Abstract: A method includes scheduling a grid of sub-burst slots in a media access plan, each sub-burst slot having a shorter duration than a minimal transmission burst duration and representing an opportunity for the initiation of a data transmission by a network device. A network device includes a sub-burst slot scheduler and a sub-burst slot grid aligner. The sub-burst slot scheduler publicizes the sub-burst slot media access plan to the network devices. The sub-burst slot grid aligner aligns the sub-burst slot grid in the event of a transmission.

Abstract: A method for pairing a first power line communication device with a second power line communication device is disclosed, the method includes the first device triggering a pairing initiating state responsive to sensing a connection of a data cable with the second device; entering an appropriate pairing initiation state, the pairing initiation state being either an add device state or a join device state; and performing pairing with the second device.

Abstract: A method for multicast transmissions between a source node and a client node includes the source node generating a multicast stream identifier to uniquely identify the multicast stream, and the source node establishing a path between the source node and the client node for a specified the multicast stream, each node in the path using unicast routing tables in order to identify a next node on the path during path establishment, and the source node transmitting messages of the specified multicast stream along the path. Network nodes implement the method.

Abstract: A method for routing communications on a network node in a communications network includes: updating a central domain master regarding changes detected in topology, receiving a routing plan from the central domain master, where the routing plan is calculated at least in accordance with the changes, and transmitting data as necessary in accordance with the routing plan. A method implementable on a central domain master for routing communications between network nodes in a communications network includes receiving transmissions regarding changes detected in topology from the network nodes, calculating a routing plan based on at least the transmissions, and distributing the routing plan to the network nodes, where the central domain server is one of the network nodes.

Abstract: A method for pairing a first power line communication device with a second power line communication device is disclosed, the method includes the first device triggering a pairing initiating state responsive to sensing a connection of a data cable with the second device; entering an appropriate pairing initiation state, the pairing initiation state being either an add device state or a join device state; and performing pairing with the second device.

Abstract: A power line communication device includes a power line communication unit, a sensor to sense a physical connection to a second power line communication device other than via a powerline medium and a pairing unit to receive an indication of a physical connection between the power line communication device and the second power line communication device and to initiate a pairing process with the second power line communication device. A method of pairing communication devices which communicate along a non-data-cable medium includes sensing a data cable connection with a second device, entering an appropriate pairing state upon sensing the data cable connection, the pairing state being either an add device state or a join device state and performing pairing with the second device along the non-data-cable connection.

Abstract: A method for multicast transmissions between a source node and a client node includes the source node generating a multicast stream identifier to uniquely identify the multicast stream, and the source node establishing a path between the source node and the client node for a specified the multicast stream, each node in the path using unicast routing tables in order to identify a next node on the path during path establishment, and the source node transmitting messages of the specified multicast stream along the path. Network nodes implement the method.

Abstract: A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, where the transmission start slots represent transmission initiation opportunities for the initiation of data transmission by at least one of a plurality of network devices on a network, and transmitting a current position of the node within all groups of the schedule suitable for full resynchronization to the adjustable schedule by at least one other the network node.

Abstract: A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, the slots representing opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device on a network, transmitting an expected duration indication in each slot associated with the network node as per the schedule, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with the expected duration for each transmission. A method for virtual carrier sensing includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing opportunities initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, listening for transmissions by other network nodes according to the schedule, the transmissions indicating an expected length of a current transmission, adjusting the schedule in accordance with the indicating of a data transmission, and ignoring any subsequent transmissions until a next scheduled transmission start slot in accordance with the adjusted schedule.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing reserved and/or nonreserved opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, the reserved opportunities associated with specific network devices, and the non-reserved opportunities available for non-reserved use by any network device on the network, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with successful transmissions by other network nodes. Another method includes generating a schedule of transmission start slots on a master node, where the slots represent reserved and/or nonreserved transmission initiation opportunities for the initiation of data transmission by at least one of a plurality of network devices in a network, the reserved opportunities being associated with specific network nodes, and the nonreserved opportunities being available for nonreserved use by any the network devices on the network, and distributing the schedule to the network devices.

Abstract: A power line communication device includes a power line communication unit, a sensor to sense a physical connection to a second power line communication device other than via a powerline medium and a pairing unit to receive an indication of a physical connection between the power line communication device and the second power line communication device and to initiate a pairing process with the second power line communication device. A method of pairing communication devices which communicate along a non-data-cable medium includes sensing a data cable connection with a second device, entering an appropriate pairing state upon sensing the data cable connection, the pairing state being either an add device state or a join device state and performing pairing with the second device along the non-data-cable connection.

Abstract: A method for routing communications on a network node in a communications network includes: updating a central domain master regarding changes detected in topology, receiving a routing plan from the central domain master, where the routing plan is calculated at least in accordance with the changes, and transmitting data as necessary in accordance with the routing plan. A method implementable on a central domain master for routing communications between network nodes in a communications network includes receiving transmissions regarding changes detected in topology from the network nodes, calculating a routing plan based on at least the transmissions, and distributing the routing plan to the network nodes, where the central domain server is one of the network nodes.

Abstract: A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, where the transmission start slots represent transmission initiation opportunities for the initiation of data transmission by at least one of a plurality of network devices on a network, and transmitting a current position of the node within all groups of the schedule suitable for full resynchronization to the adjustable schedule by at least one other the network node.

Abstract: A method implemented on a network node includes receiving an adjustable schedule of transmission start slots, the slots representing opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device on a network, transmitting an expected duration indication in each slot associated with the network node as per the schedule, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with the expected duration for each transmission. A method for virtual carrier sensing includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing opportunities initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, listening for transmissions by other network nodes according to the schedule, the transmissions indicating an expected length of a current transmission, adjusting the schedule in accordance with the indicating of a data transmission, and ignoring any subsequent transmissions until a next scheduled transmission start slot in accordance with the adjusted schedule.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a schedule of transmission start slots on a network node, the slots representing reserved and/or nonreserved opportunities for initiating data transmission by at least one network device in a network, the reserved opportunities associated with specific network devices, and the non-reserved opportunities available for non-reserved use by any network device on the network, and adjusting the schedule in accordance with successful transmissions by other network nodes. Another method includes generating a schedule of transmission start slots on a master node, where the slots represent reserved and/or nonreserved transmission initiation opportunities for the initiation of data transmission by at least one of a plurality of network devices in a network, the reserved opportunities being associated with specific network nodes, and the nonreserved opportunities being available for nonreserved use by any the network devices on the network, and distributing the schedule to the network devices.