I- Introduction

II- System Mode

III- Proposed Design Method

IV- Results

V- Conclusions

References

Abstract

Signal relays in power line communication networks are usually implemented using the decode-and-forward protocol, which requires complex relays. In this paper, we propose a real time amplify-and-forward relay that is mainly based on an analog full duplex architecture. The speed of analog circuits enables the amplification of the incoming signal without introducing significant communication delay. Our system level analysis explains the optimization of the relay design and, based on a measured channel database, shows what increase in communication rate can be achieved by using the proposed solution.

INTRODUCTION

POWER line communication (PLC) networks are characterized by strong multipath propagation, by the presence of high noise and attenuation that the signals undergo. Different signal processing techniques have been proposed to cope with each of these issues [1]. To tackle the high attenuation, multi-hop communication via relay nodes has been proposed both in the context of in-home broadband communications [2] and of narrowband communications in distribution grids [3]. These papers propose different methods to enhance the relay efficiency based on the classical decode-and-forward (DF) approach. Although the throughput of the network is enhanced by the presence of one or more relays, the performance is limited by the overhead and the delay generated by the relay nodes. The amplify-andforward (AF) approach has also been proposed for PLC, but only in a time division duplexing context, therefore sharing the same limitations of the DF approach [4], [5], [6], [7]. In this letter, we exploit the full duplex (FD) technology, to propose FD AF for PLC networks. Although the FD technology has been widely investigated in the digital subscriber line (DSL) and wireless contexts, it has been studied only recently in the context of PLC [8], and the application to AF relays has, to our knowledge, not yet been discussed. Different FD AF approaches and optimal algorithms have been presented in the context of wireless networks. They have specifically addressed: reducing the self-interference [9], maximizing the relay gain [10], finding its optimal location [11], and optimally switching between HD and FD relaying [12]. All these works assume the signal processing to be performed in digital domain, where optimal solutions can be found.