Homeplug AV and IEEE 1901: A Handbook for PLC Designers and Users

The only authorized book explaining the HomePlug networking standards HomePlug is a growing technology for creating high-speed Power Line Communication (PLC) networks by transmitting data over in-home or in-office power lines. Users only need to plug adapters into wall outlets to create an instant network of computers, printers, routers, home entertainment devices, and appliance control systems. HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901: A Handbook for PLC Designers and Users provides for the first time an opportunity for non-members of the HomePlug Alliance to gain in-depth insight into the design and operation of the HomePlug standards. Offering a clear and simple description of the standards, this groundbreaking resource presents HomePlug AV and the associated IEEE 1901 standards in terms more readily understood by a much wider audience, including nontechnical managers, engineers, students, and HomePlug designers. The book details the many benefits of HomePlug AV, including: An affordable, secure alternative or complement to WiFi—especially in buildings where WiFi reception is poor or running new network wires is impractical Higher potential data transmission rates up to 200 Mbps Support for multimedia applications such as HDTV and VoIP The book also provides an overview of the HomePlug Green PHY standard that is targeted for use in smart energy applications, and the HomePlug AV 2.0 standard that operates at up to 1.5 Gbps. An essential tool for designers of HomePlug devices, network administrators, and individual users of HomePlug networks who need to understand the features and capabilities of HomePlug, HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901: A Handbook for PLC Designers and Users will also prove useful for researchers in academia and the power line communications industry.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures xix List of Tables xxiii Preface xxvii Acknowledgments xxix Biographical Sketches of the Authors xxxi 1 Introduction 1 1.1 HomePlug AVand Its Relationship to IEEE 1901 2 1.2 Focus of the Book 3 1.3 The HomePlug Powerline Alliance 4 1.4 The Role of PLC in Multimedia Home Networking and Smart Energy Applications 8 1.5 Book Outline 9 2 The HomePlug AV Network Architecture 12 2.1 Introduction 12 2.2 Protocol Layers 12 2.3 Network Architecture 14 2.4 Summary 17 3 Design Approach for Powerline Channels 18 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Channel Characteristics 19 3.3 Frequency Band 21 3.4 Windowed OFDM 23 3.5 Turbo Convolutional Code 24 3.6 Channel Adaptation 25 3.7 Beacon Period Synchronized to AC Line Cycle 27 3.8 TDMAwith Persistent and Nonpersistent Schedules 29 3.9 Data Plane: Two-Level Framing, Segmentation, and Reassembly 30 3.10 PHY Clock Synchronization 30 3.11 Summary 31 4 Physical Layer 32 4.1 Introduction 32 4.2 PPDU 34 4.3 Preamble 37 4.4 Frame Control 38 4.5 Payload 39 4.6 Priority Resolution Symbol 56 4.7 Transmit Power, Tone Mask, and Amplitude Map 56 4.8 Summary 60 5 MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) Format 61 5.1 Introduction 61 5.2 Beacon 64 5.3 Start-of-Frame (SOF) 77 5.4 Selective Acknowledgment (SACK) 85 5.5 Request to Send (RTS)/Clear to Send (CTS) 88 5.6 Sound 91 5.7 Reverse Start-of-Frame (RSOF) 95 5.8 Summary 98 6 MAC Data Plane 99 6.1 Introduction 99 6.2 MAC Frame Generation 101 6.3 MAC Frame Streams 102 6.4 Segmentation 104 6.5 Long MPDU Generation 104 6.6 Reassembly 106 6.7 Buffer Management and Flow Control 106 6.8 Communication Between Associated but Unauthenticated STAs 112 6.9 Communication Between STAs not Associated with the Same AVLN 112 6.10 Data Encryption 114 6.11 MPDU Bursting 114 6.12 Bidirectional Bursting 115 6.13 Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) 118 6.14 Summary 120 7 Central Coordinator 121 7.1 Introduction 121 7.2 CCo Selection 122 7.3 Backup CCo and CCo Failure Recovery 125 7.4 Transfer/Handover of CCo Functions 125 7.5 CCo Network Management Functions 127 7.6 Summary 132 8 Channel Access 133 8.1 Introduction 133 8.2 Beacon Period and AC Line Cycle Synchronization 135 8.3 Beacon Period Structure 135 8.4 CSMA Channel Access 143 8.5 TDMA Channel Access 148 8.6 Summary 149 9 Connections and Links 150 9.1 Introduction 150 9.2 Packet Classification 151 9.3 Connection Specification (CSPEC) 152 9.4 Connections and Links 154 9.5 Connection Services 157 9.6 Bandwidth Management by CCo 168 9.7 Summary 171 10 Security and Network Formation 172 10.1 Introduction 172 10.2 Power-on Network Discovery Procedure 172 10.3 Forming or Joining an AVLN 178 10.4 Security Overview 193 10.5 Summary 210 11 Additional MAC Features 211 11.1 Introduction 211 11.2 Channel Estimation 211 11.3 Bridging 219 11.4 HomePlug 1.0.1 Coexistence 223 11.5 Proxy Networking 225 11.6 Summary 232 12 Neighbor Networks 233 12.1 Introduction 233 12.2 Transition Between Neighbor Network Operating Modes 234 12.3 Coordinated Mode 236 12.4 Passive Coordination in CSMA-Only Mode 248 12.5 Neighbor Network Bandwidth Sharing Policy 248 12.6 Summary 249 13 Management Messages 250 13.1 Introduction 250 13.2 Management Message Format 250 13.3 Station–Central Coordination (CCo) 254 13.4 Proxy Coordinator (PCO) Messages 260 13.5 Central Coordinator–Central Coordinator 260 13.6 Station–Station 262 13.7 Manufacturer-Specific Messages 266 13.8 Vendor-Specific Messages 267 13.9 Summary 267 14 IEEE 1901 268 14.1 Introduction 268 14.2 FFT 269 14.3 Wavelet 274 14.4 Coexistence 294 14.5 Summary 301 15 HomePlug Green PHY 302 15.1 Introduction 302 15.2 Physical Layer 302 15.3 MAC Layer 303 15.4 Summary 311 16 HomePlug AV2 312 16.1 Introduction 312 16.2 MIMO 312 16.3 Extended Frequency Band 315 16.4 Efficient Notching 316 16.5 Short Delimiter and Delayed Acknowledgment 316 16.6 Immediate Repeating 321 16.7 Power Save 322 16.8 Summary 323 Appendix A Acronyms 325 Appendix B HomePlug AV Parameter Specification 332 References 334 Index 337

About the Author :
Dr. HANIPH A. LATCHMAN is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Florida. A Rhodes Scholar and Senior Member of the IEEE, Dr. Latchman is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and has published over 180 technical articles and four books in the areas of control and communication systems and networks. Dr. SRINIVAS KATAR is Principal Engineer at Qualcomm Atheros, Inc. and has extensively contributed to the development of HomePlug AV, IEEE 1901, HomePlug Green PHY, and the HomePlug AV2 standards. He is an inventor of more than fifty issued and pending patents. Lawrence W. Yonge III is Senior Director of Technology for Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., chairs the HomePlug Technical Working Group, and is an inventor of approximately 100 U.S. patents issued and pending. SHERMAN GAVETTE was a Principal Scientist for Sharp Laboratories of America prior to retiring. While at Sharp Labs, he was a member of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance board of directors and was vice-chair of the HomePlug AV Specification working group.