COMMUNICATING SCHEDULE AND NETWORK INFORMATION IN A POWERLINE NETWORK

摘要

There is provided a powerline network (202, 220) that includes a number of stations (A, B, C, D) including a central coordinator (CCoI) for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations (A,B,C,D). Each of the stations (A, B, C, D) is configurable to generate one or more tone maps for communicating with each of the other stations (A, B, C, D) in the powerline network (202, 220). Each tone map includes a set of tones to be used on a communication link between two of the stations (A, B, C, D). Each tone map further includes a unique set of modulation methods for each tone. Each of the stations (A, B, C, D) is further configurable to generate a default tone map for communicating with each of the other stations (A, B, C, D), where the default tone map is valid for all portions of a powerline cycle (404). Each of the stations (A, B, C, D) is further configurable to monitor its bandwidth needs and to request additional bandwidth from the central coordinator (CCoI).