Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses and methods for providing communication in multiple frequencies in a multiband Ethernet over Coax (EoC) system. An exemplary apparatus comprises a transceiver for transmitting or receiving a first data packet on a first channel associated with a first frequency, and a transmitter for transmitting a second data packet on at least one second channel associated with at least one second frequency.

Abstract: A powerline communication (PLC) device can be configured to execute functionality for zero cross sampling and detection. When the PLC device is directly coupled to a high-voltage PLC network, the PLC device can comprise printed safety capacitors in series with a high-voltage input AC powerline signal to safely couple the high-voltage AC powerline signal to the low-voltage processing circuit. The PLC device can also comprise an ADC to sample a scaled AC powerline signal and to obtain zero cross information. When the PLC device is part of an embedded PLC application, dynamic loading can affect the integrity of a low voltage zero cross signal that is used to extract zero cross information. After digitizing the zero cross signal, the PLC device can execute functionality to minimize/eliminate voltage drops caused by dynamic loading and obtain the zero cross information.

Abstract: Described herein are apparatuses and methods for providing communication in multiple frequencies in a multiband Ethernet over Coax (EoC) system. An exemplary apparatus comprises a transceiver for transmitting or receiving a first data packet on a first channel associated with a first frequency, and a transmitter for transmitting a second data packet on at least one second channel associated with at least one second frequency.

Abstract: A first network device determines whether a first reference code included in at least a first transmission on a communication channel is associated with a code configured in the first network device. The communication channel is shared among a plurality of communication networks and the first reference code is associated with a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks. The first network device joins the first communication network associated with the first reference code in response to determining the first reference code is associated with the code configured in the first network device. The first network device communicates with a second network device in the first communication network using the code configured in the first network device.

Abstract: A powerline communication diversity coupling mechanism may implement a transformer coupling unit. The transformer coupling unit can receive a communication signal to be coupled to a plurality of powerline communication channels for transmission in a powerline communication network. The transformer coupling unit can split the communication signal into a plurality of communication signals for transmission. The transformer coupling unit can couple each of the plurality of the communication signals to a corresponding one of a plurality of the powerline communication channels for transmission in the powerline communication network. Also, the transformer coupling unit can receive a plurality of communication signals on each of a plurality of powerline communication channels. The transformer coupling unit can combine the plurality of the communication signals into a communication signal.

Abstract: A powerline communication (PLC) power supply and modem interface can be implemented using a power supply processing unit coupled with a PLC modem unit. The power supply processing unit generates a composite PLC signal comprising a PLC signal and a DC power signal modulated with a zero cross signal (all determined from an AC powerline signal). High-powered components of the PLC modem unit can cause signal distortion in the zero cross signal component of the composite PLC signal making it difficult to extract zero cross information. An error correction unit can be implemented at the PLC modem unit to minimize the signal distortion and generate a zero cross signal with little or no error. The PLC modem unit also extracts the PLC signal and the DC power signal from the composite PLC signal, and processes the PLC signal using the zero cross information extracted from the corrected zero cross signal.

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 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 powerline communication (PLC) device can be configured to execute functionality for zero cross sampling and detection. When the PLC device is directly coupled to a high-voltage PLC network, the PLC device can comprise printed safety capacitors in series with a high-voltage input AC powerline signal to safely couple the high-voltage AC powerline signal to the low-voltage processing circuit. The PLC device can also comprise an ADC to sample a scaled AC powerline signal and to obtain zero cross information. When the PLC device is part of an embedded PLC application, dynamic loading can affect the integrity of a low voltage zero cross signal that is used to extract zero cross information. After digitizing the zero cross signal, the PLC device can execute functionality to minimize/eliminate voltage drops caused by dynamic loading and obtain the zero cross information.

Abstract: A powerline communication (PLC) power supply and modem interface can be implemented using a power supply processing unit coupled with a PLC modem unit. The power supply processing unit generates a composite PLC signal comprising a PLC signal and a DC power signal modulated with a zero cross signal (all determined from an AC powerline signal). High-powered components of the PLC modem unit can cause signal distortion in the zero cross signal component of the composite PLC signal making it difficult to extract zero cross information. An error correction unit can be implemented at the PLC modem unit to minimize the signal distortion and generate a zero cross signal with little or no error. The PLC modem unit also extracts the PLC signal and the DC power signal from the composite PLC signal, and processes the PLC signal using the zero cross information extracted from the corrected zero cross signal.

Abstract: A first network device determines whether a first reference code included in at least a first transmission on a communication channel is associated with a code configured in the first network device. The communication channel is shared among a plurality of communication networks and the first reference code is associated with a first communication network of the plurality of communication networks. The first network device joins the first communication network associated with the first reference code in response to determining the first reference code is associated with the code configured in the first network device. The first network device communicates with a second network device in the first communication network using the code configured in the first network device.

Abstract: A powerline communication diversity coupling mechanism may implement a transformer coupling unit. The transformer coupling unit can receive a communication signal to be coupled to a plurality of powerline communication channels for transmission in a powerline communication network. The transformer coupling unit can split the communication signal into a plurality of communication signals for transmission. The transformer coupling unit can couple each of the plurality of the communication signals to a corresponding one of a plurality of the powerline communication channels for transmission in the powerline communication network. Also, the transformer coupling unit can receive a plurality of communication signals on each of a plurality of powerline communication channels. The transformer coupling unit can combine the plurality of the communication signals into a communication signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring a station coupled to a communication medium. Received signal powers at the station of signals transmitted from a plurality of other stations coupled to the communication medium are measured. A transmit power level of the station, used for determining powers of signals transmitted from the station, is determined based at least in part upon the received signal powers. A detection threshold of the station, used for determining which received signals to accept for further processing and which received signals to ignore, is determined based at least in part upon the received signal powers.

Abstract: A method for communicating over a coaxial cable network is described. The method includes identifying at least one port in the coaxial cable network that provides high mutual isolation among nodes of the coaxial cable network when the port is terminated with an impedance that matches a characteristic impedance of coaxial cable in the coaxial cable network. The method also includes terminating the identified port with an impedance that is substantially mismatched with the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable, and transmitting a signal from a first node in the network to a second node in the network.

Abstract: A method for communicating over a coaxial cable network is described. The method includes identifying at least one port in the coaxial cable network that provides high mutual isolation among nodes of the coaxial cable network when the port is terminated with an impedance that matches a characteristic impedance of coaxial cable in the coaxial cable network. The method also includes terminating the identified port with an impedance that is substantially mismatched with the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable, and transmitting a signal from a first node in the network to a second node in the network.

Abstract: A method for communicating over a coaxial cable network is described. The method includes identifying at least one port in the coaxial cable network that provides high mutual isolation among nodes of the coaxial cable network when the port is terminated with an impedance that matches a characteristic impedance of coaxial cable in the coaxial cable network. The method also includes terminating the identified port with an impedance that is substantially mismatched with the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable, and transmitting a signal from a first node in the network to a second node in the network.

Abstract: Coupling circuitry implemented with passive components is added to a conventional power supply to enable communications access to a power-line network by a device designed for power-line communications (“PLC device”), in order to achieve certain benefits including minimizing costs.