Abstract: A network device may include a plug that couples with a socket to couple the network device to a PLC network. A position of the plug may be interchanged when the plug is coupled with the socket. In one example, the network device may determine a coupling orientation of the plug that indicates the position of the plug with respect to the socket. The plug includes a first plug terminal, a second plug terminal, a first ground plug terminal, and a second ground plug terminal. The network device may select a signal polarity for the plug based, at least in part, on the coupling orientation. The signal polarity indicates over which of the plug terminals data is to be transmitted for communication over the PLC network.

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 method includes determining that a first station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in a network. The method includes transmitting, from the first station to a second station over the shared medium during the first time period, wherein stations other than the first station and the second station refrain from transmitting over the shared medium during the first time period. The method includes receiving, from the second station, a request message to allow the second station to transmit during the first time period and a requested amount of time to transmit. The method includes, in response to allowing the second station to transmit during the first time period, determining an authorized amount of time for the second station to transmit during the first time period, and transmitting an authorization message for the second station to transmit and the authorized amount of time.

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 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 for transmitting data from within a wired communication system is disclosed. A first network-enabled device can select one of a plurality of communication mediums for transmitting the data stream to the second device and transmit the data stream to the second device using the selected communication medium. The first device determines that the transmission of the data stream using the selected communication medium is being interfered with by transmission of other data from the first device to a third device on another of the plurality of communication mediums. In response to determining that the transmission of the data stream to the second device on the selected communication medium is being interfered with by the transmission of the other data to the third device using the other communication medium, the first device turns off the transmission of the other data to the third device on the other communication medium.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a first device via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions, wherein a code rate of multiple code rates is associated with each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions. The method includes determining, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate. The method also includes setting a code rate for the channel for communication from a second device to the first device via the communication medium, to the code rate of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate.

Abstract: Power save proxy functionality can be implemented to enable power save devices to switch to a power save mode and still receive communications from legacy communication devices. A first communication device determines that a second communication device is in a power save mode. The first communication device designates itself as a power save proxy for the second communication device that is in the power save mode. In response to detecting packets that are transmitted from a legacy communication device to the second communication device, the first communication device transmits a control message to the second communication device to request the second communication device to exit the power save mode, transmits a hold control message to the legacy communication device to request the legacy communication device to temporarily stop transmitting packets to the second communication device, or stores the packets intended for the second communication device.

Abstract: Communicating among stations in a network includes, from each of multiple stations in the network, transmitting information indicating which other stations from which that station is able to reliably receive transmissions. A schedule for communicating among the stations is determined based on the information from the stations and transmitting the schedule over the network. The schedule includes a plurality of time slots during which respective contention groups of stations are assigned to communicate using a contention-based protocol.

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 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 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 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: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a receiver of a first device via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions. Each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions has a guard interval of multiple guard intervals, wherein the multiple guard intervals have different lengths. The method includes determining, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate. The method includes setting a length of an adjusted guard interval for the channel for data communication from a transmitter of a second device to the receiver of the first device via the communication medium, to a length of the guard interval for the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data from within a wired communication system is disclosed. A first network-enabled device can select one of a plurality of communication mediums for transmitting the data stream to the second device and transmit the data stream to the second device using the selected communication medium. The first device determines that the transmission of the data stream using the selected communication medium is being interfered with by transmission of other data from the first device to a third device on another of the plurality of communication mediums. In response to determining that the transmission of the data stream to the second device on the selected communication medium is being interfered with by the transmission of the other data to the third device using the other communication medium, the first device turns off the transmission of the other data to the third device on the other communication medium.

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: 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 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 method includes determining a signal strength value for a first received signal received from a first station in a first network. The first received signal is received in the first network through a shared communication medium that is shared with a second network. The method includes receiving an indicator of a signal strength value determined for a second received signal from a second station in the second network. Based on the signal strength value for the first received signal and based on the indicator of the signal strength value determined for the second received signal, a detection threshold is selected such that, in response to a third received signal having a signal strength in excess of the detection threshold, the third received signal is processed according to a protocol of the first network and is not processed according to a protocol of the second network.

Abstract: Rate adaptation in network communications can be determined, at least in part, by bit error rates through network communication channels. Bit error rates can provide an indication of channel conditions and can guide selection of data rate settings by network devices. Relatively good channel conditions can support relatively higher data rates while communication channels with relatively more noise and/or interference can support relatively lower data rates. Transmitted data can be coded with Forward Error Correction codes that can allow determination of bit error rates resulting from transmission. In one embodiment, bit error rates can guide carrier selection when data is transmitted with groups of two or more carriers such as with orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation.