Abstract: Described is a frame format for a protocol data unit (PDU). The frame format may support enhanced features in a communication network. The first frame format is based at least in part on a second frame format that is predefined by a communication protocol. The first frame format may support enhanced features for those devices that know the first frame format and which are capable of interpreting the first frame format. Legacy devices may interpret the PDU as following the second frame format according to the communication protocol. The first frame format may be created by overloading some fields in the second frame format. The first frame format may match parts of the second frame format that are used for contention timing (or other medium synchronization). In one example, the PDU may include an instruction creating a media idle measurement period.

Abstract: A response interframe space (RIFS) time period may be adapted in a communication system. The RIFS time period may be determined based, at least in part, on a processing time used by a receiving device to process a received physical layer transmission from a transmitting device. The RIFS may be optimized in consideration of channel conditions for a particular communications channel, capabilities of a receiving device, and/or characteristics of a particular physical layer transmission. For example, the RIFS may be dependent on characteristics of a final transmission symbol used to transmit a physical layer transmission. The RIFS may depend on a processing time associated with decoding forward error correction (FEC) encoded blocks that end in the final transmission symbol. The RIFS may depend on a quantity of decoding iterations in a communication system that uses iterative decoding of FEC encoded blocks.

Abstract: Transmission power of a signal may be lowered in response to detecting a broadcast radio transmission. A communication device may communicate via a powerline communication (PLC) medium by transmitting, via the PLC medium, a signal having at least a first carrier frequency. The communication device may detect a broadcast radio transmission. The communication device may lower a transmission power setting associated with the first carrier frequency from a first power level to a second power level that is lower than the first power level in response to detecting the broadcast radio transmission. The communication device may transmit, via the PLC medium, the signal having at least the first carrier frequency at the second power level during a time period associated with the broadcast radio transmission.

Abstract: A power spectral density (PSD) shape may be modified based upon the transmitter power setting of a transmitter. The power associated with notched frequencies and adjacent frequencies may be adjusted responsive to a change in transmitter power setting. As a result of adjusting the power for the notched frequencies and adjacent frequencies when operating at the different transmitter power setting, the performance of the transmission system is improved. The PSD shape may be considered dynamic, being modified responsive to a change in transmitter power setting by adjusting power associated with notches in the PSD shape based on the transmitter power setting and PSD constraint.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for receivers of transmit chains of a MIMO system to receive transmit power information and to compute channel characteristics of the transmit chains to enable dynamic adjustment of the transmit power on the transmit chain to optimize an overall data throughput while meeting a maximum emission limit, such as a regulatory limit on emitted power. The transmit power and the data rate on the transmit chains may be independently controlled. The receiver of the MIMO system may determine the new transmit power for the transmit chains from the computed channel characteristics and the current transmit power of the transmit chains. Alternatively, the receiver may transmit the computed channel characteristics of the transmit chains to the transmitter for the transmitter to determine the new transmit power for the transmit chains. The transmitter may use the new transmit power to transmit new data on the transmit chains.

Abstract: A tone map includes physical layer transmission properties for a multi-carrier communications channel. The physical layer transmission properties indicate modulation mode and transmission power to be used on one or more frequencies (i.e. “tones”). The transmission power may be reduced on a first frequency having a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) so that performance will improve for a second frequency having a lower SNR. Transmission power may be reduced on a first frequency having an unusably low SNR so that performance will improve on a second frequency. A tone map message is used to efficiently communicate modulation and transmission power adjustments on a per-carrier basis.

Abstract: A transmitting device may determine a physical layer transmission properties based upon an amount of data to transmit via a communications channel. The physical layer transmission properties may comprise a derated tone map that has a lower physical layer transmission throughput capability than an original tone map. An indication regarding the derated tone map may be included in a first message, a portion of a physical layer framing protocol, a physical layer control transmission (such as a frame control symbol), or other transmissions such that the receiving device can derive the derated tone map without significant added overhead.

Abstract: A transmitting device may control digital-to-analog converter (DAC) illumination to optimize signal to noise ratio of a transmission signal. DAC illumination may be adjusted based, at least in part, on analog gain and estimated total transmit power of a particular transmission signal. For each destination, total transmit power may be estimated based on tone map, amplitude map, back-off settings, or other characteristics. The estimated total transmit power is used to determine an appropriate analog gain. Once analog gain and total transmit power are known, fine control of SNR may be achieved by adjusting power level in the digital domain. A digital power control setting is used to scale the amplitude of the digital baseband signal prior to DAC operation. The DAC illumination of the digital baseband signal allows the DAC to operate at an optimized power level within the digital range of the DAC.

Abstract: A response interframe space (RIFS) time period may be adapted in a communication system. The RIFS time period may be determined based, at least in part, on a processing time used by a receiving device to process a received physical layer transmission from a transmitting device. The RIFS may be optimized in consideration of channel conditions for a particular communications channel, capabilities of a receiving device, and/or characteristics of a particular physical layer transmission. For example, the RIFS may be dependent on characteristics of a final transmission symbol used to transmit a physical layer transmission. The RIFS may depend on a processing time associated with decoding forward error correction (FEC) encoded blocks that end in the final transmission symbol. The RIFS may depend on a quantity of decoding iterations in a communication system that uses iterative decoding of FEC encoded blocks.

Abstract: A network device may be configured to iteratively modify an initial tone map for each communication region of a powerline cycle to minimize the time before application data can be transmitted. A first network device estimates an initial tone map for each communication region based, at least in part, on sounding messages received from a second network device. The first network device determines whether to estimate a modified tone map for the first communication region based on at least one performance measurement associated with a data packet generated using the initial tone map for the first communication region. If so, the second network device retransmits the sounding messages in the first communication region that will be used to modify the initial tone map for the first communication region, and the second network device continues to transmit the data packets using the initial tone maps in the remaining communication regions.

Abstract: A transmission frame is communicated to cause a media idle measurement period on a contention based communication media. The media idle measurement period (i.e., “quiet period”) provides a period of inactivity on the communications medium that may be used to detect for the presence of foreign signals such as radio broadcast interference, noise, or other signals, or may be used for calibration of circuitry coupled to the communications medium. Idle measurement periods may be caused regularly (e.g., periodically). The transmission frame may include an explicit instruction for the media idle measurement period or may cause the media idle measurement period by simulating a collision on the communications media.

Abstract: This disclosure provides several mechanisms for adapting transmit power spectral density (PSD). A communications device may adapt the power spectrum utilized at the transmitter based, at least in part, on the channel conditions or PSD constraints associated with the communications medium between the transmitter and a receiver device. Additionally, the transmit PSD may be adapted based, at least in part, on a total power capability associated with a transmitter. Power is allocated to improve throughput and utilization of the communications channel. A transmission profile may be selected based, at least in part, on the notch depth. The transmission profile may be associated with symbol timing parameters. The communications device may maintain a plurality of selectable pulse shapes that are optimized for different notch depths.

Abstract: A first network device detects at least a first orthogonal code included in a preamble of a network packet received at the first network device from a second network device in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication network. The first network device determines whether the first orthogonal code included in the preamble is associated with an assigned orthogonal code for the first network device. The assigned orthogonal code for the first network device is orthogonal to other assigned orthogonal codes for other network devices in the OFDM communication network. An operational mode of the first network device is changed from a sleep mode to an awake mode in response to determining the first orthogonal code is associated with the assigned orthogonal code for the first network device.

Abstract: A method includes determining a first Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) average for a first symbol set of at least one or more first symbols in one or more packets. The method includes determining a second SNR average for a second symbol set of at least one or more second symbols in the one or more packets. The method also includes determining a first difference between the first SNR average and the second SNR average. In response to determining that the first difference exceeds an SNR threshold, the method includes determining that a first channel event has occurred in the one or more packets at least within the first symbol set and the second symbol set and in response to determining that the first channel event has occurred, determining is to remain at the first data rate or at a second data rate that is higher than the first data rate.

Abstract: A transmitting device may control digital-to-analog converter (DAC) illumination to optimize signal to noise ratio of a transmission signal. DAC illumination may be adjusted based, at least in part, on analog gain and estimated total transmit power of a particular transmission signal. For each destination, total transmit power may be estimated based on tone map, amplitude map, back-off settings, or other characteristics. The estimated total transmit power is used to determine an appropriate analog gain. Once analog gain and total transmit power are known, fine control of SNR may be achieved by adjusting power level in the digital domain. A digital power control setting is used to scale the amplitude of the digital baseband signal prior to DAC operation. The DAC illumination of the digital baseband signal allows the DAC to operate at an optimized power level within the digital range of the DAC.

Abstract: A power spectral density (PSD) shape may be modified based upon the transmitter power setting of a transmitter. The power associated with notched frequencies and adjacent frequencies may be adjusted responsive to a change in transmitter power setting. As a result of adjusting the power for the notched frequencies and adjacent frequencies when operating at the different transmitter power setting, the performance of the transmission system is improved. The PSD shape may be considered dynamic, being modified responsive to a change in transmitter power setting by adjusting power associated with notches in the PSD shape based on the transmitter power setting and PSD constraint.

Abstract: A tone map includes physical layer transmission properties for a multi-carrier communications channel. The physical layer transmission properties indicate modulation mode and transmission power to be used on one or more frequencies (i.e. “tones”). The transmission power may be reduced on a first frequency having a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) so that performance will improve for a second frequency having a lower SNR. Transmission power may be reduced on a first frequency having an unusably low SNR so that performance will improve on a second frequency. A tone map message is used to efficiently communicate modulation and transmission power adjustments on a per-carrier basis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for receivers of transmit chains of a MIMO system to receive transmit power information and to compute channel characteristics of the transmit chains to enable dynamic adjustment of the transmit power on the transmit chain to optimize an overall data throughput while meeting a maximum emission limit, such as a regulatory limit on emitted power. The transmit power and the data rate on the transmit chains may be independently controlled. The receiver of the MIMO system may determine the new transmit power for the transmit chains from the computed channel characteristics and the current transmit power of the transmit chains. Alternatively, the receiver may transmit the computed channel characteristics of the transmit chains to the transmitter for the transmitter to determine the new transmit power for the transmit chains. The transmitter may use the new transmit power to transmit new data on the transmit chains.

Abstract: A transmission frame is communicated to cause a media idle measurement period on a contention based communication media. The media idle measurement period (i.e., “quiet period”) provides a period of inactivity on the communications medium that may be used to detect for the presence of foreign signals such as radio broadcast interference, noise, or other signals, or may be used for calibration of circuitry coupled to the communications medium. Idle measurement periods may be caused regularly (e.g., periodically). The transmission frame may include an explicit instruction for the media idle measurement period or may cause the media idle measurement period by simulating a collision on the communications media.

Abstract: A device may determine adapted physical layer transmission properties based upon characteristics of a packet stream to be transmitted via a communications channel. The physical layer transmission properties may comprise an adapted tone map that is associated with an aggressive physical layer throughput capability for UDP traffic, a conservative physical layer throughput capability for TCP traffic, or a dynamically adjusted physical layer throughput rate for mixed traffic. An indication regarding the adapted tone map may be included in a first message, a portion of a physical layer framing protocol, a physical layer control transmission (such as a frame control symbol), or other transmissions such that the receiving device can derive the adapted tone map without significant added overhead.