Homeplug AV and IEEE 1901

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.

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 1.3.1 HomePlug Specifications, 4 1.3.2 How the HomePlug AV Specification Was Developed, 5 1.3.3 The Regulatory Working Group, 6 1.3.3.1 The United States and the FCC, 6 1.3.3.2 Europe, CISPR, and CENELEC, 7 1.3.3.3 Rest of the World, 8 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 2.3.1 Station Roles, 16 2.3.2 Bridging, 16 2.3.3 Channel Access, 16 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 3.3.1 Tone Mask, 22 3.3.2 Amplitude Map, 22 3.4 Windowed OFDM, 23 3.5 Turbo Convolutional Code, 24 3.6 Channel Adaptation, 25 3.6.1 Bit–Loading, 27 3.7 Beacon Period Synchronized to AC Line Cycle, 27 3.7.1 AC Line Cycle Synchronization for TDMA Allocations, 28 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 4.1.1 Transceiver Block Diagram, 33 4.2 PPDU, 34 4.2.1 PPDU Formats, 35 4.2.2 PPDU Structure, 36 4.2.3 Symbol Timing, 36 4.3 Preamble, 37 4.4 Frame Control, 38 4.5 Payload, 39 4.5.1 Scrambler, 40 4.5.2 Turbo Convolutional Encoder, 41 4.5.2.1 Constituent Encoders, 41 4.5.2.2 Termination, 41 4.5.2.3 Puncturing, 42 4.5.2.4 Turbo Interleaving, 42 4.5.3 Channel Interleaver, 44 4.5.4 ROBO Modes, 46 4.5.4.1 ROBO Interleaver, 46 4.5.5 Mapping and Tone Maps, 49 4.5.5.1 Empty Tone Filling, 50 4.5.5.2 Last Symbol Padding, 50 4.5.5.3 Mapping Reference, 51 4.5.5.4 Mapping for BPSK, QPSK, 8 QAM, 16 QAM, 64 QAM, 256 QAM, 1024 QAM, 51 4.5.5.5 Mapping for ROBO–AV, 53 4.5.6 Payload Symbols, 54 4.5.7 Windowed OFDM and Symbol Shaping, 55 4.6 Priority Resolution Symbol, 56 4.7 Transmit Power, Tone Mask, and Amplitude Map, 56 4.7.1 Relative Power Levels, 56 4.7.2 Tone Mask, 57 4.7.3 Amplitude Map, 58 4.8 Summary, 60 5 MAC Protocol Data Unit (MPDU) Format 61 5.1 Introduction, 61 5.1.1 General AV Frame Control, 63 5.2 Beacon, 64 5.2.1 Beacon Frame Control, 65 5.2.1.1 Beacon Time Stamp (BTS), 65 5.2.1.2 Beacon Transmission Offset (BTO), 65 5.2.2 Beacon Payload, 65 5.2.2.1 Beacon Type, 65 5.2.2.2 Addressing, 66 5.2.2.3 Neighbor Network Coordination, 67 5.2.2.4 Network Operation Mode, 67 5.2.2.5 CCo Capability, 68 5.2.2.6 Participation in Multiple Networks, 68 5.2.2.7 CCo Handover, 68 5.2.2.8 Beacon Management Information (BMI), 68 5.2.2.9 Beacon Payload Check Sequence (BPCS), 77 5.3 Start–of–Frame (SOF), 77 5.3.1 Start–of–Frame (SOF) Frame Control, 77 5.3.1.1 Addressing–Related Fields, 78 5.3.1.2 Queue–Related Fields, 79 5.3.1.3 Bursting–Related Fields, 79 5.3.1.4 Payload Demodulation–Related Fields, 80 5.3.1.5 TDMA Allocation–Related Fields, 81 5.3.1.6 SACK Retransmission–Related Fields, 81 5.3.1.7 Encryption–Related Fields, 82 5.3.1.8 Detection Status–Related Fields, 82 5.3.1.9 Participation in Multiple Networks–Related Fields, 82 5.3.1.10 Convergence Layer SAP Type (CLST), 83 5.3.2 SOF Payload, 83 5.4 Selective Acknowledgment (SACK), 85 5.4.1 Addressing–Related Field, 85 5.4.2 Queue–Related Field, 86 5.4.3 Bursting–Related Field, 86 5.4.4 TDMA Allocation–Related Fields, 87 5.4.5 Detection Status–Related Field, 87 5.4.6 Version–Related Fields, 87 5.4.7 SACK Data, 87 5.5 Request to Send (RTS)/Clear to Send (CTS), 88 5.5.1 Addressing–Related Fields, 88 5.5.2 Queue–Related Fields, 89 5.5.3 TDMA Allocation–Related Fields, 89 5.5.4 Detection Status Fields, 89 5.5.5 Immediate Grant–Related Fields, 90 5.5.6 Virtual Carrier Sense (VCS)–Related Fields, 90 5.5.7 RTS Flag, 91 5.6 Sound, 91 5.6.1 Sound Frame Control, 91 5.6.1.1 Addressing, 91 5.6.1.2 Queue, 92 5.6.1.3 Bursting, 92 5.6.1.4 Payload Demodulation, 92 5.6.1.5 TDMA Allocations, 93 5.6.1.6 Detection Status–Related Field, 93 5.6.1.7 Sound ACK, 93 5.6.1.8 Sound Complete Flag, 93 5.6.1.9 Sound Reason Code, 93 5.6.1.10 Max Tone Maps, 94 5.6.2 Format of Sound MPDU Payload, 94 5.7 Reverse Start–of–Frame (RSOF), 95 5.7.1 Reverse SOF (RSOF) Frame Control, 95 5.7.1.1 Addressing–Related Field, 95 5.7.1.2 Queue–Related Field, 95 5.7.1.3 Bursting–Related Field, 96 5.7.1.4 TDMA Allocation–Related Fields, 97 5.7.1.5 Detection Status–Related Field, 97 5.7.1.6 Version–Related Fields, 97 5.7.1.7 Selective Acknowledgment–Related Field, 97 5.7.1.8 Payload Demodulation–Related Fields, 97 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 6.3.1 Priority of Management Streams, 103 6.4 Segmentation, 104 6.5 Long MPDU Generation, 104 6.6 Reassembly, 106 6.7 Buffer Management and Flow Control, 106 6.7.1 Transmit Buffer Management, 107 6.7.2 Receive Buffer Management, 109 6.8 Communication Between Associated but Unauthenticated STAs, 112 6.9 Communication Between STAs not Associated with the Same AVLN, 112 6.9.1 Multinetwork Broadcast (MNBC), 113 6.10 Data Encryption, 114 6.11 MPDU Bursting, 114 6.12 Bidirectional Bursting, 115 6.12.1 Bidirectional Bursting During CSMA, 116 6.12.2 Connections and Links During Bidirectional Bursts, 118 6.12.3 Encryption of RSOF Payload, 118 6.13 Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ), 118 6.13.1 Request SACK Retransmission, 119 6.13.2 Broadcast/Multicast and Partial Acknowledgment, 119 6.14 Summary, 120 7 Central Coordinator 121 7.1 Introduction, 121 7.2 CCo Selection, 122 7.2.1 CCo Selection for a New AVLN, 122 7.2.2 Auto–Selection of CCo, 122 7.2.2.1 CCo Capability, 123 7.2.3 User–Appointed CCo, 124 7.3 Backup CCo and CCo Failure Recovery, 125 7.3.1 Backup CCo, 125 7.3.2 CCo Failure Recovery, 125 7.4 Transfer/Handover of CCo Functions, 125 7.5 CCo Network Management Functions, 127 7.5.1 Network Time Base Synchronization, 127 7.5.1.1 Arrival Time Stamp for MSDU Jitter and Delay Control, 129 7.5.1.2 PHY Clock Correction When Participating in More Than One Network, 129 7.5.2 Discover