Integrated Solutions for Ubiquitous Use of

Electricity and Cyber Services

Ce Zheng, Student Member, IEEE, and Mladen Kezunovic, Fellow, IEEE

increased customer service quality. Various BPL services

have been shown in Fig. 1.

Abstract--With the development of Broadband over Power

Existing BPL service providers include HomePlug Alliance,

Lines (BPL) technology, the electricity and cyber services require

a new system s view of developing hybrid infrastructures with Current Technologies Ltd., Intellon, etc. HomePlug was

integrated services. This paper mainly explores the following founded in March 2000 by leading technology companies to

three questions: a) what is state-of-the-art BPL research and provide a forum to create specifications for home power line

applications?, b) what are the opportunities for integrated

networking products and services [2]. Current Technologies

electricity and cyber services?, c) where the research should lead

Ltd. deals with building and delivering BPL equipment and

us and why? Existing efforts, including research issues and

solutions. Some of the solutions put forth by Current are:

commercial products, solutions and services are presented in this

access BPL, in building BPL, smart grid services, and VoIP

paper. Status of the standardization in this area is also discussed.

[3]. Intellon Corporation designs and sells integrated circuits

Besides the research topics, this paper points out the educational

(ICs) for powerline communications [4].

and training issues that will need to be addressed in the future by

the education programs at various levels.

Keywords--BPL, integrated cyber and electricity services, power

line communication, smart grid

I. INTRODUCTION

Brline Internet orPower Lines generally refers to highpower-

oadband over (BPL), also known as

Powerband, speed

(in the order of megabytes) systems that transmit information

through ordinary power lines. It should not be confused with

the older power line communication (PLC) technology which

is different and refers to low speed systems used for

automation and control [1].

Broadband over Power Line technology uses existing

electric wires to provide symmetric digital communication

services at multi-megabit data rates to enable services such as

high-speed Internet access, Voice over Internet Protocol

(VoIP), video, and in-home networking. BPL enables PCs, Fig. 1. Various services that can be provided using BPL

telephones, and multimedia devices to exchange information technology

between one another and the Internet and other networks by

simply plugging into existing electrical outlets. Comparing to During the past few years, efforts are made by several

regular cable or DSL connections, the ubiquitous availability organizations (including IEEE, HomePlug, OPERA and

of electrical outlets would allow people in remote locations to PLCforum) to develop standards to realize coexistence

have access to the Internet with relatively small equipment between various power line technologies. So far it is not clear

investment by the utility. Additionally, BPL adds intelligence which standard is better. There are currently three BPL related

to the electric distribution system, enabling Smart Grid IEEE working groups. They are the IEEE P1901, IEEE P1675

Services such as two-way automated meter reading (AMR), and IEEE P1775. The IEEE P1901 Working Group

outage detection, demand side management, power quality announced in early 2007 that it has developed more than 400

management and much more, resulting in improved electric requirements for the standard [5]. HomePlug Powerline

network reliability, security, and efficiency as well as Alliance has defined standards such as HomePlug 1.0,

HomePlug 1.0 Turbo, HomePlug Access BPL, etc. OPERA

project is divided into two phases, lasting 24 months each. A

complete set of PLC access system prototypes has been

This work was supported by NSF Award #0640305.

Within PLCforum,

developed in Phase 1 [2, 6].

Ce Zheng is with Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843

USA (e-mail: abphj8@r.postjobfree.com). manufacturers, energy utilities and other organizations share

Mladen Kezunovic is with Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

visions, problems and solutions, pushing coexistence,

77843 USA (e-mail: abphj8@r.postjobfree.com).

2

interoperability and standardization so that technology is not a to make the impossible possible. The selection of a

market-limiting factor [7]. modulation scheme for PLC must account for three major

This paper starts with a presentation of current BPL factors [9, 12, 13]:

research areas, and then continues with a discussion of the The presence of noise and impulse disturbances which

opportunities of ubiquitous integrated services. Finally, the creates a relatively low SNR;

paper proposes several future exploratory research areas. The time-varying frequency-selective nature of the

Conclusions are given at the end. channel;

Electromagnetic compatibility regulatory constraints

which limit the transmitted power.

II. CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS

The papers dealing with modulation and coding techniques

Broadband over Power Lines has generated much

for the power line channel suggest different methods. Most of

enthusiasm in the past few years because the power grid

them agree on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

provides an infrastructure that is much more extensive and

(OFDM) being best suited since the channel is frequency

pervasive than any other wired alternative. Meanwhile,

varying. Table I shows details about the advantages and

complicated problems for BPL applications also exist. For

disadvantages in implementation of three approaches: OFDM,

example, how to shift data from high-voltage transmission

Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), and Single Carrier,

lines to lower-voltage lines through transformers without data

provided by Current Technologies.

elimination is one of the first problems engineers have to face.

Channel Modeling is one of the areas that have been

TABLE I

investigated in detail and different models have been COMPARISON OF COMMUNICATION SCHEMES

developed [8]. Now that standardization activities for power

line communications have started within IEEE and ETSI, it is

Spread

OFDM Single Carrier

necessary to work toward the definition of both a commonly Spectrum

agreed upon channel model and a set of standardized transfer

functions. Investigation is yet to be done to establish a set of Spectral efficiency Good Poor Moderate

common topologies that can be considered as representative of

Robustness against

the majority of topologies that can be found in the field. Excellent Not Good Good

channel distortions

Several noise models for the channel have also been

developed and work is going on regarding optimum Robustness against

Fair Fair Good

impulsive noise

modulation and coding techniques to maximize error free data

rates. Ability to adapt to

Excellent Fair Good

channel changes

A. Characterizing Power Line Channel

As noted by Biglieri in [9], optimization of a data EMC aspects Good Good/Excellent Poor

transmission scheme can only be accomplished on the basis of

an accurate channel model. A lot of work has been done in Implementation

Fair Poor Poor

costs

this area but no consensus has been reached on the channel

model, not only due to the wide variability of power-line

environments but also due to the fact that an adequate

C. BPL Applications under Development

understanding of the power line channel has only been

recently attained. Two types of channel model have been used Power Line Local Area Networks (LANs)

so far: parametric and deterministic. The parametric model is

Power-line networks use the wires that already exist inside

based on fundamental physical effects, which were analyzed

walls, tapping into the same circuit that moves electricity to

during a great number of measurements. The relevant

every room in the house. Using the power lines as a LAN is in

parameters are derived from channel measurements. Some

some situations more effective than other LAN alternatives. It

basic ideas into this direction were first published in [10].

can offer better coverage than wireless and it means fewer

Arguing that the parametric model is only able to describe

wires cluttering the house compared to other wired

partially the underlying physics of power line signal

alternatives like phone or Ethernet.

propagation, the deterministic model addresses the problem of

A lot of research has gone into the feasibility of BPL LANs.

modeling the indoor power line channel by taking into

Reference [14] discusses the market perspectives, regulatory

consideration wiring and grounding practices [8, 11].

activities and commercial applications of BPL while reference

Besides, a highly noisy environment impairs the power-line

[15] takes a closer look at the technical characteristics of the

channel. It is illustrated that for periodic impulsive noises,

BPL LANs and the underlying complexity involved in

modeling is straightforward due to deterministic behavior. For

achieving it. Reference [16] gives details of how HomePlug

random impulse events, a stochastic model is needed.

1.0 protocol and the Discrete Multi Tone (DMT) modulation

B. Overcoming the Constraints of Power Line scheme are used in some BPL networks.

Communication Channel Reference [17] represents theoretical and field test

The power line is not suitable for high speed comparisons of the performance of 802.11 a/b wireless

communication. A lot of research has gone into finding ways networking and the HomePlug 1.0 protocol addressing such

3

issues as channel stability, reliability and Quality of Service the USA; hence access to Internet can be significantly

(QoS). For example, [17] reports that the HomePlug 1.0 enhanced using the same wires. This can turn the

standard supports physical data rates of 14 Mb/s and is thus opportunities for distance learning into the most powerful way

comparable to the 802.11b declared data rates (11 Mb/s). of reaching and educating all segments of the population.

Reference [18] reports successful large scale trials in Europe. With low cost of computers, this may be the most effective

It also explains how the in-home power line LANs can be way of educating the nation.

extended to the transformer using OFDM.

