Adaptive tone power control in plc networks

Abstract

In a powerline communications (PLC) network having a first node and at least a second node on a PLC channel utilizing a band including a plurality of tones, based on at least one channel quality indicator (CQI), the first node allocates for a tone map response payload only a single (1) power control bit for each of a plurality of subbands having two or more tones. The power control bit indicates a first power state or a second power state. The first node transmits a frame including the tone map response payload to the second node. The second node transmits a frame having boosted signal power for the tones in the subbands which have the first power state compared to a lower signal power for the tones in the subbands which have the second power state.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining a tone map response payload for a powerline communications (PLC) network including a plurality of subbands, the tone map response payload including a power control bit for a subband in the plurality of subbands, wherein the power control bit indicates a first power state or a second power state for the respective subband;   transmitting a frame including the tone map response payload; and   receiving a signal on the subband in response to a value of the control power bit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first power state is an ON state, and the second power state is an OFF state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the OFF state is at a zero power level. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving a signal on the subband in response to a value of the control power bit comprises receiving a dummy bit on the subband in response to the power control bit indicating an OFF state for the subband. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subband includes two or more tones. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tone map response is based on a channel quality for the subband. 
     
     
         7 . A device, comprising:
 a memory;   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to determine a tone map response payload for a powerline communications (PLC) network including a plurality of subbands, the tone map response payload including a power control bit for a subband in the plurality of subbands, wherein the power control bit indicates a first power state or a second power state for the respective subband;   a transmitter coupled to the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit a frame including the tone map response payload; and   a receiver coupled to the processor, the receiver configured to receive a signal on the subband in response to a value of the control power bit.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first power state is an ON state, and the second power state is an OFF state. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the OFF state is at a zero power level. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein receiving a signal on the subband in response to a value of the control power bit comprises receiving a dummy bit on the subband in response to the power control bit indicating an OFF state for the subband. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the subband includes two or more tones. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the tone map response is based on a channel quality for the subband.