A token passing network for powerline communications

The AC powerline is the ideal communications medium for enabling control and monitoring applications in the home. The authors describe a low-level network architecture for reliable powerline communications. It uses a robust token passing protocol that supports network access and device response under worst-case powerline impairments. The approach is hierarchical, building upon both a spread-spectrum physical layer enabling short-duration powerline transmissions and adaptation to changing powerline conditions and upon a packet structure designed for error correction