Patent ID: 8675651
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: H04B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: determining, at a dual mode powerline communication device, whether a powerline communication network comprises a combination of powerline device classes including a powerline communication device of a first class of powerline communication devices and a powerline communication device of a second class of powerline communication devices; and in response to determining that the powerline communication network comprises the combination of powerline device classes, performing operations comprising: generating, at the dual mode powerline communication device, a packet for transmission based, at least in part, on the selected packet header, executing, at the dual mode powerline communication device, contention resolution procedures in response to determining to contend for control of a powerline medium, determining, at the dual mode powerline communication device, whether the contention resolution procedures are successful, transmitting the packet via the powerline communication network in response to determining that the contention resolution procedures are successful, and determining, at the dual mode powerline communication device, to not transmit the packet via the powerline communication network in response to determining that the contention resolution procedures are not successful.