MAC to PHY interface apparatus and methods for transmission of packets through a communications network
AssigneeBroadcom Corporation
InventorsAvi Kliger, Yitshak Ohana, Moshe Tarrab
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for serving an individual node in a shared communication network having a MAC layer and a PHY layer, the system being operative to interface between the MAC layer and the PHY layer. The system may include a first physical channel transferring at least one packet between the layers, a second physical channel transferring at least one burst parameter between the layers, and a third physical channel transferring at least one timing signal, for a burst characterized by the at least one burst parameter and comprising the at least one packet, between the layers.
Claims21
A system for use with an individual node in a shared communication network having a MAC layer and a PHY layer, the system being operative to interface between the MAC layer and the PHY layer, the system comprising:
- a physical channel for transferring at least one packet between the layers;
- a physical channel for transferring at least one burst parameter between the layers;
- and
- a physical channel for transferring at least one timing signal, for a burst characterized by the burst parameter and comprising the packet, between the layers, wherein:
- the physical channel for transferring at least one burst parameter that transfers information characterizing a configuration of an individual burst while at least one packet of a burst previous to the individual burst is traversing the physical channel for transferring at least one packet, thereby shortening an inter-frame gap defined between the individual burst and the previous burst.
A method for operating an individual node in a shared communication network having a MAC layer and a PHY layer, the method being operative to interface between the MAC layer and the PHY layer, the method comprising:
- transferring at least one packet between the layers over a first physical channel;
- transferring at least one burst parameter between the layers over a second physical channel;
- transmitting at least one timing signal, for a burst characterized by the at least one burst parameter and comprising the packet, between the layers over a third physical channel;
- and
- using at least one digital key for accessing one bit-loading table that is stored in the MAC layer, the bit-loading table for storing a value associated with a number of bits to be loaded on a tone when the system transmits between at least one of a pair of nodes on the first physical channel or between at least one pair of nodes on the second physical channel.
A system servicing an individual node in a shared communication network having a MAC layer and a PHY layer, the system being operative to interface between the MAC layer and the PHY layer, the system comprising:
- a physical channel for transferring at least one packet between the layers;
- a physical channel for transferring at least one burst parameter between the layers;
- and
- a physical channel for transferring at least one timing signal, for a burst characterized by the burst parameter and comprising the packet, between the layers, wherein:
- at least one key for accessing one bit-loading table is stored in the MAC layer, the bit-loading table for storing a value associated with a number of bits to be loaded on a tone when the system transmits between at least one of a pair of nodes on the physical channel for transferring at least one packet and/or between a pair of nodes on the physical channel for transferring at least one burst parameter.
A system servicing an individual node in a shared communication network having a MAC layer and a PHY layer, the system being operative to interface between the MAC layer and the PHY layer, the system comprising:
- a physical channel for transferring at least one packet between the layers;
- a physical channel for transferring at least one burst parameter between the layers;
- and
- a physical channel for transferring at least one timing signal, for a burst characterized by the burst parameter and comprising the packet, between the layers, wherein:
- at least one gain-per-tone table is stored externally to the PHY layer, one key for accessing the one gain-per-tone table being stored in the MAC layer, the gain-per-tone table for defining the transmission power for each of a plurality of tones when the system transmits information between a pair of nodes, said transmission occurring over the physical channel for transferring at least one packet, the pair of nodes comprising a transmitting node and a receiving node.
A method for operating an individual node in a shared communication network having a MAC layer and a PHY layer, the method being operative to interface between the MAC layer and the PHY layer, the method comprising:
- transferring at least one packet between the layers over a first physical channel;
- transferring at least one burst parameter between the layers over a second physical channel;
- transmitting at least one timing signal, for a burst characterized by the at least one burst parameter and comprising the packet, between the layers over a third physical channel;
- storing, externally to the PHY layer, at least one bit-loading table;
- and
- storing one key for accessing the one bit-loading table in the MAC layer, the bit-loading table for storing a number of bits to be loaded on a tone when the system transmits information over the first physical channel between a pair of nodes, the pair of nodes comprising a transmission node and a receiving node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.