The Need

Home networking and the Internet of Things (IoT), especially voice and video communications, require high throughput, reliable coverage, and sustainable connectivity. However, the performance is dramatically decreased when the wireless signals go through the walls and ceilings. The densely deployed WiFi can serve a larger place, but the frequency handoff will decrease the throughput. Also, the IoT requires the deployment of many sensors such as cameras, smart thermostats, home energy monitors, and smart irrigation controllers throughout a space to collect sensing data. Collecting the sensing data from all of these IoT devices simultaneously with a wireless connection is not possible because of coverage of wireless signals. In most remote rural areas, there are no Ethernet connection and wireless signals like LTE are too weak to be usable. Thus, there is a need to leverage the existing power delivery infrastructure and achieve a high data rate, reliable coverage, and sustainable connectivity.

The Technology

A team of Ohio State University researchers, led by Dr. Kannan Athreya, have developed a Multiple Input Multiple Output Power Line Communication (MIMO-PLC) architecture, which is the first scalable MIMO architecture on a single power line. It improves the throughput for PLC by utilizing the existing power delivery infrastructure and by distributing transmitter nodes and receiver nodes along the power line. With this technology, the cost and time of installing Ethernet and base stations in rural areas can be avoided as the architecture can provide internet service as long as power line infrastructure exists. In comparison to the conventional MIMO-PLC architecture which suffers from high spatial correlation, this MIMO-PLC architecture efficiently utilizes the power line to achieve high throughput gain and scalability.

Commercial Applications

• Networking and Communications
• Network Infrastructure
• Internet of Things (IoT)

Benefits/Advantages

• Utilizes existing power infrastructure
• Increased data rate
• Reliable coverage in rural areas
• No need for installation of new infrastructure