Systems and methods for implementing application profiles and device classes in power line communication (PLC) environments

A method comprising:

• performing, by a power line communication (PLC) apparatus,
• assigning a first frequency band to a first PLC device configured to communicate over a power line, the first frequency band selected based, at least in part, upon a first application profile and a first device class associated with the first PLC device;
• receiving a request from the first PLC device to communicate over the power line;
• determining a frequency band unused by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;
• identifying a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device coupled to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class;
• resolving the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of:
• (a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein resolving the conflict includes modifying the second frequency band of the second PLC device;
• and
• transmitting an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band as at least a portion of the unused frequency band.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more power line communication (PLC) systems, cause the one or more PLC systems to:

• receive a request from a first PLC device to communicate over a power line, the request including an indication of a first application profile and a first device class corresponding to the first PLC device;
• identify one or more frequency bands used by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;
• identify a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device connected to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class;
• and
• resolve the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of:
• (a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein to resolve the conflict, the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more PLC systems, further cause the one or more PLC systems to limit a data rate of the second PLC devices to thereby create an unused frequency band, the first frequency band including at least a portion of the unused frequency band;
• and
• transmit an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band to the first PLC device based, at least in part, upon the one or more frequency bands, the first application profile, and the first device class.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more power line communication (PLC) systems, cause the one or more PLC systems to:

• receive a request from a first PLC device to communicate over a power line, the request including an indication of a first application profile and a first device class corresponding to the first PLC device;
• identify one or more frequency bands used by one or more other PLC devices communicating over the power line;
• identify a conflict between the first frequency band and a second frequency band in use by a second PLC device connected to the power line, the second PLC device including a second application profile and a second device class;
• and
• resolve the conflict based, at least in part, upon a comparison between at least one of:
• (a) the first and second application profiles, or (b) the first and second device classes, wherein to resolve the conflict, the program instructions, upon execution by the one or more PLC systems, further cause the one or more PLC systems to modify the second frequency band allocated to the second PLC device to thereby create an unused frequency band, the first frequency band including at least a portion of the unused frequency band;
• and
• transmit an instruction to the first PLC device assigning the first frequency band to the first PLC device based, at least in part, upon the one or more frequency bands, the first application profile, and the first device class.