Process, 130 7.6 Summary, 132 8 Channel Access 133 8.1 Introduction, 133 8.2 Beacon Period and AC Line Cycle Synchronization, 135 8.2.1 Line Cycle Synchronization, 135 8.3 Beacon Period Structure, 135 8.3.1 Beacon Period Structure in CSMA–Only Mode, 139 8.3.2 Beacon Period Structure in Uncoordinated Mode, 141 8.3.3 Beacon Period Structure in Coordinated Mode, 142 8.4 CSMA Channel Access, 143 8.4.1 Carrier Sense Mechanism, 144 8.4.1.1 MAC–Level Acknowledgments, 144 8.4.1.2 Setting of Virtual Carrier Sense (VCS) Timer, 145 8.4.1.3 RTS/CTS, 146 8.4.2 Contention Procedure, 146 8.4.2.1 Priority Contention, 148 8.5 TDMA Channel Access, 148 8.5.1 Admission Control and Scheduling (Persistent and Nonpersistent), 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 9.4.1 Link Identifiers, 156 9.4.1.1 Assignment of LIDs, 157 9.4.2 Connection Identifiers, 157 9.5 Connection Services, 157 9.5.1 Connection Setup, 159 9.5.2 Connection Monitoring, 161 9.5.3 Connection Teardown, 161 9.5.4 Connection Reconfiguration, 164 9.5.5 Global Link Reconfiguration Triggered by CCo, 167 9.5.5.1 Squeeze and De–Squeeze, 167 9.6 Bandwidth Management by CCo, 168 9.6.1 Scheduler and Bandwidth Allocation, 168 9.6.2 Connection Admission Control, 171 9.6.3 Beacon Period Configuration, 171 9.7 Summary, 171 10 Security and Network Formation 172 10.1 Introduction, 172 10.2 Power–on Network Discovery Procedure, 172 10.2.1 Unassociated STA Behavior, 174 10.2.2 Unassociated CCo Behavior, 175 10.2.3 Behavior as an STA in an AVLN, 176 10.2.4 Behavior as a CCo in an AVLN, 177 10.3 Forming or Joining an AVLN, 178 10.3.1 AVLN Overview, 178 10.3.1.1 Network Identification, 178 10.3.1.2 Human–Friendly Station and AVLN Names, 178 10.3.1.3 Get Full AVLN Information, 178 10.3.1.4 Get Full STA Information, 178 10.3.2 Association, 179 10.3.2.1 TEI Assignment and Renewal, 179 10.3.3 Method for Authentication, 181 10.3.4 Forming a New AVLN, 181 10.3.4.1 Two Unassociated STAs with Matching NIDs, 183 10.3.4.2 Two Unassociated STAs Form an AVLN Using a DAK–Encrypted NMK, 183 10.3.4.3 Two Unassociated STAs: One in SC–Add and One in SC–Join, 186 10.3.4.4 Two Unassociated STAs: Both in SC–Join, 186 10.3.5 Joining an Existing AVLN, 188 10.3.5.1 Matching NIDs, 189 10.3.5.2 DAK–Encrypted NMK, 189 10.3.5.3 SC–Join and SC–Add, 190 10.3.6 Leaving an AVLN, 192 10.3.7 Removing a Station from an AVLN, 193 10.4 Security Overview, 193 10.4.1 Encryption Keys, Pass Phrases, Nonces, and Their Uses, 194 10.4.1.1 Device Access Key (DAK), 194 10.4.1.2 Device Password (DPW), 194 10.4.1.3 Network Membership Key (NMK), 194 10.4.1.4 Network Password (NPW), 194 10.4.1.5 Network Encryption Key (NEK), 194 10.4.1.6 Temporary Encryption Key (TEK), 195 10.4.1.7 Nonces, 195 10.4.2 Methods for Authorization (NMK Provisioning), 195 10.4.2.1 Security Level, 196 10.4.2.2 Preloaded NMK, 