Abstract: Embodiments provide a communication device. A device comprises at least two dissimilar network technology subsystems, at least one subsystem of which is lower priority than at least another of the dissimilar subsystems. In some embodiments, a device is able to transmit a silencing frame during a transmission window within a lower priority technology network interval. A transceiver is able to calculate a transmission window to end by at least a duration of time to complete transmission of the silencing frame prior to the beginning of next immediate string of at least one higher priority network technology subsystem interval, and transmit a silencing frame during a lower priority technology network interval during the transmission window.

Abstract: In a disclosed embodiment, a power line communication (PLC) device sends an active channel scan request from a host layer to an adaptation layer. In response to the adaptation layer receiving the request, a MAC layer is instructed to broadcast a beacon request frame. The PLC device receives from each of one or more neighboring devices that respond to the beacon request frame a beacon frame including an address and a personal area network (PAN) identifier. A listing of PAN identifiers indicated by the beacon frames is provided to the host layer. The host layer selects a target network corresponding to a selected PAN identifier and selects one of the one or more neighboring devices associated with the selected PAN identifier as a target bootstrapping agent. The host layer instructs the adaptation layer to join the target network using the target bootstrapping agent.

Abstract: A BLE-Mesh device includes a controller, an RF driver for driving the transceiver adapted to be coupled to an antenna, and a counter. The controller implements an applications layer including BLE and Mesh Applications, and a BLE stack and a mesh stack. A redundant traffic suppression relaying algorithm is for waiting for a random time within a selected time window from W1 to a later W2 before attempting to transmit a first packet that has the first relay device's sender's source (SRC) address and a sequence (SEQ) number. If during the random time a packet with both the device's SRC address and the SEQ number is received, the counter is incremented from an initial count to a current count. After the random time elapses, the current count is compared to a Cthreshold value, and the first packet is transmitted only if the current count <the Cthreshold value.

Abstract: A method for pseudo channel hopping in a node of a wireless mesh network is provided that includes scanning each channel of a plurality of channels used for packet transmission by the node, wherein each channel is scanned for a scan dwell time associated with the channel, updating statistics for each channel based on packets received by the node during the scanning of the channel, and selecting a channel of the plurality of channels for scanning based on the statistics when the scan dwell time of a currently scanned channel ends.

Abstract: A BLE-Mesh device includes a controller coupled to a memory and to a transceiver adapted to be coupled to an antenna, wherein the controller implements an applications layer including BLE and Mesh applications, and a BLE stack and a mesh stack. The BLE-Mesh device has a switchable high-speed and low-speed mode and a speed switching algorithm for implementing a method of communications in BLE-mesh network. A broadcast ping is sent to neighborhood devices with a time to live (TTL)=1. A manufacturer's ID is analyzed to identify in a manufacturer's ID field in pongs received to determine a higher-speed capable device or a lower-speed device. A higher-speed data rate is utilized for mesh communications if a percentage of higher-speed capable devices is?a threshold percentage or a lower-speed data rate is utilized for the mesh communications if the percentage of higher-speed capable devices is<the threshold percentage.

Abstract: A method for pseudo channel hopping in a node of a wireless mesh network is provided that includes scanning each channel of a plurality of channels used for packet transmission by the node, wherein each channel is scanned for a scan dwell time associated with the channel, updating statistics for each channel based on packets received by the node during the scanning of the channel, and changing scan dwell times of the plurality of channels periodically based on the statistics.

Abstract: Transmission over a communication channel using carrier sense multiple access collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) may be performed by determining for each frame if the communication channel is busy after a backoff time proportional to a randomly generated number within a contention window (CW). When the channel is not busy, a frame of data may be transmitted. When the channel is busy, the device may periodically determine if the communication channel is busy after subsequent backoff times. The value of CW is adjusted for each subsequent backoff time using a fairness protocol, in which the value of CW is increased until the value of CW reaches a maximum CW value; and then the value of CW is held until a fairness number of backoff repetitions reaches a fairness threshold; then the value of CW is reduced incrementally until the value of CW reaches a minimum CW value.

