Frequency Division Multiplexing analysis for point-to-multipoint transmissions in Power Line Networks

In Power Line Networks, a link adaptation is realized by combining Multi-Carrier modulations techniques and bit-loading algorithms, resulting in the creation of tone maps. A tone map defines, for each subcarrier on a particular transmission path, the appropriate constellation that has to be applied based on a link quality criterion. In this paper, we aim at showing how point-to-multipoint communications could take advantage of the definition of a Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) transmission mode, considering the context of IEEE P1901 networks. To do so, this new mode has been integrated in a PLC network simulator and the packet-level performance is assessed, using UDP flows. The first results exhibited in this paper show that, when associated with a recently released allocation algorithm, called TMSA (Tone Maps Splitting Algorithm), this solution could greatly improve data rates in future PLC networks.