Abstract: A method includes transmitting a next transmission after an inter-frame period after a previous transmission, wherein the inter-frame period is long enough to allow a return signal responding to the previous transmission. A network device includes a receiver to receive a transmission from a source device and a transmitter at least to transmit a return signal to the source device indicating successful receipt or lack thereof of the transmission during a return period forming part of an inter-frame period after the transmission.

Abstract: There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. The central coordinator is configurable to transmit a beacon at an interval based on a phase of a powerline cycle. The interval of the beacon can be substantially equal to two periods of the powerline cycle. The interval of the beacon includes a reserved region including a persistent allocation region and a non-persistent allocation region. The beacon also includes a broadcast message including a persistent schedule and a non-persistent schedule. The persistent schedule is valid for a current beacon period and a number of subsequent beacon periods as indicated by the beacon, while the non-persistent schedule is valid for a single beacon period. The persistent allocation region and the non-persistent allocation region are determined based on the persistent schedule and the non-persistent schedule, respectively.

Abstract: Method for transmitting and receiving signals over at least one channel between at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, the channel comprising at least one group of sub-channels, the group comprising at least one sub-channel, including the procedures of estimating at least one line characteristic of the channel and selecting a transmission scheme for each group of the at least one group of sub-channels according to the estimated line characteristic, wherein the transmission scheme is selected between a single spatial stream transmission scheme and a multiple spatial stream transmission scheme.

Abstract: A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, the slots representing opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device on a network, transmitting an expected duration indication in each slot associated with the network node as per the schedule, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with the expected duration for each transmission. A method for virtual carrier sensing includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing opportunities initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, listening for transmissions by other network nodes according to the schedule, the transmissions indicating an expected length of a current transmission, adjusting the schedule in accordance with the indicating of a data transmission, and ignoring any subsequent transmissions until a next scheduled transmission start slot in accordance with the adjusted schedule.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing reserved and/or nonreserved opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, the reserved opportunities associated with specific network devices, and the non-reserved opportunities available for non-reserved use by any network device on the network, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with successful transmissions by other network nodes. Another method includes generating a schedule of transmission start slots on a master node, where the slots represent reserved and/or nonreserved transmission initiation opportunities for the initiation of data transmission by at least one of a plurality of network devices in a network, the reserved opportunities being associated with specific network nodes, and the nonreserved opportunities being available for nonreserved use by any the network devices on the network, and distributing the schedule to the network devices.

Abstract: A network device includes a HomePNA modem and means for synchronizing its clock with clocks of other HomePNA modems in the network in order to communicate at a higher frequency band. In one embodiment, the synchronization is with pilot signals. In another, it is by correcting for clock differences. The upconversions may be via oversampling or via analog mixing. The downconversions may be via subsampling or via analog demixing.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, asynchronous network nodes and synchronous network nodes coexist on a shared media network.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for communicating between stations in a network is presented. The method includes providing repeated beacon transmissions from a coordinator station for coordinating transmissions among the stations; transmitting a signal from a first station and receiving the signal at a second station; and performing one or both of: generating the signal based on a local clock at the first station and time adjustment information in a beacon transmission received by the first station, and sampling the signal at sample times based on a local clock at the second station and time adjustment information in a beacon transmission received by the second station.

Abstract: A digital subscriber line communication system (DCLCS) provides voice and data services to a subscriber premises within a building and to high speed data communication devices in the subscriber premises using in-building wiring and to-building wiring without having high speed communication equipment inside the subscriber premises.

Abstract: Provided is a frame structure for filtered OFDM signaling, wherein once every frame a central controller passes redundant broadcast data for a short time (e.g. 16 symbol times) over all frequencies in use. This broadcast, called a beacon, may carry control information, frame structure information, and other data. The rest of the frame is divided into other assignments, including broadband redundantly coded channels for broadcast, ALOHA contention access, or point-to-point transmissions, and including traffic channels that may use only some of the assigned frequencies intended primarily for point-to-point access. This allows a mix of TDMA and FDMA point-to-point and broadband access. This system may be controlled by a central coordinator, which issues reservations. This system allows devices on a frequency-selective channel to communicate with scheduled operations.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for communicating between stations in a network are presented. The method includes providing repeated beacon transmissions from a coordinator station for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations; transmitting from a first station to a second station during a time slot assigned to the first station by at least one of the beacon transmissions; and transmitting from the first station information that grants permission to the second station to transmit during at least a portion of a time slot assigned to the first station.

