Abstract: Authentication of a networked device with limited computational resources for secure communications over a network. Authentication of the device begins with the supplicant node transmitting a signed digital certificate with its authentication credentials to a proxy node. Upon verifying the certificate, the proxy node then authenticates the supplicant's credentials with an authentication server accessible over the network, acting as a proxy for the supplicant node. Typically, this verification includes decryption according to a public/private key scheme. Upon successful authentication, the authentication server creates a session key for the supplicant node and communicates it to the proxy node. The proxy node encrypts the session key with a symmetric key, and transmits the encrypted session key to the supplicant node which, after decryption, uses the session key for secure communications. In some embodiments, the authentication server encrypts the session key with the symmetric key.

Abstract: A method of operating a mesh network is disclosed. The method includes joining a network as a child of a parent node and receiving a downlink broadcast channel from the parent node. The method further includes setting the downlink broadcast channel as an uplink broadcast channel in response to the step of receiving.

Abstract: Systems and methods for setting a carrier-sensing mechanism in a PLC node are disclosed. In a PLC standard, coexistence is achieved by having the nodes detect a common preamble and backing off by a Coexistence InterFrame Space (cEIFS) time period to help the node to avoid interfering with the other technologies. In one embodiment, a PHY primitive is sent from the PHY to the MAC know that there has been a preamble detection. A two-level indication may be used—one indication after receiving the preamble and other indication after decoding the entire frame. The MAC sets the carrier-sensing mechanism based on the preamble detection.

Abstract: Authentication of a networked device with limited computational resources for secure communications over a network. Authentication of the device begins with the supplicant node transmitting a signed digital certificate with its authentication credentials to a proxy node. Upon verifying the certificate, the proxy node then authenticates the supplicant's credentials with an authentication server accessible over the network, acting as a proxy for the supplicant node. Typically, this verification includes decryption according to a public/private key scheme. Upon successful authentication, the authentication server creates a session key for the supplicant node and communicates it to the proxy node. The proxy node encrypts the session key with a symmetric key, and transmits the encrypted session key to the supplicant node which, after decryption, uses the session key for secure communications. In some embodiments, the authentication server encrypts the session key with the symmetric key.

Abstract: In examples, an electronic device comprises a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to synchronize a clock of the electronic device to a clock of another electronic device using elapsed time indications in multiple packets received from the another electronic device via the transceiver. The processor is configured to transmit a packet via the transceiver using the synchronized clock of the electronic device.

Abstract: In some examples, a device includes receiver circuitry and processing circuitry coupled to the receiver circuitry. In examples, the processing circuitry is configured to transition, at a first time, from monitoring a first channel via the receiver circuitry to monitoring a second channel via the receiver circuitry, wherein the first channel is associated with a first communication protocol and the second channel is associated with a second communication protocol. In examples, the processing circuitry is also configured to transition, at a second time, from monitoring the second channel via the receiver circuitry to monitoring the first channel via the receiver circuitry responsive to not detecting communication on the second channel, wherein an amount of time between the first time and the second time is based on a detection time for the second communication protocol.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions. The instructions are executable by a controller of a network device to cause the controller to analyze data transmitted by the network device via a network for a programmed amount of time, determine a data transmission pattern based on the analysis, determine, based on the transmission pattern, a volume of expected data transmission during a period of time, and determine whether to transmit additional data based on a relationship between the volume of expected data transmission during the period of time and a bandwidth allocation of the network device during the period of time.

Abstract: An algorithm for the promotion of terminal nodes to switch nodes in a PLC network reduces overall network overhead and collisions, while ensuring the appropriate selection of a switch node and minimizing the number of levels in a PLC network. It also ensures that the terminal nodes with appropriate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are promoted. It is desirable to have a network with fewer levels. The disclosed approach favors the nodes that are closer to the DC to promote them as switch nodes. This is achieved by waiting for a smaller number of PNPDUs for a node that is closer to the DC in comparison to a node that is farther away from the DC.

Abstract: In examples, an electronic device comprises a transceiver and a processor coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to synchronize a clock of the electronic device to a clock of another electronic device using elapsed time indications in multiple packets received from the another electronic device via the transceiver. The processor is configured to transmit a packet via the transceiver using the synchronized clock of the electronic device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for setting a carrier-sensing mechanism in a PLC node are disclosed. In a PLC standard, coexistence is achieved by having the nodes detect a common preamble and backing off by a Coexistence InterFrame Space (cEIFS) time period to help the node to avoid interfering with the other technologies. In one embodiment, a PHY primitive is sent from the PHY to the MAC know that there has been a preamble detection. A two-level indication may be used—one indication after receiving the preamble and other indication after decoding the entire frame. The MAC sets the carrier-sensing mechanism based on the preamble detection.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes interface circuitry, memory configured to store machine-readable instructions, and processing circuitry configured to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions. The example processing circuitry is configured to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions to determine a connectivity metric for a first device synchronized with a second device and cause, via the interface circuitry, transmission of the connectivity metric to a third device with which the first device is not synchronized. Additionally, the example processing circuitry is configured to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine-readable instructions to, based on a first communication from the third device, cause transmission of a second communication to the first device to cause the first device to synchronize with the third device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions. The instructions are executable by a controller of a network device to cause the controller to analyze data transmitted by the network device via a network for a programmed amount of time, determine a data transmission pattern based on the analysis, determine, based on the transmission pattern, a volume of expected data transmission during a period of time, and determine whether to transmit additional data based on a relationship between the volume of expected data transmission during the period of time and a bandwidth allocation of the network device during the period of time.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for supporting coexistence of multiple technologies in a Power Line Communication (PLC) network are disclosed. A long coexistence preamble sequence may be transmitted by a device that has been forced to back off the PLC channel multiple times. The long coexistence sequence provides a way for the device to request channel access from devices on the channel using other technology. The device may transmit a data packet after transmitting the long coexistence preamble sequence. A network duty cycle time may also be defined as a maximum allowed duration for nodes of the same network to access the channel. When the network duty cycle time occurs, all nodes will back off the channel for a duty cycle extended inter frame space before transmitting again. The long coexistence preamble sequence and the network duty cycle time may be used together.

Abstract: An algorithm for the promotion of terminal nodes to switch nodes in a PLC network reduces overall network overhead and collisions, while ensuring the appropriate selection of a switch node and minimizing the number of levels in a PLC network. It also ensures that the terminal nodes with appropriate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are promoted. It is desirable to have a network with fewer levels. The disclosed approach favors the nodes that are closer to the DC to promote them as switch nodes. This is achieved by waiting for a smaller number of PNPDUs for a node that is closer to the DC in comparison to a node that is farther away from the DC.

Abstract: A wireless network with network-level channel hopping. A wireless network includes a wireless device. The wireless device includes a receiver, a data channel selector, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive a beacon signal comprising a beacon sequence value. The data channel selector is configured to select, as a pseudorandom function of the beacon sequence value, a data channel on which to transmit in an interval following reception of the beacon signal. The transmitter is configured to transmit on the data channel selected by the channel selector.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced channel hopping sequence is described. A pseudo random channel hopping sequence is redistributed using certain system specific parameters for separating adjacent transmission channels within a predetermined number of consecutive transmission channel numbers in the random channel hopping sequence to improve inter-channel interference between adjacent transmission channels.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for supporting coexistence of multiple technologies in a Power Line Communication (PLC) network are disclosed. A long coexistence preamble sequence may be transmitted by a device that has been forced to back off the PLC channel multiple times. The long coexistence sequence provides a way for the device to request channel access from devices on the channel using other technology. The device may transmit a data packet after transmitting the long coexistence preamble sequence. A network duty cycle time may also be defined as a maximum allowed duration for nodes of the same network to access the channel. When the network duty cycle time occurs, all nodes will back off the channel for a duty cycle extended inter frame space before transmitting again. The long coexistence preamble sequence and the network duty cycle time may be used together.

Abstract: A radio communications device includes a RTC configured to run even during sleep for receiving from a coordinator node (CN) in an asynchronous channel hopping WPAN an asynchronous hopping sequence (AHS) frame that includes the CN's hopping sequence. A processor implements a stored sleepy device operation in asynchronous channel hopping networks algorithm. The algorithm is for determining a time stamp for the AHS frame and the CN's initial timing position within the hopping sequence, storing the time stamp, going to sleep and upon waking up changing a frequency band of its receive (Rx) channel to an updated fixed channel. A data request command frame is transmitted by the device on the CN's listening channel that is calculated from the CN's hopping sequence, time stamp, CN's initial timing position and current time, and the device receives an ACK frame transmitted by the CN at the updated fixed channel of Rx operation.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced channel hopping sequence is described. A pseudo random channel hopping sequence is redistributed using certain system specific parameters for separating adjacent transmission channels within a predetermined number of consecutive transmission channel numbers in the random channel hopping sequence to improve inter-channel interference between adjacent transmission channels.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a network device having a split network stack that includes a physical (PHY) layer associated with first and second media access control (MAC) protocol sublayers, a processing device, and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to select a route through the split network stack that includes one of the first and second MAC protocol sublayers but not the other one of the first and second MAC protocol sublayers.