2

THE HomePlug AV NETWORK

ARCHITECTURE

2.1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter presents an overall description of the HomePlug AV network and its
associated architecture. Special attention is given to the function and role of the
HomePlug AV PHY, Medium Access Control (MAC), and Convergence layers as
well as the grouping of protocol entities into the Data Plane and the Control Plane.
The chapter also defines the HomePlug AV network topology, station roles, and the
HomePlug AV Local Network (AVLN) and its associated Central Coordinator
(CCo). The chapter then uses these definitions to outline the essentials of peer-
to-peer communication, bridging, network membership, and channel access in
HomePlug AV networks.

2.2 PROTOCOL LAYERS

At the highest level of abstraction, the HomePlug AV system consists of the protocol
layers shown in Figure 2.1. The functions at the transmitter are also implemented in
reverse order at the receiver. The PHY layer performs forward error correction
(FEC), mapping data onto OFDM symbols, and the generation of requisite time-
domain waveforms. The MAC layer determines the correct position of transmission,
formats the data frames into fixed-length entities for transmission on the channel, and

HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901: A Handbook for PLC Designers and Users, First Edition.
Haniph A. Latchman, Srinivas Katar, Larry Yonge, and Sherman Gavette.
Ó 2013 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Published 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

12
PROTOCOL LAYERS 13

Higher layer enes (HLE)

H1 (Host) interface

Convergence layer (CL)

M1 (MAC) interface

HPAV MAC

PHY interface

HPAV PHY

FIGURE 2.1 System block diagram.

ensures timely and error-free delivery through Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ).
The MAC and PHY layers are separated by a logical PHY interface. The Conver-
gence layer performs bridging, classification of traffic into Connections, and data
delivery smoothing functions. The Convergence and MAC layers are separated by a
logical M1 (MAC) interface. The logical H1 (Host) interface exposes the services
provided by HomePlug AV to higher layer entities (HLE).
In relation to the International Standards Organization’s (ISO) Open System
Interconnect (OSI) model, the HomePlug AV specification covers the lower two
layers, namely, the PHY layer and the data link layer.
Figure 2.2 shows the protocol entities defined in the HomePlug specification.
Protocol entities that are directly involved in the transfer of user Payload make up the
Data Plane of the protocol stack, while protocol entities that are involved in creating,
managing, and terminating the flow of data are defined in the Control Plane. The
HomePlug AV specification further divides the Control Plane into a Central
Coordinator component and a Connection Manager (CM) component. In each
AV Logical Network (AVLN), defined in greater detail shortly, one station (STA)
is designated as the CCo. The CCo is responsible for setting up and maintaining the
logical network, managing the communication resource on the wire and coordinating
with neighbor networks (NNs). The control functions associated with the CCo are
treated as part of the CCo component of the Control Plane, while functions
associated with each local station fall within the CM component of the Control Plane.
14 THE HomePlug AV NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

Higher layer entity (HLE)

H1 interface
Control SAP ETH SAP
Control Plane Data Plane

Convergence (CL)

M1 interface
Central Connection
Coordinator Manager Media Access Control (MAC)
(CCo) (CM)
PHY interface

Physical (PHY)

FIGURE 2.2 Protocol layer architecture.

2.3 NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

A HomePlug AV Powerline Network consists of a set of HomePlug stations

connected to the AC powerline. From the physical layer perspective, stations in
one dwelling might be able to communicate with stations in another dwelling.
However, HomePlug AV enables stations to be logically separated by a privacy
mechanism based on a 128-bit AES encryption scheme associated with a unique
Network Encryption Key (NEK). An AV Logical Network is the set of STAs,
typically used in a home environment, that possess the same Network Identifier
(NID) and Network Membership Key (NMK). In certain situations, the CCo may
deploy multiple NEKs (possibly using multiple NMKs), thus forming several logical
subnetworks of the AVLN. These are called sub-AVLNs. Coordination, clock
reference, and scheduling are performed on the basis of an AVLN. Cryptographic
isolation is provided at the level of the sub-AVLN.
Each AVLN is managed by a single controlling station, the CCo, introduced
earlier (Figure 2.3). The CCo performs network management functions such as
authentication and association of new stations joining the AVLN, AC line cycle
synchronization of transmission intervals, and admission control and scheduling for
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), and Carrier Sense Multiple Access
(CSMA) sessions and allocations.
The authentication of new stations is based on the knowledge of a shared secret,
namely, the NMK. A user can provide the new station with the NMK or use a push-
button approach for enabling it to join the AVLN. Successful authentication will
enable the station to associate with the AVLN. During the association process, the
CCo provides the new station with a Terminal Equipment Identifier (TEI). The TEI is
used to identify a station uniquely within the AVLN. All transmissions in HomePlug
NETWORK ARCHITECTURE 15

FIGURE 2.3 HomePlug AV network architecture.