198 10.4.2.3 Direct Entry of the NMK, 198 10.4.2.4 Distribution of NMK Using DAK, 199 10.4.2.5 Distribution of NMK Using Unicast Key Exchange (UKE), 200 10.4.2.6 Distribution of NMK Using Other Key Management Protocols, 202 10.4.2.7 Changing the NMK, 203 10.4.3 NEK Provisioning, 203 10.4.3.1 Provisioning NEK for New STA, 203 10.4.3.2 Provisioning NEK for Part or All of the AVLN, 203 10.4.4 Encryption Key Uses and Protocol Failures, 204 10.4.5 AES Encryption Algorithm and Mode, 207 10.4.5.1 PHY Block–Level Encryption, 207 10.4.5.2 Payload–Level Encryption, 207 10.4.6 Generation of AES Encryption Keys, 208 10.4.6.1 Generation from Passwords, 208 10.4.6.2 Automatic Generation of AES Keys, 208 10.4.6.3 Generation of Nonces, 208 10.4.7 Encrypted Payload Message, 209 10.4.8 User Interface Station (UIS), 210 10.5 Summary, 210 11 Additional MAC Features 211 11.1 Introduction, 211 11.2 Channel Estimation, 211 11.2.1 Channel Estimation Procedure, 212 11.2.2 Initial Channel Estimation, 213 11.2.3 Dynamic Channel Adaptation, 214 11.2.4 Maintenance of Tone Maps, 217 11.2.5 Tone Map Intervals, 218 11.2.6 Priority of Channel Estimation Response, 219 11.2.7 Channel Estimation with Respect to the AC Line Cycle, 219 11.3 Bridging, 219 11.3.1 Acting as an AV Bridge, 220 11.3.2 Communicating Through an AV Bridge, 221 11.3.2.1 Communication with a Known DA, 222 11.3.2.2 Communicating with an Unknown DA, 222 11.4 HomePlug 1.0.1 Coexistence, 223 11.4.1 HomePlug AV Coexistence Modes, 223 11.4.2 Detection and Reporting of Active HomePlug 1.0.1, 224 11.4.3 HomePlug 1.0.1/1.1 Coexistence Mode Changes, 224 11.4.4 HomePlug 1.0.1–Compatible Frame Lengths, 225 11.5 Proxy Networking, 225 11.5.1 Identification of Hidden Stations, 227 11.5.2 Association of Hidden Station, 227 11.5.3 Instantiation of Proxy Network, 229 11.5.4 Proxy Beacons, 229 11.5.5 Provisioning the NMK to Hidden Stations, 229 11.5.6 Provisioning NEK for Hidden Stations (Authenticating the HSTA), 230 11.5.7 Exchange of MMEs Through a PCo, 230 11.5.8 Transitioning from Being a STA to Being an HSTA, 231 11.5.9 Transitioning from Being an HSTA to Being a STA, 231 11.5.10 Recovering from the Loss of a PCo, 232 11.5.11 Proxy Network Shutdown, 232 11.6 Summary, 232 12 Neighbor Networks 233 12.1 Introduction, 233 12.1.1 CSMA–Only Mode, 233 12.1.2 Uncoordinated Mode, 234 12.1.3 Coordinated Mode, 234 12.2 Transition Between Neighbor Network Operating Modes, 234 12.3 Coordinated Mode, 236 12.3.1 Interfering Network List, 237 12.3.2 Group of Networks, 237 12.3.3 Determining a Compatible Schedule, 237 12.3.3.1 Computing the INL Allocation, 238 12.3.4 Communication Between Neighboring CCos, 239 12.3.5 Neighbor Network Instantiation, 240 12.3.5.1 Procedure to Establish a New Network in Coordinated Mode, 240 12.3.5.2 Changing the Number of Beacon Slots, 242 12.3.5.3 Setting