Communication apparatus and method
US5553072A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/2843
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for media access control of a first node in a network on a powerline communication medium. The apparatus includes a priority controller for providing a transmit authorization signal. The authorization signal can be responsive to a unique priority of the first node in relation to other nodes in the network, with the priority controller receiving the node's priority from a node network controller in the first node. The apparatus includes an access controller for receiving the transmit authorization signal and, in response, communicating a transmit request signal to the node network controller. The apparatus also includes an arbitration controller for preventing the node from transmitting to the network until a predetermined number of other nodes have been allowed to precedentially access the network. The arbitration controller responds to the priority controller, and sends a transmit inhibition signal to the access controller, inhibiting node transmission irrespective of the authorization signal. The invention also provides a method for communication by a first node in a network having a plurality of nodes, including the steps of sensing a powerline communicat…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.