Power Line Communication Reconnection Using Stored Network Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power line communication networks experience inefficiencies and poor user experience when stations are powered off and then on again, as they cannot communicate effectively due to the need to obtain routing information, which can take significant time, especially in large networks.
Innovation Solution
A power line communication method that utilizes a broadcast packet with a pre-determined network identifier and terminal equipment identifier, allowing unconnected stations to communicate by referencing previous network connections, and modifies the frame structure to include a preset value for unconnected stations, ensuring efficient communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the STA connects to the network and periodically evaluates a route to obtain routing information, then the STA can communicate in the PLC network, but the process takes a specific period of time (more than one minute for 150 STAs), causing low communication efficiency and poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the CCO determine and store the NID before the STA needs to communicate. The CCO determines the NID in advance and stores it in non-volatile memory, so when the STA needs to send a packet, the NID is already available without requiring the STA to wait for route evaluation. This resolves the contradiction by preparing the routing information beforehand, eliminating the time delay.
2Reliability
If the PLC network is powered off and then powered on again, then the network can be reactivated, but the STA cannot communicate immediately because it needs to obtain routing information again, causing communication efficiency to drop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the CCO determine and store the NID in non-volatile memory before power-off. When the network is reactivated after power-off, the STA can immediately read the pre-stored NID from non-volatile memory without waiting for route evaluation, enabling immediate communication. This resolves the contradiction by preserving routing information across power cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies copying by storing the NID in non-volatile memory, creating a copy of the routing information that persists across power cycles. This allows the STA to access the NID without重新 obtaining it through route evaluation, eliminating the time delay during reactivation.
3Ease of operation
If the STA uses the conventional method to obtain routing information, then the communication protocol can be followed, but the communication efficiency is low and user experience is poor for real-time control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the CCO determine and store the NID before the STA needs to communicate. This allows the STA to immediately use the pre-stored NID for packet transmission without waiting for route evaluation, significantly improving communication efficiency while still following the protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the STA to autonomously read the pre-stored NID from non-volatile memory without requiring CCO intervention or waiting for protocol-based route evaluation. The STA can independently obtain the necessary routing information, improving communication efficiency while maintaining protocol compliance.
Data Source
AI summary
A power line communication method includes that a first station generates a first broadcast packet in an nth networking process of a power line communication (PLC) network, where n>1, the first broadcast packet includes a first network identifier (NID) and a terminal equipment identifier (TEI), the first NID is determined by a central coordinator (CCO) in an (n−1)th networking process of the PLC network, and the TEI is a preset value; and sends the first broadcast packet; and a second station receives the first broadcast packet; determines whether the first NID is consistent with a second NID stored in a power-off non-volatile storage medium, where the second NID is determined by the CCO in the (n−1)th networking process of the PLC network; and processes the first broadcast packet when the first NID is consistent with the second NID.