ES2436359T3 - Procedure and power line communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

System (430) for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables (442) comprising at least one active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, said system comprising: at least two power line modems, each coupling of said at least two power line modems to a respective electrical device with a respective electrical outlet, said respective electrical outlet being coupled with said residential electric cables, each of said at least two power line modems comprising: processor; a plurality of transmitters (434, 436) coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; and at least one receiver (404), coupled with said processor, to receive said signals; wherein at least two of said cables form at least one pair of receiving cables, where at least two of said cables form at least one pair of transmission cables, and where said processor determines a frequency carrier wave for said signals when said signals are transmitted , characterized in that: each of said plurality of transmitters defines a respective carrier wave range (444, 446) in said at least one pair of transmission cables, and wherein said processor provides said signals to a respective one of said plurality of transmitters of according to said respective carrier wave range in which said frequency carrier wave of said signals is.

Description

Procedure and power line communication device

5 Field of the disclosed technique

The disclosed technique relates to power line communication, in general, and to procedures and systems to allow power line communication signals to switch between pairs of power lines, in particular.

Background of the disclosed technique

The power line communication (abbreviated in this document as PLC) refers to procedures and systems to allow data to be transferred through electrical cables. PLC is also known in the art as digital subscriber line power line, power line support, network communication, power line telecommunication and power line network. In the event that the PLC is used to provide access to the Internet, or for the distribution of video over a network, procedures and systems are known as broadband through power lines (abbreviated in this document as BPL ). Electric cables can also be referred to as power cables, power lines, power lines, electrical cables, electrical wiring and the like. These terms are used interchangeably here and represent the wiring used to transfer electricity from an electric power supplier, such as an electric company (for example, Pacific Gas & Electric, Florida Power & Light, etc.) or a generator electricity (for example, a wind power converter), to a residence, as well as the cables used in a residence to transfer electrical power to several wall sockets, electrical outlets, sockets

25 wall and sockets in the residence. The PLC allows several devices, such as computers, printers, televisions and other electrical appliances in a residence, to be coupled to each other, like a network, without the need to add new cables to the residence. A residence can refer to a private house, an apartment building, an office building or other structures in which people who receive electricity live. Each device to connect to the network requires a separate element to allow the transfer of data in the electrical wiring. Such an element is usually known as a modem, and is commonly known in the art as a power line modem. Such modems usually transfer data in the high frequency range, which is generally of the order of megahertz or higher. PLC procedures are known in the art.

35 Publication of US Patent Application No. 2008/0057866 A1, by Schwager et al., Entitled "Procedure for the transmission of a signal in a power line network, transmission unit, reception unit and system" is addressed to a system and a procedure to transmit a signal in a PLC network. The PLC system includes a first and second diversity PLC modems connected to a power line network, for example, a building network. PLC modems use the power line network to transmit and receive data. The power line network includes three lines: phase (P), neutral (N) and ground (PE). PLC modems are connected and use all three lines by transmitting data in pairs of the lines: P-N, N-PE or P-PE. The receiving PLC modem includes a transmission unit T and a reception unit R, which is adapted to receive DM signals (ie, differential mode) of any combination of lines. The transmission unit T includes a signal generator, a transmitter and a transmitter connector. The receiving unit R

45 includes a receiver connector, a receiver and a combiner. The signal generator of the transmission unit T is coupled to the transmitter. The transmitter connector connects the transmitter to the three lines of the network (P, N, PE). The receiver connector of the receiving unit R connects the receiver to the three lines of the network. The receiver is coupled to the combiner. A receiving connector may be adapted to act as a transmitting connector and vice versa during the transmission or reception of signals in the other direction. The signal generator of the transmission unit T receives a signal from which at least two auxiliary signals are generated. Auxiliary signals are transmitted through at least two transmission channels. The receiver of the receiving unit R receives the two auxiliary signals. The two auxiliary signals received are transmitted to the combiner, which combines the signals to obtain the original signal. A transmission channel can use two of the three pairs of signal feed lines and the three combinations of pairs for reception. The measurements show that

55 different transmission channels obtain different fading characteristics for different frequency bands. The channel characteristics are evaluated by the transmission unit T and the reception unit R of the transmission and reception PLC modems provided before or during the transmission of the at least two auxiliary signals. In accordance with the aforementioned evaluation, the transmission unit T determines which power channels are most suitable for the specific transmission frequency band, which is intended to be used or is in use. The evaluation of the characteristics of the channel must be measured over time, as it may change over time. Advanced diversity techniques can be used, such as MIMO (i.e., multiple input-multiple output), thus allowing the transmission of different signals through the individual transmission links. If so, the channel evaluation is performed for each individual link. The transmission channels may be different in, but not limited to, frequency domain, phase domain, domain of

65 time or spatial domain. Common mode signals can also be detected.

The publication of US patent application No. 2009/0060060 A1, by Stadelmeier et al., Entitled "Procedure for transmitting a signal from a transmitter to a receiver in a power line communications network, transmitter, receiver, modem power line communication and power line communication system "refers to a system and a procedure for the transmission of signals in PLC networks. The 5 PLC system includes a first and second PLC modems in a MIMO mode. Each PLC modem can be used as a transmitter and receiver, thus forming a two-way communication network. PLC modems are connected to a domestic installation. The domestic installation includes three cables: phase line (P), neutral line (N) and protective earth (PE). The power signals are made between a pair of cables, thus allowing three possible transmission paths: P-N, N-PE and P-PE. The PLC modem that is in a transmission mode uses two transmission paths, and the PLC modem that is in a receive mode uses the three possible transmission paths. In addition, a common mode (CM) path can be used. The transmitting PLC modem transmits an initial burst of data, which includes a training sequence, to the receiving PLC modem. The receiving PLC modem evaluates the MIMO channels and calculates encoding and decoding matrices based on the values of the MIMO channels evaluated and an adaptive OFDM tone map. Feedback data is transmitted back to the transmission PLC modem. The receiving PLC modem selects the adaptive OFDM tone map for decoding and a corresponding decoding array of beams. The transmission PLC modem selects the adaptive OFDM and the matrix of its own coding formation according to the feedback data to construct a message. The message is transmitted to the receiving PLC modem, which uses the adaptive OFDM tone map and matrix formation matrix.

20 own decoding beams to generate the original message.

The publication of the patent application US No. 2008/0273613 A1, of Kol, entitled "Multiple input and multiple output communication system (MIMO) on cables in installations" refers to a power line communication system of multiple channels The system includes a plurality of MIMO devices. The 25 MIMO devices are PLC devices that use the power line network in facilities to transfer data. The power line network in facilities includes a phase line (P), a neutral line (N) and a land line (G). Each MIMO device can include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can include a MIMO transmission processor and multiple analog front ends (AFEs). The receiver can include a MIMO reception processor and multiple analog front ends (AFEs). Each AFE included in the transmitter or receiver may include a digital to analog converter (DAC), an analog to digital converter (ADC) and analog and / or digital filters, mixers and amplifiers. Each AFE is connected to a pair of selected lines outside the phase, neutral and ground lines (ie, P-N, -NG or P-G), where each combination of lines forms a communication channel. The transmission processor processes a stream of input data to be transmitted. The transmission processor may generate two independent signals from a signal 35 that is designated for transmission. The transmission processor can then transmit each independent signal through a different AFE, so that through a different channel, the AFEs in the receiver can receive the independent signals and process them. Received signals may include a contribution from the "straight track" (the channel through which they are connected) and the "cross track" (the channels through which they are not connected). The receiving processor uses information regarding the frequency response of the different 40 channels to reconstruct the two independent transmission signals and to produce an output data stream. Channels can also be used to increase channel diversity by transmitting the same information across multiple channels. In this case, the transmission processor may include a space-time encoder and the reception processor may include a space-time decoder. The transmitter and receiver can each include a mode negotiator. The negotiator can select the mode, with respect to each channel, between two modes: the transmission of two independent signals (multiplexing) or the transmission of the same signal across multiple channels (spatial diversity). The selection is made based on the characteristics of the measurement channel and the requested speed. In another embodiment, a single transceiver can communicate bidirectionally with two different transceivers through two different channels, each channel including a combination of a pair of lines (P-N, N-G or P-G). Therefore, two independent data streams can flow to

50 through two different channels at the same time and using overlapping frequency bands.

An article entitled "MIMO for domestic power line communications", by L. Stadelmeier et al., Addresses MIMO schemes for domestic applications. In many parts of the world, the domestic installation includes three cables (phase, neutral and earth) that lead to three possibilities of differential power supply: PN, NG, P55 G. Only two of the three possible combinations can be used at the transmission end and all three can be used at the receiving end. Capacity calculations are done in flats and private houses. The capacity can be calculated as the sum of two independent SISO channels. There may be several MIMO provisions that differ in the number of transmission and reception ports. Two basic MIMO schemes can be applied to an OFDM-based PLC system. One of them is spatial multiplexing, in which different signals are

60 transmit through different transmission ports and capacity gain is achieved. The other is space-time or space-frequency coding, in which a signal is transmitted through multiple transmitting ports, thereby obtaining increased diversity and greater security in the received signal. The measurements show that MIMO schemes show better performance than existing SISO systems and show increases in channel capacity.

65 An article entitled "Frequency-space coded OFDM systems for multi-wire power line communications" by C.L. Giovaneli et al., Published in the proceedings of the International Symposium on Power Line Communications and their Applications, 2005, pages 191-195, is directed to a space-frequency coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system for the broadcast

5 high-speed data through multi-phase frequency line feed channels. In the absence of knowledge of the channel at the transmission end, frequency and space diversities are achieved by transmitting the same data symbol through two decoupled cables and in two different carriers, which are frequency separated by carriers that are larger than the coherence bandwidth of the channels. It is assumed that channel status information is available at the receiving end.

Different MIMO-OFDM techniques are known for power line channels that include four power line cables (three phase and neutral cables, for example, access domain, large building or industrial plants). A basic multi-wire differential signaling structure used by the proposed scheme 15 includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes two elementary differential transmitters and a processor unit. The receiver includes two elementary differential receivers, a linear space-frequency combiner (SF) and a maximum probability detector (ML). Therefore, the system uses two pairs of cables and forms two independent orthogonal SISO channels. The processor unit precodes the symbols of the input data before transmission, and similarly precodes the orthogonal SISO-OFDM data symbols. OFDM data symbols are transmitted in series through the two orthogonal SISO channels. Data symbols are received at each reception point. The linear combiner SF realigns the output signals of one channel and its associated estimate with respect to the signals and the estimation of the output signals of the other channel. After the realignment operation, the two signals include the same transmitted data symbol. The combiner also performs the linear combination using the maximum ratio combination procedure25 (MRC). The ML detector detects the optimal data symbol at the output of the SF linear combiner. The simulation results show that the proposed schemes work significantly better than conventional single-cable OFDM systems and that the symbol error rate (SER) of the proposed scheme exceeds the conventional SISO scheme when the power line channel is Damaged by impulsive noise. The publication of European Patent Application No. 2028769 A1, by Sony Corporation, entitled "Procedure for transmitting a signal through a power line network, transmitter, receiver, power line communication modem and line communication system Power "means a procedure for the transmission of signals through a power line network. The power line network includes at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, which communicate through at least two channels. Each of the channels has a respective transmitter power port and a respective transmitter reception port. He

35 transmitter has at least two power ports. The procedure comprises the determination of a channel characteristic of each of the power channels and the application of a port selection criterion based on the channel characteristic. The power port is selected below, and is excluded from among the power ports based on the selection criteria of the power port. Excluded power ports are not used during additional communication.

Summary of the current technique disclosed

It is an object of the disclosed technique to provide a new procedure and a system for power line modems, where data transferred through electrical wires in a residence can be transferred to

Through several pairs of cables in the residence, the cable pair being chosen for the transfer of data selectable through a switch, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the disclosed technique, an apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is therefore provided. The apparatus includes a processor, at least one transmitter, at least one receiver and at least one switch. The transmitter and receiver are both coupled to the processor. The switch is coupled with at least one of the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter is for the transmission of the signals and the receiver is for the reception of the signals. The device is coupled with an electrical cable that includes an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The switch is coupled with the active wire, the neutral wire and the ground wire. The active wire and the neutral wire form a first communication channel, the active wire and the ground wire

55 form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the ground cable form a third communication channel. The switch allows at least one of the transmitter and receiver to be coupled with one of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel.

According to another aspect of the disclosed technique, therefore, an apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is provided. The apparatus includes a processor, at least one analog to digital converter (ADC), at least one receiver, at least one digital to analog converter (DAC) and at least one transmitter. Both the ADC and the DAC are coupled with the processor. The receiver is coupled, respectively, with the ADC and the transmitter is coupled, respectively, with the DAC. The receiver is for the reception of the signals and the transmitter is for the transmission of the signals. The device is coupled with an electrical cable that includes an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The receiver and transmitter are coupled with the active wire, the neutral wire and the ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the

active wire and the ground wire form a second communication channel and the neutral wire and the ground wire form a third communication channel. The processor allows the transmitter and receiver to be coupled with one of the second communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel.

5 According to an additional aspect of the disclosed technique, therefore, an apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is provided. The apparatus includes a processor, at least one switch, at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC), at least one receiver, at least one digital to analog converter (DAC) and at least one transmitter. The switch is coupled with the processor. The receiver is coupled, respectively, with the ADC and the transmitter is coupled, respectively, with the DAC. The receiver is for the reception of the signals and the transmitter is for the transmission of the signals. The device is coupled with an electrical cable that includes an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The receiver and transmitter are coupled with the active wire, the neutral wire and the ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the earth cable form a third communication channel. The switch allows at least one of the

The receiver and the transmitter are coupled with one of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel.

According to another aspect of the disclosed technique, therefore, an apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is provided. The apparatus includes a processor, a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers. Each transmitter and each receiver are coupled with the processor. The transmitters are for transmitting the signals and the receivers are for receiving the signals. The device is coupled with an electrical cable that includes an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. Each of the transmitters is coupled with at least two of the active wires, the neutral wire and the ground wire, each transmitter thereby being coupled with a respective pair of transmission wires. Each of the receivers is coupled to the

25 minus two of the active wires, the neutral wire and the ground wire, with each receiver being coupled with a pair of respective receiving cables. The respective pairs of transmission cables are different and the respective pairs of reception cables are different. The processor transmits the signals through at least one respective pair of transmission cables and receives the signals through at least one respective pair of receiving cables.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosed technique, therefore, a system for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is provided. Residential electrical wires include an active wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The system includes at least two power line modems. Each power line modem includes a processor, at least one transmitter, at least one receiver and at least one

35 switch The transmitter and receiver are coupled with the processor. The switch is coupled with at least one of the transmitter and receiver. The transmitter is for the transmission of the signals and the receiver is for the reception of the signals. The switch is coupled with the active wire, the neutral wire and the ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the earth cable form a third communication channel. The switch allows at least one of the transmitter and receiver to be coupled with at least one of a first pair of cables and a second pair of cables, respectively. Each of the power line modems couples a corresponding electrical device with a respective electrical connection socket, each corresponding electrical connection socket being coupled with the residential electrical cables.

