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HomePlug Command and Control

"The HomePlug Command and Control 1.0 technology platform ushers in a new era of home automation and creates a wide variety of innovative solutions that improve the quality of people's lives. Consumers can expect to see a breadth of solutions, including advanced energy management and whole-house control of lighting, appliances, climate, security and other devices."
-- Steve Taylor, President of Corporate System Engineering, and chair of the HomePlug C&C Workgroup.

Powerline Communications: A Command & Control Legacy

HOMEPLUG COMMAND & CONTROL
Primary Applications
 AMR, AMM, AMI, Home/Building Automation, Remote Monitoring and Control
Workgroup Milestones
  • Request for Proposals (RFP): Q4/2005
  • Baseline technology selection: Q1/2006
  • PHY/MAC
    specification released: Q4/2007
  • Networking, Transport, Session & Profiling layers est. avail. in 2H-2008
Data Transfer Rates 7.5 Kbps (PHY Level)
5 Kbps for a 128 Byte packet (Application)
QoS 4 priorities
Security Optional
Technology WhitePaper HomePlug Command & Control 1.0 White Paper (pdf, 181k)

Over the past several years, HomePlug Powerline Alliance member companies have introduced innovations to firmly establish PLC as the most robust, cost effective and reliable choice for all manner of command and control applications suited for a fully networked home of the future.

HomePlug C&C: Four key areas of impact

  • "Green energy" and "Smart Grid" solutions that save energy and money for a more environmentally friendly future.
  • AMR/AMM/AMI; Demand Response and Demand Management.
  • Remote monitoring and control that delivers convenience through remote accessibility.
  • Safety and security products that protect from fire, theft and natural hazards.
  • Healthcare monitoring solutions that save lives and bring peace of mind.

Certified HomePlug C&C products enable highly reliable, very low-cost command and control technology platforms.

HomePlug Specifications:
Uniting the Marketplace

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance focuses on pressing the world's largest wired network into double-duty. Having already developed standards for high-speed powerline communications, HomePlug C&C stands as a key market-unifying standard, paving the way for companies to compete by producing great products that work together with a common underlying technology.

The winners in this expanded marketplace are product manufacturers and the consumer. Analysts believe the HomePlug C&C standard will increase the total market for command and control applications with millions of command and control nodes sold each month in the coming years.

HomePlug C&C FAQs

  • HomePlug C&C is "Green tech enabled"?
    Yes! HomePlug C&C and other HomePlug technologies create the basic communications network for Smart Grid and AMR/AMM/AMI initiatives. HomePlug C&C saves energy and money by enabling capabilities such as automatic adjustment of thermostats during peak demand times, remote monitoring to indicate lower tariff hours, street light control, automatic and remote meter reading and more. HomePlug C&C stands to provide a real, existing, robust and dependable technology to address the complexities of today and tomorrow's energy needs in our demanding energy environment.
  • How does HomePlug C&C work with other technologies?
    There are multiple ways to implement command and control applications. HomePlug C&C goes a step further by addressing energy conservation issues that work in tandem with a utility company's smart grid initiatives. HomePlug C&C also has the ability to work together with other command and control technologies through a simple adapter. For example, bridging between commands sent from RF technologies inside the home.

    HomePlug C&C will not interfere with high-speed networking choices, such as HomePlug 1, HomePlug AV, WiFi and Ethernet. Due to the ubiquity of power outlets, product companies are expected to develop technology "bridges" for seamless communication no matter which technology a consumer chooses.

    HomePlug C&C was especially designed for superior performance to overcome the challenges of the powerline medium. PLC is the most widely covered network in the world because there are power outlets on nearly every wall of every home. HomePlug C&C's powerline-enabled network is more convenient than traditional wired networks and requires no additional wiring or construction.
  • How was the HomePlug C&C 1.0 specification created?
    The HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced a strategic plan in March 2005 to develop a specification for an advanced command and control technology that would serve as the foundation to enable a new era of convenience, safety and security in the home. A Technology Evaluation Committee was established to conduct extensive lab tests on several available PLC command and control technologies. Subsequently, the Alliance established a Specification Working Group (SWG) to define the full specifications. Version 1.0 of the PHY and MAC specification was ratified in 2007 and work on developing upper layers, including a networking layer, transport layer, session layer and profiling is ongoing. The full specification is slotted for final release by the end of 2008. Members of the Command & Control Specification Working Group include HomePlug Alliance members Ariane Controls, Corporate Systems Engineering, GE Energy, LG Electronics, Sharp, Simply Automated, Texas Instruments, Watteco and Yitran Communications - all of whom have substantial experience with command and control communication technology.

HomePlug C&C Main Features

  • PHY Layer
    • Differential Code Shift Keying (DCSK)
    • Meets FCC, ARIB, CENELEC requirements.
    • CRC-16 payload and FEC for additional reliability.
  • MAC Layer
    • Up to 1023 logical networks each with up to 2047 nodes.
    • Unicast and Broadcast data transmission services with optional security.
    • Adaptive Rate control.
    • CSMA/CA with adaptive back-off algorithm.
    • Fragmentation and re-assembly of long packets.
    • Quality of Service (QoS) up to 4 priorities
  • *Device Profiles provide a common description language to define devices in terms of services supported, service properties and actions, and sub-devices.
  • *Networking Layer
    • Internetworking and Intranetworking data services.
    • Management services, such as creating logical networks, automatic routing and addressing, security, optimized overhead.
    • Configuration for adjustments based on cost, coordination, installation, or routing options.
  • *Host Layers
    • Intranetworking and managements of services that minimize implementation requirements.
    • Implements device profiles and interfaces lower layers' services.
    • Advanced end to end communications services.

*HomePlug C&C contains a PHY and MAC layer in Ver 1.0 with plans to expand to Networking and Session layers.

For More Information on HomePlug Command and Control Technology

All interested parties are invited to join the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and work together to broaden the market for HomePlug Command & Control technology. For more information, contact HomePlug president Rob Ranck (rob.ranck@homeplug.org).

Be on the cutting edge: Why You Need to Join the HomePlug Alliance…

  • You are seeking the leading technologies that meet narrow-band networking needs.
  • You would like to be part of the development of technologies to set and meet global standards.
  • You care about influencing the future of command and control technology.
  • You want to create a broad network of developers and users of command and control technology.
  • You would like to join the leading alliance in the field and help make a real and measurable difference in the way we live.