Abstract: A network system comprising a first network element and a second network element. The first network element is programmed to provide the step of first, communicating to the second network element a plurality of configuration parameter sets. Each configuration parameter set corresponds to a respective frame fragment and comprises a parameter value that differs in value from the parameter value in another configuration parameter set in the plurality of configuration parameter sets. The first network element also is programmed to provide the step of second, communicating a frame, to the second network element, in a plurality of frame fragments, wherein each frame fragment in the plurality of frame fragments is communicated according to a respective parameter value in the plurality of configuration parameter sets.

Abstract: A method of encoding a first bit and a second bit for transmission on a transmission band is provided. The method includes: mapping, via a mapping component, the first bit and the second bit into a first symbol; mapping, via the mapping component, the first bit and the second bit into a second symbol; dividing, via a dividing component, the transmission band into subcarriers; allocating, via an allocating component, the first symbol to a first subcarrier of the subcarriers; allocating, via the allocating component, the second symbol to a second subcarrier of the subcarriers; and differentially encoding, via a differential encoder, the first symbol and the second symbol.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide multiple cyclic prefix lengths for either both the data-payload and frame control header or only the data payload. Frame control header (FCH) and data symbols have an associated cyclic prefix. A table is transmitted in the FCH symbols, which includes a cyclic prefix field to identify the cyclic prefix length used in the data payload. A receiver may know the cyclic prefix length used in the FCH symbols in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the receiver does not know the FCH cyclic prefix length and, therefore, attempts to decode the FCH symbols using different possible cyclic prefix lengths until the FCH symbols are successfully decoded.

Abstract: A photovoltaic system with an inverter, at least one solar panel for providing electrical power, and electrical wiring for coupling electrical power from the at least one solar panel to the inverter. Also included is a transmitter for transmitting a messaging protocol along the electrical wiring, where the protocol includes a multibit wireline signal. Also included is circuitry for selectively connecting the electrical power from the at least one solar panel along the electrical wiring to the inverter in response to the messaging protocol.

Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver includes detection logic, offset generation logic, tone erasure logic, and correction generation logic. The detection logic is configured to detect a signal containing a block of samples that includes a narrowband interferer from a communication channel. The offset generation logic is configured to align a frequency of the narrowband interferer to a center of a subcarrier frequency of the communication channel to produce an offset signal thereby introducing inter-carrier interference (ICI). The tone erasure logic is configured to remove the subcarrier frequency from the offset signal to produce an interferer erased offset signal. The correction generation logic is configured to remove the ICI to produce an interferer erased signal.

Abstract: A method of powerline communications in a powerline communications (PLC) network including a first node and at least a second node. The first node transmits a data frame to the second node over a PLC channel. The second node has a data buffer for storing received information. The second node runs a flow control algorithm which determines a current congestion condition or a projected congestion condition of the data buffer based on at least one congestion parameter. The current congestion condition and projected congestion condition include nearly congested and fully congested. When the current or projected congestion condition is either nearly congested or fully congested, the second node transmits a BUSY including frame over the PLC channel to at least the first node. The first node defers transmitting of any frames to the second node for a congestion clearing wait time.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. The method includes forming a data frame having plural orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) symbols. A first set of preamble subcarriers is allocated to at least one of the OFDM symbols. A second set of data subcarriers is allocated to said at least one of the OFDM symbols.

Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver includes detection logic, offset generation logic, tone erasure logic, and correction generation logic. The detection logic is configured to detect a signal containing a block of samples that includes a narrowband interferer from a communication channel. The offset generation logic is configured to align a frequency of the narrowband interferer to a center of a subcarrier frequency of the communication channel to produce an offset signal thereby introducing inter-carrier interference (ICI). The tone erasure logic is configured to remove the subcarrier frequency from the offset signal to produce an interferer erased offset signal. The correction generation logic is configured to remove the ICI to produce an interferer erased signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic communication circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes an ultrasonic transmitter arranged to transmit a training signal having a frequency to a remote transceiver over an ultrasonic communication channel. An ultrasonic receiver is arranged to receive information from the remote transceiver in response to the training signal. The ultrasonic transmitter is arranged to transmit a data signal to the remote transceiver. The data signal has a duty cycle determined by the information.

