Network Throughput Using Multiple Reed-Solomon Blocks

A power line communication (PLC) transmitter device coupled to a PLC network, comprising:

• a forward error correction (FEC) encoder configured to receive MAC data from a media access control (MAC) layer, the FEC encoder configured to:
• generate Reed-Solomon encoded blocks from segments of the MAC data using a Reed-Solomon encoder;
• and
• combine two or more of the Reed-Solomon blocks into a PHY frame for transmission to a PLC receiver.

A method, comprising:

• performing, by a power line communication (PLC) receiver device,
• receive a PHY frame from a PLC transmitter device, the PHY frame comprising two or more Reed-Solomon encoded blocks;
• decode at least one of the Reed-Solomon encoded blocks;
• and
• perform an error-detection check on the at least one decoded Reed-Solomon encoded block.

A power line communication (PLC) receiver device coupled to a PLC network, the PLC receiver configured to:

• receive a PHY frame from a PLC transmitter device, the PHY frame comprising two or more Reed-Solomon encoded blocks;
• decode at least one of the Reed-Solomon encoded blocks;
• and
• perform an error-detection check on the at least one decoded Reed-Solomon encoded block.