TWI461012B - Network device - Google Patents

Description

Network device

As mentioned in the inventive name of such a descriptive specification, the present invention relates to a communication system that utilizes the dual radiation and conduction properties of a distribution network, such as a power line in a home, to improve the use of only one communication. The coverage and transmission capabilities of the media system.

The main advantage of the system proposed herein is that no frequency changes are required to be transmitted in different media, but instead the same signal is transmitted directly in both media, adjusting the energy injected into each medium.

In most telecommunication systems, the most fundamental problem is to achieve sufficient coverage with sufficient transmission capacity. In general, this is achieved by increasing the amount of energy introduced into the communication medium, but the level is limited to the existing regulations in different countries. In the case of airborne media, this energy is strongly spread in the three-dimensional space, so these regulations only allow for certain emissions sufficient to ensure a connection of up to 100 meters (with a defined bandwidth). In reality, the presence of obstacles and the distribution of furniture means that wireless connectivity does not guarantee sufficient bandwidth for multimedia applications (such as high-definition video) throughout the home, so in practice there is a need to find alternative solutions.

There are other systems in the development of technology that attempt to find such solutions, such as the use of a hybrid power line/WiFi network, such as in the patent of US Pat. No. 6,234,413 and the patent of US Pat. No. 20060194575. In these documents, radiation is exclusively carried out in the air media, To achieve wireless communication between system devices under consideration. While these systems provide an effective solution, the final adaptation of the frequency of each medium must be implemented in the media by using heterodyne, which adds cost and limits the functionality of the solution. On the other hand, the system proposed in this patent uses the connection to a series of terminals of the conductive network and other terminals of the wireless type together with the possibility of connection between the two terminals, injecting the same signal into different media without Any frequency changes to avoid the drawbacks of developing technology solutions.

In order to achieve this goal and to avoid the disadvantages described in the [Prior Art], the present invention consists of a communication system that does not know a transmission medium, and includes at least one receiver and a transmitter connected to a single interface for injection The communication signal is coupled to a power line; characterized in that the injection interface for the signal is provided with a module for distributing the energy of the communication signal via both the power line and the air medium radiated by the power line.

The module for power distribution includes means for enhancing the unbalance effect of the power line to increase the portion of the signal in the common mode that produces electromagnetic radiation that begins with the transmitted signal.

Furthermore, the means for enhancing the imbalance effect of the power line, in turn, provides means for including the possibility of varying the ratio between conduction and radiant energy, which performs an adjustment between the two ratios.

From a receiving point of view, the receiver forming the communication system is provided with a receiving module for signals via the power line, a receiving module equipped for transmitting signals via the air medium, or equipped with the two modules.

Also, from a transmission point of view, and due to the possibility of providing a ratio of change between conducted and radiated energy, the present invention provides the possibility of transmitting signals via the power line, via the air medium, or via the two media.

Finally, the communication system may also include means for forwarding the received signals for the purpose of extending the coverage of the communication system.

In the following, in order to facilitate a better understanding of the specification and the invention in its entirety.

An example of an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the numbers used in the drawings.

As described earlier, one of the main problems with communication at home today is to achieve a sufficient bandwidth connection for multimedia applications because WiFi applications do not produce such results due to limitations in radiation, distance and distribution in the home. In the example of the present embodiment, it is proposed that the system is used at home to improve the system.

Figure 1 shows three different devices (1), (2) and (3). The first two use the power line (4) as the transmission medium, and (3) only use the air media as the receiving medium. Each of the systems includes: a transmitter (5) equipped with a corresponding modulator; a receiver (6) equipped with a corresponding demodulator; a control module (7), a control transmitter ( 5) with the receiver (6); together with the coupling unit (8), the coupling unit (8) enhances the unbalance effect of the power line to change the signal in the common mode and modify the power injected through the power line and is about to be home The proportion of the power radiated by the distribution network acts as the same radiating element. This radiation (labeled (9) in the figure) is an intentional radiation caused by a signal injected into the power line (4) and it will be receivable by a device that can receive information from the air medium. In order for the signal to not interfere with previous communication systems using radio communication frequencies, the system injects the signal into the power line in a frequency band that is not authorized for use. These frequencies are public and do not require prior government approval for transmitting RF signals.

