GC-Net Software
Auto-Route networking is a robust and proven technique and gridComm's GC-NET Adaptive Routing Software enables users to quickly implement this technology allowing Power Line Communications (PLC) systems designers a fast route to market. GC-NET provides the PLC network designer with a robust and self-healing network that successfully functions and compensates for the varying power line conditions such as variations in attenuation, noise, distance and load impedance etc. Besides auto-routing, gridComm GC-Net technology also includes a smart adaptive link layer which constantly scans for the best PLC carrier frequencies (which have the least noise and the highest RSSI values), This software dynamically reconfigures the channels on the GC2200 with optimal output power, redundancy and modulation scheme.
In Figure 1, there is an example of a Star-shaped PLC network system with five devices on the same power line. When the power line conditions are ideal for communications, the Host PLC Module (or master node) may communicate with all other slave devices (nodes) directly. However, if power line conditions deteriorate between the Host PLC Module and PLC Module 3 and they cannot communicate directly, the Host PLC Module may still maintain communication with PLC Module 3 if data packets are routed through PLC Module 1, which acts as a repeater (also known as a router, or a relay). gridComm's GC-Net Auto-Routing software enables the setup of such PLC networks.
A more general example of such a network systems, is in the form of a "Tree" structure configuration, as in Figure 2. Apart from providing back-up routing over varying power line conditions, the "Tree" structure extends the potential distance covered between the Host PLC Module (or Master node) and PLC Modules (Slave nodes). The routers or repeaters are arranged in different tiers or layers with several communication hops between Master and its most distant Slave in the network. This is especially true for large complicated network systems. gridComm GC-Net Auto-Routing software can dynamically reconfigure itself, and perform re-routing of data paths should there be changes in the network due to an increase or decrease in PLC devices.