According to another aspect of the disclosed technique, therefore, a system for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is provided. Residential electrical wires include an active wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The system includes at least two power line modems. Each of the power line modems includes a processor, a plurality of transmitters and at least one receiver. The transmitter and receiver are coupled with the processor. The transmitters are for the transmission of the signals and the receiver is for the reception of the signals. The processor is for the determination of a frequency carrier wave for the signals when the signals are transmitted. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the earth cable form a third communication channel. Each of the transmitters defines a respective carrier wave range over at least one of the first communication channel, the second channel of

55 communication and the third communication channel. One of the transmitters transmits the signals if the frequency carrier wave of the signals is in the respective carrier wave range of the given one of the transmitters. Each of the modems of the power lines couples a corresponding electrical device with a respective electrical connection socket, each corresponding electrical connection socket being coupled with the residential electrical cables.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosed technique, an apparatus is therefore provided to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables in a 3-phase electrical distribution configuration. The device includes a processor, a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver and transmitter are both coupled to the processor. The transmitter is for the transmission of the signals and the receiver is for the reception of the 65 signals. The device is coupled with an electric cable including an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The transmitter transmits the signals through a pair of cables and the receiver receives the signals through the pair of

cables. The cable pair includes the neutral wire and the ground wire. According to another aspect of the disclosed technique, an apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables is therefore provided. The device includes a processor, a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter and receiver are both coupled to the processor. The transmitter is for the transmission of

5 signals and the receiver is for the reception of the signals. The device is coupled with an electrical cable that includes an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The transmitter transmits the signals through a first set of cable pairs and the receiver receives the signals through a second set of cable pairs. Each of the first set and the second set includes two pairs of cables.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosed technique, a procedure for coordination of the communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver is therefore provided. The transmitter and receiver are for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables including residential electrical cables an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the

15 ground wire form a third communication channel. The procedure includes the procedures for selecting one of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel as a default communication channel and transmitting a directive frame before transmitting one of the following signals. The procedure also includes the procedure for transmitting a selective acknowledgment frame (SACK) over the default communication channel after transmitting one of the following signals. The directive frame indicates through which of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel the transmitter will transmit the following signals.

According to another aspect of the disclosed technique, a procedure for coordination of the communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver is therefore provided. The transmitter and receiver are for

25 transmit and receive signals through residential electrical wires, with residential electrical wires, including an active wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the earth cable form a third communication channel. The procedure includes the procedure of transmitting a directive frame before transmitting the signals, the directing indicating a next communication channel through which the transmitter is transmitting one of the following signals only if the next communication channel is different from a channel of current communication. The procedure also includes the procedure for transmitting a selective acknowledgment (SACK) frame over the current communication channel after the transmission of one of the following signals.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosed technique, a procedure for the coordination of the communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver is therefore provided. The receiver and transmitter are for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, including residential electrical cables, an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the earth cable form a third communication channel. The procedure includes the procedures for selecting one of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel as a default communication channel and transmission of a containment window before transmitting the signals. The procedure also includes the procedures for transmitting a synchronization signal after transmission of the containment window, the synchronization signal indicating that a subsequent signal

The transmitted signal will be an indication signal, the transmission of the indication signal and the transmission of a selective acknowledgment (SACK) frame through the default communication channel after transmitting one of the following signals. The indication signal indicates through which of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel the transmitter will transmit one of the following signals.

According to another aspect of the disclosed technique, a procedure for the coordination of the communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver is therefore provided. The transmitter and receiver are for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, residential electrical cables, including an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the

55 ground wire form a third communication channel. The procedure includes the procedure for selecting one of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel as a default communication channel. The procedure also includes the procedures for transmitting a containment window before transmitting the signals and transmitting a selective acknowledgment (SACK) frame over the default communication channel after transmitting one of the following signals. The containment window is divided into a plurality of sections of the communication channel. Each of the sections of the communication channel indicates through which of the at least one of the first communication channel, the second communication channel and the third communication channel the next of the signals will be transmitted on a given of the channel sections Communication.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosed technique, a procedure for coordination of the communication channel between a plurality of nodes is therefore provided. Each node includes at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables. Residential electrical wires include an active wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. The active cable and the neutral cable form a first communication channel, the active cable and the earth cable form a second communication channel and the neutral cable and the earth cable form a third communication channel. The procedure includes

5 the procedures of, for a given receiver, to examine the transmitter at each of the nodes communicating with the receiver, the selection of one of the examined transmitters as a primary transmitter and the determination of an optimal communication channel between the receiver and the primary transmitter. The procedure also includes the procedures of informing all examined transmitters of the determined optimal communication channel and monitoring of at least one communication characteristic about the determined optimum communication channel.

Brief description of the drawings

The disclosed technique will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of electrical connection sockets, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of one-phase and 3-phase electrical wiring in a residence, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique;

Figure 3A is a schematic illustration of the communication channels in a MIMO PLC network, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 3B is a schematic illustration of a MIMO PLC network between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 4A is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a switching PLC network.

25 between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 4B is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a PLC switching network between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 4C is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of a PLC switching network between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the described technique;

Figure 4D is a schematic illustration of an MRC PLC network between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 4E is a schematic illustration of an MRC PLC network switched between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 4F is a schematic illustration of an MRC PLC carrier network switched between two nodes,

35 constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a prior art modem; Figure 6A is a schematic illustration of a receiving section of a switched modem PLC, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 6B is a schematic illustration of another section of the receiver of a switched PLC modem,

40 constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 6C is a schematic illustration of an additional receiver section of a switched modem PLC, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 6D is a schematic illustration of a transmitter section of a switched modem PLC, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique;

Figure 6E is a schematic illustration of another transmitter section of a switched modem PLC, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 6F is a schematic illustration of an additional section of a switched modem PLC transmitter, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 7A is a schematic illustration of a first communication channel coordination scheme

50 in a PLC network switched between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 7B is a schematic illustration of a second communication channel coordination scheme in a PLC network switched between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique;

Figure 7C is a schematic illustration of a third communication channel coordination scheme in a PLC network switched between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique; Figure 7D is a schematic illustration of a fourth communication channel coordination scheme in a PLC network switched between two nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the

60 disclosed technique; and Figure 7E is a schematic illustration of a communication channel coordination procedure in a PLC network switched between a plurality of nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique.

Detailed description of the achievements

The disclosed technique overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a new power line modem configuration and the PLC procedure to allow data transferred through

5 electrical wires in a residence are transferred through several pairs of wires in the residence. The cable pair chosen for data transfer is selected through a switch. By allowing the choice of which pair of cables to transfer data through it, transmission speeds over the prior art are substantially improved. In addition, data transfer rates are significantly improved in PLC systems with a minimal increase in manufacturing costs for the production of PLC modems in accordance with the disclosed technique.

Reference is now made to Figure 1, it is a schematic illustration of electrical connection sockets, generally referred to as 100, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosed technique. Figure 1 shows two different types of electrical connection sockets, an electrical connection socket 102 and an electrical connection socket 104. The electrical connection socket 102 represents a type B electrical connection socket that is located in residences in America from North and Japan. The electrical connection socket 104 represents a type H electrical connection socket located in residences in Israel. The electrical connection sockets 102 and 104 represent the shape and conformation of the electrical connection sockets to which the electrical devices can be connected, as well as the shape and conformation of the electrical sockets that can be plugged into these connection sockets electric As can be seen, each of the electrical connection sockets 102 and 104, respectively, includes three contacts. The electrical connection socket 102 includes a direct contact 106, a neutral contact 108 and a ground contact 110. The electrical connection socket 104 includes a direct contact 112, a neutral contact 114 and a ground contact 116. In general, the Electricity that is transferred to the residences is transferred through the electrical wiring in the residence that contains three wires. A first cable is known as the active, live, phase, line or hot cable (in this document these terms are used interchangeably) and are usually symbolized in electrical outlets and electrical connection sockets using the symbol of tilde '~'. A second cable is known as the neutral, cold or return cable (in this document these terms are used interchangeably) and are usually symbolized in electrical sockets and electrical connection sockets using the capital letter 'N'. A third wire is known as the ground, ground, safety ground wire

or safety grounding (in this document these terms are used interchangeably) and are usually symbolized on electrical outlets and electrical outlets using the capital letter "G" or an arrow pointing down as shown in Figure 1 adjacent to the ground contacts 110 and 116.

Each wire in the electrical wiring in a residence begins in an electrical panel (not shown), which is

35 coupled with an electricity supplier. It is through the electrical panel that electricity, or electric current, is provided to the residence from the electricity supplier. From the electrical panel, electrical wiring is used to provide electrical power to several electrical connection sockets in the residence. Each electrical cable that comes out of the electrical panel finally ends in an electrical connection socket, with each cable in the electrical cable ending in one of the contacts of the electrical connection socket. For example, with respect to electrical connection socket 102, the live wire (not shown) terminates in the live contact 106, the neutral wire (not shown) terminates in the neutral contact 108 and the ground wire (not shown) ends in contact with the earth

110. As shown in Figure 1, each of the contacts is shaped or configured differently so that the wires in the electrical wire in an electrical connection socket correspond to the wires in the electrical wire in a device connected to The electrical wall connection socket. In general, the live cable is

45 used to transfer alternating current electricity (abbreviated herein as AC) from the electrical panel to a load (that is, an electrical device) connected to an electrical wall outlet. The neutral wire is used to complete the electrical circuit back from the load to the electrical panel. The neutral wire is also used to dissipate static electrical charges that can accumulate in the charge. The ground wire is used to transfer electrical power when a load has an insulation defect, usually back to the electrical panel. The transferred electricity is used to blow a fuse or activate the circuit breaker in the electrical panel and the transfer of electrical energy to the electrical connection socket in which the load is connected is substantially stopped. Such is the case when the current drawn from the electrical connection by the load exceeds a predefined threshold. The ground wire is also used to dispose of unwanted electrical charges, as in the case of surge protectors.

55 In PLC, the devices are coupled to each other in a network through the wires in the electrical wiring of a residence. In general, each device coupled to an electrical connection socket that has a power line modem (that is, it can transfer data on the electrical wiring of the residence) can be referred to as a node in a network. According to the disclosed technique, the nodes can represent any electrical device in a residence that includes a power line modem, such as computers, printers, televisions, DVD players, air conditioners, ovens, refrigerators, etc. To transfer data between nodes, usually two wires (of the three wires present in an electric wire), also known as a pair of wires, are mandatory. In general, since data is transferred in the form of electromagnetic radiation over the electrical wiring of a residence, other sources of electromagnetic radiation in the

65 environment may interfere with the data that is transmitted. This interference is known as radio frequency input (abbreviated in this document as RF). To overcome this interference, a pair of wires (i.e. two wires) are used in the electrical wiring since it is assumed that the RF input is irradiated and interferes with the signals in all the wires in the electrical wiring substantially in it quantity. To extract the data from the signal, the difference in the signal between a pair of cables is determined. Since the RF input is common to the two wires, it is substantially eliminated in the calculation of the difference. In this regard, the transfer of data to

5 through a pair of cables can be considered as a differential data transfer. By using a pair of cables to transfer the data, the susceptibility of the cables to the RF input is mitigated. Said transmission mode of this type is called differential transmission mode.

In a single electric cable, three pairs of wires are present, the pair of wires - / N (live / neutral), the pair of wires N / G (neutral / ground) and the pair of wires - / G (live / ground ). In state-of-the-art power line modems, the - / N cable pair is used to transfer data. In other words, in the power line modems of the prior art, the data is transferred to and from the nodes through the phase and neutral wires in the electrical wiring in a residence. It is noted that a pair of cables can be considered as a communication channel. Therefore, state-of-the-art power line modems use a single channel of

15 communication for data transfer through electrical cables.

Reference is now made to Figure 2, which is a schematic illustration of 1-phase and 3-phase electrical wiring in a residence, generally referenced as 140, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. In several countries, different procedures are used whereby electricity is distributed in a residence for its various electrical connections. What is shown in Figure 2 are two of the main procedures used to distribute electricity, commonly known as 1 phase electrical distribution and 3 phase electrical distribution. For example, in all residences in France they use 1-phase electrical distribution, while households in Germany use 3-phase electrical distribution. In the US, 2-phase electrical distribution, another procedure, is used to provide electrical power to the 25 high-power devices. The electrical wiring 140 includes a 1-phase power line electrical panel 142 (hereinafter referred to as electrical panel 142), electrical connection sockets 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156, and electrical cables 158 , 160, 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170. The electrical cable 158 couples the electrical connection socket 144 to the electrical panel 142, the electrical cable 160 couples the electrical connection socket 146 to the electrical panel 142, the electrical cable 162 couples the electrical connection socket 148 to the electrical panel 142, the electrical cable 164 couples the electrical connection socket 150 to the electrical panel 142, the electrical cable 166 attaches the electrical connection socket 152 to the electrical panel 142, the electrical cable 168 attaches the socket electrical connection 154 to the electrical panel 142 and the electrical cable 170 couples the electrical connection socket 156 to the electrical panel 142. Each of the electrical cables 158, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170 It includes a live wire, a neutral wire and a ground wire. Electrical wiring 140 also includes a 3-phase power line of electrical panel 172 (hereinafter referred to as electrical panel 172), a first main fuse 174, a second main fuse 176 and a third main fuse 178, a first set of electric cables 180, a second set of electric cables of 182 and a third set of electric cables 184 and the electrical connection sockets 186A, 186B, 186C, 186D, 188A, 188B, 188C, 188 D, 190A, 190B, 190C and 190D The first set of electrical cables 180 couples the electrical connection sockets 186A, 186B, 186C and 186D to the first main fuse 174, the second set of electrical cables 182 couples the electrical connection sockets 188A, 188B, 188C and 188 D to the second fuse main 176 and the third set of electrical cables 184 couples the electrical connection sockets 190A, 190B, 190C and 190D to the third main fuse 178. It is noted that the first set of electrical cables 180, the second set of electrical cables 182 and the Third set of electrical cables 184 represent live cables that go to each of the electrical connection sockets 186A, 186B, 186C, 186D, 188A, 188B, 188C, 188 D, 190A, 190B, 190C and 190D. By

For reasons of clarity and simplicity, the neutral wire and the ground wire that goes to each electrical outlet are not shown. In the electrical panel 172, the neutral cable and the earth cable that goes to each of the electrical connection sockets 186A, 186B, 186C, 186D, 188A, 188B, 188C, 188 D, 190A, 190B, 190C and 190D are They originate in one place (not shown) in the electrical panel and not from the separate main fuses, as shown in Figure 2 in relation to the live wire.

The electrical panel 142, as well as the electrical panel 172, also known as the power line or the mains voltage, represents the location in a residence (not shown) where the transmission lines (not shown) used by a power supplier Electricity enter the residence. From electrical panel 142, electricity is provided to the residence through electrical wiring, such as electrical cables 158, 160, 55 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170, to various electrical connection sockets, such as sockets Electrical connection 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154 and 156. In general, the electrical connection sockets will be located in different spaces and rooms in the residence, which covers practically the entire residence. Usually, all rooms in a house have at least one electrical outlet. In the 1-phase electrical distribution, electricity is supplied to all electrical connection sockets in a residence in the same phase. In such a configuration, an electrical device, that is, a node, coupled to any electrical connection socket can communicate with another node coupled with any other electrical connection socket using a power line modem. For example, a computer (not shown), together with the electrical connection socket 156, can communicate with a printer (not shown), coupled with the electrical connection socket 146, through the electrical cables 170 and 160, respectively, and of the electrical panel 142. In the 1-phase electrical distribution, since all the electrical connection sockets are supplied with electrical energy in the same phase, that is, substantially at the same time, the maximum load, or the maximum amount of electricity that can be used at any given time in the

Residence, is determined by government regulations for the amount of electricity, as measured in amps, provided to different types of residences. In some countries, government regulation may be high enough that all devices in a residence, especially devices that use a large amount of electricity, such as air conditioners and ovens, can work.

5 simultaneously. In other countries, however, government regulation may not be high enough so that all devices in a residence can operate simultaneously, which can lead to situations in which an air conditioner and a dishwasher or an oven cannot be able to operate simultaneously in the residence, since the total amount of electricity needed to operate the devices is greater than the allowed amount of electricity that the residence can use in a given period of time. Such a situation can be remedied by the 3-phase electrical distribution.