Tele-medicine

Vehicular Communication

Another possible BPL application is Tele-medicine, or

Without exception, vehicles have a power distribution Tele-health. Tele-medicine generally refers to the use of

system based on metallic conductors of some type. communications and information technologies for the delivery

Researchers in [19] have attempted to take advantage of this of clinical care. It is a rapidly developing application of

clinical medicine where medical information is transferred via

power distribution network to perform two functions - as an

Internet or other networks for the purpose of consulting, and

infrastructure supporting both power delivery and broadband

sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations. Tele-

digital connectivity. They have studied the possibility of

medicine may be as simple as two health professionals

making use of existing power cables on board the NASA

discussing a case over the telephone, or as complex as using

Orbiter (also knows as the Space Shuttle) for providing a

satellite technology and video-conferencing equipment to

backup LAN based on power line communications, and

conduct a real-time consultation between medical specialists

analyzed the wiring and grounding practices on board the

in two different countries.

Space Shuttle with the objective of quantifying the theoretical

Applications based on BPL technique can benefit patients

performance of a power line modem operating on the existing

in countries where traditional delivery of health services are

power line infrastructure of the Space Shuttle. In particular,

affected by distance or lack of local specialist clinicians. In the

the channel transfer function of a typical power line link on

case of the USA, good candidates are rural areas and areas

board the Space Shuttle is calculated and its theoretical

with poor neighborhoods. Also, emergency medical services

capacity evaluated. This approach can be used in other

may be offered most effectively using BPL based Internet,

vehicles as well. For instance in large naval vessels, it would

particularly in traffic congested cities and to the elderly and

be useful to have an alternate communication network and

handicapped that have difficulty going to a medical facility.

research is ongoing in this area.

Tele-work

III. OPPORTUNITIES FOR UBIQUITOUS

INTEGRATED SERVICES BPL applications can also facilitate Tele-work. Tele-work

is a work arrangement in which the daily commute to a central

This section gives some examples of what may be the

place of work is replaced by telecommunication links.

future applications that will rely on BPL technologies and

Comparing to related terms (e.g. telecommuting, e-commuting,

integration of various services. As a result, three categories of

e-work, working at home, or working from home), Tele-work

solutions are envisioned as discussed below: a) Integrated

is a broader term, referring to substituting telecommunications

solutions for ubiquitous cyber services, b) Integrated solutions

for any form of work-related travel, thereby eliminating the

for ubiquitous smart grid electricity services, c) Solutions for

distance restrictions of telecommuting [21]. A successful

integrated ubiquitous cyber and electricity services. Other

Tele-work program requires a management style which is

application considerations are also covered.

based on results and not on close scrutiny of individual

A. Ubiquitous Cyber Services employees. This is referred to as management by objectives as

opposed to management by observation. American Long

Distance Learning distance Tele-work is facilitated by such tools as virtual

private networks, video-conferencing, and Voice over IP. It

One example of the distance learning is continuing

can be efficient and useful for companies as it allows staff and

education, which extends to a broad spectrum of post-

workers to communicate over a large distance, saving

secondary learning activities and programs. The methods to

significant amounts of travel time and cost.

deliver continuing education include traditional types of

As broadband Internet become available and electric lines

classroom lectures and laboratories. However, most

are commonplace, more and more workers will have enough

continuing education makes heavy use of distance learning,

bandwidth at home, via BPL based Internet connections, to

which utilizes online/Internet delivery. Student may

use these tools to link their home office to their corporate

communicate with teachers online. And in addition to

intranet and internal phone networks. This can change patterns

individual study, other types of distance education such as

of the traffic, work hours and productivity, all important

online group study, real-time online examination, even

aspects of the workforce management. This opportunity has

seminars and workshops through Internet can be used to

not been fully explored in the past and will be brought to the

facilitate learning [20].

full attention as a solution for creating new jobs and inventing

Since only 15% of American homes have access to

new workforce management. With an increasing cost of fuel,

broadband Internet, and even fewer in rural areas, BPL can

tele-work is a viable alternative to everyday costly commute

provide distance learning through ubiquitous electric lines.

to and from work.

The electricity is available to a large percent of the homes in

4

and V2G market prices provided by control center via the on

board Internet system [23].

