Embodiments of the invention provide multiple cyclic prefix lengths for either both the data-payload and frame control header or only the data payload. Frame control header (FCH) and data symbols have an associated cyclic prefix. A table is transmitted in the FCH symbols, which includes a cyclic prefix field to identify the cyclic prefix length used in the data payload. A receiver may know the cyclic prefix length used in the FCH symbols in one embodiment. In other embodiments, the receiver does not know the FCH cyclic prefix length and, therefore, attempts to decode the FCH symbols using different possible cyclic prefix lengths until the FCH symbols are successfully decoded.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a network device that accesses internet protocol addresses associated with a group of end point devices where the network device is a closest network device to the group of end point devices, and transmitting data to another network device responsive to a determination that an internet protocol address associated with the data from an end point device is one of the internet protocol addresses associated with the group of end point devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Embodiments of methods and systems for supporting coexistence of multiple technologies in a Power Line Communication (PLC) network are disclosed. A long coexistence preamble sequence may be transmitted by a device that has been forced to back off the PLC channel multiple times. The long coexistence sequence provides a way for the device to request channel access from devices on the channel using other technology. The device may transmit a data packet after transmitting the long coexistence preamble sequence. A network duty cycle time may also be defined as a maximum allowed duration for nodes of the same network to access the channel. When the network duty cycle time occurs, all nodes will back off the channel for a duty cycle extended inter frame space before transmitting again. The long coexistence preamble sequence and the network duty cycle time may be used together.

Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide communication between networked nodes operating on a communication network medium. In an implementation, a node generates a broadcast frame that includes at least a preamble and a payload. The preamble of the broadcast frame may include auxiliary information. The auxiliary information may be associated with one or more symbols of the preamble. The auxiliary information may contain power boost information.

A communication circuit supports a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol. A number of signals include first signals conveying first information messages and second signals conveying second information messages. The first information messages include a repetitive message having fixed repeated content and the second information messages include a non-repetitive message having variable content. The first signals and the second signals are transmitted via the communication circuit using the first communication protocol for the first signals and the second communication protocol for the second signals.

A communication device in a network may receive a stream of frames from the network, in which each frame includes one or more beacon packets. A communication protocol being used by the network may be identified by tracking a preselected field within a sequence of beacon packets, in which the preselected field varies in a first known manner for a first protocol and in a second known manner for a second protocol. The communication device may then join to the network using the identified communication protocol to transmit and receive data.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a power line communications device, and the power line communications device includes a USB interface, a protocol conversion module, a signal conversion module, a coupler, and a power line interface. A first end of the USB interface is connected to a first end of the protocol conversion module, a second end of the protocol conversion module is connected to a first end of the signal conversion module, a second end of the signal conversion module is connected to a first end of the coupler, and a second end of the coupler is connected to a first end of the power line interface. During implementation of the embodiments of the present invention, the USB interface may be used to provide a network signal for a terminal device.

In various embodiments, a method for controlling the operation of a transmitter circuit is provided, the method including: detecting a state of a message field within a data message to be sent by the transmitter circuit indicating a bit rate to be used for transmission by the transmitter circuit and switching the mode of operation of the transmitter circuit from a first data transmission mode to a second data transmission mode depending on the state of the message indication field, wherein in the first data transmission mode a first circuit configured to transmit data may be used and wherein in the second data transmission mode a second circuit configured to transmit data may be used. Further, a corresponding controlling circuit is provided.

In a disclosed embodiment, a method for communication in a network includes receiving, at a first device registered to the network, a physical layer (PHY) frame that includes a PHY header and a MAC header. The PHY frame may further include a MAC payload. The PHY header includes a destination address field. The method further includes comparing a network address of the first device to the destination address field to determine whether the destination address field stores a value having the same number of bits as the network address. When the comparison indicates that the value stored by the destination address field does not have the same number of bits as the network address, the method skips decoding the MAC header and the MAC payload.

A method of encoding a first bit and a second bit for transmission on a transmission band is provided. The method includes receiving a bit stream that includes the first and second bits, mapping the first bit into a first symbol, mapping the second bit into a second symbol, differentially encoding at least the first symbol and the second symbol, and causing the first and second symbols to be transmitted on a transmission band as part of a symbol stream.