Broadcast transmission for multi-tone mask mode operation

摘要

A method of Multi-Tone Mask (MTM) mode communications in a PLC network including a first router associated with a plurality of nodes. A super-frame spanning a time period is received within the subnetwork. The super-frame includes beacon frames in beacon slots within a beacon period, with each beacon frame in one of N TMs, a contention access period (CAP) including a plurality of CAP slots provided for each TM, and a poll-based contention-free period (CFP). The beacon frames provide time assignments within the super-frame including time assignments for the CAP slots and for the CFP, and TM assignments for the TMs in the CAP slots. One of nodes, another router in the subnetwork, or a router in another subnetwork transmits a broadcast frame on the PLC channel. The first router forwards the broadcast frame on the PLC channel in each of the N TMs within the time period.

主权项

1. A method of Multi-Tone Mask (MTM) mode communicating on a powerline communications (PLC) channel in a PLC network including a subnetwork including at least a first router associated with a plurality of nodes, comprising:
receiving a super-frame spanning a time period within said subnetwork including:
a plurality of beacon frames in a plurality of beacon slots within a beacon period, with each of said plurality of beacon frames in one of N tone masks (TMs), where N is greater than 1;a contention access period (CAP) including a plurality of CAP slots, wherein one of said CAP slots is provided for each said N TMs; anda poll-based contention-free period (CFP); wherein said plurality of beacon frames provide time assignments within said super-frame including time assignments for said plurality of CAP slots and for said CFP, and TM assignments for said N TMs in said plurality of CAP slots; one of said plurality of nodes, another router in said subnetwork, or a router in another subnetwork transmitting a broadcast frame on said PLC channel; said first router forwarding said broadcast frame on said PLC channel in each of said N TMs within said time period; and wherein said super-frame further comprises an inter router/inter LV node communication slot, wherein said broadcast frame is transmitted by a second node of said plurality of nodes, wherein said broadcast frame is received by a first node of said plurality of nodes, wherein said TM assignment provided by said plurality of beacon frames for said first node for uplink communications is a first uplink TM, and wherein said forwarding further comprises said first node transmitting said broadcast frame at said first uplink TM to said first router.