Frequency band selection for multiple home networks

Abstract

A network-capable device is configured to: automatically detect the presence of a MoCA network (or other network, depending on the network protocol in the application environment), and configure itself for communication on that network at the appropriate communication frequencies. The network-capable device can be configured to create a new network (e.g., a new MoCA network) if there is no network broadcast signal within a band. Preferably, the network-capable device requires little or no user intervention to configure itself for operation at network operating frequencies or to create a new network where none is detected.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method performed in a network device for self-configuring the network device for operation in a premises-based wired communication network operating in accordance with a communication protocol, the method comprising, without user intervention and prior to the network device attempting to form its own communication network:
 scanning a first plurality of communication channels in a first frequency band associated with cable TV signals and scanning a second plurality of communication channels in a second frequency band separate from the first frequency band and associated with satellite TV signals;   determining whether a signal detected in a first communication channel of the first and second pluralities of communication channels is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, wherein said determining comprises:
 utilizing first determining criteria if the first communication channel is a channel of the first plurality of communication channels; and 
 utilizing second determining criteria, different from the first determining criteria, if the first communication channel is a channel of the second plurality of communication channels; and 
   if the detected signal is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, then operating the network device in a manner that avoids utilization of at least the first communication channel.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising selectively entering a Beacon Phase in either of the first and second frequency bands to form a network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein:
 the first frequency band comprises at least the MoCA E Band of MoCA-1_1-Extentions-Band-E-v100714;   the second frequency band comprises at least the MoCA D Band of MoCA MAC/PHY SPECIFICATION v1.0; and   the first and second pluralities of communication channels scanned comprise the union of the channels of said E Band and said D Band.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said scanning the first and second pluralities of communication channels comprises scanning the first and second pluralities of communication channels one at a time in a successive order, and wherein a last operating frequency is scanned between scanning of every M of the communication channels, where M is an integer value and less than a total number of channels scanned, such that the last operating frequency is scanned more frequently than the other communication channels of the first and second pluralities of communication channels. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein M is in the range 3-6. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said scanning the first and second pluralities of communication channels comprises scanning the first and second pluralities of communication channels one at a time, and wherein:
 if a last operating frequency of the network device is in the first frequency band, then all of the channels of the first frequency band are scanned once before any of the channels of the second frequency band; and   if the last operating frequency of the network device is in the second frequency band, then all of the channels of the second frequency band are scanned once before any of the channels of the first frequency band.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said determining comprises:
 if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the first frequency band, then analyzing signal strength in only the first communication channel; and   if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the second frequency band, then analyzing signal strength in at least a portion of the first frequency channel and in at least a portion of another channel adjacent to the first communication channel.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said determining comprises:
 if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the first frequency band, then comparing signal strength to a first threshold to determine whether the detected signal is strong enough to qualify as a detected signal; and   if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the second frequency band, then comparing signal strength to a second threshold, different from the first threshold, to determine whether the detected signal is strong enough to qualify as a detected signal.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said determining comprises:
 in the first frequency band, determining a −58 dBm signal to be a detected signal, and determining a −68 dBm signal to be a false detection; and   in the second frequency band, determining a −69 dBm signal to be a detected signal, and determining a −80 dBm signal to be a false detection.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said scanning comprises alternating between a last operating frequency and successive channels in the first and second frequency bands. 
     
     
         38 . A self-configuring network device for operation in a premises-based wired communication network operating in accordance with a communication protocol, the network device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and storing program instructions that when executed by the processor, cause the network device, without user intervention and prior to the network device attempting to form its own communication network, to at least:
 scan a first plurality of communication channels in a first frequency band associated with cable TV signals and scan a second plurality of communication channels in a second frequency band separate from the first frequency band and associated with satellite TV signals; 
 determine whether a signal detected in a first communication channel of the first and second pluralities of communication channels is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, by at least in part:
 utilizing first determining criteria if the first communication channel is a channel of the first plurality of communication channels; and 
 utilizing second determining criteria, different from the first determining criteria, if the first communication channel is a channel of the second plurality of communication channels; and 
 
 if the detected signal is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, then operate the network device in a manner that avoids utilization of at least the first communication channel. 
   
     
     
         39 . The network device of  claim 38 , wherein the program instructions further include program instructions configured to cause the network device to selectively enter a Beacon Phase in either of the first and second frequency bands to form a network. 
     
     
         40 . The network device of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first frequency band comprises at least the MoCA E Band of MoCA-1_1-Extentions-Band-E-v100714;   the second frequency band comprises at least the MoCA D Band of MoCA MAC/PHY SPECIFICATION v1.0; and   the first and second pluralities of communication channels scanned comprise the union of the channels of said E Band and said D Band.   
     
     
         41 . The network device of  claim 38 , wherein the network device scans the first and second pluralities of communication channels by, at least in part, scanning the first and second pluralities of communication channels one at a time in a successive order, and wherein a last operating frequency is scanned between scanning of every M of the communication channels, where M is an integer value and less than a total number of channels scanned, such that the last operating frequency is scanned more frequently than the other communication channels of the first and second pluralities of communication channels. 
     
     
         42 . The network device of  claim 41 , wherein M is in the range 3-6. 
     
     
         43 . The network device of  claim 38 , wherein the network device scans the first and second pluralities of communication channels by, at least in part, scanning the first and second pluralities of communication channels one at a time, and wherein:
 if a last operating frequency of the network device is in the first frequency band, then all of the channels of the first frequency band are scanned once before any of the channels of the second frequency band; and   if the last operating frequency of the network device is in the second frequency band, then all of the channels of the second frequency band are scanned once before any of the channels of the first frequency band.   
     
     
         44 . The network device of  claim 38 , wherein the network device determines whether a signal detected in a first communication channel of the first and second pluralities of communication channels is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, by at least in part:
 if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the first frequency band, then analyzing signal strength in only the first communication channel; and   if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the second frequency band, then analyzing signal strength in at least a portion of the first frequency channel and in at least a portion of another channel adjacent to the first communication channel.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the network device determines whether a signal detected in a first communication channel of the first and second pluralities of communication channels is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, by at least in part:
 if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the first frequency band, then comparing signal strength to a first threshold to determine whether the detected signal is strong enough to qualify as a detected signal; and   if the first communication channel in which the signal is detected is a channel of the second frequency band, then comparing signal strength to a second threshold, different from the first threshold, to determine whether the detected signal is strong enough to qualify as a detected signal.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the network device determines whether a signal detected in a first communication channel of the first and second pluralities of communication channels is from a device that is not operating in accordance with the communication protocol, by at least in part:
 in the first frequency band, determining a −58 dBm signal to be a detected signal, and determining a −68 dBm signal to be a false detection; and   in the second frequency band, determining a −69 dBm signal to be a detected signal, and determining a −80 dBm signal to be a false detection.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the network device scans the first and second pluralities of communication channels by, at least in part, alternating between a last operating frequency and successive channels in the first and second frequency bands.