In the 3-phase electrical distribution, the electrical connection sockets are divided into three groups. The electrical connection sockets in each group are supplied sequentially with electrical energy in different phases. For example, in electrical panel 172, each phase is represented by a different main fuse. The first main fuse 15 represents a first phase, a second main fuse 176 represents a second phase and a third main fuse 178 represents a third phase. The electrical connection sockets 186A, 186B, 186C and 186D are in the first phase, the electrical connection sockets 188A, 188B, 188C and 188d are in the second phase and the electrical connection sockets 190A, 190B, 190C and 190D are in The third phase By placing the electrical connection sockets of a residence in different phases, large amounts of electricity can be used by the devices in the residence while remaining within the maximum amount of electricity that is provided to the residence. In this regard, the 3-phase electrical distribution allows more devices to operate in a residence than a 1-phase electrical distribution. On the other hand, since the different electrical connection sockets coupled with the electrical panel 172 are in different phases, the nodes in one phase cannot generally communicate with nodes in another phase, and if they can, it will be at a transfer rate of data 25 considerably lower since the attenuation signal between the nodes of different phases is substantially greater than the attenuation of the signal between nodes in the same phase. As mentioned earlier, in the modem of the state-of-the-art power line, the cable pair - / N is used to transfer data. In the 1-phase electrical distribution, since all electrical connection sockets are in the same phase, the nodes connected to any electrical connection socket can communicate with each other at a considerably high data transfer rate. In the 3-phase electrical distribution, since the electrical connection sockets in a residence are in one of the three different phases, only the nodes electrically connected by cable in the same phase (that is, by cable to the same fuse main) can communicate with each other at a substantially high rate of data transfer with state-of-the-art power line modems. For example, a computer (not shown) connected to 186A electrical connection socket cannot communicate with a printer (not shown) connected to electrical connection 190C at a substantially high data transfer rate with modems of power line of the state of the art, since the two electrical connection sockets are in different phases. However, it is observed that only the electricity transferred on the live cable is transferred sequentially in different phases. As for the neutral wire and the ground wire, they are common to all three phases. In other words, the neutral wire and the ground wire to each electrical outlet in a residence originate from the same location in the electrical panel 172, while the live wires originate from one of the first main fuse 174, the second main fuse 176 or the third main fuse

178. As described in greater detail below, with reference to Figures 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F according to the disclosed technique, the pair of wires in the electric wires used can be selected To transfer data. In the case of 3-phase electrical distribution, if the N / T cable pair is selected, since this pair

45 of cables is common to all electrical connection sockets in the residence, then even nodes in different phases can communicate with each other at a substantially high data transfer rate. For example, a computer (not shown) connected to the electrical connection socket 186C could communicate with a printer (not shown) connected to the electrical connection socket 188D at a substantially high data transfer rate using a power line of the modem constructed in accordance with the disclosed technique, since a common cable pair between the phases can be selected when the cable pair is used to transfer data through the electrical wires of the residence. It is also noted that in the 3-phase electrical distribution, some of the electrical connection sockets (not shown) can be coupled with the three phases. Generally, such is the case for electrical connection sockets intended for high amperage devices, such as air conditioners and ovens.

55 Reference is now made to Figure 3A, which is a schematic illustration of the communication channels in a multi-input and multi-output PLC network (abbreviated as MIMO in this document), generally referenced as 210, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. In the art of analog and digital communication, the physical medium on which a signal can be transferred can be referred to as a channel. For example, in the old telephone switchboard systems, each set of cables on which the telephone signals are transmitted represented different channels. If all channels were in use, then new telephone signals could not be sent by a new user (that is, new telephone calls could not be made). In digital communication, the frequency or frequency range used to transmit data (i.e., a signal) can also be referred to as a channel, such as radio stations

65 that use channels to broadcast radio programs. In order to transfer a signal through a channel, a transmitter is required to send, that is, transmit, the signal over the channel. The signal is then received by a receiver coupled with the same channel, which accepts the signal. For example, a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter at 99.9 megahertz (abbreviated as MHz in this document) can be received by a radio tuned to 99.9 MHz, that is, the radio receiver is set to the channel specific, 99.9 MHz, which is used to transmit the radio signal. In the field of digital communication, devices that can transmit and receive

5 signals (ie, data) on various types of cables, such as fiber optic cables, telephone cables, Ethernet cables and electrical cables, are referred to substantially as modems. The modems can be designed to transmit data through a single channel or over a plurality of channels. State-of-the-art modems usually have a transmitter and a receiver.

In the field of radio, cellular and wireless communication, various types of communication configurations are known in the art. Such a configuration is known as a MIMO configuration, in which multiple transmitters transmit a signal through multiple channels and multiple receivers are used to receive the signal transmitted through the multiple channels. According to the disclosed technique, a MIMO configuration is used in a PLC network, as described below. In a PLC network, the various pairs of 15 cables, - / N, N / G and - / G can be considered as different communication terminals that can each access a direct communication channel and two crosstalk communication channels . Since the electrical cables have three cables, pairs of two cables, for example - / N and N / G, they can be used to send two independent differential signals through the electrical cables. Figure 3 includes a transmitter 212, a receiver 214, a pair of transmission cables - / G 216, a pair of transmission cables G / N 218, a pair of reception cables / G 220, a pair of reception cables G / N 222, a first direct transmission channel 224, a first crosstalk transmission channel 226, a second crosstalk transmission channel 228 and a second direct transmission channel 230. It is noted that the first direct transmission channel 224 , the first crosstalk transmission channel 226, the second crosstalk transmission channel 228 and the second direct transmission channel 230 do not represent the physical coupling wiring of the transmitter 212 and the receiver 214, but rather the channel model of 25 communication between transmitter 212 and receiver 214. Direct transmission channels may match particular cable pairs, but crosstalk communication channels cannot. For simplicity purposes, the term transmitter in this document may be abbreviated as TX and the term receiver in this document may be abbreviated as RX. TX 212 and RX 214 are coupled through the transmission channels shown, that is, the transmission channels shown represent the various channels through which data can be transferred from TX 212 to RX 214 In general, TX 212 is part of a modem (not shown) that is coupled with a node (which can be a computer, printer, television and the like - which is not shown either). The RX 214 is also part of a modem (not shown), which is coupled with another node in a network (not shown). For the purposes of simplicity and to demonstrate the disclosed technique, only the TX of the signal transmission node is shown and only the RX of the signal reception node is shown in this figure, as well as in the

35 figures 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F. As mentioned earlier, each node will have a modem coupled to it, including the modem a TX and an RX, which means that each node can communicate (i.e. transmit and receive) with all other nodes. Also, in general, a TX and an RX are each coupled to the respective processors, which can modify, encode / decode and process data signals.

As Figure 3A shows is a schematic illustration, each pair of cables is shown as a separate unit. In a real electric cable, only three wires are present and the two pairs of wires will have one wire in common. According to the disclosed technique, each pair of cables can be considered a different communication terminal through which the TX can transmit a signal. In a MIMO configuration, each TX transmits a signal to each RX. In Figure 3A, each pair of wires can be considered a different communication terminal 45 for transmitting and receiving. Therefore, the pair of transmission cables - / G 216 can be considered a first transmission communication terminal, the pair of transmission cables G / N 218 can be considered as a second transmission communication terminal, the pair of Receiving cables - / G 220 can be considered a first receiving communication terminal and the pair of receiving cables G / N 222 can be considered as a second receiving communication terminal. In the MIMO configuration of Figure 3A, each transmitter transmits a signal to the receiver through each of the four different transmission channels. The transmission cable pair - / G 216 transmits a signal using the first direct transmission channel - / G 224 to the receiving cable pair 220. The transmission cable pair G / N 218 transmits a signal using the second transmission channel. Direct transmission G / N 230 to the receiving cable pair 222. The transmission cable pair - / G 216 also transmits a signal with the first crosstalk transmission channel 226 to the receiving cable pair G / N 222 and 55 G / N 218 transmission cable pair also transmits a signal using the second crosstalk transmission channel 228 to the receiving cable pair - / G 220. A direct transmission channel is when both the receiving communication terminal and the terminal Transmission communication are on the same pair of wires. In this regard, the cable pair represents a physical channel, as in the case shown in Figure 3A of the first direct transmission channel 224 and the second direct transmission channel 230. Since the data transmitted through electrical cables it is electromagnetic radiation and due to the fact that, in an electric cable the three wires are substantially parallel and adjacent to each other, a second pair of wires can pick up the signal that is transferred through a first pair of wires. This is depicted in Figure 3A as a crosstalk transmission channel. There are crosstalk transmission channels in the electric cables, therefore, despite the fact that the pair of transmission cables - / G 216 and the pair of reception cables G / N 222 are different cable pairs, 65 the pairs of Cables, however, can transfer signals from each other. It is noted that the choice of cable pairs shown in Figure 3A (- / G and G / N) is illustrative only and that any two of the three

Possible cable pairs in an electrical cable can be used as the transmission cable pairs and the receiving cable pairs. Also, the cable pairs in TX 212 and RX 214 do not have to match. All that is required for the configuration of Figure 3A is that the TX transmits data through two pairs of cables and that two pairs of cables receive the transmitted data. For example, the two pairs of power cables in the

5 Figure 3A could be a pair of wires - / G and a pair of wires N / G (as shown in the figure) and the two pairs of wires they receive could be a pair of wires ~ / N and a pair of wires N / G

It is noted that the communication channels shown in Figure 3A are always present in a PLC communication network. In other words, the signal transmitted through the pair of transmission cables - / G 216 is therefore received in the pair of reception cables - / G 220 and the pair of reception cables G / N 222. Similarly , the same signal is transmitted through the pair of G / N 218 transmission cables and is therefore received in the pair of receiving cables - / G 220 and the pair of receiving cables G / N 222. The processor ( not shown) coupled with RX 214 you can separate the data that originated from each pair of cables, as is known in the art. Next, different embodiments are shown in Figures 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 4F

15 of the disclosed technique, and it is observed that in each of these embodiments, the communication channels shown in Figure 3A exist in these embodiments as well, because the nodes (not shown) are coupled through of electrical wires that have three wires and therefore three pairs of wires. In other words, the physical coupling of a transmitter and a receiver in a PLC network using electrical cables allows the communication channels in Figure 3A between TX 212 and RX 214 to be present in each of the embodiments shown below. , although in some of these embodiments, the data from a particular communication channel is discarded or not processed by a processor (not shown).

Reference is now made to Figure 3B, which is a schematic illustration of a MIMO PLC network between two nodes, generally referenced as 240, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. In Figure 3B it can be seen as an illustration of a MIMO PLC network system. The MIMO 240 PLC network includes a TX 242 and an RX 244. As mentioned in Figure 3A, TX 242 is part of a modem (not shown) that is coupled with a node (not shown) and RX 244 is also part of another modem (not shown), which is also coupled to another node (not shown). Each modem can also include a processor (not shown). TX 242 and RX 244 are coupled through the electrical cable 254. TX 242 receives a first analog signal 246 and a second analog signal 248. The first analog signal 246 is transmitted along the electrical cable 254 through the cable pair ~ / N and the second analog signal 248 is transmitted along the electrical cable 254 through the pair of N / G cables. The cable pairs along which the first analog signal 246 and the second analog signal 248 to RX 244 are transmitted are arbitrary and for illustrative purposes only; Any of two of the three possible pairs of wires in an electric wire could have been used as the 35 pairs of wires for the transmission of analog signals. RX 244 receives the first analog signal 246 and the second analog signal 248 and outputs them as a first analog signal 250 and a second analog signal

252. It is noted that the first analog signal 246 is transmitted over the direct communication channel of the cable pair ~ / N, but is also coupled through the communication channel to the second analog crosstalk signal 252 received in the cable pair N / G Similarly, the second analog signal 248 is transmitted through the direct communication channel of the N / G cable pair, but also coupled through the crosstalk communication channel to the first analog signal 250 received in the cable pair ~ / N. In RX 244, the first analog signal 250 represents the signal sent by the cable pair ~ / N, as well as the signal sent by the cable pair N / G and the second analog signal 252 represents the signal sent by the cable pair N / G, as well as the signal sent by the cable pair ~ / N. In the processor (not shown) coupled with RX 244, the original data that was

45 modulated and used to generate the analog transmission signals in each pair of wires are separated. As shown in Figure 3A, in a MIMO configuration, a signal is transmitted through two pairs of wires on the transmitter side and received by two pairs of wires on the receiver side, that is, there are four communication channels between TX 242 and RX 244 as shown in Figure 3A. In addition, the two pairs of wires on each of the transmitter side and the receiver side do not need to be the same.

In state-of-the-art power line modems, only one pair of cables is used to transmit the data, which can result in a substantially low data transfer rate of approximately 30 megabits per second (abbreviated as Mbps in this document ) having a coverage of 90%. In general, the data transfer rates between nodes in a network through electrical cables can have a wide range 55 which depends on the distance between the nodes, as well as the number and type of electrical devices together with the various points of sale in a residence where the network is located. Coverage refers to the percentage of users that reach a minimum data transfer rate given after taking into account the factors that may affect data transfer rates, and that are different among users. In the MIMO 240 PLC network, since more than one pair of cables is used to transmit and receive a signal, the data transfer rate can be substantially increased. For example, if the signal transmitted through the crosstalk communication channels is weak, then the two substantially independent direct communication channels can be used to transmit twice the amount of data, that is, substantially double the rate , through a single direct communication channel, which has a high signal to noise ratio (abbreviated as SNR in this document), while using the same amount of energy to transmit the 65 data. Data transfer rates are increased by sending different signals using different cable pairs simultaneously. Data transfer rates are also increased by

sending the same signal using different pairs of cables simultaneously, which increases the reliability and strength of the transferred signal. It is noted that the network configuration in Figure 3B is between two nodes. In the embodiment of the disclosed technique shown in Figure 3B, the signals are transmitted from a TX for an RX in a PLC network via a MIMO configuration. In many residential configurations, errors in

5 signals received through a particular pair of cables can significantly affect the quality of the transmitted signal, which does not allow the total increase in the data transfer rate to be achieved in a MIMO configuration. However, increases in the data transfer rate in a PLC network can be achieved through a PLC switching network as described below in Figure 4A.

Reference is now made to Figure 4A, which is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of a PLC network switched between two nodes, generally referenced as 280, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. The switched PLC network 280 includes a TX 282 and an RX 284. As mentioned in Figure 3A, TX 282 is part of a modem (not shown) that couples with a node (not shown) and RX 284 is also part of another modem (not shown), which is also coupled with another node 15 (not shown). A switch 296 is coupled with TX 282 and a switch 298 is coupled with RX 284. Both switch 296 and switch 298 can be coupled respectively to the respective processors (not shown). TX 282 is coupled with the RX 284 through the electrical cable 294. The embodiment shown in Figure 4A is a double switched PLC network. TX 282 is connected to transmit an analog signal either on a pair of ~ / N wires or a pair of N / G wires, depending on the position of switch 296. In Figure 4A, a first analog signal 286 is provided to TX 282, which transmits it through the pair of cables ~ / N. The first analog signal 286 is represented as a continuous line. If switch 296 was changed to its other position, then a second analog signal 288 to TX 282 will be provided that would transmit it through the N / G cable pair. The second analog signal 288 is represented by a dotted line. Similarly RX 284 is connected to receive an analog signal either through a pair of ~ / N wires or a pair of N / G wires, depending on the position of switch 298. In Figure 4A, a second Analog signal 292 is provided to the RX 284 that received it through the N / G cable pair. The second analog signal 292 is represented as a continuous line. If switch 298 was changed to its other position, then a first analog signal 290 would be provided to RX 284 that would receive it through the ~ / N cable pair. The first analog signal 290 is represented by a dotted line. As explained below, in Figure 4A a single pair of cables has been selected in each of TX 282 and RX 284 to respectfully transmit and receive a signal. Due to the nature of the communication channels in a PLC network, when TX 282 transmits the first analog signal 286 over the cable pair ~ / N, the signal is also transmitted over the crosstalk communication channel, which is the reason why which RX 284 can be configured to receive the signal transmitted in the N / G cable pair as a second analog signal 292. As mentioned above, the choice of the cable pairs to transmit and receive is arbitrary since it can be

35 use any of the three possible pairs of cables.

