MAC cycle alignment method for neighboring network coordination
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide communication between networked nodes while minimizing interference from neighbor network communication. Medium Access Control (MAC) cycles at the nodes may be aligned to MAC cycles of neighbor nodes and/or networks based on decoded timing information detected by the nodes.
1. A node configured to transmit signals over a network having one or more domains including one or more nodes, each domain having one or more domain masters that are operable to control the nodes in a domain, wherein neighboring domains are domains that are capable to transmit signals between each other, the node comprising:
a controller;
a computer readable media that is non-transitory coupled to the controller and including executable instructions that instruct the controller to:
send a signal indicating the node exists in a neighboring domain;
send a medium access controller (MAC) cycle related to a domain of the node based on a quantity of neighboring domains;
receive a MAC cycle alignment identification (ID) for another domain and the neighboring domain and a value indicating a number of domains that are aligned; and
an interface configured to transmit the signals including the MAC cycle communication signal to the network.
2. The node of claim 1 , wherein the MAC cycle alignment ID is the same for the node and at least one other node in another neighboring domain.
3. The node of claim 1 , wherein the node is a domain master.
4. The node of claim 1 , wherein there is interference between the node and the neighboring domain.
5. The node of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to use a common time slot by both the node and another neighboring domain.
6. The node of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to select a start of the MAC cycle based on an alternating current (AC) line cycle.
7. The node of claim 1 , wherein the node further includes a modulator that modulates the signals according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme.
8. The node of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable media further includes an executable instruction of reconciliation to determine which domain has priority to access the network based on factors selected from the group consisting of a) employing a random MAC cycle start time b) giving priority to a domain that is synchronized to an access network c) giving priority to a domain that has a greater number of domains aligned to it, and d) giving priority to a domain with a domain master having a largest MAC address.
9. The node of claim 1 , wherein the controller and computer readable media are formed as a single unitary Integrated Circuit (IC).
10. The node of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to align the MAC cycle with a MAC cycle of another neighboring domain.
11. A system configured to transmit signals over a network having one or more domains and one or more nodes, each domain including one or more domain masters that are operable to control the nodes in a domain, wherein neighboring domains are domains that are capable to transmit signals between each other, the system comprising:
a first node in a first domain, the first node including a first computer readable media that is non-transitory including executable instructions that instruct the first node to:
determine a presence of at least one neighboring domain based on a signal received from the network;
determine a medium access controller (MAC) cycle related to a domain of the node based on a quantity of neighboring domains;
generate a MAC cycle alignment identification (ID) for the first domain and the second domain;
a second node in a second domain, wherein the second domain is a neighboring domain to the first domain, including a second computer readable media that is non-transitory including executable instructions that instruct the second node to:
receive a MAC cycle communication signal including the MAC cycle alignment ID and a value indicating a number of domains that are aligned.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the MAC cycle alignment ID is the same for the first node and the second node in the neighboring domain.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to align the MAC cycle to an access network.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first node is a domain master.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein there is interference between the first node and the second node.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to align the MAC cycle to the second domain.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to synchronize the timing of the first node and the second node.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to assign a common time slot that is used by both the first node and the second node.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to select a start of the MAC cycle based on an alternating current (AC) line cycle.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first node further includes a modulator that modulates the signals according to an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation scheme.
21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to reconciliation to determine which domain has priority to access the network based on factors selected from the group consisting of a) employing a random MAC cycle start time b) giving priority to a domain that is synchronized to an access network c) giving priority to a domain that has a greater number of domains aligned to it, and d) giving priority to a domain with a domain master having a largest MAC address.
22. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first node is in part formed as a single unitary Integrated Circuit (IC).
23. The system of claim 11 , further comprising an interface configured to transmit the signals including the MAC cycle communication signal to the network.
24. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first computer readable media further includes an executable instruction to align the MAC cycle with a MAC cycle of the neighboring domain.