Overlapping priority contention windows for G3 power line communications networks
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsKumaran Vijayasankar, Ramanuja Vedantham, Tarkesh Pande
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Abstract
Embodiments of methods and systems for overlapping priority contention windows in G3-PLC networks are presented. In one embodiment, a Normal Priority Contention Window (NPCW) is allowed to overlap with a High Priority Contention Window (HPCW). The minimum contention window for the normal priority frames (i.e., NPCW) is equal to or longer than the contention window for high priority frames (i.e., HPCW). By making the NPCW longer than the HPCW, the high priority frames will have a better chance than normal priority frames to get access to the channel on transmission reattempts.
Claims20
A method for accessing a channel used by high priority frames and normal priority frames, comprising:
- performing, by a power line communication (PLC) transmitter device,
- generating a normal priority data packet;
- calculating a back-off time using a back-off exponent value;
- starting at the beginning of a high priority contention window, delay for the back-off time;
- and
- after the back-off time delay, attempt to access the channel during the high priority contention window.
A method for accessing a channel used by high priority frames and normal priority frames, comprising:
- performing, by a power line communication (PLC) transmitter device,
- transmitting a normal priority data packet during a high priority contention window;
- detecting a collision for the normal priority data packet;
- calculating a back-off time for the normal priority data packet;
- starting at the beginning of the high priority contention window, delay for the back-off time;
- and
- after the back-off time delay, attempt to access the channel.
A system, comprising:
- a power line communication (PLC) transmitter device coupled to a PLC network;
- the PLC transmitter device configured to:
- perform a physical channel sense operation to detect an idle channel on the PLC network;
- and
- transmit a normal priority data packet on the channel during a high priority contention window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.