Power-line communication method, power-line communication device, and power-line communication system

A power-line communication method of performing multi-carrier communication with a communication device using a power line as a communication medium, the power-line communication method comprising:

• detecting a noise condition in the communication medium in correspondence to a period synchronized with a power source cycle of the power line;
• generating a plurality of communication channels in a time domain in accordance with a comparison result of the noise condition with a predetermined value on the basis of the noise condition detected in the noise detection process;
• preparing tone maps corresponding to the plurality of communication channels generated in the communication channel decision process;
• transmitting and receiving data on the basis of the tone maps prepared in the tone map preparation process;
• and
• receiving a measurement result of the communication medium from the communication device and detecting a variation in state of the communication medium, during communication with the communication device in the communication process,
• wherein when it is detected in the communication medium condition variation detection process that the condition in the communication medium varies more than a predetermined amount, the communication channel decision process and the tone map preparation process are performed again.

A power-line communication device for performing multi-carrier communication using a power line as a communication medium, the power-line communication device comprising:

• a reception section which receives a noise condition in the communication medium sent from a reception-side power-line communication device through the power line;
• a transmission section which transmits a signal through the power line;
• and
• a control section which detects the noise condition in the communication medium received by the reception section in correspondence to a time domain synchronized with a power source period of the power line, generates a plurality of communication channels in the time domain on the basis of the noise condition in the communication medium, and controls the transmission section to transmit data using tone maps corresponding to the plurality of communication channels.

A power-line communication device for performing multi-carrier communication using a power line as a communication medium, the power-line communication device comprising:

• a reception section which receives a signal from the power line;
• a transmission section which transmits a noise condition in the communication medium to a transmission-side power-line communication devices through the power line;
• and
• a control section which detects the noise condition in the communication medium in correspondence to a time domain synchronized with a power source cycle of the power line on the basis of the signal received by the reception section, prepares tone maps corresponding to each of a plurality of communication channels in the time domain generated by the transmission-side power-line communication device on the basis of the noise condition, and controls the reception section to receive data using the prepared tone maps.

A power-line communication system for performing multi-carrier communication using a power line as a communication medium, the power-line communication system comprising:

• a first power-line communication device including:
• a reception section which receives a noise condition in the communication medium sent from a reception-side power-line communication device through the power line;
• a transmission section which transmits a signal through the power line;
• and
• a control section which detects the noise condition in the communication medium received by the reception section in correspondence to a time domain synchronized with a power source cycle of the power line, generates a plurality of communication channels in the time domain on the basis of the noise condition in the communication medium, and controls the transmission section to transmit data using tone maps corresponding to the plurality of communication channels;
• and
• a second power-line communication device including:
• a reception section which receives a signal from the power line;
• a transmission section which transmits a noise condition in the communication medium to a transmission-side power-line communication device through the power line;
• and
• a control section which detects the noise condition in the communication medium in correspondence to a time domain synchronized with a power source cycle of the power line on the basis of the signal received by the reception section, prepares tone maps corresponding to each of a plurality of communication channels in the time domain generated by the transmission-side power-line communication device on the basis of the noise condition, and controls the reception section to receive data using the prepared tone maps.

An integrated circuit used for multi-carrier communication using a power line as a communication medium, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a noise detection section connected to a coupler interfacing with the power line so as to detect a noise condition in the communication medium through the coupler in correspondence to a time domain synchronized with a power source cycle of the power line;
• a tone map preparation section which prepares tone maps corresponding to communication channels in the time domain generated on the basis of the noise condition;
• and
• a communication control section which controls a communication section to transmit and receive data using the tone maps prepared by the tone map preparation section.