Methods and devices for a home power networking system including a first wireless access point (AP) configured to perform wired communications over a first circuit connected to the first wireless AP. The first wireless AP further performs wireless communications with a second wireless AP, wherein the second wireless access point is connected to a second circuit and is not connected to the first circuit. The first wireless AP provides wireless transport through the second wireless AP to bridge communications between the first circuit and the second circuit.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, different groups of network devices mounted on utility poles. The different groups of network devices can be arranged along different paths. A communication path for transmitting wireless signals can alternate between the different groups of network devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Methods and devices for a home power networking system including a first wireless access point (AP) configured to perform wired communications over a first circuit connected to the first wireless AP. The first wireless AP further performs wireless communications with a second wireless AP, wherein the second wireless access point is connected to a second circuit and is not connected to the first circuit. The first wireless AP provides wireless transport through the second wireless AP to bridge communications between the first circuit and the second circuit.

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.

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.

Systems and methods for setting a carrier-sensing mechanism in a PLC node are disclosed. In a PLC standard, coexistence is achieved by having the nodes detect a common preamble and backing off by a Coexistence InterFrame Space (cEIFS) time period to help the node to avoid interfering with the other technologies. In one embodiment, a PHY primitive is sent from the PHY to the MAC know that there has been a preamble detection. A two-level indication may be used—one indication after receiving the preamble and other indication after decoding the entire frame. The MAC sets the carrier-sensing mechanism based on the preamble detection.

The communication adaptor (1) comprises a housing configured to be inserted in a profiled track (12) of the light trunking system (11), the housing comprising outer walls, electrical contacts arranged to be exposed onto at least one of the outer walls, the electrical contacts being configured to contact different electrical lines (14) arranged in the profiled track (12), a Power Line Communication interface configured to receive and/or transmit PLC data, the PLC data being conveyed on one or more of the electrical lines (14), an additional interface configured to receive and/or transmit non-PLC data, preferably IP protocol data, and a data converter configured to convert i) PLC data from the Power Line Communication interface into non-PLC data for the additional interface, and/or ii) non-PLC data from the additional interface into PLC data for the Power Line Communication interface.

An inverter in a power generation system converts a direct current that is input from a direct-current-side device into an alternating current for power supply. The inverter includes a control apparatus and a communications apparatus. The control apparatus controls the inverter to convert the direct current that is input from the direct-current-side device into an alternating current for power supply. The communications apparatus is coupled to the control apparatus, and sends a networking information request signal used to request networking information to the direct-current-side device in the power generation system through a direct-current power line, where a frequency of the networking information request signal is within a first frequency band. The communications apparatus also receives the networking information from the direct-current-side device; and sends a control signal to the direct-current-side device, where a frequency of the control signal is within a second frequency band.

Methods, apparatus and devices are disclosed for identifying and of controlling communications on interfering links in a local area network (20) having user-devices (22, 23, 24, 25) located therein operable to communicate via a local area network (LAN) gateway device (30, 50) with remote devices in a communications network (10,15) outside the LAN (20), communications being carried via one or more LAN links (28) for at least a portion of a path between user-devices (22, 23, 24, 25) and the gateway device (30, 50), and being carried via a digital subscriber (xDSL) line (19) for at least a portion of a path between the gateway device (30, 50) and the remote devices. The method comprises triggering performance of a signal transmission action on a LAN link during a predetermined period; monitoring digital subscriber line (DSL) performance characteristics in respect of data communications on the xDSL line (19) during said predetermined period whereby to identify changes therein; classifying the LAN link as an interfering link in the event that identified changes in DSL performance characteristics coincide with the predetermined period during which the signal transmission action has been performed; and adjusting the data flow rate in respect of data flow on a LAN link if it is classified as an interfering link.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a surveying system operable to receive a plurality of electromagnetic waves via a guided wave transceiver that include environmental data collected via a plurality of sensors at a plurality of remote sites. Weather pattern data is generated based on the environmental data. Other embodiments are disclosed.