Enhanced channel access mechanisms for an HPNA network

• US 7,298,757 B1
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Matthew J., Lin, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mais; Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/042,165
• Time in Patent Office: 2,139 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/235, 370/242, 370/245, 370/252, 370351-355, 370/357, 370/392, 370/400, 370/401, 370/404, 370/419, 370/420, 370/437, 370/447, 370/448, 370/450, 370/451, 370/453, 370/455, 370/462, 370/464, 370/465, 370/508, 370/516, 370/517, 370/519, 370/528
• US Class Current: 370/447
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/00 Data switching networks interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40156 by using dedicated slots associated with a priority level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2845 Telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5603 Access techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and a system provide access to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames in a centralized manner. Each HPNA v2 frame is timed to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) portion having a duration that is substantially a duration defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for an IFG portion of an HPNA v2 frame. A plurality of frames are generated in the communications medium with at least one frame of the plurality of frames having timing to allow a Shortened Inter-Frame Gap (SIFG) portion and a contention-free portion. The SIFG portion is less than about 17 μsec in duration. Access to the communications medium is then provided for at least one station (STA) during the contention-free portion of a frame having timing to allow the SIFG portion.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a communications medium, the communications medium being suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames, each HPNA v2 frame being timed to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is substantially a duration defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification, the method comprising steps of:

generating a message for transmission to an enhanced station (STA), the enhanced STA being one of a Media Control Station (MC STA) and a non-Media Control Station (non-MC STA); and

generating at least one enhanced frame containing the message on the communications medium, each enhanced frame having timing to allow a Shortened Inter-Frame Gap (SIFG), each SIFG having a duration that is not recognized by a HPNA v2 STA as a duration defined by the HPNA v2 protocol specification for the IFG and permitting each enhanced frame priority over pending HPNA v2 frames, the SIFG comprising a blocking signal adapted to prevent the HPNA v2 STA from recognizing an existence of the SIFG.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein each SIFG is less than about 17 μ

sec in duration.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes an End-of-Frame (EOF) sequence portion.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one EOF sequence portion is different from an EOF sequence defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for an EOF sequence of an HPNA v2 frame.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one enhanced frame having the EOF sequence portion includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one enhanced frame includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

10. A method for providing contention-free access to a communications medium, the communications medium being suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames, each HPNA v2 frame being timed to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is substantially a duration defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification, the method comprising steps of:

generating at least one enhanced frame on the communications medium, each enhanced frame having timing to allow a Shortened Inter-Frame Gap (SIFG), each SIFG having a duration that is not recognized by a HPNA v2 STA as a duration defined by the HPNA v2 protocol specification for the IFG and permitting each enhanced frame priority over pending HPNA v2 frames, the SIFG comprising a blocking signal adapted to prevent the HPNA v2 STA from recognizing an existence of the SIFG; and

providing contention-free access to the communications medium during each enhanced frame so that only one enhanced station at a time sends a message during an enhanced frame, each enhanced being one of a Media Control Station (MC STA) and a non-Media Control Station (non-MC STA).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein each SIFG is less than about 17 μ

sec in duration.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes an End-of-Frame (EOF) sequence portion.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one EOF sequence portion is different from an EOF sequence defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for an EOF sequence of an HPNA v2 frame.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one enhanced frame having the EOF sequence portion includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

19. A communications network having a communications medium, the communications medium being suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames, each HPNA v2 frame being timed to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is substantially a duration defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification, the communications network comprising:

at least one non-Media Control Station (non-MC STA) coupled to the communications medium; and

a Media Control Station (MC STA) generating at lease one enhanced frame in the communications medium, each enhanced frame having timing to allow a Shortened Inter-Frame Gap (SIFG), the SIFG comprising a blocking signal adapted to prevent the HPNA v2 STA from recognizing an existence of the SIFG, each SIFG having a duration that is not recognized by a HPNA v2 STA as a duration defined by the HPNA v2 protocol specification for the IFG and permitting each enhanced frame priority over pending HPNA v2 frames.

20. The communications network according to claim 19, wherein each SIFG is less than about 17 μ

sec in duration.

21. The communications network according to claim 19, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes an End-of-Frame (EOF) sequence portion.

22. The communications network according to claim 21, wherein at least one EOF sequence portion is different from an EOF sequence defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for an EOF sequence of an HPNA v2 frame.

23. The communications network according to claim 21, wherein the at least one enhanced frame having the EOF sequence portion includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

24. The communications network according to claim 23, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

25. The communications network according to claim 19, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

26. The communications network according to claim 25, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

27. The communications network according to claim 19, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

28. A communications network having a communications medium, the communications medium being suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames, each HPNA v2 frame being timed to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is substantially a duration defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification, the communications network comprising:

a plurality of enhanced stations (STAs) coupled to the communications medium; and

a Media Control Station (MC STA) generating at least one enhanced frame in the communications medium, each enhanced frame having timing to allow a Shortened Inter-Frame Gap (SIFG), the SIFG comprising a blocking signal adapted to prevent the HPNA v2 STA from recognizing an existence of the SIFG, each SIFG having a duration that is not recognized by a HPNA v2 STA as a duration defined by the HPNA v2 protocol specification for the IFG and permitting each enhanced frame priority over pending HPNA v2 frames, the MC STA providing contention-free access to the communications medium to a first enhanced STA during each enhanced frame so that only one enhanced STA at a time sends a message during an enhanced frame, each enhanced being one of a Media Control Station (MC STA) and a non-Media Control Station (non-MC STA).

29. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the MC STA is a second enhanced STA.

30. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein each SIFG is less than about 17 μ

sec in duration.

31. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes an End-of-Frame (EOF) sequence portion.

32. The communications network according to claim 31, wherein the at least one EOF sequence portion is different from an EOF sequence defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for an EOF sequence of an HPNA v2 frame.

33. The communications network according to claim 32, wherein the at least one enhanced frame having the EOF sequence portion includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

34. The communications network according to claim 33, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

35. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a preamble that is different from a preamble defined by an HPNA v2 protocol specification for a preamble of an HPNA v2 frame.

36. The communications network according to claim 35, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.

37. The communications network according to claim 28, wherein the at least one enhanced frame includes a Time Duration (TD) field containing information relating to a duration of the at least one enhanced frame.