Abstract: A method of encoding a first bit and a second bit for transmission on a transmission band is provided. The method includes: mapping, via a mapping component, the first bit and the second bit into a first symbol; mapping, via the mapping component, the first bit and the second bit into a second symbol; dividing, via a dividing component, the transmission band into subcarriers; allocating, via an allocating component, the first symbol to a first subcarrier of the subcarriers; allocating, via the allocating component, the second symbol to a second subcarrier of the subcarriers; and differentially encoding, via a differential encoder, the first symbol and the second symbol.

Abstract: A method of powerline unications in a powerline communications (PLC) network including a first node and at least a second node. The first node transmits a data frame to the second node over a PLC channel. The second node has a data buffer for storing received information. The second node runs a flow control algorithm which determines a current congestion condition or a projected congestion condition of the data buffer based on at least one congestion parameter. The current congestion condition and projected congestion condition include nearly congested and fully congested. When the current or projected congestion condition is either nearly congested or fully congested, the second node transmits a BUSY including frame over the PLC channel to at least the first node. The first node defers transmitting of any frames to the second node for a congestion clearing wait time.

Abstract: A band of interest is divided into band segments. A scan frame is sent by a transmitter at a transmitting PLC node across each band segment. A receiver at a receiving node scans the band segments, listening for the scan frame. Upon detecting a scan frame, the receiving node measures the signal quality of each OFDM subcarrier modulated with symbols from the scan frame. The subcarrier signal quality values are stored in a table. Upon completion of the scan process, the table contains a signal quality value for each subcarrier within the band of interest. The table is then analyzed to find an operating band consisting of subcarriers with a highest average signal quality or a band that results in greater than a pre-determined minimum signal quality. The invented methods and embodiments may operate periodically to readjust the operating band configuration in the presence of electromagnetic interference including time-variant interference.

Abstract: A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. The method includes forming a data frame having plural orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) symbols. A first set of preamble subcarriers is allocated to at least one of the OFDM symbols. A second set of data subcarriers is allocated to said at least one of the OFDM symbols.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a device and a frame structure for powerline communications. The header may comprise two parts that are separately encoded. A common header segment is encoded alone, and an embedded header segment is encoded with payload data.

Abstract: In a disclosed embodiment, a method for communication in a network includes receiving, at a first device registered to the network, a physical layer (PHY) frame that includes a PHY header and a MAC header. The PHY frame may further include a MAC payload. The PHY header includes a destination address field. The method further includes comparing a network address of the first device to the destination address field to determine whether the destination address field stores a value having the same number of bits as the network address. When the comparison indicates that the value stored by the destination address field does not have the same number of bits as the network address, the method skips decoding the MAC header and the MAC payload.

Abstract: Systems and methods for routing protocols for power line communications (PLC) are described. In some embodiments, a method performed by a PLC device, such as a PLC meter, may include selecting one or more transmit sub-bands on which to transmit frames, where the transmit sub-bands comprise groups of carrier frequencies. The PLC device then generates a frame comprising a tone map that indicates which transmit sub-bands are used to carry data for the frame. The tone map using two bits per transmit sub-band to indicate a status of each transmit sub-band. The PLC device then transmits the frame on the selected transmit sub-bands. A resolution bit and a mode bit may be used to provide additional information about the transmit sub-bands, such as an amount of power adjustment that has been applied to carrier frequencies and whether dummy bits are transmitted on unused carrier frequencies.

Abstract: A method of encoding a plurality of data signals is disclosed. The method includes selecting a set of M ultrasonic frequencies, wherein each of the M ultrasonic frequencies differs from an adjacent frequency by at least a first frequency spacing, and wherein M is a positive integer. An encoder receives the plurality of data signals. Each of the plurality of data signals is encoded by a respective set of Q of the M ultrasonic frequencies, wherein Q is a positive integer less than M. A minimum frequency separation between any pair of the Q ultrasonic frequencies of any respective set is greater than the first frequency spacing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic communication circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes an ultrasonic transmitter arranged to transmit a training signal having a frequency to a remote transceiver over an ultrasonic communication channel. An ultrasonic receiver is arranged to receive information from the remote transceiver in response to the training signal. The ultrasonic transmitter is arranged to transmit a data signal to the remote transceiver. The data signal has a duty cycle determined by the information.

Abstract: A physical layer (PHY) data frame for use in conjunction with processor in a node, processor coupled to a program memory for storing a sequence of operating instructions. The frame has a preamble, PHY header, a MAC header and a MAC payload. The PHY header includes a destination address field having a destination address therein. The destination address is used by the processor to determine match with the node address.