1.3 Chapter Summaries

This book is mainly organized into two parts: home transmission environment (Chapters 2 to 5) and corresponding wired/wireless protocols (Chapters 6 to 11). The last chapter (Chapter 12) is about home network topology and interconnection protocols. Each chapter in the first part of the book discusses a particular environment by walking through corresponding transmission medium characteristics, channel models, noise models, and channel capacities. Some MATLAB files for related calculations are also included. Cable physical dimensions are presented; then corresponding channel models are constructed based on two-port network analysis for wired environment. ISM band regulations are discussed and a few previously published channel models are represented for RF wireless environment. Each chapter in the second part covers standardized transmission protocols of a particular environment by examining highlights of related standards and corresponding transceiver structures followed by some performance estimations. Only highlights of standards are included for the introduction to the related transmission protocol. Full details can be more appreciated by subsequently studying related standards documents. Thanks to the IEEE contract to the industry initiative, Ethernet and Wireless Ethernet standards documents can be directly downloaded from IEEE Web site [2, 19]. Other standards documents can also be obtained by joining related standards groups [3, 7, 9, 10]. Transceiver structures are presented by referencing some standards conforming product implementations as well as Simulink modeling. Some MATLAB files are also included for related calculations. Updated MATLAB and Simulink files of this book are also posted at http://authors.phptr.com/chen/ and the Web site of The MathWorks, Inc..

Specifically, Chapter 2 studies channel models for twisted pair cables. While the dimension of the inner copper conductor is commonly measured by AWG (American Wire Gauge), the transmission quality of data-grade twisted pair cable is typically labeled as Categories 3 to 5 as specified by TIA/EIA (Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Alliance) standards. Here, a larger category number means a better quality. On the other hand, the transmission quality of in-home telephone wiring, especially for data transmission application, is usually poor and not specified. Transmission characteristics of a twisted pair cable can be represented by frequency-dependent primary parameters of R, L, G, and C per unit length or a parametrized model. They can also be represented by a frequency-dependent transmission line model of Z and g. While there is only a straight Category 3 or 5 cable between Ethernet transceivers, wiring branches occur on in-home telephone wirings. The ABCD matrix based two-port network analysis is introduced for the construction of channel models involving cable sections and branches. Thermal, crosstalk, and RF ingress/egress noises are also discussed for the twisted pair cable environment. Channel capacities are then calculated in accordance with these channel and noise models under different constraints. MATLAB files for calculations of RLGC parameters, ABCD matrices, insertion loss, and channel capacity are attached.

Chapter 3 first describes the cable TV signal distribution structure. Commonly utilized coaxial cables and corresponding models are then introduced. Internal structures of a splitter and a tap, which are used to interconnect coaxial cables, are revealed, and their models are discussed. TV frequency allocation plans for both cable and off-the-air channels are listed for the possible identification of spare bands. An in-home coaxial cable channel mode is constructed based on coaxial cable and splitter models. A noise model using random number generators is also introduced to emulate the ingress noise. Channel capacity is calculated as a variable of signal level. MATLAB files for calculating splitter, channel, noise models, and channel capacity are attached.

Chapter 4 first discusses practices for residential electrical wiring and commonly utilized cable types. Transmission characteristics of these cables, including insertion and crosstalk losses, are then derived based on their physical dimensions. An in-home electrical wiring channel model is constructed based on relevant cable models and a typical wiring topology. A previously published empirical channel model fitting some real measurements is also described. Permitted signal level is reviewed in accordance with related FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulations. Both noise measurement procedures and the random number generator based ingress noise model are presented. Channel capacity for the in-home electrical wiring environment is calculated according to these channel and noise models. MATLAB files for calculations of channel and noise models as well as channel capacity under emission constraints are attached.

Chapter 5 first describes FCC regulations for RF usages in general and for ISM specifically. Indoor RF radio transmission environment is studied through the free space transmission expression as well as reflection and penetration analysis. An in-home RF signal attenuation model is introduced along with some real measurements at 2.4- and 5-GHz ISMs. A previously published RF channel impulse response model with delay spread and its baseband equivalence are then discussed. Antenna ambient noise, receiver noise figure, and equivalent noise floor are analyzed. Channel capacities for the in-home RF environment are calculated under different signal level constraints and noise levels. MATLAB files for calculating reflection coefficients, signal attenuation, impulse response channel model, and the equivalent baseband channel model are attached.

