Abstract: A network device can be configured to dynamically adapt its current primary receiver coupling to channel conditions. For each of a plurality of transmitting network devices, the network device can determine a potential primary receiver coupling of the first network device for receiving communications from the transmitting network device based, at least in part, on a performance measurement associated with each of the plurality of communication channels between the network device and the transmitting device. The network device can select its current primary receiver coupling based, at least in part, on the potential primary receiver couplings determined for the plurality of transmitting network devices. In addition, the network device can also determine how to communicate with a receiving network device based, at least in part, on a preferred communication channel between the two network devices and a current primary receiver coupling of the receiving network device.

Abstract: A slotted message access protocol can be implemented for transmitting short packets. Each beacon period may be divided into multiple time slots. At least one time slot may be assigned to a network device per beacon period based, at least in part, on latency specifications of packets that the network device is configured to transmit. In one example, some of the unassigned time slots may be designated as contention-based time slots. Network devices may contend with each other to gain control of and transmit packets during a contention-based time slot based on the priority level of the packets to be transmitted. Network devices may also use an encryption key and an initialization vector for securely exchanging short packets. Furthermore, a repeater network device may be designated to retransmit a packet, received from an original transmitting network device, during a communication time slot assigned to the original transmitting network device.

Abstract: A first client may establish a power charging association with one of a plurality of service agents over a network. The first client transmits a first signal via a first attachment point of a powerline network, the first signal associated with requesting the power charging association. The first client broadcasts a sounding message via the first attachment point after transmitting the first signal, wherein the sounding message is receivable by one or more service agents including at least a first service agent of the powerline network. The first service agent received the sounding message with a lowest attenuation of the one or more service agents that received the sounding message. The power charging association is established between the first client and the first service agent.

Abstract: A client network device may associate with a service provider to receive a service. For example, a client network device may transmit a number of broadcast messages to one or more service providers. The number of broadcast messages may be determined based, at least in part, on a first communication parameter received from at least one of the service providers. The client network device may receive first attenuation information from a first service provider after transmitting the number of broadcast messages. The client network device may associate with the first service provider based, at least in part, on the first attenuation information. In one example, a vehicle can associate with a charging station in a charging facility to securely communicate with and receive electric power from the charging station.

Abstract: Channel reuse may be used so that multiple networks may communicate via a shared powerline communication (PLC) medium. In a PLC network that supports different transmission modes, channel reuse may be improved by determining signal performance metrics associated with the different transmission modes. A transmission mode may be selected to facilitate channel reuse of the PLC medium by the local network and neighbor network. A first device and a second device may belong to a local network that shares the PLC medium with a neighbor network. The transmission mode may be selected based on interference and signal measurements at one or more receivers of the second device. The transmission mode may be selected from a group comprising a 2-stream multi-input multi-output (MIMO) eigen-beamforming transmission mode, a 1-stream MIMO spot-beamforming transmission mode, and a 1-stream single-input-single-output (SISO) transmission mode.

Abstract: An adaptive filter bank can be implemented on a PLC device to dynamically adapt to variations in notching requirements and the performance of the PLC medium. The PLC device can apply filter coefficients to one or more filter elements of the adaptive filter bank to generate one or more notched subcarriers in the PLC band. A performance measurement of one or more subcarriers in the PLC band can be determined and evaluated against corresponding performance measurement thresholds. For a given notched subcarrier, if the performance measurement of the corresponding subcarriers is not in accordance with the performance measurement threshold, updated filter coefficients for the filter element configured to generate the notched subcarrier can be determined based, at least in part, on the performance measurement of the one or more subcarriers. The filter coefficients of the filter element can then be updated using the updated filter coefficients.

Abstract: A Response Interframe Space (RIFS) time period may be adapted in a communication system. The RIFS time period may be based, at least in part, on channel conditions (e.g., data rate) between a first device and a second device. The RIFS may be optimized in consideration of channel conditions for a particular communications channel and/or characteristics of a particular physical layer transmission. In one embodiment, the RIFS may be dependent on characteristics of a final modulation symbol in a physical layer transmission. The final modulation symbol may include more than one PHY blocks (PBs) or portions of PBs. The RIFS may depend on a number of PBs that end in the final modulation symbol.

Abstract: A network device may be configured to adapt beamforming parameters for a communication region of a powerline cycle in response to variations in communication channel conditions. A first network device can estimate initial beamforming parameters for each communication region based on sounding messages received from a second network device. The first network device can determine coarse beamforming parameters for each communication region based on data packets received from the second network device using the initial beamforming parameters. The first network device can determine a difference parameter for the first communication region based, at least in part, on a first initial beamforming parameter associated with the first communication region and a first coarse beamforming parameter associated with the first communication region.

