Non-Beacon Network Communications Using Frequency Subbands

Abstract

Systems and methods for designing, using, and/or implementing non-beacon network communications using frequency subbands are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include transmitting a beacon request message over a given one of a plurality of frequency subbands, receiving a plurality of beacons in response to having transmitted the beacon request message, each of the plurality of beacons received over a respective one of the plurality of frequency subbands, and calculating a downlink quality report based, at least in part, upon the received beacons. The method may also include transmitting the downlink quality report over each of the plurality of frequency subbands and receiving a subband allocation command in response to having transmitted the downlink quality report, the subband allocation command indicating a downlink subband assignment and an uplink subband assignment.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 performing, using a communication device,
 transmitting a beacon request message over a given one of a plurality of frequency subbands; 
 receiving a plurality of beacons in response to having transmitted the beacon request message, each of the plurality of beacons received over a respective one of the plurality of frequency subbands; 
 calculating a downlink quality report based, at least in part, upon the received beacons; 
 transmitting the downlink quality report over each of the plurality of frequency subbands; and 
 receiving a subband allocation command in response to having transmitted the downlink quality report, the subband allocation command indicating a downlink subband assignment and an uplink subband assignment.