Other

Semtech Corporation

Michael Anburaj

Farrokh Farrokhi

A method and a device are disclosed including a PLC node having a synchronizer, a modem with a transceiver, and a computing device coupled with a power line for power line data communications. In various embodiments, a coordinator or Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) coordinates the communication of PLC nodes. The PLC nodes are configured to detect a zero crossing of the power line wave form and transmit or receive data within time slots defined with respect to the detected zero crossing. In other embodiments, the time slots may be synchronized using a frame sync signal, an external signal, or polling. In various embodiments, the time slots may be random access or assigned. In some embodiments, the modem and/or node may be placed in a sleep mode when not communicating to reduce power consumption and be awaken when an allocated time slot is approaching.

Synchronized slotted power line communication

Methods and systems for reserving bandwidth in communications networks (e.g., time-division multiplexed (TDM) networks). A bandwidth request on a forward path of the communications network is temporarily held without any fixed slot timings. The bandwidth request is held for a time long enough for the request to travel the forward path end-to-end. Once the request reaches the destination of the forward path, the temporary bandwidth is confirmed by sending a bandwidth confirmation message back from destination to the source of the path. Each slave node along the path performs an allocation confirm with its associated master node, which responds by converting the temporary holds to full allocations by fixing slot timings.

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Mountain House, CA, United States of America

Michael Anburaj