Abstract: A MAC layer protocol that converts packets into a data stream is presented. The protocol layer accepts packets (like Ethernet packets) and converts them into blocks. The packets may be segmented into multiple hocks and multiple packets or packet fragments may be contained in a block. The blocks contain information for reassembling the data. All blocks may be exactly the same size and format, with the same coding. This allows blocks to be precisely recovered even when some of the bits on the stream have errors on them. The blocks may be interleaved and coded. Each block may be decoded independently of other blocks. The blocks may be numbered, so an ARQ mechanism may request that any missing blocks be resent without asking for a whole packet to be resent. The data stream may be passed to a physical layer like an OFDM or WOFDM stream of data.

Abstract: A method for routing communications on a network node in a communications network includes: updating a central domain master regarding changes detected in topology, receiving a routing plan from the central domain master, where the routing plan is calculated at least in accordance with the changes, and transmitting data as necessary in accordance with the routing plan. A method implementable on a central domain master for routing communications between network nodes in a communications network includes receiving transmissions regarding changes detected in topology from the network nodes, calculating a routing plan based on at least the transmissions, and distributing the routing plan to the network nodes, where the central domain server is one of the network nodes.

Abstract: A multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communications unit includes a multiplicity of analog front ends and a MIMO processor. Each analog front end is connectable to a different two of the wires in a subscriber premises and each handles data of one channel. The MIMO processor processes together the data of the channels. In one embodiment, the wires are the power line wires in a subscriber premises, including the phase, neutral and ground power line wires. In another embodiment, the wires are pairs of telephony wires.

Abstract: Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, including a first network port coupled between a network phase line and a first network line, a second network port coupled between a network neutral line and a second network line, a third network port coupled between a network ground line and a third network line, a first differential modem port including a first terminal and a second terminal, a second differential modem port including a third terminal and a fourth terminal, a first transformer including a first network side winding and a first modem side winding, a second transformer including a second network side winding and a second modem side winding, the transformers including respective terminals, a center tap extending from the midpoint of the first network side winding to a terminal of the second network side winding and a plurality of capacitors.

Abstract: A method of communicating across power lines, including communicating data between at least two in-premises network devices along more than one channel, each channel defined by a different two of a plurality of wires in a subscriber premises, a first channel forming a straight path channel and a second channel forming a cross-path channel, and using multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) processing and maximum ratio combining (MRC) processing of data received along the plurality of wires, at least a portion of the data being received simultaneously from the straight path channel and the cross-path channel, wherein the wires are phase, neutral and ground wires of a subscriber premises.

Abstract: A power line communication device includes a power line communication unit, a sensor to sense a physical connection to a second power line communication device other than via a powerline medium and a pairing unit to receive an indication of a physical connection between the power line communication device and the second power line communication device and to initiate a pairing process with the second power line communication device. A method of pairing communication devices which communicate along a non-data-cable medium includes sensing a data cable connection with a second device, entering an appropriate pairing state upon sensing the data cable connection, the pairing state being either an add device state or a join device state and performing pairing with the second device along the non-data-cable connection.

Abstract: A method for a central coordinator of a network includes transmitting an active media access plan (MAP) using at least a regional mask and a bit allocation table (BAT) associated with the regional mask and transmitting a default MAP using only a permanent mask and a BAT associated with the permanent mask. The default MAP includes at least regional mask information.

Abstract: Coupling circuit for coupling a power line communication device to a power line network, including a first network port, a second network port, a third network port, a first modem port, a second modem port, a third modem port, a fourth modem port, a first transformer, a second transformer, a third transformer and at least two capacitors, the first transformer including a first network side winding including two terminals, a first modem side transmitter winding including two terminals, a first modem side receiver winding including two terminals and a center tap, extending from a midpoint between the two terminals of the first network side winding, the second transformer including a second network side winding including two terminals and a second modem side receiver winding including two terminals, the third transformer including a third network side winding including two terminals and a second modem side transmitter winding including two terminals.

Abstract: Method for communication channel coordination between nodes, each node including at least one of a transmitter and a receiver, for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables. The residential electrical cables include at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire, at least two of the wires forming wire pairs. The method includes the procedures of, for a given one of the receiver, examining the transmitter in each one of the nodes which communicates with the receiver, selecting one of the examined transmitters as a primary transmitter, determining an optimal receive wire pair for the receiver to receive the signals transmitted between the primary transmitter and the receiver, informing all the examined transmitters of the determined optimal receive wire pair, and tracking at least one communication characteristic over the determined optimal receive wire pair.

Abstract: Apparatus, for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables, includes a processor, at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. The transmitter and the receiver are coupled with the processor, for respectively transmitting and receiving the signals. The apparatus is coupled with an electrical cable including at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire. At least two of the wires form receive wire pairs wherein at least two of the wires form at least one transmit wire pair. The processor enables the at least one receiver to be coupled with the receive wire pairs and wherein the processor dynamically switches a coupling of the at least one receiver to another one of the plurality of receive wire pairs.

Abstract: System, for transmitting and receiving signals over residential electrical cables includes at least one active wire, one neutral wire and one ground wire. The system includes at least two power line modems, each one of the two power line modems including a processor, transmitters and at least one receiver, transmitters and the receiver being coupled with the processor, for respectively transmitting and receiving the signals. At least two of the wires form at least one receive wire pair and at least two of the wires form at least one transmit wire pair. Each one of the transmitters defines a respective carrier wave range over the transmit wire pair, the processor determining a frequency carrier wave for the signals when the signals are transmitted. A given one of the transmitters transmits the signals if the frequency carrier wave is in the carrier wave range of the given one of the transmitters.

Abstract: A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, where the transmission start slots represent transmission initiation opportunities for the initiation of data transmission by at least one of a plurality of network devices on a network, and transmitting a current position of the node within all groups of the schedule suitable for full resynchronization to the adjustable schedule by at least one other the network node.