Università degli Studi di UdineWireless and Power Line Communications Laboratory

9th Workshop on Power Line Communications (WSPLC)21-22 September 2015 – Klagenfurt – Austria

New Results in Channel Modelling

Alberto Pittolo and Andrea M. Tonello

WiPli Lab – University of Udine, ItalyEcoSys Lab – Alpen-Adria-Universität, Austria

Summary

Quick overview Market requirements Power line communication scenario Our research group activities

Channel characterization Scenarios comparison Average statistical metrics

Channel modeling & Results Possible approaches Synthetic channel model Numerical results

Conclusions

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling2

Quick overviewMain demands from the telecommunication market and briefoverview about the PLC channel phenomena.

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling3

Market Requirements

Customers demand High speed connectivity Reliable data transfer Pervasive coverage Robustness & availability

Industries want Save production costs Short developing time Quick and easy testing

These features depend on the medium characteristics

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling4

Power Line Communication Scenario

Well known PLC channel phenomena Extreme channel variability

• Unmatched loads• Line discontinuities

Severe frequency selectivity Attenuation & Distortion

• Several branches (multipath)

Noise detrimental effects Stationary background noise

• Colored & Correlated Non-stationary impulsive noise

• Synchronous & Asynchronous

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling5

[REF] F. J. Cañete, J. A. Cortés, L. Díez, and J. T. Entrambasaguas, “Analysis of the cyclic short-term variation of indoor powerline channels,” IEEE J. Select. Areas Commun., vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 1327-1338, Jul 2006.

PLC Networks Heterogeneity

A variety of different application scenarios Indoor scenario

• Home• Buildings• Vehicles (car, ship, plane, …)

Outdoor scenario• Low voltage (LV)• Medium voltage (MV)• High voltage (HV)

Attractive solution, especially in the Smart Grid context The focus is on the broadband frequency range

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling6

[REF] S. Goel, S.F. Bush, and D. Bakken, eds., IEEE Vision for Smart Grid Communications: 2030 and Beyond, IEEE Std.Association, 2013.

Research Group Activities

Measuring & characterization Impairments Channel properties Implicit relationships

Models development Simple & effective Exploiting smart solutions

Emulators implementation Software simulators Hardware devices

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling7

Channel CharacterizationDifferent types of environments are compared in terms of themost commonly used statistical metrics.

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling8

Scenarios Comparison

Attenuation ↑ Dispersion ↑ In-home (ITA, USA & ESP)

• Good match In-car (electric & conventional)

• Short wires DS ↓ In-ship Outdoor (LV & MV)

• Branches + Length ACG ↓

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling9

[R1] A. M. Tonello, F. Versolatto, and A. Pittolo, “In-home power linecommunication channel: Statistical characterization,” IEEE Trans.Commun., vol. 62, no. 6, pp. 2096-2106, Jun. 2014.[R2] J. A. Cortés, F. J. Cañete, L. Díez, and J. L. G. Moreno, “On thestatistical properties of indoor power line channels: Measurementsand models,” in IEEE ISPLC, Apr. 2011, pp. 271-276.[R3] S. Galli, “A novel approach to the statistical modeling of wirelinechannels,” IEEE Trans. Commun.,vol.59, no.5,pp.1332-1345,May 2011.[R4] F. Versolatto, A. M. Tonello, C. Tornelli, and D. D. Giustina,“Statistical analysis of broadband underground medium voltagechannels for PLC applications,” in IEEE SmartGridComm, Nov. 2014.