AV carry the source and destination TEIs for addressing. It should be noted that
although the CCo is used to manage the AVLN as describer earlier, HomePlug AV
stations normally communicate directly with one another without having to go
through the CCo. Communication with the CCo is needed only to manage TDMA
allocations and certain other infrequent control functions. This is in contrast with
popular technologies like Wi-Fi in which all transmissions go through the Access
point in Infrastructure mode.
Figure 2.3 shows the organization of HomePlug AV devices into different classes
of networks. The CCo and the devices in the logical network that can directly
communicate with it form the Central Network (CN). The attenuation and noise
characteristics on the powerline channel may give rise to situations where certain
devices that belong to the same home network may not be able to communicate with
the CCo. A Proxy Network (PN) is instantiated in such scenarios to allow control of
the “hidden devices” through a relay of communications between a Proxy Coordi-
nator (PCo) and a CCo. Direct peer-to-peer communications are still enabled
between devices in a PN and devices in the CN with which the PN is associated.
The PN concept improves coverage by enabling communications for hidden
devices. Due to the robust physical layer used by HomePlug AV, proxy networks
are very rare.
16 THE HomePlug AV NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

While PNs always depend on and are associated with a CN, a Neighbor Network
(NN) is an entirely autonomous association of HPAV devices. Neighbor networks are
independent networks that can exist in neighboring homes. The HPAV system
provides for coordination among the neighboring networks so that access to the
medium is shared fairly by the various networks and Quality of Service (QoS) is
preserved for communications within a network.

2.3.1 Station Roles

Each HomePlug AV station is capable of operating as a CCo of the AVLN. The
selection of the station in the AVLN to assume the role of a CCo is typically done in
an automated manner based on the station capabilities and network topology. The
user may also appoint a specific station to act as the CCo. For example, it may be
prudent to assign the Home Gateway/Router with HPAV capabilities as the default
CCo. HomePlug AV defines three different levels of CCo capability:

 Level-0 CCo: A basic CCo that can only support CSMA-based channel access
(i.e., supports CSMA-Only mode).
 Level-1 CCo: A CCo that can support TDMA-based channel access when
there are no neighbor networks (i.e., supports Uncoordinated mode).
 Level-2 CCo: A CCo that can support TDMA-based channel access even in the
presence of neighbor networks (i.e., supports Coordinated mode).

All HomePlug AV stations are required to, at a minimum, support Level-0 CCo
functionality. Furthermore, all HomePlug AV stations are required to be capable of
operating under Level-0, Level-1, and Level-2 CCos.
HomePlug AV stations may also assume the role of a Proxy Coordinator to enable
hidden stations to join the AVLN. Proxy Coordinators are selected by the CCo of the
AVLN.
All other HomePlug AV stations in the AVLN operate as normal stations and rely
on stations that assumed the role of CCo and PCo for managing the AVLN.

2.3.2 Bridging
One or more stations in the AVLN may also act as bridges to other networks. The
bridge is responsible for routing traffic between the AVLN and other networks based
on the list of MAC addresses of devices it is bridging for. The bridge also provides
this list to other stations in the AVLN so that other stations can efficiently deliver
traffic within the AVLN using unicast transmissions.

2.3.3 Channel Access

HomePlug AV is designed to provide high-quality multimedia streaming within the
home network. To enable strict guarantees on QoS (i.e., bandwidth, latency, jitter,
and packet loss probability), the MAC layer is based on a hybrid TDMA and CSMA
SUMMARY 17

protocol. The CCo is responsible for coordinating medium access and providing
TDMA allocations based on QoS requirements by periodically generating a Central
Beacon with information on TDMA and CSMA allocations.

2.4 SUMMARY

The HomePlug AV network architecture and protocols introduced in this chapter are
at the core of the HomePlug AV specification and the associated IEEE 1901 standard.
The detailed operation of the various elements in this architecture will be developed
in the rest of the book.
Chapter 3 examines the overall philosophy and reasoning that guided the
technology selection in overcoming the challenges of high-speed multimedia
communications over the powerline channel.