In general, electrical wires in a residence are noisy conductors. The noise results from many factors and may change over time. Some of these factors include the type of devices coupled to particular electrical connection sockets in the residence, the physical arrangement of the electrical wiring of a house, which is usually substantially branched in nature, as well as the RF input from the nearby devices (for example, such as amateur radio equipment). In addition, the attenuation of the signal in the electrical cables can be substantially large since the electrical wiring is not generally manufactured to handle the frequencies used in PLC (for example, the frequencies in the MHz and higher range) and the elements of Protection for electrical devices connected to the residence, such as surge protectors, can increase signal loss at high frequencies, such as those used in PLCs. Due to these factors, different cable pairs may have different transmission characteristics, such as different time-dependent noise characteristics. In accordance with the disclosed technique, a switch is provided on the side of the transmission of a signal and on the side of the reception of the signal that allows the cable pair used to transmit the signal to be selected, as well as the channel used by the receiver to receive the signal. Depending on these factors, in a given time interval, a particular cable pair may be less noisy than the other cable pair. In the switched PLC network 280, the switch 296 allows the TX 282 to transmit a signal through a first pair of cables, such as the cable pair ~ / N or through a second pair of cables, such as the cable pair N / G Switch 298 allows the RX 284 to receive a signal on a first pair of cables, such as the cable pair ~ / N 290 or through a second pair of 55 cables, such as the cable pair N / G. Switch 296 allows different cable pairs to be selected to transmit an analog signal, while switch 298 allows different cable pairs to be selected to receive an analog signal. Depending on the cable pair selected in RX 284, either a direct communication channel or a crosstalk communication channel is selected for signal reception. In the example shown in Figure 4A, a pair of ~ / N wires has been selected to transmit the first analog signal 286, with a pair of N / G wires selected to receive second analog signal 292. By selecting a pair of N / G cables, which is a different cable pair than the ~ / N cable pair, a crosstalk transmission channel has been selected for the transfer of a signal from TX 282 to RX 284. If switch 298 had selected a pair of cables ~ / N to receive a signal from TX 282, a direct transmission channel would have been created for the transfer of the signal from TX 282 to RX 284. As described below in Figures 6A-6F, a modem PLC built in accordance with the disclosed technique can check the noise level and quality of each cable pair and determine, for a given time interval, what

pair of wires on the transmitter side and what pair of wires on the receiver side should be used to achieve a substantially high quality signal. It is noted that the network configuration shown in Figure 4A is between two nodes. According to the disclosed technique, the choice of which pair of wires on the transmitter side and which pair of wires on the receiver side is used to transmit and receive a signal that is determined between two

5 nodes In a network with a plurality of nodes, each node has to negotiate with each other node regarding which pair of wires on the transmitter side and which pair of wires on the receiver side is to be used between the two nodes.

As mentioned earlier, state-of-the-art power line modems use the ~ / N cable pair for signal transfer between nodes. Also, as mentioned earlier, in the 3-phase electrical distribution, the N / G cable pair is common to all three phases, unlike the cable - which transfers electrical energy in three sequential phases. According to the embodiment of Figure 4A, if two nodes in a 3-phase electrical distribution residence are in different phases, then the nodes can communicate at a substantially high data transfer rate with each other by the selection 15 of the use of the pair of N / G cables on the TX side of one node and on the RX side of the other node for signal transfer. In addition, a greater number of electrical appliances coupled with electrical connection sockets of a particular phase (1-phase electrical distribution or 3-phase electrical distribution) can increase the noise level in the cable pair ~ / N. According to the disclosed technique, the cable pair selected to transmit and receive signals can be changed depending on the noise level of each cable pair. For example, if the noise level in the ~ / N is substantially high, because many electrical appliances are connected, then the N / G cable pair can be selected for signal transfer. Although the noise of the cable pair ~ / N can still be received in the RX in the cable pair N / G, the noise received would be from the crosstalk transmission channel, which is usually an attenuated signal, resulting in less noise received with the signal. If the noise level of the ~ / N decreases, because the electrical appliances are disconnected, the TX 25 of one node and / or the RX of the other node can reuse the cable pair ~ / N to transfer signals from if Higher signal quality can be sent in that pair of cables. In addition, some surge protectors, for example, those commonly found in the US, are constructed in such a way that on a power strip (also known as a power bar), the protector is between the cable -and the cable N of the power strip. The signals transmitted through the energy strip at high frequencies (for example, frequencies in the MHz range), commonly used by power line modems, in the cable experience for a significant amount of attenuation of the signal due to surge protectors. Significantly less attenuation is experienced by the signals at the electrical connection sockets in the N / G cable pair. Therefore, according to the disclosed technique, if a node is coupled with an electrical connection socket through a surge protector, the N / G cable pair can be

35 used to transfer signals if the amount of attenuation of the cable pair ~ / N is substantially high.

As described in greater detail below in Figures 6A-6F, both TX 282 and RX 284 are coupled with the respective modems, which may include processors (not shown) and other electronic devices (not shown). These processors and other electronic devices are enabled to verify and check the different transmission channels available to determine which pair of cables should be used to transfer data more efficiently. Procedures and systems for quality control of a transmission channel are known in the art. According to an embodiment of the disclosed technique, the quality of each transmission channel is verified and checked at specific time intervals, which may be of the order of milliseconds, seconds, minutes or hours. Depending on the result of the verification or verification, the cable pairs 45 used to transfer signals between two nodes can be changed using switches 296 and

298. In an embodiment of the disclosed technique, the transmission side verifies the quality of the cable pairs and channels and instructs the receiving side on which pair of cables to use. In another embodiment of the disclosed technique, the receiving side verifies the quality of the cable pairs and channels and instructs the transmission side on which pair of cables to use. According to other embodiments of the disclosed technique, as shown in Figures 4B and 4C below, depending on various conditions, switch 296 can be deactivated, switch 298 can be deactivated, or both switches can be deactivated, in such a way. so that either TX 282, RX 284 or both work in a static way, transmit signals through a particular pair of cables and receive signals through a particular transmission channel. Such conditions may include financial considerations, as well as the complexity of a PLC network and the

55 system

Reference is now made to Figure 4B, which is a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of a PLC network switched between two nodes, generally referenced as 310, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. The switched PLC network 310 includes a TX 312 and an RX 314. As mentioned in Figure 3A, TX 312 is part of a modem (not shown) that couples with a node (not shown) and RX 314 is also part of another modem (not shown), which is also coupled to another node (not shown). A switch 320 is coupled with TX 312. The switch 320 may be coupled to a processor (not shown). The TX 312 is coupled with the RX 314 via the electric cable 324. The embodiment shown in Figure 4B is a single switched PLC network. TX 312 is connected to transmit an analog signal 65 on either a pair of ~ / N wires or a pair of N / G wires, depending on the position of switch 320. In Figure 4B, a first analog signal 316 is provided to TX 312, which transmits over the cable pair ~ / N.

First analog signal 316 is represented as a continuous line. If switch 320 was changed to its other position, and then a second analog signal 318 is provided for TX 312, which would transmit through the N / G cable pair. The second analog signal 318 is represented by a dotted line. The RX 314 is connected to receive an analog signal only through a pair of N / G cables. In Figure 4B, an analog signal 322 is

5 provides RX 314 that has received it through the N / G cable pair.

The switched PLC network 310 functions substantially like the switched PLC network 280 (Figure 4A), except that only the transmission side is equipped with a switch. In Figure 4B only one pair of wires in TX 312 has been selected to transmit a signal, while a pair of wires in RX 314 (ie, through wiring) to receive a signal has been determined. Due to the nature of the communication channels in a PLC network, when TX 312 transmits the first analog signal 316 over the cable pair ~ / N, the signal is also transmitted over the crosstalk communication channel, which is the reason why that RX 314 can receive the signal transmitted in the N / G cable pair as an analog signal 322. As mentioned above, the choice of cable pairs to transmit and receive is arbitrary given that any of the three cable pairs possible you can

15 use. In other words, for example, RX 314 could have been wired only to receive signals in the cable pair ~ / N or in the cable pair - / G. In this embodiment, either the processor (not shown) coupled with the TX 312 or the processor (not shown) coupled with RX 314 can check the quality of the transmission channels to instruct the switch 320 on which pair of Cables must use to transmit data. It is noted that in the embodiment shown in Figure 4B, the cable pair in TX 312 is not used for signal transmission, however, it can transmit signals at predefined time intervals, in accordance with the instructions received by the processor together with TX 312 or the processor together with RX 314. These transmission signals can be used to periodically monitor the transmission quality of the cable pair that is not currently being used by TX 312.

Reference is now made to Figure 4C, which is a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of a PLC switched network between two nodes, generally referenced as 340, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. The switched PLC network 340 includes a TX 342 and an RX 344. As mentioned in Figure 3A, the TX 342 is part of a modem (not shown) that couples with a node (not shown) and the RX 344 It is also part of another modem (not shown), which is also coupled to another node (not shown). A switch 352 is coupled to the RX 344. The switch 352 may be coupled to a processor (not shown). The TX 342 is coupled to the RX 344 via the electric cable 354. The embodiment shown in Figure 4C is a single switched PLC network. The TX 342 is connected to transmit an analog signal through a pair of ~ / N wires. In Figure 4C, an analog signal 346 is provided for TX 342 which is transmitted through the pair of cables ~ / N. The RX 344 is connected to receive a first signal

35 analog 348 on a pair of ~ / N wires or a second analog signal 350 on a pair of N / G wires, depending on the position of switch 352. In the figure, RX 344 is connected to receive second analog signal 350 over the pair of cables N / G. The second analog signal 350 is represented as a continuous line. If switch 352 was changed to its other position, then a first analog signal 348 is provided for RX 344 that it receives through the pair of cables ~ / N. The first analog signal 348 is represented by a dotted line.

The switched PLC network 340 functions substantially like the switched PLC network 280 (Figure 4A), except that only the receiving side is equipped with a switch. In Figure 4C only one pair of wires in RX 344 has been selected to receive a signal, while a pair of wires in TX 342 has been determined (i.e., through

45 of the wiring) to transmit a signal. Due to the nature of the communication channels in a PLC network, when TX 342 transmits an analog signal 346 in the cable pair ~ / N, the signal is also transmitted over the crosstalk communication channel, which is the reason why that the RX 344 can receive the signal transmitted in the N / G cable pair as a second analog signal 350. As mentioned above, the choice of the cable pairs to transmit and receive is arbitrary, since any of the The three possible pairs of cables. In other words, for example, TX 342 could have been wired to only transmit signals in the N / G cable pair or in the - / G cable pair. In this embodiment, the processor (not shown) coupled with the TX 342 or the processor (not shown) coupled with the RX 344 can check the quality of the transmission channels to instruct the switch 352 of which pair of cables should be used to Receive the data.

55 Reference is now made to Figure 4D, which is a schematic illustration of a maximum ratio combination (abbreviated MRC in this document) of the PLC network between two nodes, generally referenced 400, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of The technique disclosed. The MRC 400 PLC network includes a TX 402 and an RX

404. As mentioned in Figure 4A, TX 402 is part of a modem (not shown) that is coupled with a node (not shown) and RX 404 is also part of another modem (not shown), which is also coupled with another node (not shown). The TX 402 is coupled to the RX 404 via electrical cables 412. The TX 402 is connected to transmit an analog signal 406 on a pair of N / G cables. The RX 404 receives a first analog signal 408 in the cable pair ~ / N and a second analog signal 410 in the cable pair N / G. In Figure 4D, only one pair of cables is used by TX 402 to transmit a signal. It is noted that the cable pair to which TX 402 is connected in Figure 4D is arbitrary and that any of the three possible cable pairs could have been chosen. The

The same applies to the cable pairs used in the RX 404 to receive the transmitted signal.

Figure 4D shows another embodiment of a PLC network. In this embodiment, the TX 402 transmits on a pair of cables, while the RX 404 receives the signal on two pairs of cables. The configuration shown in Figure 4D uses a technique known as MRC with respect to the signals received in the RX 404. Recall that the RX 404 receives a signal through the direct communication channel in the cable pair ~ / N, such as a first sign

5 analog 408 and another version of the same signal again through the crosstalk communication channel in the N / G cable pair, such as a second analog signal 410. In MRC, two signals are received by a receiver, one in a direct transmission channel and the other in a crosstalk transmission channel. In an embodiment of the MRC technique, depending on the quality of the received signals, the receiver decides which received signal is provided to the channel for further processing. In another embodiment of the MRC technique, the processor (not shown) coupled with the receiver decides which signal received is provided for further processing. In a further embodiment of the MRC technique, a weighted calculation is performed on the two signals received in each pair of cables to combine them optimally.

Reference is now made to Figure 4E, which is a schematic illustration of an MRC PLC network switched between

15 two nodes, generally referenced 370, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. The switched MRC PLC network 370 includes a TX 372 and an RX 374. As mentioned in Figure 4A, the TX 372 is part of a modem (not shown) that is coupled with a node (not shown) and the RX 374 is also part of another modem (not shown), which is also coupled with another node (not shown). The TX 372 is coupled with the RX 374 through the electric cable 386. A switch 380 is coupled with the TX 372. The TX 372 can transmit a first analog signal 376 on a pair of ~ / N wires and a second analog signal 378 in a pair of N / G cables, depending on the position of switch 380. The RX 374 receives a first analog signal 382 in the ~ / N wire pair and a second analog signal 384 in the H / G wire pair. In Figure 4E only one pair of wires is used by TX 372 to transmit a signal, therefore, TX 372 transmits the first analog signal 376, which is shown as a continuous line in the figure. If switch 380 is set to its other position,

25 then TX 372 would transmit a second analog signal 378, which is shown as a dotted line in the figure.

Figure 4E shows another embodiment of the switched PLC network. In this embodiment, TX 372 transmits on a selected cable pair at any given time interval, while RX 374 receives the signal on two cable pairs. The configuration shown in Figure 4E uses a technique known as MRC regarding the signals received on RX 374. Recall that RX 374 receives a signal through the direct communication channel in the cable pair ~ / N, such as a first analog signal 382 and the same signal again through the crosstalk communication channel in the N / G cable pair, such as a second analog signal 384. In MRC, two signals are received by a receiver, one on a channel of direct transmission and the other in a transmission channel of 35 crosstalk. In an embodiment of the MRC technique, depending on the quality of the received signals, the receiver decides which received signal is provided to the channel for further processing. In another embodiment of the MRC technique, the processor (not shown) coupled with the receiver decides which received signal is provided for further processing. For example, in Figure 4E, a processor (not shown) together with RX 374 can check the signal received in the cable pair ~ / N and in the cable pair N / G. If the quality of the signal received in the N / G cable pair (i.e. the crosstalk transmission channel) is higher than the quality of the signal received in the cable pair ~ / N (that is, the channel direct transmission), then the processor can only process the received signal in the N / G cable pair and discards the received signal in the ~ / N cable pair. In a further embodiment of the MRC technique, a weighted calculation is performed on the two signals received in each pair of cables to combine them optimally. For example, in Figure 4E, the signal received in the cable pair ~ / N can be

45 optimally combine with the signal received in the N / G cable pair in a processor (not shown), by combining a first portion of the signal received in the cable pair ~ / N with a second portion of the signal received in the cable pair N / G.

