US Patent 10103780 Dual mode communication over automotive power lines

A system for communication over automotive power lines is described. The system includes a plurality of vehicle modules. Each of the vehicle modules includes a power line communication (PLC) module. A PLC network connects the power lines configured to carry electric power to the vehicle modules. The PLC processors enable the power lines to transmit data between the plurality of vehicle modules. The system also includes a master PLC processor configured to transmit data to one or more of the plurality of vehicle modules via one of two selectable protocols that include a multiple frequency channel communication protocol and a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication protocol.