B. Ubiquitous Smart Grid Electricity Services

The BPL based Internet in this case becomes available

through wireless interfacing means from each end-location

Demand Response

where the electricity is available such as traffic lights, homes

It is well known that reliable operation of the electricity and offices. This connection may be used to interface the on-

system necessitates a balance between power supply and load board vehicle BPL Intranet with the BPL-based public

in real time. This is not an easy task given the fact that both Internet so that the information about selection of a

supply and demand levels could change rapidly due to many charging/discharging station location may be made on-line

reasons such as the generator forced outages, transmission line and in real time. After the location is selected, and the PHEV

outages and unexpected load change. Demand Response (DR) is connected to the electric outlet, the BPL Internet may be

can be defined as controlling the changes in electric usage by used to decide what services should be provided in the V2G or

end-use customers from their normal consumption patterns in G2V domain. Further more, the Internet connection may be

response to changes in the price of electricity over time. With used to manage the particular session of charging/discharging

the electricity demand growing faster than the supply, most of the PHEV at that and other locations, including the

the operating margins in the electricity markets around the management of an aggregation scheme which makes a fleet of

USA are really tight and DR may be the most effective way of PHEV work as a team. This situation is similar to the Demand

maintaining market reliability and efficiency of electricity Response (DR) application discussed earlier, except much

supply. For effective DR programs to be implemented [22], it more complex due to the fact that PHEV are mobile and as

is important for the participants to have access to the such represent distributed load/generation that may be

electricity markets, as well as to have an effective way of activated at different locations and at different times [24].

communicating the price signals.

Outage Management

Once BPL and the concept of smart grid have been

introduced, great changes can take place in traditional DR Traditionally, when outage happens in power system, users

services. The new architecture of DR services will involve loose power, and they may not be able to communicate

two layers. On the first layer, customers monitor and get real- directly with utility service center for information about the

time information from market operators or utility companies. reason and extent of the damage. This may become a major

On the second layer, interaction and communication between problem, particularly in the case of severe losses of electricity

suppliers and customers will help the overall power system to that may affect a broader region resulting in a brown-out or

achieve better efficiency by keeping the fluctuations in black-out. If the electricity has been lost due to an operating

demand side as close to the expected as possible [22]. Having contingency, and the wires are still in tact, the Internet service

access to the electricity markets through the Internet that that uses those wires may be maintained through out the

comes over the same wires that provide electricity gives outage. This will become perhaps the only communication

advantages of easy market information access and real-time option between the customers and utility company [25].

price signal determinations, all in an integrated system, which The BPL-based Internet can maintain the information

are necessary for an efficient and flexible DR operation. exchange between users and control center during outages.

Important information may be issued and updated by power

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

system control center and transmitted through wired or

The applications of PHEV have been intensively explored wireless last mile connection to every household during

in recent studies because of its promising future [23, 24]. blackouts. Control centre can not only communicate with

There are three essential aspects in PHEV applications: a) users about the extent of damage of outage events, but users

how much power is needed in a particular Grid to Vehicle can also obtain notification on when the power will be

(G2V) charging event?, b) how much power PHEV can resumed. If the power restoration is one block after another,

provide in Vehicle to Grid (V2G) delivery service?, and c) users can get the exact time when their section will return to

how to select the location of a charging station from the normal. If the situation is out of control, for example when

planning standpoint and from the point of a moment when one extreme whether such as earthquake or hurricane happens, the

wants to use it in a given circumstance? Temporal and spatial national emergency center can inform users immediately to

dynamics affect the interactions between the electricity and escape from dangerous areas and guide them to safe places

transportation. Since PHEV has the ability to plug into power using BPL even if the electricity is lost and no other

grid, the on board wired or wireless Internet based on BPL communication means are available.

technique is practical for the communication purpose. For Fig. 2 summarizes several solutions for cyber and electricity

example, to estimate the value of selecting a charging facility services discussed in the previous sections. As may be

at a particular location, dynamic traffic information is needed observed, mentioned services can be used simultaneously in

to know how many vehicles will be at that location at each various combinations. While full deployment of individual

point in time. The on board Internet system on a certain services may still present research challenges, an issue of

vehicle can provide control center with the information they integrating the services and using them simultaneously is the

needed. On the other hand, PHEV drivers can decide when research topic on its own.

and where to charge/discharge according to real-time G2V

5

of generation or transmission constraints and improve overall

system efficiency.

On-site Generation and Electricity Storage

The future developments in the electricity sector will see a

visible trend in the end-customer owning on-site generation

and/or electricity storage. While traditionally this on-site

generation such as small solar or wind energy system, with

storage such as hot water tanks or batteries, have been

envisioned being at a fixed location of a residential or

commercial customer, with penetration of PHEV, this

generation and/or storage capability may be mobile and used

at different locations at different times for different purposes.

