1.  Task Description: Improve rate, reliability, and energy efficiency of two-way wireless and powerline communications (PLC) between smart meters & data concentrators in smart grids  Anticipated Results: Signal processing algorithms and real-time prototypes to demonstrate enhanced performance of wireless and PLC transceivers for smart grids  Co-PIs/Collaborators: Prof. N. Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Prof. B. L. Evans (UT-Austin )  Current StudentsCurrent Status Mr. Mostafa IbrahimPh.D. (May 2017) Summer 2014 intern at TI Dr. Jing LinPh.D. (May 2014)  Funding for three years: $360k  Industrial Liaisons: Dr. Anuj Batra (TI), Dr. Anand Dabak (TI), Dr. Il Han Kim (TI), Dr. Tarkesh Pande (TI), and Dr. Khurram Waheed (Freescale) Task ID: 1836.133, Naofal Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Brian L. Evans (UT-Austin)

2. Fig.1: Block diagram for narrowband-PLC / wireless diversity Task ID: 1836.133, Naofal Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Brian L. Evans (UT-Austin)  Impulsive noise mitigation in narrowband-PLC Proposed time-frequency modulation diversity at transmitter and a diversity demodulator at receiver to improve reliability without decreasing data rates Achieved over 1000x reduction in bit error rate in simulations using measured impulsive noise traces Fig.2: Time-frequency modulation diversity. Components of a diversity codeword are marked in the same color.

3. Task ID: 1836.133, Naofal Al-Dhahir (UT-Dallas) and Brian L. Evans (UT-Austin) Accomplishments: Proposed maximum ratio combining that takes into account the impulsive noise variations Proposed time-frequency modulation diversity at transmitter and a diversity demodulator at receiver to improve reliability without decreasing data rates Important Publications: 1.M. Sayed and N. Al-Dhahir, “Narrowband-PLC/Wireless Diversity for Smart Grid Communications,” IEEE Globecom, 2014. 2.J. Lin, T. Pande, I. H. Kim, A. Batra and B. L. Evans, ”Time- Frequency Modulation Diversity To Combat Periodic Impulsive Noise In Narrowband Powerline Communications'', IEEE TCOM, submitted. Fig. 1: Average bit error rate of PLC with and without diversity combining with a fixed-SNR (Eb/No=6 dB) wireless link State of Art: Smart grid communications via narrowband PLC and wireless is interference limited. Prior studies on interference mitigation and PLC/wireless diversity do not fully exploit statistics of impulsive noise in PLC. Objectives: Enhance communication performance and reduce power consumption of smart grid communications systems. Novelty: Narrowband-PLC/Wireless diversity Time-frequency diversity modulation to combat impulsive noise in narrowband-PLC Fig.2: Time-frequency modulation diversity. Components of a diversity codeword (marked in the same color) are allocated to different subcarriers in different OFDM symbols.