Coexistence method by requesting access to the channel
Systems and methods for implementing coexistence by requesting access to a channel in power line communications (PLC) are described. In an illustrative embodiment, a method performed by a PLC device, such as a PLC meter, may include detecting a communication from foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device, determining whether a threshold back-off duration has been reached, and transmitting a channel access request in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has been reached.
1. A method comprising:
performing, by a power line communication (PLC) device,
detecting a communication from a foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device;
determining whether a threshold back-off duration has been reached; and
transmitting a channel access request in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has been reached, wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of preamble symbols in a sequence, wherein a number of preamble symbols is determined in response to a maximum packet size supported by the PLC network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncP preamble symbols.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncC preamble symbols.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the native band of frequencies overlaps a foreign band of frequencies associated with coexisting PLC devices in the PLC network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the channel access request comprises one or more symbols, each symbol configured such that energy associated with the symbol is concentrated within a native band of frequencies.
6. A method comprising:
performing, by a power line communication (PLC) device,
detecting a communication from a foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device;
determining whether a threshold back-off duration has been reached; and
transmitting a channel access request in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has been reached, wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of preamble symbols in a sequence, wherein a number of preamble symbols is determined in response to a maximum detected packet size of the PLC devices.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncP preamble symbols.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncC preamble symbols.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the channel access request comprises one or more symbols, each symbol configured such that energy associated with the symbol is concentrated within a native band of frequencies.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the native band of frequencies overlaps a foreign band of frequencies associated with the PLC devices in the PLC network.
11. A power line communication (PLC) device, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to:
detect a communication from a foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device;
determine whether a threshold back-off duration has been reached; and
transmit a channel access request in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has been reached, wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of preamble symbols in a sequence, wherein a number of preamble symbols is determined in response to a maximum packet size supported by the PLC network.
12. The PLC device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
wait for a hold period after transmitting the channel access request before initiating data transmissions on a channel.
13. The PLC device of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
initiate data transmission on the channel in response to a determination that the hold period has expired.
14. The PLC device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
back off data transmission from a channel in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has not been reached.
15. The PLC device of claim 14 , wherein the back-off duration is determined by a coexistence Extended Interframe Space (cEIFS) defined for the network.
16. The PLC device of claim 11 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncP preamble symbols.
17. The PLC device of claim 11 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncC preamble symbols.
18. The PLC device of claim 11 , wherein the channel access request comprises one or more symbols, each symbol configured such that energy associated with the symbol is concentrated within a native band of frequencies.
19. The PLC of claim 18 , wherein the native band of frequencies overlaps a foreign band of frequencies associated with the PLC devices in the PLC network.
20. A power line communication (PLC) device, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, the memory configured to store program instructions executable by the processor to cause the PLC device to:
detect a communication from a foreign PLC device on a PLC network in response to a foreign preamble received by the PLC device;
determine whether a threshold back-off duration has been reached; and
transmit a channel access request in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has been reached, wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of preamble symbols in a sequence, wherein a number of preamble symbols is determined in response to a maximum detected packet size of the PLC devices.
21. The PLC device of claim 20 , the processor further configured to:
wait for a hold period after transmitting the channel access request before initiating data transmissions on a channel.
22. The PLC device of claim 21 , the processor further configured to:
initiate data transmission on the channel in response to a determination that the hold period has expired.
23. The PLC device of claim 20 , the processor further configured to:
back off data transmission from a channel in response to a determination that the threshold back-off duration has not been reached.
24. The PLC device of claim 23 , wherein the back-off duration is determined by a coexistence Extended Interframe Space (cEIFS) defined for the PLC network.
25. The PLC device of claim 20 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncP preamble symbols.
26. The PLC device of claim 20 , wherein the channel access request comprises a plurality of syncC preamble symbols.
27. The PLC device of claim 20 , wherein the channel access request comprises one or more symbols, each symbol configured such that energy associated with the symbol is concentrated within a native band of frequencies.
28. The PLC device of claim 27 , wherein the native band of frequencies overlaps a foreign band of frequencies associated with the PLC devices in the PLC network.