The end customer owning on site generation and/or storage

will have several issues to deal with: a) optimization of the use

of its own generation and/or storage for personal or third party

services, b) efficient control of the generation and/or storage if

Fig. 2. Solutions for cyber and electricity services

and when disconnected from the electricity grid (also know as

the micro-grid mode), c) Efficient control of the

C. Integration of Ubiquitous Cyber and Electricity Services generation/storage when connected to the electricity grid. The

underlining capability in each instance is to have Internet

Market Participation for Individuals and Aggregators services to communicate efficiently the required information

and to have control capability to engage in the required

The future development of power systems will heavily

electricity network actions [23].

depend on the ability to engage end-customers in the

The BPL infrastructure that provides both Internet services

electricity markets. The end-customers may be engaged

to efficiently communicate and monitoring services to sense

individually or through an aggregator. In either case, they

the status of the electric grid and connect/disconnect the local

could affect the electricity market if they are party to an

generation allows end-customer to fully utilize his/her option

agreement about particular ancillary service that is a part of

in running and using the on-site generation and/or storage. It

the electricity market. Examples are the programs aimed at

is interesting to note that BPL may be used to jump from a

energy efficiency and peak demand control typically

home to a home or a business to a business to utilize unused

introduced to the market through demand response (DR)

DSL Internet resources at a nearby location close to the home

programs. Another example is where the end-customer

or business that experiences a slow down in the cable Internet

participates in multiple markets such as carbon cap-and-trade

service that they may own. This same function is functionally

or V2G and G2V PHEV-based markets. In any of the above

similar to the need to communicate for control purposes to

mentioned situation three functions are critical to the concept

engage aggregated on-site generators that may be available in

to work: a) end customer has to have access to the information

a cluster at a residential subdivision or a business park. In

about the electricity market bidding options, b) end customer

both cases BPL is critical to the implementation of the concept

has to have means for providing his/her bids in a timely

by providing integrated ubiquitous services.

manner, and c) end customer has to have control means to

engage itself in a particular scheme of providing/consuming Future Home

power at his/her will [24].

The power line home network makes the concept of a smart

Looking at the above mentioned three functions, it appears

home all encompassing as can be seen from the Fig. 3 below.

that BPL can be used to allow timely exchange of information

as well as timely exchange of required controls regarding

participation in the electricity network. Such situation asks for

integrated ubiquitous cyber and electricity services. Using

BPL, customer can get quick and widely available access to

Internet that may be used to receive market information and

provide bids. On the one hand, information provided by utility

via BPL can help end customer decide to reduce his/her

electricity usage during critical peak periods when prices are

high without changing consumption pattern during other

periods. Individual customers can also use BPL to respond to

the price signals online issuing controls to engage themselves

in an individual or aggregated generation, or load rejection

pattern, to obtain best prices for such a service. This can

indirectly optimize the power flow and reduce power

congestion. Such interactions will reduce the negative impacts

Fig. 3. Future smart home applications [6]

6

It not only includes the usual applications such as Internet and electricity networks such as gasoline and electricity or

entertainment, but also has energy usage monitors, hydrogen and electricity. In the case of the PHEV

temperature and humidity control, safety sensors, burglar participation in the balancing of the use of energy, the

alarm system, etc. interfacing between transportation and electricity is done

BPL promises a bright future for bringing in great benefits through PHEV. Having the storage capabilities, and being

and convenience to households. An integrated home system able to use dual energy carriers (gasoline and electricity),

will be built by combining the operations of electric devices PHEV can act as a mobile energy resource that can act as a

with wired or wireless Internet connections. Thus family load or a generator at different points in the network at

members have access to use of both services, e.g. using different times. Study of the transportation and electricity

intelligent network to control devices from microwave oven to networks aimed at modeling spatial and temporal

anti-theft system, and using on board system to connect to characteristics of the PHEV agents is needed to have full

Internet. All of this can be done even if the household only understanding of the interdependencies between the two

has electricity wires. All one needs to do to enjoy cyber systems [14]. This understanding will help specify

services is plug into the nearest electrical outlet. Last but not requirements for comprehensive BPL communication support

least, BPL can introduce competition with other Internet for the new market participants.

service providers utilizing DSL or cable, which will help in

D. Cyber Security and Electric Wire Interferences

bringing about more competitive pricing for cyber services.

