Bandwidth management in a powerline network
First Claim
1. A powerline network comprising:
- a plurality of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of said plurality of stations capable of generating beacons, wherein said beacons define beacon periods beginning at pre-defined phases of a powerline cycle and contain at least transmission schedules for at least said beacon periods;
wherein each of said plurality of stations comprises a channel estimator to generate one or more tone maps to be used on a communication link between any two of said plurality of stations, said channel estimator includes mechanisms for negotiating a number of usable tone maps, for maintaining lists of valid tone maps, and for maintaining lists of intervals within a beacon period where each tone map may be used; and
wherein each said tone map lists a set of tones to be used for a particular interval within a beacon period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. Each of the stations is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with each of the other stations in the powerline network. Each tone map includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between two of the stations. Each tone map further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone. Each of the stations is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with each of the other stations, where the default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle. Each of the stations is further configurable to monitor its bandwidth needs and to request additional bandwidth from the central coordinator.
44 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A powerline network comprising:
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a plurality of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of said plurality of stations capable of generating beacons, wherein said beacons define beacon periods beginning at pre-defined phases of a powerline cycle and contain at least transmission schedules for at least said beacon periods; wherein each of said plurality of stations comprises a channel estimator to generate one or more tone maps to be used on a communication link between any two of said plurality of stations, said channel estimator includes mechanisms for negotiating a number of usable tone maps, for maintaining lists of valid tone maps, and for maintaining lists of intervals within a beacon period where each tone map may be used; and wherein each said tone map lists a set of tones to be used for a particular interval within a beacon period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for estimating a channel between two of a plurality of stations in communication in a powerline network, said method comprising:
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receiving by one of said plurality of stations an initial transmission from another one of said plurality of stations; generating one or more tone maps by a channel estimator in said one of said plurality of stations to be used on a communication link with said another one of said stations via a powerline, said channel estimator including mechanisms for negotiating a number of usable tone maps, for maintaining lists of valid tone maps, and for maintaining lists of intervals within a beacon period where each tone map may be used, said beacon period beginning at a pre-defined phase of a powerline cycle and defined by a beacon containing at least a transmission schedule for at least said beacon period; and wherein each said tone map lists a set of tones to be used for a particular interval within a beacon period. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A receiving device of a powerline network, the receiving device comprising:
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a receiver configurable to receive an initial transmission from one of a plurality of stations of said powerline network; and a channel estimator configurable to generate one or more tone maps to be used on a communication link with said one of said stations, said channel estimator including mechanisms for negotiating a number of usable tone maps, for maintaining lists of valid tone maps, and for maintaining lists of intervals within a beacon period where each tone map may be used, said beacon period beginning at a pre-defined phase of a powerline cycle and defined by a beacon containing at least a transmission schedule for at least said beacon period; and wherein each said tone map lists a set of tones to be used for a particular interval within a beacon period. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for a plurality of stations in communication in a powerline network, said method comprising:
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generating beacons by a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of said plurality of stations, wherein said beacons define beacon periods beginning at pre-defined phases of a powerline cycle and contain at least transmission schedules for at least said beacon period; transmitting one or more sounding signals; generating by a channel estimator a default tone map which is valid for all intervals within a beacon period; estimating characteristics of a channel between any two of said plurality of stations during intervals within said beacon period using said sounding signal; and using said characteristics for generating one or more tone maps each for a specific interval within said beacon period; wherein said channel estimator includes mechanisms for negotiating a number of usable tone maps, for maintaining lists of valid tone maps, and for maintaining lists of intervals within a beacon period where each tone map may be used.
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Specification