Abstract: A network device includes a scheduler and a transmitter. The scheduler creates a media access plan (MAP) that has overlapping transmission opportunities and the transmitter transmits the MAP. Another network device includes a carrier sensor and a transmitter. The carrier sensor senses the availability of a network medium for transmission and the transmitter transmits data of a service during an allotted overlapping transmission opportunity if the carrier sensor indicates that the network medium is available. In another embodiment, the network device includes a unit which receives QoS parameters of at least one transmitted service from a QoS parameter determiner and a scheduler. The scheduler creates a MAP for a plurality of services to be transmitted, the scheduler defining the transmission opportunities based on their QoS parameters as received from either the parameter unit or applications providing the services.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for communicating between stations in a network are presented. The method includes providing repeated beacon transmissions from a coordinator station for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations; transmitting from a first station to a second station during a time slot assigned to the first station by at least one of the beacon transmissions; and transmitting from the first station information that grants permission to the second station to transmit during at least a portion of a time slot assigned to the first station.

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for operating in a network in which stations communicate over a shared medium are presented. The shared medium has at least one varying channel characteristic that varies approximately periodically. The method includes providing repeated beacon transmissions from a coordinator station for coordinating transmissions among a plurality of the stations, wherein at least some beacon transmissions are synchronized to the varying channel characteristic; and transmitting from a first station to at least one receiving station during a time slot determined based on at least one of the beacon transmissions received by the first station from the coordinator station.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, asynchronous network nodes and synchronous network nodes coexist on a shared media network.

Abstract: A network device includes a HomePNA modem and means for synchronizing its clock with clocks of other HomePNA modems in the network in order to communicate at a higher frequency band. In one embodiment, the synchronization is with pilot signals. In another, it is by correcting for clock differences. The upconversions may be via oversampling or via analog mixing. The downconversions may be via subsampling or via analog demixing.

Abstract: A method includes providing transmission opportunity synchronization information from a transmitting network device to other network devices attempting to follow the same transmission opportunities schedule as the transmitting network device. A network device includes a transceiver to transmit and receive transmission opportunity synchronization information, and a unit to utilize transmission opportunity synchronization information received from another network device to adhere to the same transmission opportunity schedule as the other network device.

Abstract: A hybrid network includes telephone and non-telephone network media. The communication devices communicate along the hybrid network according to a media access plan. The non-telephone communication devices do not have collision detection although the telephone communication devices do. The non-telephone communication devices have higher power and sensitivity levels than the telephone communication devices. In some embodiments, the media access plan includes a registration timeslot for the non-telephone communication devices.

Abstract: A method for conveying over telephone lines digitized voice signals simultaneously with digital data signals by means of a communication system, having a transmitter having a discrete multi-tone unit yielding a plurality of carriers of different frequency, several of which are assigned to the voice signals and others to the data signals. The carriers for transmitting voice are selected on the basis of their signal-to-noise ratio characteristics, which carriers can be reallocated dynamically to data transmission. A first tone ordering circuit assigns data streams to data carriers, and a second tone ordering circuit assigns voice streams to voice carriers. Each carrier is modulated by QAM modulation, the data carriers by a sequence of QAM symbols representing data and the voice carriers by a sequence of QAM symbols representing voice. QAM modulation is carried out by a first constellation encoder that modulates the data carriers and a second constellation encoder that modulates the voice carriers.

Abstract: A communication system includes a plurality of subscribers having a telephone set and different types of home modems coupled using twisted pairs to a local server that includes a plurality of downstream repeaters, a central office coupled to a local server using twisted pair subscriber lines. The central office includes a telephone switch that provides telephone service to the subscribers and a concentrator that connects a plurality of upstream repeaters with a number of office modems that provide data service to the subscriber. A communication system uses CAP or DMT line signals with time division. The line signal transmits with different time framing. Every subscriber line can work in one of three operation modes Asymmetrical mode, Half-Asymmetrical mode, and Symmetrical mode.