Cyber security and interferences from open wires in the

power system pose peculiar cyber security issues not widely

IV. FUTURE EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

investigated today. If the electricity and cyber services are

integrated they pose a security risk since if attacked the entire

A. Communications and Internet Services

fabric of the society interactions may be disturbed. Hence, the

To assure the concepts proposed in this study are feasible,

cyber security of the BPL Internet has to be of the highest

future research needs to address integration of different

quality. On the other hand, if a terrorist attack is performed

communication media and internet services. It is expected that

this service may be one of the best means of interacting with

the BPL will represent only a portion of the overall

population at large for giving instructions on what is going on

communication infrastructure used to implement proposed

and what everybody is expected to do. The open wire

solutions. The rest may be implemented through wireless,

interference is slightly different issue; it is related to the

fiber optic, microwave or other suitable media. This is

electromagnetic interferences that communications in the

expected due to the variety of communication infrastructures

spectrum may cause in other communication spectra if the

available in the utility environment. How the different

energy of the communicated signal is excessive. While this

infrastructures and media may be seamlessly integrated at all

area is tightly controlled by the FCC, it still remains an area of

seven layers of the ISO Open System Interfacing still remains

further research to better understand the impacts.

unresolved. In addition, how variety of Internet services that

allow for high speed transmission of data, voice and picture E. Education Related to Integrated Solutions for Ubiquitous

that may be used for the ubiquitous services discussed in Applications

Section III will be implemented still remains a research topic Last but not least, the proposed concepts can only be

[1]. pursued if the general population and researchers are fully

aware of the potential. This potential needs to be

B. Electricity Networks and Markets

communicated through various education programs from K-12

For many of the concepts related to the ubiquitous

to college, as well as through continuing and community

electricity services further research in the electricity networks

education. It is important for everybody involved in the

is required. Most of the research is related to the electricity

development and potential use of the new services

market design that can fully integrated the new concept of the

understands their benefits and training needed to use them, so

load as a resource or new role of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric

when such services are ready that they become frequent users.

Vehicles (PHEV) in the grid-to-vehicle (G2V) and vehicle-to-

Educating end-customer to take ownership of the electricity

grid (V2G) operating mode. This new concept will assume

and internet services is not a trivial paradigm shift since from

that individual owners of vehicles or load resources will have

the time such services were invented the end-user acted as a

an efficient way of generating aggregation partnerships so that

passive user with very limited knowledge of the fundamentals.

they can participate in the electricity market as equal partners

In the future, the user will have to be much more educated to

with other types of load serving entities [23]. In addition, it is

be able to use the sophisticated services to its advantage. How

expected that further research will introduce fundamental

to structure the education means and tools to facilitate the

concepts for other types of electricity related markets such as

learning process in this multidisciplinary field remains a

carbon cap-and-trade, building-to-building (B2B), etc.

research challenge.

C. Interfaces between the Electricity and Transportation

Networks V. CONCLUSIONS

The research in this area is needed to get a full Broadband over Power Lines is a powerful technology still

understanding of the benefit that may be obtained from in its infancy. It promises competitive prices and great

exchanges between energy carriers used in transportation and convenience for customers. More and more companies are

7

[16] J. H. Scott, "Explaining some of the magic of COFDM," Proceedings of

beginning to join the investigation and testing of BPL services,

20th International Television Symposium 1997

which are not yet released because of technical and other

[17] Lin, Latchman, Newman, "A comparative performance of wireless and

obstacles. power line networks," IEEE Communications Magazine, April 2003

This paper has identified current BPL research areas, and [18] Jose Abad, et al, "Extending the power line LAN up to the neighborhood

transformer," IEEE Communications Magazine, April 2003

discussed the opportunities of ubiquitous integrated services.

[19] Galli, Banwell, Waring, "Power line based LAN on board the NASA

Besides, the paper has proposed several future exploratory

space shuttle," IEEE 59th Vehicular Technology Conference, 2004

research areas and pointed out the educational and training [20] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_education

issues that will need to be addressed in the future. [21] Nilles, and Jack M., "Managing telework: options for managing the

Much more study is necessary to better understand and virtual workforce," John Wiley & Sons, 1998

