At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Bell Communications Research, Inc.

Larrie G Sutliff

Paul Shala Henry

Irwin Gerszberg

Thomas M Willis, Iii

Nelson Ray Sollenberger

Hamilton W Arnold

Vijay K Varma

Donald John Barnickel, Jr

Daniel M Devasirvathan

A broadband powerline communication system makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve system performance. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. In order to avoid interference, certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be selectively masked based on the determination. The spectrum characteristics may be determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.

Interference control in a broadband powerline communication system

A broadband powerline communication system is disclosed which makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve the performance of the system. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. Certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be masked (i.e., not used) by all or part of the broadband powerline system in order to avoid interference based on the determination. In various embodiments, the spectrum characteristics are determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.

A broadband powerline communication system is disclosed which makes use of knowledge of the spectrum characteristics of a local radio environment in order to improve the performance of the system. A determination is made of the spectrum characteristics of a radio environment in the vicinity of the broadband powerline communication system that is transmitting data on modulated carrier frequencies. Certain ones of the carrier frequencies otherwise used by the broadband powerline communication system may be masked (i.e., not used) by all or part of the broadband powerline system in order to avoid interference based on the determination. The spectrum characteristics may be determined 1) in advance and used to compile a configuration database comprising frequency masking parameters; 2) by monitoring the local radio environment using the transmitter/receiver nodes of the system; or 3) based upon receipt of an indication from a conflicting user that the user is experiencing interference. Various combinations of these spectrum characteristic determination techniques may also be used.

A system for spectrum sharing between a point-to-point microwave system and a TDM/TDMA wireless communications system in a common geographical area is described. Each transmitter/receiver in the point-to-point microwave system transmits, in addition to its normal information signal, a beacon signal which is uniquely associated with the receiver receive frequency. In selecting uplink and downlink frequencies for port assignment, each port monitors the beacon frequencies and selects as uplink and downlink frequencies, frequencies which associated beacons fall below a predetermined threshold. Similarly, before accessing the wireless communications system through a selected port, a portable monitors the beacons associated with the selected port's uplink frequency. If the beacon associated with the uplink frequency exceeds a threshold, the portable selects an alternate port through which to access the network. Also, during a call an emergency link transfer to another port is made if the monitored beacon corresponding to the portable's uplink frequency rises above the threshold.

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Briarcliff Manor, NY, United States of America

Larrie G Sutliff