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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
First Claim
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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.

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