Enhanced channel access mechanisms for an HPNA network

摘要

A method and a system is disclosed for providing access to a communications medium that is suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames. A sequence of blocking frames is transmitted on the communications medium, such that each blocking frame has timing to allow an Inter-Frame Gap (IFG) having a duration that is not recognized by an HPNA v2 station (STA) as a duration defined by an HPNA v2 specification for an HPNA IFG. A message is transmitted from a Media Control Station (MC STA) to at least one selected non-Media Control Station when the blocking frames are transmitted. A reply message to the transmitted message is received at the MC STA from a selected non-MC STA when the blocking frames are transmitted.