Reference is now made to Figure 4F, which is a schematic illustration of a carrier-switched MRC PLC between two nodes, generally referenced 430, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. The carrier-switched MRC PLC 430 includes a transmission section 432, which includes a first transmitter 434, shown as TX1 in the figure, and a second transmitter 436, shown as TX2 in the figure. The transmission section 432 is coupled to a receiver (not shown) through an electric cable 442. The reception section is made as an MRC receiver and could be RX 404 55 (Figure 4D) or RX 374 (Figure 4E) ). TX1 434 is connected to transmit an analog signal 438 in the cable pair ~ / N and TX2 is connected to transmit an analog signal 440 in the cable pair N / G. In digital communication, the signals are transmitted by modulating them at different frequencies, or frequency ranges. The electromagnetic wave on which a signal is modulated is known as a carrier wave. In the embodiment of Figure 4F, two separate disjoint carrier wave ranges are defined, as shown by an arrow 444 and an arrow 446. A graph 448 shows the power spectral density (abbreviated in this PSD document), in units of watts per Hertz (abbreviated in this document W / Hz), as a function of the frequency, as measured in MHz, of a first set of carrier waves. PSD refers substantially to the power carried by a carrier wave, per unit of frequency. As shown in graph 448, a subset of the frequency range shown in the graph has a substantial PSD, which 65 is shown as steps 450. A graph 452 shows the PSD, in units of W / Hz, as a frequency function, as measured in MHz of a second set of carrier waves. As shown in the chart

452, another subset of the frequency range shown in the graph has a substantial PSD, which is shown as steps 454. The first set of carrier waves in graph 448 and the second set of carrier waves in graph 452 are disjoint. , which means that they represent mutually exclusive groups. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4F, a processor (not shown) coupled with the transmission section 432,

5 determines for each signal that is transferred on the electric cable 442 the frequency of the carrier wave to be used. If the frequency of the carrier wave to be used for a given signal is in the range of the first series of carrier waves, as shown in graph 448, then the processor provides the signal to TX1 434, which transmits the signal in the pair of cables ~ / N. If the frequency of the carrier wave to be used for a given signal is in the range of the second set of carrier waves, as shown in graph 452, then the processor provides the signal to TX2 436, which transmits the signal over the pair of cables N / G. In general, the embodiment of Figure 4F allows different frequency ranges of carrier waves to be defined for each pair of cables used to transmit signals. This embodiment can be used when one pair of cables may have better transmission characteristics in a first frequency range and another pair of cables may have better transmission characteristics in a second frequency range. The characteristics of

15 transmission can include the noise level in a pair of cables. In this regard, the transmission section 432 can transmit signals using two different channels, since the term is used in radio and wireless communications, with one channel being the frequency range shown in Figure 448 and the other channel being the frequency range shown in graph 452. A processor (not shown) determines what the frequency ranges of each channel are. As mentioned above, the choice of the channel used, that is, which carrier wave transmits a signal, is determined by the processor per signal to be transmitted. For example, a first signal can be transferred as an analog signal 438, a second signal can also be transferred as an analog signal 438 and then a third signal can be transferred as an analog signal.

440

In general, the choice of which embodiment, as shown above in Figures 4A-4F, uses a PLC network depends on many factors, including the topology of the electrical connection sockets in a residence, the electrical devices connected to the sockets of electrical connection, of the type of electrical distribution used in the residence, the physical distance between the nodes and the amount of interference, such as the RF input, in the proximity of the electrical cables of the residence. It is indicated that the protocol used for the PLC network, as well as the permitted output power levels as a function of the carrier wave frequency used, can also determine which embodiment is selected. For example, the G.HN protocol for PLC networks uses a bandwidth of 100 MHz for the transmission of data through electrical cables, however, the permitted level of output power is significantly lower in the higher frequency range of the Defined bandwidth (for example, the range of 0 to 30 MHz can allow a high level of power, while the range of 30 to

35 100 MHz can allow a low level of output power). Depending on the factors listed above, a particular residence can achieve better transmission characteristics by using the entire bandwidth, for example, 0 to 100 MHz (a transmission channel with respect to bandwidth), as shown above in any of the embodiments of Figures 4A to 4E. Similarly, another particular residence can achieve better transmission characteristics by using separate portions of the bandwidth, as shown above in the embodiment of Figure 4F (two transmission channels with respect to bandwidth). It is noted that typical PLC communication systems use orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation (in this abbreviated document OFDM) for the transmission of data through carrier waves through electrical cables. In OFDM modulation, the system bandwidth is divided into a large number of carriers, or subcarriers. In such a configuration, attenuation fluctuations

45 of the channel (in relation to bandwidth), as well as additive noise over the bandwidth frequency range can be substantially large. Using the disclosed technique, such as the embodiment of Figure 4F, allows the processor (not shown) with which the transmitter section 432 is coupled, determines and selects the best of the two channels for signal transmission for each subcarrier individual or for a group of consecutive subcarriers.

As mentioned above, in the embodiments of the disclosed technique switch (as shown in Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4E) the cable pair chosen by a TX to transmit to an RX, and the cable pair chosen by An RX to receive a signal from a TX is determined on a node-to-node basis. For example, if a switched PLC network, according to one of the embodiments shown in Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4E, has three nodes, node A, node B and node C, node A can determine the transmission of data to node B, the pair of N / G cables that is better, and node C can determine the transmission of data to node B, the pair of N / G cables that is also better. However, node B may determine that receiving from node A is better in the N / G cable pair, while to receive from node C the ~ / N cable pair is better. In the case of the embodiments shown in Figures 4A and 4C, where a switch is located on the RX side, the RX of the receiving node requires knowledge of which node is transmitting to it before a signal is received so that Know in which cable pair the received signal should be processed and in which cable pair the received signal should be discarded. Such knowledge can be provided to the RX by means of transmission coding signals through electrical cables using a time division multiple access communication procedure (abbreviated TDMA in this document), where a media access control frame signal (abbreviated MAC in this document), such as a media access plan signal, is transmitted to an RX before transmitting the signal that includes the data. The MAC frame signal substantially includes a plane of information related to the signal (which includes data) that is transmitted at close time intervals, which includes from which node the signal comes from. In this regard, the RX of the receiving node will know from which node the signal comes from and can properly select the pair of cables in which the received signals are provided for further processing, in accordance with what was decided between the two nodes. In the case of the embodiment in Figure 4B, where the RX of the receiving node 5 is connected to a specific pair of cables, and in the case of Figures 4D, 4E and 4F, where an MRC technique and the received data are used In two of the cable pairs they are provided for further processing, a TDMA communication procedure does not need to be used to encode the signals transmitted through electrical cables. It should also be noted that there are MAC schemes where the identity of the transmitter is not provided in the MAC frame signal. In this case, if a switch is used on the TX side of

10 A node, as in the embodiments shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 4E, all the nodes of a network can decide together on which pair of cables it is transmitted. Unlike other embodiments described above, where the choice of the pair of cables to transmit and receive is on a node-to-node basis, the decision to transmit through a particular pair of cables in this embodiment is for the TX side of all the nodes of the network, that is, a decision on a network basis.

Reference is now made to Figure 5, which is a schematic illustration of a prior art modem, generally referenced 470. The modem 470 includes a housing 472, a processor 474, an analog to digital converter 476 (abbreviated ADC in this document), a digital to analog converter 478 (hereinafter abbreviated DAC), a receiver 480, a transmitter 482 and a power cable 484. The ADC 476 is coupled with the receiver 480 and

20 the processor 474. The DAC 478 is coupled with the transmitter 482 and the processor 474. The receiver 480 and the transmitter 482 are electronically coupled with the power cable 484. The housing 472 protects and shields the processor 474, the ADC 476, DAC 478, receiver 480 and transmitter 482. The power cable 484 is a standard power cable that includes three cables, a high voltage cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire and allows the modem 470 to connect to an electrical outlet (not shown). The 470 modem is

25 coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. The modem 470 allows the transmission of data signals, as shown by an arrow 486B, as well as receiving, as shown by an arrow 486A, through electrical cables.

When data is received, an analog electrical signal sent by means of electrical cables (not shown) is

30 receives via receiver 480 via power cable 484. In modem 470, the data is received in the cable pair ~ / N. The receiver provides the analog electrical signal to the ADC 476, which converts the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal, which is then provided to the processor 474. The processor 474 then decodes the digital electrical signal, modifies the digital electrical signal, It passes the digital electrical signal to the electrical device to which it is attached, and the like. When the electrical device to which the modem

35 470 is coupled. It wants to send a signal through the PLC, the signal is provided to processor 474. Processor 474 can encode, modify and / or process the signal, which is then provided to DAC 478. DAC 478 converts the signal. digital signal in an analog electrical signal and provides it to the transmitter 482, which transmits the signal in the cable pair ~ / N of the power cable 484.

Reference is now made to Figures 6A to 6F, which represent various embodiments of the TXs and RXS shown in Figures 4A to 4F. As shown below, the switch, either on the TX side or on the RX side of a node in a network can be performed at the level of an analog front end (abbreviated AFE in this document) or at the level of a processor. At the AFE level, a physical switch is required that is added to the state-of-the-art PLC modems constructed and operative in accordance with the disclosed technique. At the level of

The processor, also known as the chip level, does not require new elements to be added to the state-of-the-art PLC modems, instead, the processor in such PLC modems needs to be reprogrammed. This is explained below.

Reference is now made to Figure 6A, which is a schematic illustration of a receiving section of a

50 switched PLC modem, generally referenced 500, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. For reasons of clarity and simplicity, Figure 6A shows only the reception section of the switched PLC modem 500, as is the case in Figures 6B and 6C. The 500 switched PLC modem also includes a transmission section (not shown). The transmission section may be one of the transmission sections described below in Figures 6D, 6E and 6F or a transmission section

55 as is known in the prior art. The switched PLC modem 500 includes a housing 502, a processor 504, an ADC 506, a receiver 508, a switch 510 and a power cable 512. The ADC 506 is coupled with the receiver 508 and the processor 504. The switch 510 is coupled with receiver 508, processor 504 and power cable 512. Housing 502 protects and shields processor 504, ADC 506, receiver 508 and switch 510. Power cable 512 is a standard power cable that includes three wires, one

60 high voltage cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire and allows to connect the PLC 500 modem, which is connected to an electrical connection socket (not shown). The switched PLC modem 500 is coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. As Figure 6A shows only the receiving section of the switched PLC modem 500, it can only receive data signals, as shown by an arrow 514, through electrical cables.

65 Figure 6A represents an embodiment of RX 284 (Figure 4A) and RX 344 (Figure 4C). Switch 510 allows the receiver 508 to be coupled to one of the three pairs of cables in the power cable 512. In this embodiment, the processor 504 determines, based on the verification of the transmission characteristics and the quality of each pair of wires, which pair of wires from the 508 receiver must be combined with power cable 512 through the

5 switch 510. When a signal is received on a particular pair of cables, the receiver 508 provides the signal to the ADC 506, which converts the analog signal into a digital signal, which is then provided to the processor 504 for processing.

Reference is now made to Figure 6B, which is a schematic illustration of another section of the receiver of a switched PLC modem, generally referenced 530, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. For reasons of clarity and simplicity, Figure 6B shows only the receiving section of the switched PLC modem 530. The switched PLC modem 530 also includes a transmission section (not shown). The transmission section may be one of the transmission sections described below in Figures 6D, 6E and 6F, or a transmission section as is known in the prior art. The switched modem PLC 15 530 includes a housing 532, a processor 534, an ADC 536, a switch 538, a first receiver 540, a second receiver 542 and a power cable 544. The ADC 536 is coupled with the switch 538 and the processor 534. Switch 538 is coupled with the first receiver 540, the second receiver 542 and the processor 504. The first receiver 540 is coupled with a pair of wires of the power cable 544 and the second receiver 542 is coupled with a pair of different cables in the power cable 544. For example, the first receiver 540 can be coupled with the cable pair ~ / N and the second receiver 542 can be coupled with the cable pair N / G. The housing 532 protects and shields the processor 534, the ADC 536, the first receiver 540, the second receiver 542 and the switch 538. The power cable 544 is a standard power cable that includes three cables, a high voltage cable, a neutral wire and a ground wire and allows the switched modem PLC 530 to connect to an electrical connection socket (not shown). The 530 switched PLC modem is

25 coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. As Figure 6B shows only the receiving section, the switched PLC modem 530 can only receive data signals, as shown by an arrow 546, through electrical cables.

Figure 6B represents another embodiment of RX 284 (Figure 4A) and RX 344 (Figure 4C). Each of the first receiver 540 and the second receiver 542 receives signals from a transmitter (not shown) in the direct communication channel and in the crosstalk communication channel. Considering that both receivers receive signals, only the signals from one receiver are provided to the ADC 536 and then to the processor 534. If the switch 538 is connected to the first receiver 540, then only the signals received by the first receiver 540 are provided. to ADC 536. If switch 538 is switched to second receiver 542, then only the signals received by the

The second receiver 542 is provided to the ADC 536. In this embodiment, the processor 534 determines, based on the verification of the transmission characteristics and the quality of each pair of cables, to which switch of the receiver 538 should be switched.

Reference is now made to Figure 6C, which is a schematic illustration of an additional receiving section of a switched PLC modem, generally referenced 560, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. For reasons of clarity and simplicity, Figure 6C shows only the receiving section of the switched PLC modem 560. The switched PLC modem 560 also includes a transmission section (not shown). The transmission section may be one of the transmission sections described below in Figures 6D, 6E and 6F, or a transmission section as known in the prior art. The switched PLC modem 560 includes a housing 562, a processor 564, a first ADC 566, a second ADC 568, a first receiver 570, a second receiver 572 and a power cable 574. The first ADC 566 is coupled with the first receiver 570 and processor 564. The second ADC 568 is coupled with the second receiver 572 and the processor 564. The first receiver 570 is coupled with a pair of cables of the power cable 574 and the second receiver 572 is coupled with a pair of cables different on the power cable 574. For example, the first receiver 570 can be coupled with the cable pair - / G and the second receiver 572 can be coupled with the cable pair ~ / N. The housing 562 protects and shields the processor 564, the first ADC 566, the second ADC 568, the first receiver 570 and the second receiver 572. The power cable 574 is a standard power cable that includes three cables, a high cable voltage, a neutral wire and a ground wire and allows the switched modem PLC 560 to be connected to an electrical connection socket (not shown). PLC modem

Switched 560 is coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. As Figure 6C shows only the receiving section of the switched PLC modem 560, it can only receive data signals, as shown by an arrow 576, through electrical cables.

Figure 6C represents another embodiment of RX 284 (Figure 4A) and RX 344 (Figure 4C), as well as possible embodiments of RX 404 (Figure 4D) and RX 374 (Figure 4E). Recall that RX 404 and RX 374 refer to MRC receivers. In the switched modem PLC 560, the connection is made in the processor 564. Each of the first receiver 570 and the second receiver 572 receives signals from a transmitter (not shown) in the direct communication channel and in the crosstalk communication channel . The receivers receive signals and provide those signals to the respective ADCs, which convert the analog signals into digital signals. Both respective digital signals 65 are provided to the processor 564. The processor 564 decides which of the received digital signals is demodulated, based on the verification of the transmission characteristics and the quality of the pairs of

cables with which the first receiver 570 and the second receiver 572 are coupled.

It is indicated that in an alternative to Figure 6C, a switch (not shown) may be included in the switched PLC modem 560, between the processor 564 and the first ADC 566 and the second ADC 568. In said embodiment,

5 provide the digital signals of the first ADC 566 and the second ADC 568 to the switch, with which it is coupled, and controlled by the processor 564. Depending on the position of the switch, a single digital signal is provided to the processor 564 for processing. .

