Beacon slot allocation in prime
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- performing, by a communications device;
assigning beacon transmission times to a plurality of nodes within the a network to which the communication device is connected, the assigned beacon transmission times comprising a beacon slot and frame pattern, wherein the beacon slot and frame pattern includes a plurality of beacon slots distributed among a plurality of frames, and wherein the beacon slot and frame pattern includes a single unassigned beacon slot between every two assigned beacon slots, the two assigned beacon slots being assigned to two different respective nodes so that each node of the plurality of nodes does not transmit a beacon in a beacon slot that is adjacent to a beacon slot assigned to another node that is a parent or a child to the node.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for efficiently allocating beacon slot among multiple nodes on multiple levels within a power line communication network are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include performing, by a communications device, assigning beacon transmission times to nodes within the communication device'"'"'s network. The assigned beacon transmission times comprise a beacon slot and frame pattern. The beacon slot and frame pattern ensure that each node does not transmit a beacon in a beacon slot that is adjacent to a beacon slot assigned to a parent or child node. A beacon transmission slot is reserved for a base node in every frame. The frames may be organized into thirty-two-frame superframes, wherein each frame comprises a base node beacon slot and four switch node beacon slots.
34 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
performing, by a communications device; assigning beacon transmission times to a plurality of nodes within the a network to which the communication device is connected, the assigned beacon transmission times comprising a beacon slot and frame pattern, wherein the beacon slot and frame pattern includes a plurality of beacon slots distributed among a plurality of frames, and wherein the beacon slot and frame pattern includes a single unassigned beacon slot between every two assigned beacon slots, the two assigned beacon slots being assigned to two different respective nodes so that each node of the plurality of nodes does not transmit a beacon in a beacon slot that is adjacent to a beacon slot assigned to another node that is a parent or a child to the node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A communications device comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to cause the communications device to; assign a beacon slot and frame pattern for beacon transmission times to a plurality of nodes within the a network to which the communication device is connected, wherein the beacon slot and frame pattern includes a plurality of beacon slots distributed among a plurality of frames, and wherein the beacon slot and frame pattern includes a single unassigned beacon slot between every two assigned beacon slots, the two assigned beacon slots being assigned to two different respective nodes so that each node of the plurality of nodes does not transmit a beacon in a beacon slot that is adjacent to a beacon slot assigned to another node that is a parent or a child to the node. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification