Slotted message access protocol for powerline communication networks
First Claim
1. A method for packet transmissions in a communication network, the method comprising:
- determining, by a first network device, that a second network device will transmit a first packet associated with a first traffic class in the communication network;
allocating a first communication time slot of a beacon period to the second network device based, at least in part, on the first traffic class;
indicating to the second network device the first communication time slot during which the second network device can transmit the first packet;
designating a third network device as a repeater network device for the second network device for retransmitting the first packet during a second communication time slot allocated to the second network device; and
providing a retransmission schedule to network devices of the communication network including the second network device and the third network device, the retransmission schedule indicating an allocation of the second communication time slot to the second network device for retransmission of the first packet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slotted message access protocol can be implemented for transmitting short packets. Each beacon period may be divided into multiple time slots. At least one time slot may be assigned to a network device per beacon period based, at least in part, on latency specifications of packets that the network device is configured to transmit. In one example, some of the unassigned time slots may be designated as contention-based time slots. Network devices may contend with each other to gain control of and transmit packets during a contention-based time slot based on the priority level of the packets to be transmitted. Network devices may also use an encryption key and an initialization vector for securely exchanging short packets. Furthermore, a repeater network device may be designated to retransmit a packet, received from an original transmitting network device, during a communication time slot assigned to the original transmitting network device.
17 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for packet transmissions in a communication network, the method comprising:
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determining, by a first network device, that a second network device will transmit a first packet associated with a first traffic class in the communication network; allocating a first communication time slot of a beacon period to the second network device based, at least in part, on the first traffic class; indicating to the second network device the first communication time slot during which the second network device can transmit the first packet; designating a third network device as a repeater network device for the second network device for retransmitting the first packet during a second communication time slot allocated to the second network device; and providing a retransmission schedule to network devices of the communication network including the second network device and the third network device, the retransmission schedule indicating an allocation of the second communication time slot to the second network device for retransmission of the first packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A first network device comprising:
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a processor; and a memory to store instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the first network device to; determine that a second network device will transmit a first packet associated with a first traffic class in a communication network; determine a first communication time slot of a beacon period that is associated with the first traffic class; allocate the first communication time slot to the second network device based, at least in part, on the first traffic class; indicate to the second network device the first communication time slot during which the second network device can transmit the first packet; designate a third network device as a repeater network device for the second network device for retransmitting the first packet during a second communication time slot allocated to the second network device; and provide a retransmission schedule to network devices of the communication network including the second network device and the third network device, the retransmission schedule indicating an allocation of the second communication time slot to the second network device for retransmission of the first packet. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having machine executable instructions stored therein, the machine executable instructions comprising instructions to:
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determine, by a first network device, that a second network device will transmit a first packet associated with a first traffic class in a communication network; determine a first communication time slot of a beacon period that is associated with the first traffic class; allocate the first communication time slot to the second network device based, at least in part, on the first traffic class; indicate to the second network device the first communication time slot during which the second network device can transmit the first packet; designate a third network device as a repeater network device for the second network device for retransmitting the first packet during a second communication time slot allocated to the second network device; and provide a retransmission schedule to network devices of the communication network including the second network device and the third network device, the retransmission schedule indicating an allocation of the second communication time slot to the second network device for retransmission of the first packet. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for packet transmissions in a communication network, the method comprising:
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determining, by a first network device, that a second network device will transmit a first packet associated with a first traffic class in the communication network; allocating a first communication time slot of a beacon period to the second network device based, at least in part, on the first traffic class; indicating to the second network device the first communication time slot during which the second network device can transmit the first packet; allocating a second communication time slot of the beacon period to the first network device for transmitting a second packet associated with a second traffic class; determining that a length of application data associated with the second packet does not exceed a threshold length; and transmitting the application data in a frame control field of the second packet in response to determining the length of the application data does not exceed the threshold length, wherein the second packet does not include a payload field.
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Specification