Reference is now made to Figure 6D, which is a schematic illustration of a transmission section of a switched PLC modem, generally referenced 590, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. For reasons of clarity and simplicity, Figure 6D shows only the transmission section of the switched PLC modem 590, as is the case in Figures 6E and 6F. The 590 switched PLC modem also includes a reception section (not shown). The reception section may be one of the reception sections described above in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, or a reception section as known in the prior art. The switched PLC modem 590 includes a housing 592, a processor 594, an ADC 596, a switch 598, a first transmitter 600, a second transmitter 602 and a power cable 604. The ADC 596 is coupled with switch 598 and the processor 594. Switch 598 is coupled with the first transmitter 600, the second transmitter 602 and the processor 594. The first transmitter 600 is coupled with a pair of wires in the power cable 604 and the second transmitter 602 is coupled with a pair of different cables in the power cable 604. For example, the first transmitter 600 may be coupled with the cable pair - / G and the second transmitter 602 may be coupled with the cable pair N / G. The housing 592 protects and shields the processor 594, the ADC 596, the first transmitter 600, the second transmitter 602 and the switch 598. The power cable 604 is a standard power cable that includes three cables, an electrical cable, a cable neutral and a ground wire, and allows you to connect the 590 PLC modem that is connected to an electrical connection socket

25 (not shown). The 590 switched PLC modem is coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. As Figure 6D shows only the transmission section of the switched PLC modem 590, it can only transmit data signals, as shown by an arrow 606, through electrical cables.

Figure 6D depicts an embodiment of TX 282 (Figure 4A), TX 312 (Figure 4B) and TX 372 (Figure 4E). Each of the first transmitter 600 and the second transmitter 602 transmits signals to a receiver (not shown) in the direct communication channel and in the crosstalk communication channel. Although both transmitters can transmit signals, only one transmitter transmits the signal provided by DAC 596, from processor 594. If switch 598 is connected to first transmitter 600, then DAC 596 only provides signals for

35 its transmission to the first transmitter 600. If the switch 598 is switched to the second transmitter 602, then the DAC 596 only provides signals for transmission to the second transmitter 602. In this embodiment, the processor 594 determines, based on the verification of the characteristics of transmission and in the quality of each pair of cables, to which transmitter switch 598 should be switched. In another embodiment of Figure 6D, the processor (not shown) in the receiver (not shown) determines in which pair of wires the switched PLC modem 590 should transmit. In this embodiment, the receiver provides a signal to processor 594, instructing it to change switch 598 to a particular transmitter.

Reference is now made to Figure 6E, which is a schematic illustration of another transmission section of a switched PLC modem, generally referenced 620, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. For reasons of clarity and simplicity, Figure 6E shows only the transmitter section of the switched PLC modem 620. The switched PLC modem 620 also includes a reception section (not shown). The reception section may be one of the reception sections described above in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C or a reception section as known in the prior art. The switched PLC modem 620 includes a housing 622, a processor 624, a DAC 626, a transmitter 628, a switch 630 and a power cable 632. The DAC 626 is coupled with transmitter 628 and processor 624. Switch 630 is It couples with the 628 transmitter, a 624 processor and a 632 power cable. The 622 housing protects and shields the 624 processor, the DAC 626, the 628 transmitter and the 630 switch. The 632 power cable is a standard power cable that It includes three wires, a high voltage wire, a neutral wire and a ground conductor and allows the switched PLC modem 620 to connect to a power outlet (not

55 shown). The switched PLC modem 620 is coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. As Figure 6E shows only the transmission section, the switched PLC modem 620 can only transmit data signals, as shown by an arrow 634, through electrical cables.

Figure 6E represents another embodiment of TX 282 (figure 4), TX 312 (figure 4) and TX 372 (figure 4E). Switch 630 allows the transmitter 628 to be coupled to one of the three pairs of wires in the power cable 632. In this embodiment, the processor 624 determines, based on the verification of the transmission characteristics and the quality of each pair. of cables, which transmitter 628 of the cable pair must be coupled to the power cable 632 through the switch 630. When a signal is to be transmitted, the processor 624 provides the signal to the DAC 626, 65 which converts the digital signal into a signal. analog and provides the analog signal to transmitter 628. Depending on which switch 630 of the cable pair is connected, a transmitter 628 will transmit the signal

analog that along cable pair. In another embodiment of Figure 6E, the processor (not shown) in the receiver (not shown) determines through which cable pair of the switched PLC modem 620 should be transmitted. In this embodiment, the receiver provides a signal to the processor 624, instructing it to switch the switch 630 to a particular pair of wires.

5 Reference is now made to Figure 6F, which is a schematic illustration of an additional transmission section of a switched PLC modem, generally referenced 650, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. For reasons of clarity and simplicity, Figure 6F shows only the transmission section of the switched PLC modem 650. The switched PLC modem 650 also includes a reception section (not shown). The reception section may be one of the reception sections described above in Figures 6A, 6B and 6C, or a reception section as known in the prior art. The switched PLC modem 650 includes a housing 652, a processor 654, a first DAC 656, a second DAC 658, a first transmitter 660, a second transmitter 662 and a power cable 664. The first DAC 656 is coupled with the first transmitter 660 and processor 654. The second DAC 658 is coupled with the second transmitter 662 and the

Processor 654. The first transmitter 660 is coupled with a pair of cables of the power cable 664 and the second transmitter 662 is coupled with a pair of different cables in the power cable 664. For example, the first transmitter 660 can be coupled with the cable pair - / N and the second transmitter 662 can be coupled with the option of the cable pair - / G. The housing 652 protects and shields the processor 654, the first DAC 656, the second DAC 658, the first transmitter 660 and the second transmitter 662. The power cable 664 is a standard power cable that includes three cables, a high cable voltage, a neutral cable and a ground conductor and allows to connect the PLC 650 modem that is connected to an electrical connection socket (not shown). The switched PLC modem 650 is coupled with an electrical device (not shown), such as a computer, printer, television and the like. As Figure 6F shows only the transmission section of the switched PLC modem 650, it can only transmit data signals, as shown by an arrow 666, through electrical cables.

Figure 6F represents another embodiment of TX 282 (Figure 4A), TX 312 (Figure 4B) and TX 372 (Figure 4E), as well as a possible embodiment of the transmission section 432 (Figure 4F). Recall that transmission section 432 refers to a configuration of the bearer PLC with two transmitters. In the switched PLC modem 650, the switching is executed in the processor 654. Each of the first transmitter 660 and the second transmitter 662 transmits signals to a receiver (not shown) in the direct communication channel and in the crosstalk communication channel . Processor 654 decides which DAC signals must be provided for transmission, based on the verification of transmission characteristics and the quality of the cable pairs with which the first transmitter 660 and the second transmitter 662 are coupled. that in an embodiment where Figure 6F is used to allow a PLC modem with carrier capabilities, the processor 654 determines the carrier that

35 transmits and what is the transmitter used for subcarrier transmission. Each of the first transmitter 660 and the second transmitter 662 is assigned a particular carrier subset (i.e. frequency range) in which the signals are transmitted. Depending on the carrier used for a given signal, either the processor 654 that provides the signal to DAC 656 or DAC 658. For example, if the first transmitter 660 transmits the carrier waves in the range of 0-50 MHz and if the second transmitter 662 transmits the carrier waves in the 50100 MHz range, then if the 654 processor determines that a particular signal will be transmitted using a 56 MHz wave carrier, the digital signal will be provided to DAC 658, which will convert the digital signal into a signal. analog and will provide it to the second transmitter 662. The second transmitter 662 will transmit the signal in the pair of cables with which it is coupled.

45 It is noted that in an alternative to Figure 6F, a switch (not shown) may be included in a switched PLC modem 650, between the processor 654 and the first DAC 656 and the second DAC 658. In said embodiment, the signals are provided digital processor 654 to the switch, which then provides the digital signal to either the first DAC 656 or second DAC 658, depending on which pair of signal cables must be transmitted through or depending on the frequency of the carrier wave over which the signal is to be transmitted. The switch could be controlled by the processor 654 and at any given time interval, converting only a digital signal into an analog signal that must be transmitted by one of the transmitters.

As mentioned earlier, it is noted that a PLC modem includes a reception section and a transmission section. Consequently, a PLC modem according to the disclosed technique can be constructed using

Any of the embodiments of the receiver section shown above in Figures 6A-6C with any of the embodiments of the transmitter section shown above in Figures 6D-6F. In addition, a PLC modem according to the disclosed technique can be constructed using any of the embodiments of the receiver section, as shown in Figures 6A-6C, with a prior art transmission section, and a PLC modem according to With the disclosed technique it can also be constructed using any of the embodiments of the transmitter section, as shown in Figures 6D-6F, with a reception section of the prior art.

In switched PLC networks, TXs and RXs can change the communication channel (for example, - / N or N / G) on which, respectively, they transmit and receive signals based on various factors such as the level of

65 noise and the quality of a given communication channel, either direct or cross. Such factors can be determined at predetermined time intervals. For a TX or RX to physically change the communication channel, the

TX or RX may need to be temporarily disconnected from the network, or from the transmission or reception of signals. If the switching of the communication channel is not coordinated between a given TX and RX pair that communicate with each other, then the signals cannot be transmitted or received correctly. In addition, the signals cannot be transmitted and received through the communication channel that has the lowest noise level, the highest quality or other relevant factors, such as the communication channel through which an RX receives the most of your traffic In accordance with the disclosed technique, a signal is provided in a preamble frame of a signal transmission frame, such as a data packet, which indicates through which communication channels the next signal transmission frame is transmitted. As such, the RXs in a network can switch to the designated communication channel in a synchronized manner with the transmission of the next signal transmission frame. Several procedures are provided below in Figures 7A-7E to coordinate the selection and change of a communication channel between a given pair of TX and RX, such that the signals are transmitted and received correctly on the communication channel. The selection of a given communication channel may depend on a plurality of factors, such as the communication channel with the lowest noise level, the communication channel having the highest quality, the selection made by other TX pairs and RX in the

15 network linked to the same RX or TX and the like. It is indicated that in accordance with the disclosed technique, the RX substantially selects the best communication channel based on a plurality of factors, such as the indicated example factors. The criteria for the best communication channel are a matter of design choice and may vary depending on the size of the network, network topology, network traffic and the like. Based on the procedures and schemes described below in Figures 7A-7E, it is noted that other embodiments are possible to coordinate the selection and change of a communication channel and obvious to a worker skilled in the art.

Reference is now made to Figure 7A, which is a schematic illustration of a first coordination scheme of the communication channel in a PLC switching network between two nodes, generally referenced 700, 25 constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of The technique disclosed. In Figure 7A, the signals are transferred between a TX (not shown) and an RX (not shown). The first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700 includes two communication channels, a communication channel ~ / N 702A and a communication channel N / G 702B. A third communication channel (not shown) that would be in the cable pair - / G is present in the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700, but is not shown for reasons of clarity. As mentioned earlier, the selected cable pairs shown in Figures 7A7D are simply indicated as an example. In the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700, one of the communication channels is preselected as the default communication channel. In Figure 7A, the communication channel ~ / N 702A is preselected as the default communication channel. Therefore, any node that joins the PLC switching network shown in Figure 7A first listens to the

35 communications in the default communication channel in an attempt to join the network and determine when signals can be transmitted or received over the network.

The first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700 includes a directive frame 704, a signal transmission frame 706 and a selective recognition frame 708 (abbreviated SACK in this document). The directive frame 704 is a standard transmission frame before a signal or a burst of signals, such as the signal transmission frame 706, is transmitted between the TX and the RX. Directive frame 704 substantially indicates the communication channel (or pair of cables) through which the next signal or burst of signals is transmitted, as well as other data on how long the duration of the transmission will be. The directive frame 704 can be transmitted via the default communication channel. The directive frame 704 can also be transmitted through the other communication channels (or pairs of cables) provided that an RX listening to the default communication channel can receive the directive frame 704 regardless of through which directive frame of communication channel 704 is transmitted. In this embodiment, the signal carrying the directive frame 704 must be a robust signal, so that the RX can receive the directive frame 704 on any of the communication channels. For example, in Figure 7A, the directive frame 704 indicates that the signal transmission frame 706, which is the next signal to be transmitted, is transmitted through the communication channel ~ / N 702A (i.e., the cable pair ~ / N). The RX, or network node that can include an RX, in the directing frame of the receiving network 704 then knows which communication channel it must listen to receive the next transmitted signal as a signal transmission frame 706. In addition, if the node of The network is not supposed to receive the signal transmission frame 706, or if the network node includes a TX (which is also not shown) and wants to transmit another signal, then the directive frame 704 allows the RX in the network node know when the signal transmission frame 706 is above, such that the network node does not receive the signal transmission frame 706 or the network node that includes a TX can now transmit another signal through the network without risk of signal collision. At the end of each signal transmission frame 706, the SACK 708 frame is transmitted. In this embodiment, the SACK 708 frame is always transmitted on the default communication channel. Therefore, in one embodiment, if the management frame 704 indicates that the signal transmission frame was to be transmitted through the communication channel N / G 702B (not shown), then after changing the cable pair N / G for the transmission and reception of the signal transmission frame, the TX and the RX would be forced to switch back to the default communication channel to transmit and receive the SACK 708 frame. According to another embodiment, the TX and RX are not required to switch back to the default communication channel to transmit and receive the 65 SACK 708 frame as long as the RX can receive the SACK 708 frame, regardless of through which communication channel it is transmit. In this embodiment, the SACK 708 frame carrying the signal must be a robust signal,

so that it can be received on any of the communication channels. Since the directive frame 704 is always transmitted by the default communication channel, the TX and the RX are now ready to transmit and receive the other directive frame (not shown) in relation to the next signal transmission frame (not shown) . In this way, the switching of the communication channels between the TX and the RX is coordinated.

5 The embodiment shown in Figure 7A allows the use of standard frames in transmitted signals to indicate on which communication channels the next signal transmission frame is transmitted. Said embodiment implies a relatively simple change to the standard MAC frame signals and is also interoperable between standard devices that can communicate through power lines. It should be noted, however, that the directive frame 704 can be substantially long, as of the order of hundreds of microseconds and that the directive frame 704 also depends proportionally on the duration of the signal transmission frame 706. Therefore, each sequence of Signal transmission transmitted using the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700 can present a large overload in terms of the time required for each signal transmission frame to transmit a directive frame first. In addition, any virtual carrier detection

15 (abbreviated in this VCS document) indicated in directive frame 704 may be necessary to cover the entire signal burst, which can lead to inefficient use of the signal burst.

Reference is now made to Figure 7B, which is a schematic illustration of a second communication channel coordination scheme in a PLC switching network between two nodes, generally referenced 720, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the technique. disclosed. In Figure 7B, the signals are transferred between a TX (not shown) and an RX (not shown). The second communication channel coordination scheme 720 includes two communication channels, a communication channel ~ / N 722A and a communication channel N / G 722B. A third communication channel (not shown) that would be in the cable pair - / G is present in the second coordination scheme of the communication channel 720, but is not shown for reasons

25 of clarity. In the second coordination scheme of the communication channel 720 there is no preselected default communication channel as in Figure 7A.

The second communication channel coordination scheme 720 includes a first directive frame 724A, a second directive frame 724B, a first signal transmission frame 726A, a second signal transmission frame 726B, a third signal transmission frame 726C and a SACK frame 728. The first and second directive frames 724A and 724B are standard frames similar to directive frame 704 (Figure 7A), except if the first and second directive frames 724A and 724B substantially indicate that another communication channel (or pair of cables) will be used for the transmission and reception of the next signal or burst of signals. For example, in Figure 7B, the first directive frame 724A indicates that the following, as well as transmission frames of 35 subsequent signals, as the first signal transmission frame 726A and the second signal transmission frame 726B, which are transmitted to via communication channel N / G 722B (ie, the cable pair N / G). As mentioned earlier, the first directive frame 724A could have indicated that the next signal transmission frame is transmitted through the cable pair - / G. The RX receives the first directive frame 724th, then it knows which communication channel it must change to receive the next and subsequent transmitted signals, such as the first signal transmission frame 726A and the second signal transmission frame 726B. As such, in the second coordination scheme of the communication channel 720, a directive frame is only transmitted when the communication channel is switched. The directive frame then indicates that substantially the communication channel is the next current communication channel. In this regard, the directive frame is always transmitted through the current communication channel. As shown, the SACK 728 frame is transmitted by the

45 current communication channel. The first directive frame 724A indicates that the subsequent signals are transmitted through the communication channel N / G 722B. As such, the communication channel N / G 722B becomes the current communication channel and the SACK 728 frame is transmitted through that channel. In this regard, the SACK frame is always transmitted via the current communication channel. In this way, the switching of communication channels between the TX and the RX is coordinated.