the Value of SlotUsage Field, 244 12.3.6 Procedure to Share Bandwidth in Coordinated Mode, 244 12.3.7 Bandwidth Scheduling Rules, 246 12.3.8 Procedure to Shut Down an AVLN, 246 12.3.9 AC Line Cycle Synchronization in Coordinated Mode, 247 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 13.2.1 Original Destination Address (ODA), 250 13.2.2 Original Source Address (OSA), 251 13.2.3 VLAN Tag, 251 13.2.4 MTYPE, 251 13.2.5 Management Message Version (MMV), 251 13.2.6 Management Message Type (MMTYPE), 251 13.2.7 Fragment Management Information, 252 13.2.8 Management Message Entry Data (MME), 254 13.2.9 MMEPAD, 254 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 14.2.1 30–50 MHz Frequency Band, 269 14.2.2 Additional Guard Intervals, 270 14.2.3 4096 QAM, 271 14.2.4 16/18 Code Rate, 271 14.2.5 SNID Reuse, 271 14.2.6 Repeating and Routing, 272 14.2.6.1 Repeating and Routing of Unicast MSDUs, 272 14.2.6.2 Repeating and Routing of Broadcast/Multicast MSDUs, 273 14.3 Wavelet, 274 14.3.1 Baseband PHY, 274 14.3.2 Bandpass PHY, 274 14.3.2.1 Wavelet MAC, 274 14.3.3 Transceiver Block Diagram, 275 14.3.4 PPDU Format, 276 14.3.4.1 Overview of the PPDU Encoding/Decoding Process, 277 14.3.4.2 Modulation–Dependent Parameters, 278 14.3.5 PHY Encoder, 278 14.3.5.1 Generator for RCE Frame, 278 14.3.5.2 Scrambler, 278 14.3.5.3 CRC Encoder for FL, 279 14.3.5.4 Concatenated Encoder, 279 14.3.5.5 Convolutional Codes Defined by Low–Density Parity–Check Polynomials (Optional), 280 14.3.5.6 FEC Type Field, 281 14.3.5.7 Interleaver, 281 14.3.5.8 Wavelet Process, 282 14.3.5.9 Major Specifications, 292 14.3.5.10 Notch and Power Control, 293 14.3.5.11 System Clock Frequency Tolerance, 294 14.4 Coexistence, 294 14.4.1 Coexistence Signals, 294 14.4.2 ISP Signaling Scheme, 295 14.4.2.1 ISP Fields, 296 14.4.2.2 Network Status, 298 14.4.3 Coexistence Resources, 298 14.4.3.1 FDM, 298 14.4.3.2 TDM, 298 14.4.4 ISP Resource Allocation, 299 14.4.5 ISP Parameters, 301 14.4.6 Management Messages, 301 14.5 Summary, 301 15 HomePlug Green PHY 302 15.1 Introduction, 302 15.2 Physical Layer, 302 15.3 MAC Layer, 303 15.3.1 Power Save, 304 15.3.1.1 Distribution of Power Save State Information, 306 15.3.1.2 CCo Power Save, 307 15.3.2 Bandwidth Sharing Between Green PHYand HomePlug AVand IEEE, 307 15.3.2.1 Green PHY Preferred Allocation, 307 15.3.2.2 Distributed Bandwidth Control, 308 15.3.3 PEV–EVSE Association, 309 15.3.3.1 PEV–EVSE Association Procedure, 310 15.4 Summary, 311 16 HomePlug AV2 312 16.1 Introduction, 312 16.2 MIMO, 312 16.3 Extended Frequency Band, 315 16.3.1 Power BackOff, 316 16.4 Efficient Notching, 316 16.5 Short Delimiter and Delayed Acknowledgment, 316 16.5.1 Short Delimiter, 317 16.5.2 Delayed Acknowledgment, 320 16.5.3 TCP and UDP Efficiency Improvements, 320 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