Wednesday, July 6, 2005

A Universal Co-Existence Solution for Powerline Communications

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced a co-existence solution that allows all powerline communications technologies, including HomePlug 1.0, HomePlug AV, and HomePlug BPL, to efficiently share the powerline network in both to-the-home and in-the-home applications. The solution would allow multiple powerline communications technologies to share the same wire while maintaining transmission speeds and effective QoS.


The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has been developing a new HomePlug AV specification, which promises 200 Mbps capacity for sharing HDTV, Digital Audio, and Internet access around a home.


The new co-existence technology, which is built-in to the HomePlug AV specification, fully coexists with HomePlug 1.0 data networking devices. When 1.0 devices are detected, the network switches to a Hybrid mode, allowing HomePlug AV devices to control the 1.0 devices and direct their communications, without compromising the AV network performance.


When multiple networks are deployed in such close proximity that they present the possibility of interference, sometimes called "neighbor networks," HomePlug AV technology allows interoperation of the multiple networks while making the most efficient use of available capacity.


HomePlug AV also shares bandwidth in an efficient and seamless fashion with the to-the-home access technology called HomePlug BPL.


The alliance has presented the HomePlug co-existence solution to technology players in an effort to foster rapid development of the powerline communications industry.
http://www.homeplug.org

  • The HomePlug Powerline Alliance is an industry-led initiative currently comprised of about 50 companies. HomePlug Sponsor (Board member) companies include Arkados, Comcast, Conexant, EarthLink, Intellon, RadioShack, Sharp and Sony.