Power Line Communication Methods and Devices

52:

• A method according to claim 51,
• wherein all participating modems are provided with a terrestrial antenna, and wherein all participating modems receive and/or measure this signal with their terrestrial antenna.

54:

• A method according to claim 50, wherein said measurement process is performed wirelessly.

55:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said measurement process is performed by an antenna as a part of said PLC modem device.

56:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said measurement process is performed by wire.

57:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said measurement process is performed by a sensor connected to a respective communication wire.

58:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said actual communication conditions are chosen to effect and select at least one of the group comprising a frequency band, a signal modulation scheme a time slot, a transmission power a transmission gain, and a reception gain each of a possible or of said actual communication channel of the plurality of possible communication channels between said at least one first or sending power line communication partner device and said at least one second or receiving power line communication partner device.

59:

• A method according to claim 50,
• further comprising a power back off process to avoid interference with other power line communication services and or radio services by reducing transmission power fed or to be fed.

60:

• A method according to claim 59,
• wherein in said power back off process transmission power fed or to be fed is reduced to a minimum value or range which is determined beforehand to be still sufficient and/or appropriate for enabling and/or maintaining loss free or essentially loss free power line communication.

61:

• A method according to claim 59,
• wherein said power back off process is performed individually for one or a plurality of different channels and/or carriers.

62:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said power back off process is performed on a distinct channel and/or carrier if an actual signal to noise ratio of said given channel and/or carrier is better than a signal to noise ratio necessary for an actual bit loading in said given channel and/or carrier.

63:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein power line communication is performed with a transmission gain and/or transmission power on the transmission side which fits to at least one of a maximum sensitivity, maximum input gain, and minimum input attenuation on a receiving side.

64:

• A method according to claim 63,
• wherein said transmission gain and/or transmission power of said transmission side is at least one of set, requested, communicated, and negotiated by or with said receiving side.

65:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said power back off process is performed to adjust transmission gain and/or transmission power in accordance to at least one of attenuations and distances to be bridged between devices under communication, or to reduce said transmission gain and/or transmission power for comparable short distances.

66:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein transmission gain and/or transmission power are raised to increase a possible quality of service value or QoS value for quality of service data streams or QoS streams.

67:

• A method according to claim 66,
• wherein information and/or signal components which need a higher QoS value are assigned and mapped to certain carriers and
• wherein said certain carriers are given an increased amplitude and/or transmission power in the power line communication process.

68:

• A method according to claim 66,
• wherein said increased amplitude and/or transmission power for the power line communication process are achieved by operating a respective spectral interleaver device to assign and map said information and bits which need a higher QoS value to said respective carriers.

A method according to claim 66,

• wherein said process of raising said transmission gain and/or transmission power is performed in a way still enabling and/or maintaining
• avoiding and de-allocating partly or completely least of communication spectra and communication channels of devices and services other than devices and services associated in said communication, and or
• avoiding and de-allocating 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.

A method according to claim 50,

• further comprising at least one of
• detecting at least one communication partner device, which is connected to said PLC modem device via at least one communication channel, and
• detecting said at least one communication channel between said PLC modem device and at least one communication partner device.

71:

• A method according to claim 53,
• wherein said at least one of generating and providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring noise of said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof.

72:

• A method according to claim 53,
• wherein said generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a signal attenuation of said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof.

73:

• A method according to claim 53,
• wherein said generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a signal transmission level of said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof.

74:

• A method according to claim 53,
• wherein said generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a distance of said PLC modem device to said communication partner device with respect to said at least one communication channel, or with respect to a power line thereof.

75:

• A method according to claim 53,
• wherein said generating and/or providing communication quality data comprises a process of determining and/or measuring a signal-to-noise ratio with respect to said at least one communication channel, or of a power line thereof and/or based on said noise, attenuation, signal transmission level, distance determined and/or measured.

76:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein for said at least one communication partner device a plurality of communication channels, of all available communication channels, are analyzed, within said detecting said at least one communication partner device and/or said at least one communication channel, within said generating and/or providing said communication quality data, within said determining at least said communication spectrum data and/or said communication channel data, and/or within said determining and/or selecting said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel.

77:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel are selected and/or used which are not simultaneously used by communication processes of and/or between other communication partner devices within said communication network or communication arrangement, or within said determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel.

78:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein for a communication channel having or realizing a larger communication distance between said PLC modem device and said selected communication partner device a lower frequency range is chosen for said communication spectrum, or within said determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum.

A method according to claim 50,

• wherein for a communication channel having or realizing a shorter communication distance between said PLC modem device and said selected communication partner device a communication spectrum with higher frequency range is chosen, or within said determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum.

81:

• A method according to claim 80,
• wherein within said process of checking the presence, existence and/or activity of other and external radio sources and/or radio services PLC modem devices snoop in the air if there are any radio services and/or radio sources available, and
• wherein if a relevant service and/or source is found a any frequency location the respective frequency band is omitted in power line communication.

82:

• A method according to claim 80,
• wherein said process of checking the presence, existence and/or activity of other and external radio sources and/or radio services is performed in a wireless manner and/or in a wired manner.

84:

• A method according to claim 51,
• wherein said at least one PLC modern device and/or said possible communication partner devices communicate and/or transmit the respective measurement data, its respective analysis results, said communication quality data, said communication spectrum data, said communication channel data, said communication spectrum and/or said communication channel to said possible communication partner devices and/or said at least one PLC modem device.

85:

• A method according to claim 50,
• wherein said processes of generating, of transmitting said pre-defined reference signal, of measuring, of analyzing the measurement, and/or of communicating the respective data to said possible communication partner devices and/or said at least one PLC modem device are performed during said generating and/or providing communication quality data within said determining at least communication spectrums data and/or communication channel data, and/or within said determining and/or selecting a communication spectrum and/or a communication channel.

86:

• A PLC modem device, which is capable of and which comprises means for realizing the method for operating a PLC modem device according to claim 50.

89:

• A PLC communication or modem device according to claim 86, comprising means for at least one of wirelessly and by wire receiving at least one of radio sources and radio services.

90:

• A PLC communication or modem device according to claim 86, comprising a terrestrial tuner device and/or an antenna device for receiving radio sources and/or radio services.

91:

• A PLC communication or modem device according to claim 86, comprising an antenna device and an antenna interface connected thereto for receiving radio sources and/or radio services and for feeding and providing respective signals for evaluation.

92:

• A PLC communication or modem device according to claim 86, comprising a power line sensing means and/or a terrestrial tuner device and a power line interface connected thereto for receiving radio sources and/or radio services and for feeding and providing respective signals for evaluation.

93:

• A PLC communication or modem device according to claim 86, comprising an evaluating and estimation unit for evaluating radiations and/or noise and for estimating channel.

94:

• A PLC communication or modem device according to claim 86, comprising a central processing unit connected to said antenna interface and/or to said power line interface, and configured to control the same.

95:

• A communication arrangement,
• which is capable of and which comprises means for realizing the method for operating a communication arrangement, according to claim 50.

A communication arrangement, comprising a plurality of PLC communication or modern devices according to claim 86.

97:

• A computer program product comprising computer program means capable of performing and realizing the method for operating a communication arrangement according to claim 50, when it is executed on a computer or a digital signal processing means.

A computer readable storage medium, comprising a computer program product according to claim 97.