Bandwidth management in a powerline network

• US 20070025386A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Atheros Communications Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.), Sigma Designs Israel S.D.I Ltd. (Uphill Investment Co.)
• Original Assignee: Sigma Designs Israel S.D.I Ltd. (Uphill Investment Co.)
• Inventors: Ayyagari, Deepak, Chan, Wai, Katar, Srinivas, Riedel, Neal, Petranovich, James, Peponides, Yiorgos, Gavette, Sherman, Yonge, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5408 using protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5445 Local network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/413 with random access, e.g. carrier-sense multiple-access with collision detection [CSMA-CD]

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.

Claims

1. A powerline network comprising:

a plurality of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of said plurality of stations;

wherein each of said plurality of stations is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with each other of said plurality of stations.

2. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more tone maps includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between two of said plurality of stations.

3. The powerline network of claim 2, wherein said each of said one or more tone maps further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone of said set of tones.

4. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of stations is further configurable to update said one or more tone maps on a regular basis to adjust to changes in channels.

5. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of stations is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with said each other of said plurality of stations, and wherein said default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle.

6. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of stations is further configurable to monitor its bandwidth needs and to request additional bandwidth from said central coordinator.

7. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of stations is further configurable to indicate a bandwidth need in a frame control field of a transmission, and wherein said central coordinator is configurable to monitor said frame control field of said transmission so as to respond to said bandwidth need.

8. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more tone maps is generated as a result of a channel estimation procedure during a connection between two of said plurality of stations, and wherein said channel estimation procedure includes measuring characteristics of a channel.

9. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more tone maps is fine-tuned for channel characteristics within a specific interval of a powerline cycle.

10. The powerline network of claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of stations is further configurable to generate a default tone map, and wherein said default tone map is further used in all of a beacon period.

11. A method for estimating a channel between two of a plurality of stations in communication in a powerline network, said method comprising:

receiving by one of said plurality of stations an initial transmission from another of said plurality of stations;

generating one or more tone maps by said one of said plurality of stations for communicating with said another of said plurality of stations via a powerline.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of said one or more tone maps includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between said two of said plurality of stations.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said each of said one or more tone maps further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone of said set of tones.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising updating said one or more tone maps by said one of said plurality of stations to adjust to a change in a channel.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more tone maps comprises a default tone map, and wherein said default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

monitoring a bandwidth need by said one of said plurality of stations, wherein said plurality of stations includes a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of said plurality of stations; and

requesting additional bandwidth from said central coordinator by said one of said plurality of stations, wherein said central coordinator.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

indicating a bandwidth need in a frame control field of a transmission by said one of said plurality of stations; and

monitoring said frame control field of said transmission by said central coordinator so as to respond to said bandwidth need.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more tone maps is generating as a result of a channel estimation procedure, and wherein said channel estimation procedure includes measuring characteristics of a channel.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said two of said plurality of stations comprise a receiving station and a transmitting station, and wherein said default tone map is generated by a method comprising:

receiving by said receiving station sound data units transmitted by said transmitting station; and

utilizing said sound data units by said receiving station to generate said default tone map.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sending by said receiving station said default tone map to said transmitting station in a channel estimation indication message.

21. A powerline network including a receiving device, a transmitting device, and a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of said receiving and transmitting devices, said receiving device comprising:

wherein said receiving device is in communication with said transmitting device; and

wherein said receiving device is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with said transmitting device.

22. The receiving device of claim 21, wherein each of said one or more tone maps includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between said transmitting and receiving devices.

23. The receiving device of claim 22, wherein said each of said one or more tone maps further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone of said set of tones.

24. The receiving device of claim 21, wherein said receiving device is further configurable to communicate a bandwidth need to said central coordinator in a frame control field of a transmission.

25. The receiving device of claim 21, wherein said receiving device is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with said transmitting device, and wherein said default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle.