Communicating schedule and network information in a powerline network
There is provided a powerline network that includes a number of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of the stations. The central coordinator includes a system clock and a network timer and is configurable to transmit a number of network timer values. Each of the network timer values can be transmitted by the central coordinator in one of a number of beacons. Each of the other stations is configurable to utilize the network timer values and a corresponding number of local timer values to estimate a frequency error between the system clock and a local clock and an offset between the network timer and a local timer. Each of the other stations is further configurable to utilize the frequency error and the offset to synchronize the local timer to the network timer.
1 . A powerline network comprising:
a plurality of stations including a central coordinator for coordinating transmissions of each of said plurality of stations;
wherein said central coordinator includes a system clock and a network timer and is configurable to transmit a plurality of network timer values; and
wherein each other of said plurality of stations is configurable to utilize said plurality of network timer values and a corresponding plurality of local timer values to estimate a frequency error between said system clock and a local clock and an offset between said network timer and a local timer.
2 . The powerline network of claim 1 , wherein said each other of said plurality of stations is further configurable to utilize said frequency error and said offset to synchronize said local timer to said network timer.
3 . The powerline network of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of network timer values is transmitted by said central coordinator in one of a plurality of beacons.
4 . The powerline network of claim 1 , wherein said network timer and said local timer are controlled by said system clock and said local clock, respectively.
5 . The powerline network of claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of beacons includes a frame control including a plurality of powerline network parameters.
6 . The powerline network of claim 1 , wherein said each other of said plurality of stations is further configurable to utilize said frequency error and said offset to adjust said local clock for synchronized signal processing.
7 . The powerline network of claim 1 , wherein said central coordinator is further configurable to transmit a schedule including resource allocations to said each other of said plurality of stations.
8 . The powerline network of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of network timer values comprises 32 bits.
9 . A method for coordinating transmissions of a plurality of stations for communication via a powerline, a first station of said plurality of stations being designated as a central coordinator having a system clock and a network timer, said method comprising;
receiving a plurality of network timer values from said central coordinator by a second station of said plurality of stations; and
utilizing said plurality of network timer values and a corresponding plurality of local timer values by said second station to estimate a frequency error between said system clock and a local clock and an offset between said network timer and a local timer.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said second station utilizes said frequency error and said offset to synchronize said local timer to said network timer.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said second station receives each of said plurality of network timer values in one of a plurality of beacons from said central coordinator.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said network timer and said local timer are controlled by said system clock and said local clock, respectively.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of beacons includes a frame control including a plurality of powerline network parameters.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said second station utilizes said frequency error and said offset to adjust said local clock for synchronized signal processing.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said second station receives a schedule including resource allocations from said central coordinator.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of network timer values comprises 32 bits.
17 . A device for communication via a powerline with a central coordinator having a system clock and a network timer, said device comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a plurality of network timer values from said central coordinator; and
wherein said device is configured to utilize said plurality of network timer values and a corresponding plurality of local timer values to estimate a frequency error between said system clock and a local clock and an offset between said network timer and a local timer.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of network timer values is received by said device in one of a plurality of beacons from said central coordinator.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein each of said plurality of beacons includes a frame control including a plurality of powerline network parameters.
20 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said network timer and said local timer are controlled by said system clock and said local clock, respectively.
21 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said device is further configured to utilize said frequency error and said offset to adjust said local clock for synchronized signal processing.
22 . The device of claim 17 , wherein said device is further configurable to transmit a schedule including resource allocations to said each of said one or more other devices.