Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems

Master of Science in Internetworking – MS Thesis Examiner and Supervisor: Prof. Björn Pehrson bjorn@it.kth.se Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems Khurram Hussain Zuberi zuberi@ieee.org 9 September 2003 Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, IMIT Royal Institute of Technology, KTH IT-Universitetet, Kista, Stockholm, Sweden Master Thesis – Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems Master of Science in Internetworking Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, IMIT Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden http://www.it.kth.se/~iw01_zkh PLC_030909_D06_V01-Thesis.pdf 2(108) 2003-09-09 Once upon a time, before the advent of electricity, home automation had a different name: servants Yahoo Internet Life Magazine, July 2002 Dedicated To My Loving Mother Master Thesis – Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems Master of Science in Internetworking Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, IMIT Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden http://www.it.kth.se/~iw01_zkh PLC_030909_D06_V01-Thesis.pdf 3(108) 2003-09-09 Abstract This thesis serves as a general and technical reference on the "Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems" with the presentation of a comprehensive and detailed analysis on the standards, characteristics, technologies, products and development associated and currently being deployed in the PLC communication systems. Since the developments and research on the subject had been relatively new and information scattered, the lack of collective information had been the primary initiative behind this research. The advantages and benefits of using power line as the medium of data transmission at homes is investigated. Various standards and regulations are highlighted. Summary and comparisons are presented based on the findings of the research done at various European cities on exploring powerline as a communication medium with study of transmission impairments and other factors pertaining to the channel characteristics and performance. The technologies underlining the powerline communications are presented along with a discussion on the functionality of each technology including the data transmission rates, limitations, drawbacks, quality of service, and other important factors. A market survey of the presently available products/modules in the Powerline Networking area is carried out, summarizing all the HomePlug-certified products available in the powerline industry for the Swedish 220V 50 Hz power circuits; also highlighting the salient features available for each product. Different tests are performed using various vendors’ powerline modules and the results documented, to help set a small office home office (SOHO) powerline demonstration network at the Telecommunications Systems Laboratory (TS Lab), IMIT, IT-University, Kista, Sweden. Some laboratory exercises are produced that students can perform to understand the concept and benefits of powerline networking technology. The thesis concludes with a look at the on-going technological developments in the area along with suggestions for future research possibilities. With current available data transmission speeds of 14 Mbps and a remarkable increase promised in the near-future, Powerline Carrier Communication Systems are a preferred choice over Wireless or other Home Networking technologies due to factors including ease of installation, availability of AC outlets, higher throughput, low cost, reliability and security. PLC Communication Systems are also a potential candidate for the deliverance of xDSL and Broadband Internet services (data, multimedia etc.) along with electricity (and automation control signals) to the consumers by the energy utilities. Master Thesis – Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems Master of Science in Internetworking Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, IMIT Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden http://www.it.kth.se/~iw01_zkh PLC_030909_D06_V01-Thesis.pdf 4(108) 2003-09-09 Acknowledgments I wish to express my deep gratitude to Jamison Lowe of Phonex Broadband Corporation, USA for kindly sending me the NeverWire 14 set of powerline modules that were used for testing and demonstration for this thesis. I will hand over these modules to the IT-University, so that other researchers or students can benefit from their usage. I will also like to thank Trygve Refvem of GigaFast Ethernet (HomePlug) Norway for kindly lending me the HomePlug series of modules which were used in conjunction with the NeverWire modules for testing and demonstration for this thesis. I am also thankful to Tim Charleson of the Plugtek Powerline eLibrary, who allowed me to use the library resources free of cost for my research. My sincere wishes to all the Technical Support and other helpful persons from various companies and resources whom I contacted from time to time regarding certain queries, and who were not only prompt in replying but also gave me many enlightening suggestions and technical details for their products. I also would like to thank my colleagues and friends at the TS Lab who helped me in various testing scenarios with their laptops and time. Finally I wish to express my thanks to my Examiner and Supervisor, Professor Björn Pehrson, for his confidence in letting me work on this exciting and challenging thesis. Master Thesis – Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communication Systems Master of Science in Internetworking Department of Microelectronics and Information Technology, IMIT Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden http://www.it.kth.se/~iw01_zkh PLC_030909_D06_V01-Thesis.pdf 5(108) 2003-09-09 Contents 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 General Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Project Specification.................................................................................................................................................. 9 1.3 Standards and Regulations...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Organization of this Thesis..................................................................................................................................... 13 2 Data Communication Techniques ............................................................................................. 14 2.1 Baseband Digital Signals........................................................................................................................................ 14 2.2 Signal Modulation Techniques............................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Digital transmission of information ........................................................................................................................ 18 2.4 Spread Spectrum Systems..................................................................................................................................... 21 2.5 Error Reduction Techniques .................................................................................................................................. 22 2.6 Medium access methods........................................................................................................................................ 22 2.7 Conclusions.............................................................................................................................................................. 24 3 Home Networking over Powerlines........................................................................................... 25 3.1 Home Networking and Automation ....................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Home Networking Challenges ............................................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Home Networking Technologies............................................................................................................................ 26 3.4 Powerline Networking.............................................................................................................................................. 30 3.5 Typical Applications of Home Networking............................................................................................................ 34 3.6 Conclusions.............................................................................................................................................................. 37 4 Powerline Carrier (PLC) Communications................................................................................ 38 4.1 Residential Power Circuit Communication........................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Noise Characteristics on the Residential Power Circuit..................................................................................... 40 4.3 Impedance and Transfer Function of a Residential Power Circuit................................................................... 42 4.4 Signal Attenuation.................................................................................................................................................... 43 4.5 Signal-to-Noise Ratio .............................................................................................................................................. 44 4.6 Coupling the signal onto the channel.................................................................................................................... 44 4.7 Medium access techniques for the powerline...................................................................................................... 44 4.8 Low-level link protocols for powerline environment............................................................................................ 45 4.9 Modulation techniques for the powerline communication channel................................................................... 45 4.10 Conclusions............................................................................................................................................................ 48 5 Powerline Communication Technologies.................................................................................. 49 5.1 LonWorks (Local Operation Networks)................................................................................................................. 49 5.2 Consumer Electronic Bus (CEBus)....................................................................................................................... 54 5.3 Passport and Plug-in PLX 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