Abstract: A method of operating in a network in which a plurality of stations communicate over a shared medium, comprising providing a physical layer (e.g., PHY) for handling physical communication over the shared medium; providing a high level layer (e.g., PAL) that receives data from the station and supplies high level data units (e.g., MSDUs) for transmission over the medium; providing a MAC layer that receives the high level data units from the high level layer and supplies low level data units (e.g., MPDUs) to the physical layer; at the MAC layer, encapsulating content from a plurality of the high level data units; dividing the encapsulated content into a plurality of pieces (e.g., segments) with each piece capable of being independently retransmitted; and supplying low level data units containing one or more of the plurality of pieces.

Abstract: A receiving station receives an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol via a shared medium, the OFDM symbol comprising a first set of frequency components modulated with preamble information and a second set of frequency components modulated with information. The receiving station processes sampled values of the received OFDM symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a first subset of the second set of frequency components. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components and the first subset of the second set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a second subset of the second set of frequency components.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for deferral based on basic service set identification (BSSID) information. According to certain aspects, a method for wireless communications is provided. The method generally includes receiving, on a shared access medium, a packet having at least one deferral-related parameter and deciding whether to defer transmission on the shared access medium based, at least in part, on the deferral-related parameter. Another method may generally include generating a packet comprising at least one deferral-related parameter to be used by another apparatus for deciding whether or not the other apparatus should defer transmitting on a shared access medium and providing the packet to the other apparatus.

Abstract: Network devices can be configured to implement adaptive power control functionality in a communication network. A power control requestor of a local communication network can calculate a link margin between a neighbor network device of a neighbor communication network and a local network device associated with a least preferred performance measurement. The power control requestor can transmit a power control message including the link margin to request the neighbor network device to vary the transmit power of the neighbor network device. In response to receiving a power control message, a power control responder can use a link margin indicated in the power control message to evaluate the feasibility of reducing the transmit power of the power control responder. The power control responder can transmit a power control response indicating whether it will vary the transmit power.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for communicating among stations in a network. A station in the network can determine costs between that station and a headend through a number of other stations. The station can select a low cost path from among the possible paths. Cost data from the determination can be transmitted from the station to other stations in the network for use in selecting low cost paths at those stations.

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 first powerline communication device, associated with a first powerline communication network, determines a plurality of time intervals in a beacon period of the first powerline communication network based, at least in part, on variations in levels of interference from a second powerline communication network which shares a powerline communication medium with the first powerline communication network. The first powerline communication device determines at least one channel adaptation parameter for each of the plurality of time intervals in the beacon period to compensate for effects of the variations in the levels of interference from the second powerline communication network. The first powerline communication device applies the at least one channel adaptation parameter corresponding to one or more of the plurality of time intervals in the beacon period when transmitting data via the powerline communication medium.

Abstract: Line cycle adaptation periods may have variable duration. A powerline cycle may be segmented into a plurality of line cycle adaptation periods having variable duration based upon signal-to-noise (SNR) characteristics measured at various times throughout the powerline cycle. The line cycle adaptation periods may include at least two periods with unequal durations. Each line cycle adaptation period may be associated with one or more tone maps defining physical layer transmission properties to be used by a second device for transmissions occurring during the line cycle adaptation period.

Abstract: Dynamic channel reuse in multi-access communication systems. A first station in a communication network may receive a transmission over a communication medium. The first station may generate a reuse determination based on information from the received transmission. The reuse determination may be usable with at least one other reuse determination to coordinate reuse of the communication medium.

Abstract: A method includes determining, at a first transmitter, whether to permit reuse of a first transmit opportunity (TXOP) associated with a message. The method further includes sending a portion of the message from the first transmitter to a first receiver. The portion of the message indicates whether reuse, by a reuse transmitter, of the first TXOP is permitted. When reuse of the first TXOP is permitted, the reuse transmitter is permitted to send a second message while the first transmitter sends a second portion of the message to the first receiver during the first TXOP.

Abstract: A method includes sending, from a first transmitter to a first receiver, a request to send (RTS) message associated with a first transmit opportunity (TXOP). The RTS message requests the first receiver to indicate whether reuse of the first TXOP is permitted. The method further includes receiving, at the first transmitter from the first receiver, a clear to send (CTS) message responsive to the RTS message.

Abstract: A network device can be configured to dynamically adapt its current primary receiver coupling to channel conditions. For each of a plurality of transmitting network devices, the network device can determine a potential primary receiver coupling of the first network device for receiving communications from the transmitting network device based, at least in part, on a performance measurement associated with each of the plurality of communication channels between the network device and the transmitting device. The network device can select its current primary receiver coupling based, at least in part, on the potential primary receiver couplings determined for the plurality of transmitting network devices. In addition, the network device can also determine how to communicate with a receiving network device based, at least in part, on a preferred communication channel between the two network devices and a current primary receiver coupling of the receiving network device.