Abstract: Communicating between stations over a shared medium comprises: receiving, at a destination station, a first waveform that includes one or more segments of a payload that originated from an origin station with a sequence of multiple segments, the one or more segments included in the first waveform having been transmitted over the shared medium by the origin station and by each of one or more repeater stations, and the first waveform indicating which of the sequence of multiple segments were not correctly decoded by at least one of the repeater stations; generating, based on the first waveform, acknowledgement information that specifies which of the sequence of multiple segments have been correctly decoded by the destination station; and transmitting a second waveform from the destination station over the shared medium, the second waveform including the acknowledgement information.

Abstract: Communicating between stations over a shared medium comprises: receiving a first waveform at a first station transmitted over the shared medium from a second station, the first waveform including a payload having multiple segments, and during reception of a first segment of the payload, initiating processing of one or more segments of the payload received before the first segment of the payload to generate acknowledgement information that specifies which of one or more segments of the payload including the one or more processed segments have been correctly decoded by the first station; transmitting a second waveform from the first station over the shared medium, the second waveform including the acknowledgement information; and transmitting a third waveform from the first station over the shared medium, after transmitting the second waveform, the third waveform including acknowledgement information that specifies which of one or more segments of the payload including the first segment of the payload have been

Abstract: A master network device determines to transmit data from the master network device to a plurality of client network devices of a network. In one example, the master network device can generate a data frame including a payload with a plurality of symbols. The payload may include at least one symbol allocated for each of the client network devices. The plurality of symbols may be arranged in a predefined pattern in the payload. In another example, the master network device may generate a data frame including a payload with one or more symbols. Each symbol may include a plurality of frequency carriers, and may include at least one frequency carrier allocated for each of the client network devices. The plurality of frequency carriers can be allotted to the client network devices according to a partitioning pattern. The master network device then transmits the data frame to the client network devices.

Abstract: A slotted message access protocol can be implemented for transmitting messages in a communication network. A beacon period may be divided into multiple communication slots. A master network device may register a first client network device and provide registration information to the first client network device. The registration information may include one or more encryption keys to allow the first client network device to securely transmit messages in the communication network. The client network device may use an encryption key associated with a second client network device to decrypt messages received from the second client network device. Furthermore, the first client network device may use a contention-based communication slot to request allocation of contention-free communication slots for subsequent transmissions. The master network device may temporarily allocate contention-free communication slots to the client network device for a specified duration.

Abstract: A slotted message access protocol can be implemented for transmitting messages in a communication network. A beacon period may be divided into multiple communication slots. A master device may register a client device and provide registration information to allow the client device to operate in the communication network. The registration information may be determined based, at least in part, on a location of the client device in the communication network. As part of the registration information, contention-free communication slots may be assigned for use by the client device. Contention-based communication slots may also be assigned to a group of client devices. Messages may also be segmented depending on whether the message is transmitted in a contention-free or a contention-based communication slot. Furthermore, a relay device may be designated to retransmit a message (received from an original transmitting device) during a communication slot assigned to the original transmitting device.

Abstract: Channel reuse permits more than one station to communicate concurrently via a communication medium. A first station may transmit a first transmission to a second station. A third station may detect the first transmission and determine a channel a channel reuse time period for a second transmission transmitted from the third station to a fourth station via the communication medium at least partially concurrently with the first transmission. The channel reuse time period may be based at least in part on estimated time to a next priority resolution slot (PRS) of the communication medium as determined from information in a start of frame (SOF) delimiter of the first transmission. The channel reuse time period may take into account a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) burst, and/or time periods associated with acknowledgement messages.

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 method comprises receiving a first message over a first portion of a frequency bandwidth. The first message includes an identifier of a transmitting first wireless device and an intended recipient second wireless device. The method comprises determining whether a second portion of the frequency bandwidth is idle for a duration of time including at least one of a PIFS time and a time required for a backoff timer to expire. The method comprises transmitting a second message over the second portion of the frequency bandwidth by a third wireless device, the second message having a limited transmission time that is not to extend beyond a transmission time of the first message, thereby allowing an availability of the first and second portions for use after an end of the transmission time of the first message. The third wireless device is not an intended recipient of the first message.

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: 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: Systems and methods for authorizing a customer premise equipment (CPE) device to join a network through a network termination unit (NTU). The CPE device can send an encrypted connection request, and an authorization server can decrypt the connection request and provide a network membership key (NMK) associated with the CPE device to the NTU. The authorization server can encrypt the NMK associated with the CPE device using a device access key (DAK) associated with the NTU.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: The present application relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to systems, methods, and devices for deferral based on transmission opportunity (TXOP) information. One aspect of the present disclosure provides An apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate. The apparatus includes a processing system configured to obtain a deferral-related parameter from a packet transmitted on a shared wireless access medium and decide whether to defer transmission on the shared wireless access medium based, at least in part, on the at least one deferral-related parameter.