Task ID: 1836.133, Naofal Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Brian L. Evans (UT-Austin)
Energy-Efficient Signal Processing Techniques For Smart Grid
Heterogeneous Communication Networks
 Task Description:
Improve rate, reliability, and energy efficiency of two-way wireless and powerline
communications (PLC) between smart meters & data concentrators in smart grids
 Anticipated Results:
Signal processing algorithms and real-time prototypes to demonstrate enhanced
performance of wireless and PLC transceivers for smart grids
 Co-PIs/Collaborators:
Prof. N. Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Prof. B. L. Evans (UT-Austin)
 Current Students
Mr. Mostafa Ibrahim
Dr. Jing Lin
Current Status
Ph.D. (May 2017)
Ph.D. (May 2014)
Summer 2014 intern at TI
 Funding for three years: $360k
 Industrial Liaisons: Dr. Anuj Batra (TI), Dr. Anand Dabak (TI), Dr. Il Han Kim (TI), Dr.
Tarkesh Pande (TI), and Dr. Khurram Waheed (Freescale)
Task ID: 1836.133, Naofal Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Brian L. Evans (UT-Austin)
Energy-Efficient Signal Processing Techniques For Smart Grid
Task
Title (This slide
will be used for SRC members only)
Heterogeneous
Communication
Networks
Fig.1: Block diagram for
narrowband-PLC / wireless
diversity
 Impulsive noise mitigation in narrowband-PLC
•
•
Proposed time-frequency modulation diversity at transmitter and a diversity
demodulator at receiver to improve reliability without decreasing data rates
Achieved over 1000x reduction in bit error rate in simulations using
measured impulsive noise traces
Fig.2: Time-frequency modulation diversity.
Components of a diversity codeword are
marked in the same color.
Task ID: 1836.133, Naofal Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Brian L. Evans (UT-Austin)
Energy-Efficient Signal Processing Techniques For Smart Grid
Heterogeneous Communication Networks
State of Art:
Smart grid communications via narrowband PLC and wireless is
interference limited. Prior studies on interference mitigation and
PLC/wireless diversity do not fully exploit statistics of impulsive
noise in PLC.
Objectives:
Enhance communication performance and reduce power
consumption of smart grid communications systems.
Novelty:
• Narrowband-PLC/Wireless diversity
• Time-frequency diversity modulation to combat impulsive
noise in narrowband-PLC
Accomplishments:
•
•
Proposed maximum ratio combining that takes into account
the impulsive noise variations
Proposed time-frequency modulation diversity at transmitter
and a diversity demodulator at receiver to improve reliability
without decreasing data rates
Fig. 1: Average bit error rate of PLC with and without diversity
combining with a fixed-SNR (Eb/No=6 dB) wireless link
Important Publications:
1. M. Sayed and N. Al-Dhahir, “Narrowband-PLC/Wireless Diversity for
Smart Grid Communications,” IEEE Globecom, 2014.
2. J. Lin, T. Pande, I. H. Kim, A. Batra and B. L. Evans, ”TimeFrequency Modulation Diversity To Combat Periodic Impulsive Noise
In Narrowband Powerline Communications'', IEEE TCOM, submitted.
Fig.2: Time-frequency modulation diversity. Components of a
diversity codeword (marked in the same color) are allocated
to different subcarriers in different OFDM symbols.