLC. We provide this implementation on a G.hn model using the NS-3 simulator, which we have made available as open-source. Our G.hn model implements physical and data link layers, including repeating function that makes it possible to simulate the long line network topologies (e.g., the network for electricity metering purpose). We also add IP/UDP layers to accomplish the higher layer protocol stack. We also provide analytical calculations of efficiency gains and validate them through our simulation results. We show that the highest achievable data rate with CSMA/CD is up to 5% higher than with CSMA/CA. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the protocol with CSMA/CD is less dependent on the number of active senders and has a smaller range of optimal contention window sizes (CW) for the same range of active senders, in comparison to CSMA/CA. This also simplifies the protocol implementation as the back-off algorithm for CSMA/CD does not vary CW as much as for CSMA/CA.

Broadband Power Line Communications (BPL) is a technology that has proved to be a very suitable option for the deployment of Smart Grid solutions. It provides a low cost, proprietary, high performance future-proof backhaul between Secondary Substations. This paper will focus on the description of the different "Fault Cases" that might occur in medium voltage BPL communication architecture and their consequent High Availability solution, taking advantage of Iberdrola's experience in the use and maintenance of this technology along its large scale Smart Grid deployment. The description of the High Availability functionality and the results of the tests developed so far are presented in this paper so that utilities might find it useful to provide an added value in their own Smart Grid deployments.

PLC (power line communication) technology is widely used in smart grid, this article details the power line channel characteristics of the environment, and its noise model can be divided into five categories. With analyzing their causes, bandwidth and respective property, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of the broadband and narrowband PLC technology in terms of the communication performance. And the major application scenarios in smart grid were divided into three different types: power information collection and the monitoring of electrical equipment, indoor devices interconnecting for smart home and broadband access. We are focusing on the topology and technical characteristics in the electric energy data acquisition system. Finally, the paper investigated the requirement of electric energy data acquisition system in China for smart grid.