Routing for power line communication systems
First Claim
1. A power line communication (PLC) system, comprising:
- a source node;
a plurality of intermediate nodes; and
a destination node,wherein each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes and the destination node comprise a PLC interface including;
a medium access control (MAC) module comprising a routing module; and
a physical layer (PHY) module in communication with the MAC module and comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive data over a power line,wherein the routing modules of the source node, one or more of the intermediate nodes, and the destination node establish a route from the source node to the destination node via one or more selected ones of the plurality of intermediate nodes,wherein the route is selected using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node,wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs,wherein when the destination node receives a route request packet, including a route cost, from one of the intermediate nodes corresponding to a neighbor node of the destination node, the destination node waits a predetermined period to receive one or more additional route request packets,wherein, after waiting the predetermined period, the destination node identifies a selected one of (i) the route request packet and (ii) the one or more additional route request packets having a lowest route cost, andwherein the destination node transmits a unicast route reply packet to the source node identifying the selected route.
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Abstract
A power line communication (PLC) system includes a source node, a plurality of intermediate nodes and a destination node. Each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes and the destination node comprise a PLC interface including a medium access control (MAC) module and a physical layer (PHY) module. A transformer is located between the source node and the destination node. Routing modules of the source node, one or more of the intermediate nodes, and the destination node establish a route from the source node to the destination node via one or more selected ones of the plurality of intermediate nodes. The route is selected using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node. The link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs.
51 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A power line communication (PLC) system, comprising:
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a source node; a plurality of intermediate nodes; and a destination node, wherein each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes and the destination node comprise a PLC interface including; a medium access control (MAC) module comprising a routing module; and a physical layer (PHY) module in communication with the MAC module and comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive data over a power line, wherein the routing modules of the source node, one or more of the intermediate nodes, and the destination node establish a route from the source node to the destination node via one or more selected ones of the plurality of intermediate nodes, wherein the route is selected using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node, wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs, wherein when the destination node receives a route request packet, including a route cost, from one of the intermediate nodes corresponding to a neighbor node of the destination node, the destination node waits a predetermined period to receive one or more additional route request packets, wherein, after waiting the predetermined period, the destination node identifies a selected one of (i) the route request packet and (ii) the one or more additional route request packets having a lowest route cost, and wherein the destination node transmits a unicast route reply packet to the source node identifying the selected route. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a power line communication (PLC) system, comprising:
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establishing a route from a source node to a destination node via one or more selected ones of a plurality of intermediate nodes, wherein each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes, and the destination node comprises a PLC interface for transmitting and receiving data over a power line; selecting the route using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node, wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs; wherein when the destination node receives a route request packet, including a route cost, from one of the intermediate nodes corresponding to a neighbor node of the destination node, the destination node waits a predetermined period to receive one or more additional route request packets; after waiting the predetermined period, identifying a selected one of (i) the route request packet and (ii) the one or more additional route request packets having a lowest route cost; and transmitting a route reply packet from the destination node to the source node identifying the selected route. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A power line communication (PLC) comprising:
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a source node; a plurality of intermediate nodes; and a destination node, wherein each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes and the destination node comprise a PLC interface including; a medium access control (MAC) module comprising a routing module; and a physical layer (PHY) module in communication with the MAC module and comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive data over a power line, wherein the routing modules of the source node, one or more of the intermediate nodes, and the destination node establish a route from the source node to the destination node via one or more selected ones of the plurality of intermediate nodes, wherein the route is selected using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node, wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs, wherein when one of the intermediate nodes receives a route request packet, the intermediate node updates the route cost and a weak links field of the route request packet, wherein the route request packet includes an identification field identifying a source node, wherein when the intermediate node determines that a prior route request packet including the identification field identifying the same source node as the route request packet, the intermediate node compares the route cost and the weak links field of the route request packet with a route cost and a weak links field of the prior route request packet, wherein the intermediate node selects the route request packet in response to the route cost and the weak links field being less than the route cost and the weak links field of the prior route request packet by a predetermined amount and rebroadcasts or forwards the route request packet to neighbor nodes, and wherein the intermediate node discards the route request packet in response to the route cost and the weak links field being not less than the route cost and the weak links field of the prior route request packet by the predetermined amount.
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40. A power line communication (PLC) comprising:
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a source node; a plurality of intermediate nodes; and a destination node, wherein each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes, and the destination node comprise a PLC interface including; a medium access control (MAC) module comprising a routing module; and a physical layer (PHY) module in communication with the MAC module and comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive data over a power line, wherein the routing modules of the source node, one or more of the intermediate nodes, and the destination node establish a route from the source node to the destination node via one or more selected ones of the plurality of intermediate nodes, wherein the route is selected using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node, and wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs, wherein when turned on, the PLC interface transmits a beacon to initiate a first one of N association attempts with a PLC network, wherein N is an integer greater than 0, wherein in response to the first one of the N association attempts failing, the MAC module waits a first random delay period before initiating a second one of the N association attempts, wherein in response to the second one of the association attempts failing, the MAC module waits a second random delay period before initiating others of the N association attempts, and wherein each random delay period associated with a successive one of the N association attempts is longer than a preceding one of the N association attempts.
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41. A method for operating a power line communication (PLC) system, comprising:
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establishing a route from a source node to a destination node via one or more selected ones of a plurality of intermediate nodes, wherein each of the source node, the plurality of intermediate nodes, and the destination node comprises a PLC interface for transmitting and receiving data over a power line; selecting the route using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node, wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs; updating the route cost and a weak links field of a route request packet when one of the plurality of intermediate nodes receives a route request packet, wherein the route request packet includes an identification field identifying a source node; determining whether the one of the plurality of intermediate nodes stored a prior route request packet including the identification field identifying the same source node as the route request packet; comparing the route cost and the weak links field of the route request packet with a route cost and a weak links field of the prior route request packet; using the route request packet in response to the route cost and the weak links field being less than the route cost and the weak links field of the prior route request packet by a predetermined amount and sending the route request packet to neighbor nodes; and discarding the route request packet in response to the route cost and the weak links field being not less than the route cost and the weak links field of the prior route request packet by the predetermined amount.
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42. A method for operating a power line communication (PLC) system, comprising:
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in response to a PLC interface turning on; establishing a route from a source node to a destination node via one or more selected ones of a plurality of intermediate nodes; selecting the route using a route cost that is calculated based on link costs of a plurality of hops in the route from the source node to the destination node, wherein the link costs are based on forward link costs and reverse link costs; transmitting a beacon to initiate a first one of N association attempts with a PLC network; in response to the first one of the N association attempts failing, waiting a first random delay period before initiating a second one of the N association attempts; and in response to the second one of the association attempts failing, waiting a second random delay period before initiating others of the N association attempts, wherein each random delay period associated with a successive one of the N association attempts is longer than a preceding one of the N association attempts.
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Specification