Abstract: Network devices of a particular device class can implement a distributed bandwidth control (DBC) protocol to utilize resources of a communication network in accordance with a threshold amount of resources allocated for DBC device communication. A DBC device of a plurality of DBC devices can determine a transmission cost associated with a pending transmission and a total transmission cost associated with previous transmissions within a predetermined time interval associated with the plurality of DBC devices. If a sum of the transmission cost associated with the pending transmission and the total transmission cost associated with the one or more previous transmissions does not exceed a threshold transmission cost allocated for DBC device communication, the DBC device can initiate the pending transmission. Otherwise, the DBC device can delay the pending transmission.

Abstract: Network devices of a particular device class can implement a distributed bandwidth control (DBC) protocol to utilize resources of a communication network in accordance with a threshold amount of resources allocated for DBC device communication. A DBC device of a plurality of DBC devices can determine a transmission cost associated with a pending DBC transmission. The pending DBC transmission is initiated. A delay time period associated with the initiated pending DBC transmission can be calculated based, at least in part, on the transmission cost associated with the initiated DBC pending transmission and a threshold transmission cost associated with DBC device communications. Subsequent transmissions of the DBC device and all other DBC devices in the communication network can be delayed by at least the delay time period associated with the initiated pending DBC transmission of the DBC device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes multiple taps coupled to a power line segment. The apparatus also includes circuitry coupled to a charging station and coupled to the multiple taps, with the circuitry being configured to discriminate between communication signals propagating on a power line segment in the direction from the first end to a second end of the power line segment and communication signals propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the second end to the first end. The circuitry includes a signal processing unit in communication with each of the taps, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to control a phase for at least a portion of a signal for at least a first of the taps relative to a phase for a corresponding portion of the signal for at least a second of the taps.

Abstract: A repetitively pulsed beacon based mechanism prevents interference between wireless communication devices of users of a band wireless local area network WLAN, and wireless communication devices of ad hoc networks using the same ISM band. A beacon generator is installed in the vicinity of an access point of the WLAN infrastructure, and generates a wireless beacon in a portion of the ISM band that does not overlap that portion used by the WLAN. A beacon responsive radio control mechanism, installed in each ad hoc radio, monitors the beacon channel for the presence of the wireless beacon. In response to detecting the beacon, the radio control mechanism adjusts the operation of its ad hoc radio, to avoid simultaneous use of the same portion of the ISM band as the WLAN. In one example, the ad hoc radio is adjusted so that it transmits within a selected portion of the ISM band other than that used by the WLAN.