In-band full-duplex MIMO PLC systems for relaying networks

In Power Line Communications (PLC), there are regulatory masks that restrict the transmit power spectral density for electromagnetic compatibility reasons, which creates coverage issues despite the not too long distances. Hence, PLC networks often employ repeaters/relays, especially in smart grid neighborhood area networks. Even in broadband indoor PLC systems that offer a notable data rate, relaying may pave the way to new applications like being the backbone for wireless technologies in a cost-effective manner to support the Internet-of-things paradigm. In this paper, we study Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) PLC systems that incorporate in-band full-duplex functionality in relaying networks. We present several MIMO configurations that allow end-to-end half-duplex or full-duplex operations and analyze the achievable performance with state-of-the-art PLC systems. To reach this analysis, we get channel realizations from random network layouts for indoor and outdoor scenarios. We adopt realistic MIMO channel and noise models and consider transmission techniques according to PLC standards. The concepts discussed in this work can be useful in the design of future PLC relay-aided networks for different applications that look for a coverage extension and/or throughput: smart grids with enhanced communications in outdoor scenarios, and “last meter” systems for high-speed connections everywhere in indoor ones.