The Internet Power Line Adapter - University of Queensland

Home Automation, Power Lines and the Internet Quenten Alick
Chapter 6
6.1 Design Evaluation
This chapter will be an evaluation of the design and will look at whether the
design met the specifications or not. After this the actual performance of the
power line communication will be evaluated.
The overall specification was to create a system that would prove that power line
communications is a viable medium for communications in a home automation
system. The further specifications for the system were that the client be a power
adapter with the ability to be switched on and off with a server that was
connected to the Internet and could control the client.
These objectives were partially met. The connection to the Internet was
successful and functions as expected. Also, the power measurement circuit will
function as intended, which is to say that the results are inaccurate but accuracy
was never a requirement. However, the other parts of the server do not work as
expected. The problem lies in the communications between the microprocessors
and the P300 network interface chip. However, it is hoped that in the next two
weeks that these problems will be solved.
6.2 Power Lines Communication Evaluation
An evaluation of the power line communication chip could be carried out using
the development boards. This evaluation looked at aspects of the system such as
reliability, data rates and noise / load immunity.
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