[R5] M. Antoniali, M. De Piante, A. M. Tonello, “PLC Noise and ChannelCharacterization in a Compact Electrical Car,” in IEEE ISPLC, Mar. 2013.[R6] M. Antoniali, A. M. Tonello, M. Lenardon, A. Qualizza,“Measurements and Analysis of PLC Channels in a Cruise Ship,” in IEEEISPLC, Udine, Italy, April 3-6, 2011, pp. 102-107.[R7] M. Mohammadi, L. Lampe, M. Lok, S. Mirabbasi, M. Mirvakili, R.Rosales, and P. Van Veen, “Measurement Study and Transmission for In-Vehicle Power Line Communication,” in IEEE ISPLC, Mar 2009, pp.73-78.[R8] M. Babic, M. Hagenau, K. Dostert, and J. Bausch, “Theoreticalpostulation of the PLC channel model OPERA,” IST Integrated ProjectNo. 507667 funded by EC, Tech. Rep., Mar 2005, OPERA Deliverable D4

Average Statistical Metrics

Average channel gain (ACG) Similar for indoor scenarios

• Lowest for the in-ship High for outdoor lines

• Long cables• Many branches

RMS delay spread (DS) High for outdoor Relevant for home & ship Low for the in-car context

• Short wires• Few branches

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling10

Scenario Band (MHz) (dB) (μs) (kHz)In-home 1.8− 50 − 33.10 0.357 251.48In-ship 1.8− 50 − 22.89 0.320 258.83

In-car (CC) 1.8− 50 − 27.33 0.102 677.14In-car (EC) 1.8− 50 − 33.25 0.086 874.26Outdoor LV 1.8− 50 − 56.96 0.581 140.63

Outdoor MV 1.8− 50 − 44.39 0.722 399.59

Channel Modelling &Simulation ResultsIntroducing the concepts underlying a novel top-downsynthetic channel model based on the CFR. Some results areprovided

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling11

Channel Modeling

Modelling is appealing since Avoids on field testing Is cheap, quick and simple Reproduces different scenarios

Two possible methods Deterministic Statistical

Two dual approaches Bottom-up Top-down

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling12

[R1] T. Esmailian, F.R. Kschischang, and P. Glenn Gulak, “In-Building Power Lines as High-Speed Communication Channels:Channel Characterization and a Test Channel Ensemble,” Intern. J. of Commun. Syst., vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 381-400, Jun. 2003.[R2] M. Zimmermann and K. Dostert, “A multipath model for the powerline channel,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 50, no. 4,pp. 553-559, Apr 2002.

Bottom-Up Tight PHY connection Faithful but onerous

Top-Down Analytical fitting General but simple Suitable for statistical analysis

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling13

Bottom-Up vs Top-Down

Two dual approaches to model the PLC channel Each has strengths and weaknesses

Synthetic Channel Model Description

Consider the CFR, amplitude and phase, in dB scale( ) = ( ) ( ) = + ( ) is normally distributed ( ) uniformly distributed in − ,

The normalized covariance matrix depend onℛ = ℛ + ℛ + ℛ , − ℛ , From dataℛ , ≈ 0.033 & Im ℛ ≈ 0.024, implying

• & uncorrelated (~independent)• ℛ assumed as real

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling14

[REF] A. M. Tonello, A. Pittolo, and M. Girotto, “Power line communications: Understanding the channel for physical layerevolution based on filter bank modulation,” IEICE Trans. On Commun., vol. E97-B, no. 8, pp. 1494-1503, Aug 2014.

Experimental vs Simulated Channels

Comparison among Experimental measures Simulated channels

Note as exhibits High values almost everywhere Higher between nearer

Good correlation matching Variations limited to

• Sharp transitions• Low correlation values

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling15

[REF] A. M. Tonello, A. Pittolo, and M. Girotto, “Power line communications: Understanding the channel for physical layerevolution based on filter bank modulation,” IEICE Trans. On Commun., vol. E97-B, no. 8, pp. 1494-1503, Aug 2014.

Conclusions

PLC represents a challenging environment A variety of detrimental channel effects Heterogeneity of possible scenarios Great deal of noise

It has been demonstrated through our measurement campaigns Differences exist But similar behavior and relations hold

SYNTHETIC channel modeling is appealing since it is Statistically representative Flexible parameters can be selected from environment Simple short run-time in simulation

Pittolo Alberto – PLC Channel Analysis & Synthetic Channel Modeling16