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: Embodiments of methods and systems are presented for handling PHY frames with multiple Reed-Solomon encoded blocks in PLC networks. A PHY frame is receive from a PLC device, the PHY frame comprising two or more Reed-Solomon encoded blocks. A first Reed-Solomon encoded block comprises a media access control (MAC) header. The first Reed-Solomon encoded block is decoded. An error-detection check is performed on the first decoded Reed-Solomon encoded block.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for a cipher then segment approach in a Power Line Communication (PLC). A node or device generates frames to be transmitted to a destination node in the PLC network. A processor in the node is configured to generate a data payload comprising data to be sent to the destination node. The processor divides the data payload into two or more payload segments and encrypts the payload segments. The processor creates a frame for each of the encrypted payload segments, wherein each frame comprises a message integrity code. The processor creates a segment identifier for each frame using the message integrity code and an authentication key that is shared with the destination PLC node. The segment identifier is added to each frame.

Abstract: A wireless transmission having a header and a payload is sent by transmitting a preamble of the header with a first modulation, wherein the preamble carries a coded modulation indicator. The payload and a remainder of the header are transmitted with a modulation associated with the coded modulation indicator. When the transmission is received, the preamble is demodulated in accordance with the first modulation. The coded modulation indicator is then decoded, and the payload and the remainder of the header are demodulated in accordance with the modulation indicated by the decoded modulation indicator.

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: Systems and methods for establishing scheduling for charger and electric vehicle communication in a PLC system are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a method performed by a PLC device. In a further embodiment, the PLC device may be configured to operate according to a narrow-band PLC communication protocol. In a further embodiment, the narrow-band PLC communications between PLC devices in the charger and the electric vehicle are conducted over a pilot wire coupling the charger to the electric vehicle. In still a further embodiment, the pilot wire may be one of a standard set of existing wires in a standard cable used for connecting the charger to the electric vehicle.

Abstract: In a disclosed embodiment, a power line communication (PLC) device sends an active channel scan request from a host layer to an adaptation layer. In response to the adaptation layer receiving the request, a MAC layer is instructed to broadcast a beacon request frame. The PLC device receives from each of one or more neighboring devices that respond to the beacon request frame a beacon frame including an address and a personal area network (PAN) identifier. A listing of PAN identifiers indicated by the beacon frames is provided to the host layer. The host layer selects a target network corresponding to a selected PAN identifier and selects one of the one or more neighboring devices associated with the selected PAN identifier as a target bootstrapping agent. The host layer instructs the adaptation layer to join the target network using the target bootstrapping agent.

Abstract: A wireless combination device is coupled to an antenna for communicating via a first wireless network. A second wireless transceiver configured for communication via said second wireless network. A packet aggregator is coupled to the first wireless transceiver configures a frame aggregated packet for at least a portion of activities on the first wireless network. The frame aggregated packet includes a plurality of data packets and a dummy packet or spoofing so that said frame aggregated packet is extended in time or indicates an extension sufficient to overlap a Tx time interval or Rx time interval for communications occurring over a second wireless network. The first wireless network and said second wireless network are overlapping networks.

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: Power Line Communications (PLC) device for enhanced carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocols are described. The PLC device includes a modem, an AC interface and a PLC engine. The engine is configured for transmitting PLC packets over a plurality of electrical wires using a particular channel. Transmitting a normal priority packet may include attempting to access a communications channel to transmit a frame after a backoff time proportional to a randomly generated number within a contention window (CW), the CW having an initial value carried over from a previous transmission of a different frame. Additionally or alternatively, some of techniques described herein may facilitate the spreading of the time over which devices attempt to transmit packets, thereby reducing the probability of collisions using, for example, Additive Decrease Multiplicative Increase (ADMI) mechanisms.

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: Disclosed embodiments include a system having one or more member devices coupled to a network and a power line communication (PLC) device. The PLC device is configured to identify available bootstrapping agents that correspond to the one or more member devices, each available bootstrapping agent having a corresponding personal area network (PAN) identifier, identify a target network having a PAN identifier to join, select a target bootstrapping agent from available bootstrapping agents associated with the target PAN identifier to use for a join process with the target network, attempt to join the target network using the target bootstrapping agent, and when the attempt to join is successful, transmit and receive PLC signals over at least one power line associated with the target network using a particular frequency band and a modulation scheme.

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.