A power line communication method for realizing data communication between at least one first or sending power line communication partner device and at least one second or receiving power line communication partner device. The method checks transmission conditions of a plurality of possible communication channels, thereby generating transmission condition data descriptive for the communication conditions of the respective possible communication channels. Additionally, communication conditions of the plurality of possible communication channels are selected as actual communication conditions based on the transmission condition data.

Claims

60 · 2 independent · depth 5

60 granted claims

›1.independentMethod for operating a communication arrangement,nsaid communication arrangement comprising a plurality of PLC modem devices,wherein for each of said …+26

›2.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein said PLC modem device measures the radiation of the power line channel where it is connected to,wherein one modem…d2+1

›4.↳ 1Method according to claim 1, wherein said measurement process is performed wirelessly.d2

›5.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein said measurement process is performed by means of an antenna as a part of said PLC modem device.d2

›6.↳ 1Method according to claim 1, wherein said measurement process is performed by wire.d2

›7.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein said measurement process is performed by means of a sensor means connected to a respective communication wire mea…d2

›8.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein said actual communication conditions are chosen in order to effect and select at least one of the group comprisin…d2

›9.↳ 1Method according to claim 1, further comprising:na power back off process in order to avoid interference with other power line communication services …d2+4

›13.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein power line communication is performed with a transmission gain and/or transmission power on the transmission aide…d2+5

›14.↳ 13Method according to claim 13,nwherein said transmission gain and/or transmission power of said transmission side is at least one of set, requested, co…d3

›16.↳ 13Method according to claim 13,nwherein transmission gain and/or transmission power are raised in order to increase a possible quality of service value …d3+3

›20.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein a pre-defined reference signal is generated by at least one PLC modem device and transmitted via at least one ava…d2

›21.↳ 1Method according to claim 1,nwherein said at least one PLC modem device and/or said possible communication partner devices communicate and/or transmit…d2

›43.↳ 1PLC modem device,nconfigured to realize the method for operating a PLC modem device according to claim 1.d2+4

›49.↳ 1Communication arrangement,nwhich is capable of and which comprises means for realizing the method for operating a communication arrangement according …d2

›22.independentMethod for operating PLC modem device in a communication arrangement, said communication arrangement comprising a plurality of PLC modem devices, the …+32

Method for operating PLC modem device in a communication arrangement, said communication arrangement comprising a plurality of PLC modem devices, the method comprising:nat least one of generating and providing communication quality data with respect to at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device, said communication quality data being descriptive for at least one of communication capabilities, communication quality and communication features of at least one of said at least one communication partner device and said at least one communication channel, wherein a pre-defined reference signal is generated by the PLC modem device and transmitted via at least one available communication channel and wherein possible communication partner devices measure said pre-defined reference signal via channels other than said available communication channels and/or analyze the respective measurement data;determining at least one of communication spectrum data and communication channel data based on said communication quality data and being descriptive for at least one of at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and for said at least one communication channel each of which with respect to said at least one communication partner device;at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel from said at least one communication channel each of which based on at least one of said communication spectrum data and on said communication channel data; andcommunicating with said at least one communication partner device via at least one of said selected communication channel and said selected communication spectrum,wherein by a measurement process at least one of possible communication channels and communication spectra are monitored within said step of at least one of generating and providing said communication quality data, wherein for each of said PLC modem devices a presence of interferences caused by operating other PLC modem devices or caused by a communication line used for own power line communication is monitored, andwherein in said step of at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel at least one of an actual communication spectrum and an actual communication channel is selected and chosen for said step of communicating for which a comparable low interference from signal sources or signals other than the communication partner devices associated in said step communicating and the signal stemming there from, respectively, is given,thereby avoiding and de-allocating partly or completely at least one of communication spectra and communication channels of devices or services other than devices and services associated in said step of communication.

›23.↳ 22Method according to claim 22, further comprising at least one of:ndetecting at least one communication partner device, which is connected to said PLC …d2+1

›24.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said step of at least one of generating and providing communication quality data comprises a process of determin…d2

›25.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or me…d2

›26.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or me…d2

›27.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or me…d2

›28.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said step of generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or me…d2

›30.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel are selected and/or used which are not simultaneously us…d2

›31.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein for a communication channel having or realizing a larger communication distance between said PLC modem device an…d2

›32.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein for a communication channel having or realizing a shorter communication distance between said PLC modem device a…d2

›33.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said processes of generating, of transmitting said pre-defined reference signal, of measuring, of analyzing the …d2

›34.↳ 22Method according to claim 22, wherein said measurement process is performed wirelessly.d2

›35.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said measurement process is performed by means of an antenna as a part of said PLC modem device.d2

›36.↳ 22Method according to claim 22, wherein said measurement process is performed by wire.d2

›37.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said measurement process is performed by means of a sensor means connected to a respective communication wire me…d2

›38.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said actual communication conditions are chosen in order to effect and select at least one of the group comprisi…d2+1

›45.↳ 38PLC communication or modem device according to claim 38, comprising:na processor configured to at least one of generate and provide communication qual…d3

PLC communication or modem device according to claim 38, comprising:na processor configured to at least one of generate and provide communication quality data with respect to at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device, said communication quality data being descriptive for at least one of communication capabilities, communication quality and communication features of at least one of said at least one communication partner device and said at least one communication channel, wherein,said processor configured to determine at least one of communication spectrum data and communication channel data based on said communication quality data and being descriptive for at least one of at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and for said at least one communication channel each of which with respect to said at least one communication partner device,said processor configured to perform at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel from said at least one communication channel each of which based on at least one of said communication spectrum data and on said communication channel data, and communicate with said at least one communication partner device via at least one of said selected communication channel and said selected communication spectrum,said PLC modem device being adapted to monitor by a measurement process at least one of possible communication channels and communication spectra within said means for performing said step of at least one of generating and providing said communication quality data, andwherein said processor is adapted to at least one of select and choose at least one of an actual communication spectrum and an actual communication channel for said step of communicating for which a comparable low interference from signal sources or signals other than the communication partner devices associated in said step communicating and the signal stemming there from, respectively, is given,thereby being adapted in order to avoid and de-allocate partly or completely at least one of communication spectra and communication channels of devices.

›39.↳ 22Method according to claim 22, further comprisingna power back off process in order to avoid interference with other power line communication services …d2

›40.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein power line communication is performed with a transmission gain and/or transmission power on the transmission aid…d2

›41.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein a pre-defined reference signal is generated by at least one PLC modem device and transmitted via at least one av…d2

›42.↳ 22Method according to claim 22,nwherein said at least one PLC modem device and/or said possible communication partner devices communicate and/or transmi…d2

›50.↳ 22PLC modem device,nconfigured to realize the method for operating a PLC modem device according to claim 22.d2+9

›51.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:na monitor that checks for a presence of interferences caused by operating other P…d3

›52.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:na processor configured to at least one of generate and provide communication qual…d3

PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:na processor configured to at least one of generate and provide communication quality data with respect to at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device, said communication quality data being descriptive for at least one of communication capabilities, communication quality and communication features of at least one of said at least one communication partner device and said at least one communication channel,said processor configured to determine at least one of communication spectrum data and communication channel data based on said communication quality data and being descriptive for at least one of at least one communication spectrum for said PLC modem device and for said at least one communication channel each of which with respect to said at least one communication partner device,said processor configured to perform at least one of determining and selecting at least one of a communication spectrum and a communication channel from said at least one communication channel each of which based on at least one of said communication spectrum data and on said communication channel data, and communicate with said at least one communication partner device via at least one of said selected communication channel and said selected communication spectrum,said PLC modem device being adapted to monitor by a measurement process at least one of possible communication channels and communication spectra within said means for performing said step of at least one of generating and providing said communication quality data, andwherein said processor is adapted to at least one of select and choose at least one of an actual communication spectrum and an actual communication channel for said step of communicating for which a comparable low interference from signal sources or signals other than the communication partner devices associated in said step communicating and the signal stemming there from, respectively, is given,thereby being adapted in order to avoid and de-allocate partly or completely at least one of communication spectra and communication channels of devices and services other than devices or services associated in said step of communication andthereby being adapted in order to avoid and de-allocate partly or completely at least one of communication spectra and communication channels associated with one or a plurality of amateur, AM or DRM radio services.

›53.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, further comprising:na receiver that at least one of wirelessly and by wire receives at least …d3

›54.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:na terrestrial tuner device and/or an antenna device for receiving radio sources a…d3

›55.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:nan antenna device and an antenna interface connected thereto to receive radio sou…d3

›56.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, further comprising:nat least one of a power line sensor and a terrestrial tuner device as wel…d3

›57.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:nan evaluating and estimation unit that evaluates at least one of radiations and n…d3

›58.↳ 50PLC communication or modem device according to claim 50, comprising:na central processing unit which is connected to and controls at least one of said…d3

›60.↳ 50Communication arrangement,nwhich comprises a plurality of PLC communication or modem devices according to claim 50.d3

›59.↳ 22Communication arrangement,nwhich is capable of and which comprises means for realizing the method for operating a communication arrangement according …d2

Classifications

8 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section H — Electricity

H04M11/04

USPC · US Patent Classification

455/402340/310.6379/90.1370/431375/260340/310.1370/482

Claim changes

Soon

Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this patent are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

Pendency

1.5 y

552 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

1 RCE

Examiner

David Q Nguyen

art unit 2617 · TC 2600

Law firm

Law firm · Log in to unlock

Citations: 42 back · 0 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Term & fees

See the term timeline — pendency span, in-force span, the maintenance fees paid and both computed expiry dates.

Priority chain

1 priority documents

›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
related publication	US 20110116555 A1	19 May 2011

Validity challenges

See the validity challenges on record — reexaminations, IPRs and PGRs, with their institution decisions and outcomes.

Citations

See every patent this one cites and every patent that cites it back — publication, assignee, and how each one was found.