Advanced switch node selection for power line communications network
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsRamanuja Vedantham, Kumaran Vijayasankar, Xiaolin Lu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An algorithm for the promotion of terminal nodes to switch nodes in a PLC network reduces overall network overhead and collisions, while ensuring the appropriate selection of a switch node and minimizing the number of levels in a PLC network. It also ensures that the terminal nodes with appropriate signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are promoted. It is desirable to have a network with fewer levels. The disclosed approach favors the nodes that are closer to the DC to promote them as switch nodes. This is achieved by waiting for a smaller number of PNPDUs for a node that is closer to the DC in comparison to a node that is farther away from the DC.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- receiving, with one or more processors included in a terminal node of a Power Line Communication (PLC) network, a first promotion needed request from a node joining the PLC network, wherein the terminal node is coupled in the PLC network at a level;
- determining a number of promotion needed requests based on the level at which the terminal node is coupled in the PLC network;
- and
- determining whether to transmit, with the one or more processors, a promotion request based on whether the number of promotion needed requests have been received.
A method comprising:
- receiving, with one or more processors included in a terminal node of a Power Line Communication (PLC) network, a promotion needed request from a node joining the PLC network, wherein the terminal node is coupled at a level of the PLC network;
- determining, with the one or more processors, a number of promotion needed requests to wait based on the level of the PLC network at which the terminal node is coupled;
- and
- determining whether to transmit, with the one or more processors, a promotion request based on whether the number of promotion needed requests has been met.
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a first node, a request from a second node, wherein:
- the first node is connected in a power line communication (PLC) network at a level of the PLC network;
- and
- the request is transmitted by the second node to join the PLC network;
- determining, by the first node, that a signal-to-noise ratio of the request complies with a threshold;
- and
- in response to the determining that the signal-to-noise ratio of the request complies with the threshold:
- determining a number of subsequent requests to delay based on the level at which the first node is connected in the PLC network;
- and
- determining whether to transmit g, by the first node, a promotion request based on whether the number of subsequent requests have been received.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.