Chapter 6 covers twisted pair based Ethernet standards of 10BaseT, 100BaseT4, 100BaseTX, and 100BaseT2. The common MAC (Median Access and Control) protocol in terms of frame formats and the CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection) mechanism are described first followed by descriptions of these four different physical layer transmission methods. Standards specifications of these physical layers are summarized in terms of channel/ noise models, encoding methods, and transmit signal PSDs (Power Spectrum Densities). Corresponding transceiver structures are presented. Channel capacities under these specific transmission environments are estimated to assess relative challenge levels of implementations. Simulink representations of transceivers are also included. Other common features, among different versions of twisted pair based Ethernet, of autonegotiation and MII (Media Independent Interface) are then discussed. MATLAB files for CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) calculation, Aloha, Slotted Aloha, and CSMA/CD simulations; channel and noise models; and channel capacity estimations are attached.

Chapter 7 discusses some technical features of HomePNA 1.0 and 2.0 specifications. Highlights of frame formats, encoding methods, signal waveforms, PSDs, and test loops are provided. Transceiver structures and channel capacity estimations are also included. MATLAB files for HomePNA 1.0 probability of error, square root Nyquist filter coefficients, HomePNA 1.0 environment channel capacity, HCS (Head Check Sequence), and CRC16 calculations as well as a HomePNA 2.0 transceiver are attached.

Chapter 8 introduces the IEEE 1394 technology by highlighting the original subaction gap based arbitration protocol and the corresponding transceiver structure as well as the new full duplex arbitration protocol and twisted pair versions of 1394b physical layers. Descriptions of wiring topology, initialization process, and packet formats are included. The MATLAB file for the original 1394 signal PSD calculation is also attached.

Chapter 9 describes some in-home electrical wiring based transmission technologies including X-10, CEBus, and HomePlug. Operation principles, encoding method, and circuit configuration for X-10 are first discussed. Highlights of CEBus include a home network reference architecture, the general packet format, an encoding table, and a signal waveform. A CEBus implementation example is also included. The potential of a CEBus coaxial cable based physical layer is also briefly mentioned. Highlights of HomePlug include transceiver architecture, encoding methods, transmit signal PSD, and the CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance) MAC protocol. Technology components of a HomePlug such as Galois filed arithmetic, RS (Reed-Solomon) encoding, RS decoding, and Viterbi decoding are discussed in detail. MATLAB files for CEBus PL (Power Line) signal generation, GF representation and RS generator polynomial calculations, a product encoder, an RS encoder, an RS decoder, a convolution encoder, and a Viterbi decoder are attached.

Chapter 10 covers wireless Ethernet standards of FHSS, DSSS, CCK (Complementary Code Keying) or 802.11b, and OFDM or 802.11a versions. The common MAC protocol in terms of frame formats and the CSMA/CA mechanism are described first followed by descriptions of these four different physical layer transmission methods. Standards specifications of these physical layers are summarized in terms of packet formats and encoding/modulation methods. Corresponding transceiver structures are presented. Channel capacities under these specific transmission environments are also estimated. Simulink representations of transceivers as well as silicon realization examples are included. MATLAB files for RC4 encryption, Gaussian filter coefficients, complementary code words, a multipath channel model, fast Walsh transform, and modified fast Walsh transform are attached.

Chapter 11 discusses the basics of HomeRF MAC in terms of super frame structure, different types of MAC frames, and its encryption algorithm. Physical layer attributes of HomeRF 1.0 specification are then examined with respect to packet formats, the data-whitening method, modulation parameters, and frequency-hopping sequences. Some features of HomeRF 2.0 specification are also mentioned.

Chapter 12 introduces basics of broadband access network configurations, peer-to-peer network via NetBEUI protocol, Internet sharing via NAT (Network Address Translation)/port number translation, and MAC bridging. A few home network topology configurations are also introduced during the course.

Finally, some other home network related recommendations and activities are also defined and organized by the following standards organizations: CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) [23] and HAVi (Home Audio Video interoperability) [24].