Selective multiple-media access control
地域：
TX
TX Dallas
摘要
Disclosed embodiments include a network device having a split network stack that includes a physical (PHY) layer associated with first and second media access control (MAC) protocol sublayers, a processing device, and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to select a route through the split network stack that includes one of the first and second MAC protocol sublayers but not the other one of the first and second MAC protocol sublayers.
說(shuō)明書(shū)
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/516,168 filed on Oct. 16, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,104,192), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/891,755 entitled “DUAL MAC” filed Oct. 16, 2013 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, wherein the applications listed above are hereby fully incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
Utilities are increasingly using networked meters to reduce meter-reading costs and to monitor user consumption in real-time. Networking applications such as power line communications (PLC) typically use the TCP/IP (transmission control protocol/internet protocol) stack architecture. The conventional MAC (medium access control) layer is part of a network protocol layer that controls the access to a communications channel. In conventional network architectures, each protocol stack is associated with a single network. The conventional MAC layer is normally assigned a unique address to identify itself in various communications within the network. The conventional MAC layer includes a protocol stack that can communicate with resources within the network using the assigned address. However, such conventional network protocols are not well suited for communications over different networks using different protocols.
權(quán)利要求
What is claimed is:1. A network device comprising:a split network stack having a physical (PHY) layer associated with a first media access control (MAC) protocol sublayer for a first network and the PHY layer associated with a second MAC protocol sublayer for a second network, wherein the PHY layer is associated with a single communications medium; a processing device; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to:select a first route for a first frame through the split network stack to the PHY layer via the first MAC protocol sublayer, but not the second MAC protocol sublayer, based on an association of the first frame with the first network; and select a second route for a second frame through the split network stack to the PHY layer via the second MAC protocol sublayer, but not the first MAC protocol sublayer, based on an association of the second frame with the second network. 2. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the memory additionally stores instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the frame to be communicated through the split network stack via the selected first route or second route. 3. The network device of claim 2 , wherein the frame is stored in the memory prior to being communicated through the split network stack via the selected first route or second route. 4. The network device of claim 3 , wherein the selection of the selected first route and second route is based further on a network tag associated with the frame, the network tag indicating a network type on which the frame is to be transmitted or received. 5. The network device of claim 3 , wherein the selection of the selected first route and second route is based further on a location in the memory at which the frame is stored. 6. The network device of claim 5 , wherein the location is associated with one of a first MAC protocol corresponding to the first MAC protocol sublayer and a second MAC protocol corresponding to the second MAC protocol sublayer. 7. The network device of claim 5 , wherein the memory includes a first queue and a second queue, the first queue being associated with a first MAC protocol corresponding to the first MAC protocol sublayer and the second queue being associated with a second MAC protocol corresponding to the second MAC protocol sublayer, and wherein the selection of the selected first route and second route is based further on whether the frame is stored in the first queue or the second queue. 8. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the first MAC protocol sublayer corresponds to a first MAC protocol and the second MAC protocol sublayer corresponds to a second MAC protocol. 9. The network device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second MAC protocols are of different types. 10. The network device of claim 9 , wherein the first MAC protocol is a 6LoWPAN protocol and the second MAC protocol is a 6LoWPAN/LOAD protocol. 11. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the network device is a smart meter device. 12. A method for operating a network device, the method comprising:receiving a data frame for transmission over a respective one of a first network and a second network; selecting a first route through a split network stack having a physical (PHY) layer, a first media access control (MAC) protocol sublayer associated with the first network, and a second MAC protocol sublayer associated with the second network, the first route including the PHY layer and the first MAC protocol sublayer but not the second MAC protocol sublayer; and transmitting a first data frame onto a communication medium associated with the PHY layer using the selected first route; selecting a second route through the split network stack, the second route including the PHY layer and the second MAC protocol sublayer but not the first MAC protocol sublayer; and transmitting a second data frame onto the communication medium using the selected second route. 13. The method of claim 12 , wherein selecting one of the first route and the second route is based further on a network tag associated with the frame, the network tag indicating a network type on which the frame is to be transmitted or received. 14. The method of claim 12 , wherein selection of the selected first route and second route is based further on a location at which the frame is stored in a memory of the network device. 15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the location is associated with one of a first MAC protocol corresponding to the first MAC protocol sublayer and a second MAC protocol corresponding to the second MAC protocol sublayer. 16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the memory includes a first queue and a second queue, the first queue being associated with a first MAC protocol corresponding to the first MAC protocol sublayer and the second queue being associated with a second MAC protocol corresponding to the second MAC protocol sublayer, and wherein selection of the selected first route and second route is based further on whether the frame is stored in the first queue or the second queue. 17. The network device of claim 1 , wherein PHY layer is configured to communicate with the first network and the second network over a shared network medium. 18. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the split network stack includes a network layer, and the first MAC protocol sublayer and the second MAC protocol sublayer are configured to communicate with the network layer independently. 19. The network device of claim 1 , wherein the first MAC sublayer is associated with higher layers of the split network stack, and wherein the second MAC sublayer is associated with lower layers of the split network stack.
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