The frequency of action (in other words, the frequency used to transmit signals via the power line in a conductive manner, and the frequency of the radiated signal) is the same, so no additional components for frequency conversion or the like are required to permit Communication between devices connected to or not connected to the power line.

In Figure 1, two devices (1) and (2) inject their signals into the power line, although the radiation properties of the line are used, the two devices (1) and (2) also radiate the signal. This radiated signal can be picked up by a device that is not directly connected to the power line but has an RF pick-up system, as is the case with device (3). In this case, the received signal is passed directly to the demodulator (6), and the control module (7) controls the coupling unit (8) to block the output signal, causing the signal from the modulator (5). None are coupled to the output.

On the other hand, Figure 2 shows the opposite case. In this case, the device (3) not connected to the power line transmits a radio frequency signal (10), which is coupled to the nearby power distribution network due to the radio frequency signal (10), causing the devices (1) and (2) to have Ability to pick up the RF signal (10). In this case, the received signal is taken directly from the power line (4) and the control module (7) controls the coupling unit (8) to block the transmission branch.

Another embodiment is depicted in Figure 3, in which a device (11) forming part of the network (even if the device (11) is not physically connected to the power line (4), but because the device (11) is capable of interacting with other devices Information communication, so because the device (11) does form part of the network on a logical basis) has multiple antennas. This type of device has a common demodulation transformer (6) and is capable of utilizing the irregular radiation intentionally transmitted by the power distribution line in the home, and in the same way, using the same data to reach each channel but being distorted in different ways, In order to achieve the correct reception even with a low signal level.

Finally, an example of another embodiment is shown in Figure 4, in which a device (12) is provided, the device (12) comprising: various antennas for receiving signals distorted in different ways; and an additional connection to the power line (4) A connection that allows the medium to receive the same signal that is distorted by network characteristics, wherein an algorithm may be used in the demodulation transformer (6) to efficiently combine the multiple receptions to recover the signal. Such combinations for improving received signals are known, for example, as in the case of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology. In this case, the control module (7) controls the coupling unit (8) to cause no signal to be transmitted, but when a signal needs to be transmitted, it may provide one of the specific couplings to be selected for reception, which will affect the received signal. (Not depicted in the figure).

All of these embodiments of the proposed communication signals may be present in the same communication network in the home. Figure 5 represents an example in which devices (13) to (21) are connected to a power line, connected to the air medium or connected to the two media, and (22) to (27) are different parts of the home (room or hallway) Reference.

In this example, the device (13) located in the room (23) injects a signal into the power line and the actual distribution network radiates in the room, which causes the position Communication between the device (13) and the device (14) in the room (23) is possible.

As the power distribution network is routed through a common wall between the room (23) and the room (24), the distribution network will also radiate in the room (24), which causes the device (13) and device Communication between (15) and (16) is possible. In part, due to the radiating elements, devices (15) and (16) are capable of communicating with each other by transmission and reception of radio frequency antennas in the air medium.

The power distribution grid is also routed through a common wall between the room (23) and the corridor (22), so the distribution network also radiates towards the corridor. Here, the device (17) is capable of receiving communications transmitted by the device (13) through the wall and the latter can use radio frequency to forward messages that can be located in the wall between the corridor (22) and the room (26). Picked up by the distribution network.

The signals picked up and transported by the power distribution network are received by the devices (18) and (20) and received by the device (29) via the radio frequency. The devices (18) and (20) are placed in the room (26) and the device (29) is in the room (25), but both rooms are adjacent to the hallway (22).