The second directive frame 724B indicates that the next and subsequent signals, such as the third signal transmission frame 726C and the additional signal transmission frames (not shown), are transmitted through the communication channel ~ / N 722A. The signal transmission frames then continuously transmit on the communication channel ~ / N 722A until otherwise indicated by a subsequent directive frame (not shown). Therefore, according to the second coordination scheme of the communication channel 720, a directive frame is only transmitted when the current communication channel (ie, the pair of cables) between the TX and the RX changes. It is indicated that the second communication channel coordination scheme 720, on average, has a reduced overload with respect to time as opposed to the first communication channel coordination scheme 700 (Figure 7A) and substantially no overload with respect to time in a network PLC switching that includes only two nodes. At the same time, it is indicated that the nodes (ie TXs and RXs) in a switched PLC network using the second coordination scheme of the communication channel 720 must be synchronized and must be aware of which is the current communication channel. For example, nodes in a network may require some form of memory to know what current communication channel is in case a given node loses its synchronization and needs to re-synchronize with the network. It is also noted that the overhead of the management frame 65 depends substantially on the nature of the signals provided by the network. If the traffic in the network is high, the nodes in the network can switch the communication channels of each signal transmission frame,

in which case the over-listening with respect to time in the second coordination scheme of the communication channel 720 could be the same as the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700.

Reference is now made to Figure 7C, which is a schematic illustration of a third coordination scheme.

5 of the communication channel in a PLC switching network between two nodes, generally referenced 740, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. In Figure 7C, the signals are transferred between a TX (not shown) and an RX (not shown). The third coordination scheme of the communication channel 740 includes two communication channels, a communication channel ~ / N 742a and a communication channel N / G 742B. A third communication channel (not shown) that would be in the cable pair - / G is present in the third coordination scheme of the communication channel 740, but is not shown for reasons of clarity. In the third coordination scheme of the communication channel 740, as in the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700 (Figure 7), one of the communication channels is preselected as the default communication channel. In Figure 7C, the communication channel ~ / N 742a is preselected as the default communication channel. Therefore, any node that joins the switched PLC network shown

15 in Figure 7C would first listen to communications in the default communication channel in an attempt to join the network and determine when signals can be transmitted or received through the network.

A third coordination scheme of the communication channel 740 includes a first priority signal 744A, a second priority signal 744B, a containment window 746, a synchronization signal 748, an indication signal 750, a signal transmission frame 752 and a SACK frame 754. The first priority signal 744A, the second priority signal 744B and the containment window 746 are standard signals transmitted before transmitting a signal transmission frame. The first and second priority signals 744A and 744B are merely indicated as an example. In a given signal transmission frame, a plurality of priority signals indicating the priority of several signals that are transmitted by several nodes in the next 25 signal transmission frame can be transmitted first. Containment window 746 is a frame of variable length where a classification is made between all the nodes that are to be transmitted in the next frame of signal transmission that do not have a specified priority. Containment window 746 substantially eliminates collisions in the physical network connection and is known in the art. After containment window 746, synchronization signal 748 is sent to all nodes in the network. The synchronization signal 748 indicates substantially that the next signal, the indication signal 750, will indicate in which signal transmission frame of the communication channel 752 will be transmitted. The indication signal 750 can be performed as a binary signal, such that its presence indicates that a first communication channel will be used for the transmission of the signal transmission frame 752, and its absence indicates that a second channel will be used of communication for the transmission of the signal transmission frame 752. For example, the presence of the indication signal 750

35 may indicate that the next signal will be transmitted through the ~ / N cable pair, while the absence of the indication signal 750 may indicate that the next signal will be transmitted through the N / G cable pair. Since the containment window 746 is of variable length, it is required that the synchronization signal 748 inform all nodes of the network that the next signal (i.e., indication signal 750) must be verified as an indicator of what communication channel (i.e., pair of wires) the next signal is transmitted (i.e. signal transmission frame 752). In this way, the switching of the communication channels between the TX and the RX is coordinated.

Synchronization signal 748 and indication signal 750 are non-standard signals. At the same time, since these signals include less data, these signals result in substantially less overhearing with respect to time, compared to the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700 (Figure 7A) and the second coordination scheme of the communication channel. communication 720 (figure 7B). It is noted that the indication signal 750 can also be performed as a signal that includes phase information. The phase information is not necessarily binary and, therefore, may include an indication of more than two options. Therefore, in this embodiment, the indication signal 750 can be used to indicate which of the three possible communication channels (ie, - / G, N / G, ~ / N) the next signal is transmitted. After the signal transmission frame 752 is transmitted, the SACK frame 754 is transmitted. As in Figure 7A, the first priority signal 744A, the second priority signal 744B, the containment window 746, the synchronization signal 748, the indication signal 750 and the SACK 754 frame are transmitted by the default communication channel, which in Figure 7C is the communication channel ~ / N 742a. Therefore, if the indication signal 750 indicates that the next signal transmission frame is transmitted through the communication channel N / G 742B, then, according to an embodiment after the nodes in the network are switch to communication channel N / G 742B, all nodes will switch back to the default communication channel to receive the SACK 754 frame and listen to the next synchronization signal (not shown) to transmit and receive the next signal transmission frame (not shown). According to another embodiment, the nodes in the network are not required to switch back to the default communication channel to transmit and receive the SACK 754 frame, provided that the nodes can receive the SACK 754 frame regardless of the communication channel in which they are transmit. In this embodiment, the signal carrying the SACK 754 frame must be a robust signal, so that it can be received on any of the communication channels. Synchronization signal 748 and indication signal 750 are transmitted before each signal transmission frame to indicate all TXs (not shown) and RXS (not shown) in the network

65 which communication channel will be used for the next transmission. In this way, the switching of the communication channels between the TXs and the RXS in the network is coordinated.

It is noted that there may be a slight increase in signal collisions in the third coordination scheme of communication channel 740, since the first and second priority signals 744A and 744B cannot be seen by all nodes (not shown) that participate in the classification of the containment window

746. In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figure 7C, all RXs (or nodes they are receiving) in the network

5 must switch to another communication channel as a whole, if indicated by indication signal 750, since indication signal 750 only indicates on which communication channels the next signal will be transmitted and not to whom the next signal is directed. Since the synchronization signal 748 and the indication signal 750 are not standard signals, the third coordination scheme of the communication channel 740 may require a more complicated change to the standard MAC frame signals compared to the first and second coordination schemes of communication channel 700 (figure 7) and 720 (figure 7B).

Reference is now made to Figure 7D, which is a schematic illustration of a fourth communication channel coordination scheme in a PLC network switched between two nodes, generally referenced 770, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. In Figure 7D, the signals are transferred between

15 a TX (not shown) and an RX (not shown). The fourth coordination scheme of the communication channel 770 includes two communication channels, a communication channel ~ / N 772A and a communication channel N / G 772B. A third communication channel (not shown) that would be in the cable pair - / G is present in the fourth coordination scheme of the communication channel 770, but is not shown for reasons of clarity. In the fourth coordination scheme of the communication channel 770, as in the first coordination scheme of the communication channel 700 (Figure 7), one of the communication channels is preselected as the default communication channel. In Figure 7D, the communication channel ~ / N 772A is preselected as the default communication channel. Therefore, any node that joins the PLC switching network shown in Figure 7D would first listen to communications in the default communication channel in an attempt to join the network and determine when it can transmit or receive signals to through the network

25 The fourth coordination scheme of the communication channel 770 includes a first priority signal 774A, a second priority signal 774B, a containment window 776, a signal transmission frame 782 and a SACK frame 784. The containment window 776 is divided in a first section of the communication channel 778A and a second section of the communication channel 778B, which is shown by a dotted line 780. The first and second priority signals 774A and 774B are substantially similar to the first and second priority signals 744A and 744B (both of Figure 7C). Containment window 776 is substantially similar to containment window 746 (Figure 7C), except as indicated below. As mentioned above, the first and second priority signals 774A and 774B are merely indicated as an example, as in a given signal transmission frame, a plurality of priority signals may be transmitted first indicating the

The priority of several signals that are transmitted by several nodes of the next signal transmission frame.

The containment window 776 is divided into a first section of the communication channel 778A and a second section of the communication channel 778B. Each section of the communication channel indicates substantially in which section of the communication channel the signals are transmitted. Therefore, in the first section of the communication channel 778A, a classification can be made between all the nodes (not shown) that want to transmit and receive in the communication channel ~ / N 772A and in the second section of the communication channel 778B , a classification can be made among all the nodes (not shown) that want to transmit and receive on the communication channel N / G 772B. Based on the different signals in the containment window 776, the nodes (not shown) in the network know when to switch the communication channels based on the length (i.e. time interval)

45 of the first and second sections of the communication channels 778A and 778B. In this way, the switching of the communication channels between the TX and the RX is coordinated. In this embodiment, during the first section of the communication channel 778A all nodes listen on the communication channel ~ / N 772A. Next, all nodes switch to communication channel N / G 772B and listen to that communication channel during the second section of communication channel 778B. After the signal transmission frame 782, all nodes switch again to listen to the communication channel ~ / N 772A to receive the SACK 784 frame.

As is obvious to one skilled in the art, the containment window 776 can be divided into a plurality of sections of the communication channel (not shown) to indicate which of the three pairs of cables will transmit a given signal. In addition, unlike the third coordination scheme of the communication channel 740 (Figure 7C), the fourth coordination scheme of the communication channel 770 does not include any non-standard signal. As mentioned earlier, containment window 776 is a frame of variable length in which a classification is made among all the nodes that wish to transmit in the next frame of signal transmission, which do not have a specific priority. After the containment window 776 the signal transmission frame 782 is transmitted, followed by the SACK frame 784. As in Figure 7C, the first priority signal 774A, the second priority signal 774B, the containment window 776 and SACK frame 784 is transmitted on the default communication channel, which in Figure 7D is the communication channel ~ / N 772A. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7D, the nodes in the network can be continuously switched between the communication channel ~ / N 772A and the communication channel N / G 772B, since each containment window 776 can include signals in each section of the communication channel. In addition, since the SACK frame 784 and the containment window 776 are always transmitted on the default communication channel in 65, according to one embodiment, the nodes that are transmitted through another communication channel have to be switched back to the channel default communication before transmitting the

next sign. According to another embodiment, the nodes that are transmitted through another communication channel are not required to switch back to the default communication channel before transmitting the next signal whenever they can receive the SACK 784 frame, the first signal of priority 774A, the second priority signal 774B and the containment window 776 regardless of through which communication channel

5 transmit. In this embodiment, the signals carrying the SACK frame 784, the first priority signal 774A, the second priority signal 774B and the containment window 776 must be solid signals, so that they can be received through any of the channels of communication.

As the containment window 776 is of variable length and the containment window 776 is used to indicate substantially on which communication channel a next transmission will occur, the overload with respect to time in Figure 7D may be substantially smaller than in the embodiments shown in Figures 7A and 7B. At the same time, however, in relation to the over-listening time shown in Figure 7D, it is stage dependent and is proportional to the length (ie, the time interval) of the containment window 776. It is observed that a reduction in the size of the containment window 776 can

15 result in an increase in the collisions of the signals in the network and, as such, the containment window 776 may need to be substantially large to allow efficient use of the containment window 776 to substantially eliminate or reduce the collisions of the signals In the net. As mentioned earlier, in this embodiment all RXs in the network must switch to the designated communication channel through the second section of the communication channel 778B at the same point in time as the containment window 776, as indicated by the line of 780 points.

Reference is now made to Figure 7E, which is a schematic illustration of a communication channel coordination procedure in a PLC switching network between a plurality of nodes, constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique. The procedure of Figure 7E represents a fifth coordination scheme of the communication channel in a PLC switching network between a plurality of nodes. In a procedure 800, each RX in a PLC switching network examines the TXs with which it communicates. For example, some RXs can communicate with a single TX, while other RXs can communicate with a plurality of TXs or possibly all TXs in a PLC switching network. In an 802 procedure, based on a plurality of factors, such as the amount of traffic, a given RX receives from each TX in the network that communicates, each RX selects from the TX with which it communicates as primary TX . In a procedure 804, each RX then determines an optimal communication channel between itself and the primary TX. The determined communication channel can be based on a number of factors, such as the communication channel with the lowest noise level, the communication channel with the highest quality, and the like. In this procedure, the factors taken into account to determine the optimal communication channel are specifically related to the

35 TX primary. In a procedure 806, the RX given below informs all TXs that communicate with the determined communication channel. The RX then uses that communication channel to receive signals permanently, either from the primary TX or from any other TX with which it communicates. It is noted that in this procedure, the determined communication channel is the communication channel through which the RX does not receive signals yet, not necessarily the communication channel through which the TXs communicating with the given RX can transmit signals through it. For example, a TX can switch the communication channels through which it is transmitted each time a new signal is transmitted, while the RXs with which it communicates will only receive on their respective determined communication channels.

In a procedure 808, the RX tracks signal communication through the communication channel.

45 determined communication between each other and all the TXs of the switched PLC network with which it communicates. Tracking may involve monitoring the quality of the received signals, the number of collisions experienced in the reception of signals, as well as other criteria, such as performance (i.e., the PHY rate), the error rate, the false alarm rate and the like. In a procedure 810, based on the communication followed between the RX and each of the TXs with which it communicates, the RX can review the determined optimal communication channel and determine another optimal communication channel with each other, the primary TX and all other Txs with which it communicates on the network. After procedure 810, the procedure advances back to procedure 806, thus updating the determined optimal communication channel determined to all TXs, including the primary TX, the RX with which the network communicates. In a procedure 812, based on the communication followed between the RX and each of the TXs with which it communicates, the RX can review the TX

55 selected primary and select another TX that communicates with the primary TX. After a procedure 812, the procedure proceeds back to procedure 804. Since a new TX was selected as the primary TX, an optimal communication channel between the RX and the new primary TX must be determined. As shown in Figure 7E, procedures 810 and 812 can be executed simultaneously or consecutively, in any order. Therefore, based on the monitoring of the communication channel, a given RX can change the permanent communication channel on which it receives (procedure 810), the primary TX with which it communicates (procedure 812), or both (procedures 810 and 812). It is noted that both procedures 810 and 812 are optional procedures. In procedure 812, the selection of a new primary TX is dynamically executed, as an RX according to the disclosed technique adapts its communication channel based on the monitoring of the communication channel. In each of procedures 810 and 812, the review may occur

65 at predetermined time intervals. For example, an RX can check its determined optimal communication channel and select the primary TX every minute, every five minutes, every ten seconds and the like. The revision can also occur in predetermined events or factors determined by the RX in the physical network line. For example, an RX can check its determined optimal communication channel and the selected primary TX if the quality of the received signals falls below a predefined limit, if the number of signals received in a given period of time is less than a limit Predefined and similar. It is noted that the review

5 that occurs in procedures 810 and 812 can be produced in an RX through a background process. In the procedure of Figure 7E, the need for switching and coordination between communication channels is eliminated. Furthermore, said embodiment can be simply implemented in standard MAC frame signals and does not present substantially any overload with respect to time in two-node networks and in networks dominated by one to many traffic scenarios. In addition, as each RX decides on a particular communication channel with a given TX, the signal transmission performance between the given TX and RX can be adjusted to favor different signal traffic loads.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosed technique is not limited to what has been shown and disclosed in particular earlier in this document. Rather, the scope of the described technique is defined only by the appended claims.

The following clauses numbered on pages 73 to 90 of this description correspond to the claims of international patent application no. PCT / IL2010 / 000522 as presented. The claims of the present application as presented, which is divided from European patent application no. 10747677.2, can be found on the following pages 91-92 of the report that begin with the heading "claims".

