Patent ID: 7310326
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing access to a communications medium, the communications medium being suitable for allowing use of a plurality of Home Phoneline Network Association (HPNA) v2 frames, each HPNA v2 frame being timed to allow a plurality of physical layer priority level slots, the method comprising steps of: maintaining a list of sessions in enhanced stations (STAs) using the communications medium, each enhanced STA being one of a Media Control Station (MC STA) and a non-Media Control Station (non-MC STA) and gaining access to the communications medium in a centralized manner; transmitting at least one first message from the MC STA to at least one selected non-MC STA using the communications medium, the transmitted message being transmitted with a highest physical layer priority level slot available in an HPNA v2 frame; and transmitting at least one second message from at least one selected non-MC STA in response to a first message during the same HPNA v2 frame.