The device (20) has two radiating elements for collecting information that is affected in different ways by the communication channel, and intelligently combining or processing the information by different algorithms with respect to possible noise in the receiving. Maximum signal rate. If the fact is increased for this technology, the signal radiated by the wiring of the power line differs depending on the point of the line, so that the device (20) is used in a position to utilize a known channel (such as MIMO (multiple input multiple output) )) technology to improve its reception. In this example, the communication channel has multiple inputs (irradiation at all points of the power line are not equal) and multiple outputs (equal to the number of antennas installed in the device, in this case, two days) line).

As part of this, the device (21) located in the room (27) utilizes its dual connection via the power line and a radiating element to receive two versions of the transmitted information and it is allowed to be processed by an algorithm, the algorithm is The two sources extract the maximum information that has not changed in a sufficiently uncorrelated manner due to channel noise, distortion, and attenuation.

1‧‧‧ device

2‧‧‧ device

3‧‧‧ device

4‧‧‧Power line

5‧‧‧transmitter

6‧‧‧ Receiver

7‧‧‧Control Module

8‧‧‧Coupling unit

9‧‧‧ radiation

10‧‧‧RF signal

11‧‧‧ device

12‧‧‧ device

13‧‧‧ device

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22‧‧‧ corridor

23‧‧‧ room

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26‧‧‧ rooms

27‧‧‧ room

29‧‧‧ device

1 represents an example of an embodiment having two devices transmitting on a power line and a third device using airborne media alone as a receiving.

Figure 2 shows an example of the opposite of the previous figure, where the transmission is via the air medium and the reception is via the power line.

Figure 3 represents an example of a device having multiple antennas.

Figure 4 shows an example of a device having various antennas and a connection to a power line.

Figure 5 represents a real child in which the communication system can be used at home to combine different devices that were described earlier.

1‧‧‧ device

2‧‧‧ device

3‧‧‧ device

4‧‧‧Power line

5‧‧‧transmitter

6‧‧‧ Receiver

7‧‧‧Control Module

8‧‧‧Coupling unit

9‧‧‧ radiation

Claims (11)

A first network device includes: at least one transmitter having a single interface for injecting a first communication signal to an injection point of a power line, wherein the single interface includes a module for connecting via the power line Allocating energy through the first network device, wherein the energy is radiated by the power line and through an air medium; and at least one receiver for receiving the first communication via the power line or the air medium radiation a signal, wherein the module is based on the received first communication signal for: enhancing an imbalance effect of the power line to increase a portion of the first communication signal that causes electromagnetic radiation to be generated, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the power line Generating the portion of the first communication signal; and adjusting the ratio of the conducted energy in the injection point to the ratio of the radiant energy. The first network device of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver is configured to receive a second communication signal that is conducted via the power line or radiated via the air medium. The first network device of claim 1, wherein the module changes a ratio between energy transmitted from the power line and energy radiated from the power line to the air medium. The first network device according to claim 1, further comprising a repeater device for receiving the first communication signal to extend the coverage of a communication system. The first network device of claim 1, wherein the receiver transmits the first communication signal through the power line. The first network device of claim 1, wherein the receiver transmits the first communication signal through the air medium. The first network device of claim 1, further comprising a control module and a coupling unit, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a second communication signal radiated through the air medium and the power line; and the control module is based on The received second communication signal is used to control the coupling unit to block transmission of the first communication signal. The first network device of claim 1, further comprising a control module and a coupling unit, wherein the receiver receives a second communication signal through the power line; and the control module is configured to use the second communication signal based on the second communication signal Controlling the coupling unit to block transmission of the first communication signal. The first network device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a distorted version of the second communication signal from the respective antenna and to combine the distorted version of the second communication signal. The first network device of claim 9, further comprising a control module and a coupling unit, wherein the control module is configured to control the coupling unit to block the first unit based on a distorted version of the combination of the second communication signals The transmission of a communication signal. The first network device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a second communication signal radiated by the power line; and the second communication signal passes through the power line and is separated from the first network device The second network device is allocated.