Clauses

25 1. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising:

a processor; at least one transmitter, coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; at least one receiver, coupled with said processor, to receive said signals; Y at least one switch, coupled with at least one of said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver, wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire, wherein said at least one switch is coupled with said active cable, said neutral cable and said

35 ground wire, wherein said active wire and said neutral wire form a first communication channel, said active wire and said ground wire form a second communication channel and said neutral wire and said ground wire form a third communication channel, and wherein said at least one switch allows at least one of said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver to be coupled with one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

2. The apparatus according to clause 1, which also includes:

At least one analog to digital converter (ADC), at least one ADC being coupled between said processor and said at least one receiver, wherein said at least one switch is also coupled with said processor.

3.

The apparatus according to clause 2, wherein said processor determines that one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said at least one switch allows said at least one receiver to be coupled according With at least one factor.

Four.

 The apparatus according to clause 3, wherein said at least one factor comprises characteristics of

transmission of at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

5.

The apparatus according to clause 3, wherein said at least one factor comprises the quality of at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

6.

 The apparatus according to clause 1, wherein said at least one receiver determines which of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said at least one switch allows said at least one receiver to be coupled with the same.

7.

 The apparatus according to clause 6, where at predetermined intervals, said at least one receiver

65 verifies that at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said at least one receiver is not coupled for the quality of the communication channel.

8. The apparatus according to clause 1, which also includes:

5 at least one digital to analog converter (DAC), said at least one DAC being coupled between said processor and said at least one transmitter, wherein said at least one switch is also coupled with said processor.

9.

The apparatus according to clause 7, wherein said processor determines that one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said at least one switch allows said at least one transmitter to be coupled according With at least one factor.

10.

 The apparatus according to clause 9, wherein said at least one factor comprises characteristics of

transmission of at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

eleven.

 The apparatus according to clause 9, wherein said at least one factor comprises the quality of at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

12.

 The apparatus according to clause 1, wherein at least one transmitter determines which of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said at least one switch allows said at least one transmitter to be coupled with the same.

13.

 The apparatus according to clause 12, where at predetermined intervals, said at least one transmitter

25 verifies that at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said at least one transmitter is not coupled thereto for the quality of the communication channel.

14.

 The apparatus according to clause 1, wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical device.

fifteen.

 Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising:

a processor; at least one analog to digital converter (ADC), coupled with said processor;

At least one receiver, coupled respectively with said at least one ADC, for the reception of said signals; at least one digital to analog converter (DAC), coupled with said processor; and at least one transmitter, coupled respectively with said at least one DAC, to transmit said signals; wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, wherein said at least one receiver and said at least one transmitter are coupled with said active cable, said neutral cable and said cable of ground, where said active cable and said neutral cable form a first communication channel, said active cable and

Said ground wire form a second communication channel and said neutral wire and said ground wire form a third communication channel, and wherein said processor allows said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver to mate with one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

16. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising:

a processor; at least one switch, coupled with said processor;

At least one analog to digital converter (ADC); at least one receiver, coupled respectively with said at least one ADC, for the reception of said signals; at least one digital to analog converter (DAC); and at least one transmitter, coupled respectively with said at least one DAC, to transmit said signals; wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, wherein said at least one receiver and said at least one transmitter are coupled with said active cable, said neutral cable and said cable of land,

65 wherein said active cable and said neutral cable form a first communication channel, said active cable and said earth cable form a second communication channel and said neutral cable and said earth cable form a third communication channel, and where said At least one switch allows at least one of said at least one receiver and said at least one transmitter to be coupled with one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel.

17.

 The apparatus according to clause 16, wherein said at least one switch is coupled with at least one of said at least one ADC and said at least one DAC.

18.

 Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising:

a processor; a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter being coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; and a plurality of receivers, each receiver being coupled with said processor, to receive said

15 signals, wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, where each of said plurality of transmitters is coupled with at least two of said active cable, said neutral cable and said ground wire, such that it is coupled with a respective pair of transmission cables, where each of said plurality of receivers is coupled with at least two of said active wire, said neutral wire and said ground wire, of such so that it is coupled with a pair of respective receiving cables, where said respective pairs of transmission cables are different,

25 where said respective pairs of reception cables are different, and where said processor transmits said signals on at least one respective pair of transmission cables and receives said signals on at least one respective pair of reception cables.

19. System for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, said system comprising:

at least two power line modems, each of said at least two power line modems coupled to a respective electrical device with a respective outlet, each of said respective outlet being coupled with said residential electrical cables,

35 each of said at least two power line modems comprising:

a processor; at least one transmitter, coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; at least one receiver, coupled with said processor, to receive said signals; Y at least one switch, said at least one switch being coupled with at least one of said at least one transmitter and said at least one receiver, wherein said at least one switch is coupled with said active cable, said neutral cable and said ground wire, wherein said active cable and said neutral cable form a first communication channel, said cable

45 active and said ground wire form a second communication channel and said neutral and said ground wire form a third communication channel, and wherein said at least one switch allows at least one of said at least one transmitter and said at least A receiver is coupled with at least one of a first pair of cables and a second pair of cables, respectively.

20. The system according to clause 19, wherein said first pair of cables and said second pair of cables are selected from the list consisting of:

said first communication channel; 55 said second communication channel, and said third communication channel.

twenty-one.

 The system according to clause 19, wherein said first pair of cables and said second pair of cables are equivalent.

22

 The system according to clause 19, wherein said first pair of cables and said second pair of cables are different.

23. The system according to clause 19, wherein said at least one transmitter determines a quality of transmission through each pair of wires in said residential electrical wires.

24. The system according to clause 23, wherein based on said determined transmission quality, said at least one switch couples said at least one transmitter with said pair of cables having said transmission quality which is higher.

25. The system according to clause 23, wherein said at least one transmitter determines said transmission quality at predefined time intervals.

26.

 The system according to clause 23, where based on said determined transmission quality, said at least one transmitter, in a first of said at least two power line modems, instructs said at least one switch, in a second of said at least two power line modems, to couple said at least one receiver, in said second of said at least two power line modems, to said pair of cables having said transmission quality that is higher.

27.

 The system according to clause 19, where said at least one receiver determines a quality of

transmission in each pair of wires in said residential electrical wires. fifteen

28.

 The system according to clause 27, where based on said determined transmission quality, said at least one switch couples said at least one receiver with said pair of cables having said transmission quality which is higher.

29.

 The system according to clause 27, wherein said at least one receiver determines said transmission quality at predefined time intervals.

30

 The system according to clause 27, where based on said determined transmission quality, said at least one receiver, in a first of said at least two power line modems, instructs said

At least one switch, in a second of said at least two power line modems, to couple said at least one transmitter, in said second of said at least two power line modems, to said pair of cables having said quality of transmission that is higher.

31.

 The system according to clause 19, wherein said at least one transmitter from a first of said at least two power line modems transmits said signals, where a first of said at least one receiver and a second of said at least one receiver in a second of said at least two power line modems respectively receive said signals as a first received signal and a second received signal.

32

 The system according to clause 31, wherein said processor in said second of said at least two

35 power line modems determine that said first received signal and said second received signal for an additional process.

33.

 The system according to clause 31, wherein said processor in said second of said at least two power line modems optimally combines said first received signal and said second received signal.

3. 4.

 The system according to clause 31, wherein said at least one receiver in said second of said at least two power line modems determines which of said first received signal and said second received signal are provided to said processor.

35. System for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, said system comprising:

at least two power line modems, each of said at least two power line modems being coupled to a respective electrical device with a respective power outlet, each of said respective power socket being coupled with said residential electric cables, comprising each of said at least two power line modems:

a processor;

A plurality of transmitters, coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; and at least one receiver, coupled with said processor, to receive said signals; wherein said active cable and said neutral cable form a first communication channel, said active cable and said earth cable form a second communication channel and said neutral cable and said earth cable form a third communication channel, where each of said plurality of transmitters defines a respective carrier wave range in at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel, wherein said processor determines a frequency carrier wave for said signals when said signals are transmitted. ,

65 where a given one of said plurality of transmitters transmits said signals if said frequency carrier wave is in said respective carrier wave range of said given one of said plurality of transmitters.

36. The system according to clause 35, where each of said respective carrier wave range is

disjoint. 5

37.

 The system according to clause 35, wherein at least one of said plurality of transmitters transmits a media access control (MAC) frame signal before transmitting said signals, said MAC frame signal identifying one of said at least two power line modems.

38.

 The system according to clause 35, wherein each of said respective carrier wave range over at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel is determined on a node-to-node basis. .

39.

 The system according to clause 35, where said each of said respective carrier wave range

15 on at least one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel is determined on a network basis.

40

 The system according to clause 35, wherein a first of said at least one receiver and a second of said at least one receiver in one of said at least two power line modems respectively receive said signals as a first received signal and a Second the received signal.

41.

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables in a 3-phase electrical distribution configuration, comprising:

25 a processor;

a transmitter, coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; Y

a receiver, coupled with said processor, to receive said signals;

wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and

a ground wire,

where said transmitter transmits said signals on a pair of cables,

where said receiver receives said signals through said pair of cables,

wherein said pair of wires comprises said neutral wire and said ground wire.

42. Apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables, comprising:

35 a processor; a transmitter, coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; and a receiver, coupled with said processor, to receive said signals; wherein said apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, where said transmitter transmits said signals in more than a first set of pairs of cables, where said receiver receives said signals through a second set of cable pairs, where each of said first set and said second set comprises two pairs of cables.

45 43. The apparatus according to clause 42, wherein said first set of cable pairs and said second set of cable pairs are selected from the list consisting of:

said active cable and said neutral cable; said active wire and said ground wire, and said neutral wire and said ground wire.

44. The apparatus according to clause 42, wherein said residential electrical cables are coupled in a 1-phase electrical distribution configuration.

55 45. The apparatus according to clause 42, wherein said residential electrical cables are coupled in a 3-phase electrical distribution configuration.

46. Procedure for the coordination of a communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver, to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables, said residential electrical cables comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire, said forming active cable and said neutral cable a first communication channel, said active cable and said earth cable forming a second communication channel and said neutral cable and said earth cable forming a third communication channel, said method comprising the steps of:

65 select one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel as the default communication channel; before transmitting said signals, transmitting a directive frame, said directing frame indicating that said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said transmitter is transmitting a following one of said signals; and after transmitting said one of said signals, transmitting a recognition frame

5 selective (SACK) on said default communication channel.

47

 The procedure according to clause 46, wherein said policy frame is transmitted on said predetermined communication channel.

48.

Procedure for coordinating a communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver, to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables, said residential electrical cables comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, said active cable forming and said neutral wire a first communication channel, said active cable and said ground wire forming a second communication channel and said neutral wire and said ground wire forming a third communication channel,

15 said procedure comprising the steps of:

transmitting a directive frame before transmitting said signals, said directing frame indicating a communication channel following that said transmitter is transmitting a following of said signals only if said next communication channel is different from a current communication channel; and after transmitting said following of said signals, transmitting a selective recognition frame (SACK) in said current communication channel.

49. The procedure according to clause 48, wherein said next communication channel is selected from the list consisting of:

Said first communication channel; said second communication channel, and said third communication channel.

50. Procedure for the coordination of a communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver, to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables, said residential electrical cables comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, forming said active wire and said neutral wire a first communication channel, said active wire and said ground wire forming a second communication channel and said neutral wire and said ground wire forming a third communication channel,

35 said procedure comprising the steps of:

selecting one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel as the default communication channel; before transmitting said signals, transmit a containment window; after transmitting said containment window, transmitting a synchronization signal, said synchronization signal indicating that a next transmitted signal will be an indication signal; transmitting said indication signal, said indicating signal indicating that said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel of said transmitter is transmitting a following of said signals; Y

After transmitting said next of said signals, transmitting a selective recognition frame (SACK) in said default communication channel.

51.

 The procedure according to clause 50, wherein said indication signal is a binary signal.

52

 The method according to clause 50, wherein said indication signal comprises phase information.

53.

Procedure for coordinating a communication channel between a transmitter and a receiver, to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables, said electrical cables comprising

A residential cable, a neutral wire and a ground wire, said said active wire and said neutral wire forming a first channel communication, said active wire and said ground wire forming a second communication channel and forming said neutral wire and said wire ground a third communication channel, said procedure comprising the steps of:

selecting one of said first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel as the default communication channel; before transmitting said signals, transmitting a containment window, wherein said containment window is divided into a plurality of communication channel sections, each of said plurality of communication channel sections indicating at least one of which will be transmitted. saying

65 first communication channel, said second communication channel and said third communication channel a following of said signals in a given of said plurality of communication channel sections; and after transmitting said following of said signals, transmitting a selective recognition frame (SACK) in said default communication channel.

54. Procedure for coordinating a communication channel between a plurality of nodes, comprising

5 each node at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, to transmit and receive signals through residential electrical cables, said residential electrical cables comprising an active cable, a neutral cable and a ground cable, said active cable and said cable forming neutral a first communication channel, said active cable and said ground wire forming a second communication channel and said neutral wire and said ground wire forming a third communication channel, said method comprising the steps of:

10 for a given one of said receiver, examining said transmitter in each of said plurality of nodes communicating with said receiver; select one of said examined transmitters as a primary transmitter; determining an optimal communication channel between said receiver and said primary transmitter;

15 inform all examined transmitters of said determined optimal communication channel; and follow at least one communication characteristic in said determined optimum communication channel.

55. The procedure according to clause 54, wherein said selection procedure comprises the sub

procedure for selecting one of said transmitters examined on the basis of at least one factor. twenty

56. The procedure according to clause 54, wherein said optimal communication channel is selected from the list consisting of:

said first communication channel; Said second communication channel, and said third communication channel.

57. The procedure according to clause 54, wherein said at least one communication feature is selected from the list consisting of:

30 a quality of said received signals; a series of collisions experienced in said received signals; a yield; an error rate; Y

35 a false alarm rate.

58. The method according to clause 54, wherein said optimal communication channel represents a communication channel through which said given one of said receiver receives said signals.

40 59. The procedure according to clause 54, further comprising the review procedure of said optimal communication channel determined based on said monitoring of at least one communication characteristic.

60. The procedure according to clause 59, wherein said review procedure occurs at predetermined intervals of time.

61. The procedure according to clause 59, where said review procedure occurs in predetermined events.

50 62. The procedure according to clause 54, further comprising the review procedure of said primary transmitter based on said tracking of at least one communication feature.

63. The procedure in accordance with clause 62, where said review procedure is executed

dynamically. 55

64. The procedure according to clause 62, wherein said review procedure occurs at predetermined time intervals.

65. The procedure according to clause 62, where said review procedure occurs in predetermined events 60.

Claims (3)

1. System (430) for transmitting and receiving signals through residential electrical cables (442) comprising at least one active cable, a neutral cable and a ground wire, said system comprising: 5 at least two power line modems, each of said at least two power line modems coupled to a respective electrical device with a respective electrical outlet, said respective electrical outlet being coupled with said residential electrical cables, comprising each of said at least two power line modems: 10 a processor; a plurality of transmitters (434, 436) coupled with said processor, to transmit said signals; and at least one receiver (404), coupled with said processor, to receive said signals; 15 where at least two of said cables form at least one pair of receiving cables, where at least two of said cables form at least one pair of transmission cables, and where said processor determines a frequency carrier wave for said signals when said signals are transmitted, characterized by: 20 each of said plurality of transmitters defines a respective carrier wave range (444, 446) in said at least one pair of transmission cables, and wherein said processor provides said signals to a respective one of said plurality of transmitters according to said respective carrier wave range in which said wave is 25 frequency carrier of said signals. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said respective carrier wave range is disjoint. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said respective carrier wave range in said at least one pair of transmission cables is determined on a node-to-node basis. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said respective carrier wave range in said at least one pair of transmission cables is determined on a network basis. 35