System and method for providing access in powerline communications (PLC) network
First Claim
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1. A method for facilitating simultaneous Power Line Communication (PLC) communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, comprising:
- dynamically assigning frequency bands on demand to first and second PLC home networks using the respective first and second PLC protocols;
assigning a first frequency band to a receiver in the first PLC home network, wherein the receiver can communicate with both a first and a second transmitter;
determining whether the first transmitter in the first PLC home network is too distant from the second transmitter in the first PLC home network to communicate therewith;
determining whether the receiver can respond to a tone map request from the first transmitter;
in response to determining that;
the first transmitter in the first PLC home network is too distant from the second transmitter in the first PLC home network andthe receiver cannot respond to the tone map request from the first transmitter because a conflict occurs with the second transmitter, andfurther responsive to a determination that the first transmitter fails to receive a response from the receiver after a predetermined time period,the fist transmitter relinquishing the first frequency band and attempting a tone map exchange with the receiver on a second frequency band, the second frequency band having a lower frequency than the first frequency band that was attempted to be used by the first transmitter, the second frequency band including at least first and second sub-bands that are not consecutive in a frequency spectrum such that a portion of the frequency spectrum between the first and second sub-bands is notched.
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Abstract
To facilitate simultaneous PLC communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, frequency bands are dynamically assigned on demand to first and second PLC home networks that use the respective first and second PLC protocols.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating simultaneous Power Line Communication (PLC) communication using first and second PLC protocols that are different from each other, comprising:
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dynamically assigning frequency bands on demand to first and second PLC home networks using the respective first and second PLC protocols; assigning a first frequency band to a receiver in the first PLC home network, wherein the receiver can communicate with both a first and a second transmitter; determining whether the first transmitter in the first PLC home network is too distant from the second transmitter in the first PLC home network to communicate therewith; determining whether the receiver can respond to a tone map request from the first transmitter; in response to determining that; the first transmitter in the first PLC home network is too distant from the second transmitter in the first PLC home network and the receiver cannot respond to the tone map request from the first transmitter because a conflict occurs with the second transmitter, and further responsive to a determination that the first transmitter fails to receive a response from the receiver after a predetermined time period, the fist transmitter relinquishing the first frequency band and attempting a tone map exchange with the receiver on a second frequency band, the second frequency band having a lower frequency than the first frequency band that was attempted to be used by the first transmitter, the second frequency band including at least first and second sub-bands that are not consecutive in a frequency spectrum such that a portion of the frequency spectrum between the first and second sub-bands is notched. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A network comprising:
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at least one transmitting device; at least one receiving device to receive information from the at least one transmitting device via power line communication (PLC); and a network component to dramatically identify at least one frequency band in a spectrum that is available for use, in response to receiving a signal for the at least one transmitting device to send information to the at least one receiving device over a home network; wherein the at least one transmitting device sends information over the at least one frequency band that is available for use, the frequency band that is available for use being a first frequency band, wherein the network component determines whether any conflicts in use of the first frequency band has arisen, and responsive to a determination that a conflict exists, determines whether the conflict is observed for a first time for the first frequency band, and responsive to determining that the conflict is observed for the first time for the first frequency band, attempts a tone exchange using the first frequency band; and wherein the network component attempts to exchange a tone over a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, the second frequency band including at least first and second sub-bands that are not consecutive in the spectrum such that a portion of the spectrum between the first and second sub-bands is notched, in response to determination that the conflict is not observed for the first time for the first frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification