IEEE 1901

Key takeaways

IEEE 1901 belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect IEEE 1901 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of IEEE 1901 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

IEEE 1901 is a standard for high-speed (up to 500 Mbit/s at the physical layer) communication devices via electric power lines, often called broadband over power lines (BPL). The standard uses transmission frequencies below 100 MHz. This standard is usable by all classes of BPL devices, including BPL devices used for the connection (<1500m to the premises) to Internet access services as well as BPL devices used within buildings for local area networks, smart energy applications, transportation platforms (vehicle), and other data distribution applications (<100m between devices). The IEEE 1901 Standard, established in 2010, set the first worldwide benchmark for powerline communication tailored for multimedia home networks, audio-video, and the smart grid. This standard underwent an amendment in IEEE 1901a-2019, introducing improvements to the HD-PLC physical layer (wavelet) for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. It was further updated in 2020, known as IEEE 1901-2020. The IEEE 1901 standard replaced a dozen previous powerline specifications. It includes a mandatory coexistence Inter-System Protocol (ISP). The IEEE 1901 ISP prevents interference when the different BPL implementations are operated within close proximity of one another. To handle multiple devices attempting to use the line at the same time, IEEE 1901 supports TDMA, but CSMA/CA (also used in WiFi) is most commonly implemented by devices sold. The IEEE 1901 standard is mandatory to initiate SAE J1772 electric vehicle DC charging (AC uses PWM) and the sole powerline protocol for IEEE 1905.1 heterogeneous networking. It was highly recommended in the IEEE P1909.1 smart grid standards because those are primarily for control of AC devices, which by definition always have AC power connections - thus no additional connections are required.

Updates overview The IEEE 1901 Standard was a significant step in the development of powerline communication (PLC) technologies. PLC allows for data communication over existing power lines, which can be particularly useful in environments where it's difficult to lay new wiring or where wireless communication might be problematic.

IEEE 1901-2010: This was the initial standard that set the groundwork for broadband over power lines (BPL) and in-home powerline networks. It defined two incompatible physical layers: FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) based OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing): Primarily used for access BPL. Wavelet-based OFDM: Used for in-home networks and some access BPL applications. IEEE 1901a-2019: This amendment focused on enhancing the wavelet-based HD-PLC (High Definition Power Line Communication) physical layer. The main goal was to make it more suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. IoT devices often require low power, low latency, and reliable communication, and the enhancements in this amendment aimed to cater to these needs. IEEE 1901-2020: This was a revision of the original 1901 standard. Revisions in standards typically involve updates to address technological advancements, incorporate feedback from the industry, and ensure that the standard remains relevant and effective. The revision incorporates amendment IEEE 1901a-2019. IEEE 1901b-2021: This amendment added state-of the art authentication and authorization mechanisms to the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer using IEEE Std 802.1X, providing secure, interoperable communication to IEEE 1901 IoT and Smart Grid networks. IEEE 1901c-2024: This amendment specified how to apply IEEE 1901 specifications on any media. The goal was to achieve seamless communication over different media and between different communication channels. New communication channels extended to low-frequency bands were added to the wavelet-based Nessum (New name of HD-PLC High Definition Power Line Communication) physical layer to address long-range and robust communication on these new media. The amendment also specified how to use IEEE Std 1588 precision time protocol (PTP) in IEEE 1901 networks. The development and evolution of the IEEE 1901 standard underscores the importance of powerline communication in modern networking scenarios. As the IoT continues to grow, with billions of devices getting connected, having a robust and versatile communication medium like PLC can be invaluable, especially in environments where traditional networking methods might be challenging.

Status The IEEE P1901 Working Group started in June 2005. More than 90 organizations contributed to the standard. Half of the organizations were from US, a quarter from Japan and the last quarter from Europe. IEEE 1901 completed a formal standard IEEE 1901-2010 published in December 2010. The working group which maintains and extends the standards is sponsored by the IEEE Power Line Communication Standard Committee (PLCSC). IEEE 1901-2020 has been published in January 2021.

Adoptions

ITU-T G.9972 The IEEE 1901 ISP coexistence protocol was extended to support the International Telecommunication Union's family of home networking standards known as G.hn, and adopted by the ITU-T as Recommendation ITU-T G.9972.

SGIP The Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) initiated by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) mandates the implementation of the IEEE 1901 ISP coexistence mechanism (or ITU-T G.9972) in all technologies operating over power lines. NISTIR 7862: Guideline for the Implementation of Coexistence for Broadband Power Line Communication Standards The IEEE 1901 standard is included in the SGIP Catalog of Standards

DLNA In 2012 the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) announced it supported IEEE 1901 standards.

SAE and IEC 62196 The SAE J1772 and IEC 62196 standards for electric vehicle charging include IEEE 1901 as the standard for power line communication between the vehicle, off-board DC charging station, and the smart grid, without requiring an additional pin; SAE International and the IEEE Standards Association are sharing their draft standards related to the smart grid and vehicle electrification.

IEEE 1905.1 IEEE 1901 is the powerline communication standard supported by the IEEE 1905.1 Standard for a Convergent Digital Home Network.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with IEEE 1901

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what IEEE 1901 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to IEEE 1901 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about IEEE 1901 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of IEEE 1901

In research: IEEE 1901 appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses IEEE 1901 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: IEEE 1901 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics IEEE standards, Networking standards, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for IEEE 1901 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study IEEE 1901 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what IEEE 1901 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain IEEE 1901 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is IEEE 1901 in simple terms?

IEEE 1901 is a standard for high-speed (up to 500 Mbit/s at the physical layer) communication devices via electric power lines, often called broadband over power lines (BPL). The standard uses transmission frequencies below 100 MHz.

Why does IEEE 1901 matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study IEEE 1901?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on IEEE 1901.