[22] Albadi, M.H., et al, "Demand response in electricity markets: An

improve the performance of power lines for high bit rate

overview," IEEE PES General Meeting, 2007

transmission. It is still an attractive open area of research with [23] Willett Kempton and Jasna Tomic, "Vehicle-to-grid power fundamentals:

many players interested in its growth. Though many calculating capacity and net revenue," Journal of Power Sources, April,

preliminary studies have been done, BPL is yet to convince all 2005

[24] Michael K. Meyer, et al, "Impacts assessment of plug-in hybrid vehicles

its detractors that it is a financially safe bet and that it is here

on electric utilities and regional U.S power grids," Pacific Northwest

to stay. National Lab, Nov. 2007

Broadband over Power Lines has developed faster in [25] R. Horn and P. Johnson, "Outage management applications and methods

Europe than in the United States. Part of this is due to a panel session: outage management techniques and experience," IEEE

PES Winter Meeting, 1999

historical difference in power system design philosophies. On

the other hand, unlike other industrialized nations, the US

does not have a comprehensive strategy for BPL yet. The US

VIII. BIOGRAPHIES

Federal Communications Commission needs to notch up a

strategy that allows BPL to flourish. The technology stands to

benefit many people, particularly those in rural and

underserved areas. Ce Zheng (S 07) received his B.S. and M.S. degrees

from North China Electric Power University, Beijing,

China, in 2005, 2007 respectively, all in electric

VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

engineering. He has been with Texas A&M

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of University pursuing his Ph.D. degree since August

2007. His research interests include applications in

Anisha Elizabeth Jonas, former graduate student at TAMU,

power system protection, digital simulation, power

for her work on the original version of the study final report system analysis and control.

that served as the source for this paper. The funding for the

study was provided by NSF under an SGER grant.

VII. REFERENCES Mladen Kezunovic (S 77, M 80, SM 85, F 99)

received his Dipl. Ing. Degree from the University of

[1] Steven E. Collier, "Delivering broad band internet over power lines:

Sarajevo, the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the

what you should know," IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference, 2004

University of Kansas, all in electrical engineering, in

[2] http://www.homeplug.org/

1974, 1977 and 1980, respectively. Dr. Kezunovic s

[3] http://www.currenttechnologies.com/

industrial experience is with Westinghouse Electric

[4] http://www.intellon.com/

Corporation in the USA (1979-1980), and the

[5] http://standards.ieee.org/announcements/

Energoinvest Company in Sarajevo (1980-1986). He

[6] http://www.ist-opera.org/

also worked at the University of Sarajevo (1974-

[7] http://www.plcforum.org/

1980). He was a Visiting Associate Professor at

[8] T. Banwell and S. Galli, "A deterministic frequency-domain model for

Washington State University (1986-1987) and Visting Professor at the

the indoor power line transfer function," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas

University of Hong Kong (Fall 2007). He has been with Texas A&M

in Communications, vol. 24, No. 7, July 2006

University since 1987 where he is the Eugene E. Webb Professor and Site

[9] E. Biglieri, "Coding and modulation for a horrible channel," IEEE

Director of PSerc, an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.

Common Magazine, vol. 41, no. 5, pp. 92--98, May 2003

His main research interests are digital simulators and simulation methods for

[10] M. Zimmermann and K. Dostert, "A multi-path signal propagation

equipment evaluation and testing as well as application of intelligent methods

model for the power line channel in the high frequency range," ISPLC

to control, protection and power quality monitoring. Dr. Kezunovic is a

1999

registered professional engineer in Texas, member of CIGRE, and a Fellow of

[11] T. Banwell and S. Galli, "A novel approach to the modeling of the

the IEEE.

indoor power line channel," Part I & II, IEEE Transactions on Power

Delivery, Vol. 20, No. 2, April 2005

[12] H. Meng, Y. L. Guan, and S. Chen, "Modeling and analysis of noise

effects on broadband power-line communications," IEEE Transactions

on Power Delivery, Vol. 20, Issue 2, Part 1, April 2005

[13] J. Meng, "Noise Analysis of Power-Line Communications Using

Spread-Spectrum Modulation," IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery,

Vol. 22, Issue 3, July 2007

[14] N. Pavlidou, A. J. Han Vinck, J. Yazdani, B. Honary, "Power line

communications: state of the art and future trends," IEEE

Communications Magazine, April 2003

[15] F.J. Canete, J. A. Cortes, L Diez, J. T. Entrambasaguas, "Modeling and

evaluation of the indoor power line transmission medium," IEEE

Communications Magazine, April 2003

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