Network Communication System Wherein a Node Obtains Resources for Transmitting Data by Having to Transmit at Least Two Reservation Requests

• US 20070259669A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GPNE Corp.
• Original Assignee: GPNE Corp.
• Inventors: Wong, Gabriel, Tsui, Po
• Application Number:
  US11/668,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259669A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/002 Transmission of channel access control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/06 using polling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/02 Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A network node in a communication system which transmits at least two reservation requests in order for the node to obtain radio resources for transmitting data. In the network, downstream signals are transmitted from the central control node to identify at least one upstream request opportunity in which nodes may transmit a request signal to the central control node. When a first individual node has data to transmit, the first individual node transmits a request signal to the central control node within the at least one upstream request opportunity. Subsequent to receiving the request signal, the central control node transmits a subsequent downstream signal specifying at least one subsequent request opportunity wherein the first individual node is assigned to subsequently transmit a subsequent request signal. In response to receiving the subsequent downstream signal, the node transmits a subsequent request signal in the subsequent request opportunity assigned to the node. Subsequent to receiving the subsequent request signal from the node, the communication controller transmits an additional subsequent downstream signal which allocates resources to the node to transmit data to the communication controller.

Claims

1. A method of communicating data comprising:

receiving at a first node, a downstream signal transmitted from a communication controller, said downstream signal comprising information relating to at least one request opportunity wherein the first node may transmit a request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said request signal from the first node to the communication controller, said request signal being transmitted from the first node to the communication controller in response to the first node receiving said downstream signal;

receiving at the first node, a subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to at least one subsequent request opportunity assigned to the first node for transmitting a subsequent request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said subsequent request signal from the first node to the communication controller, said subsequent request signal being transmitted by the first node in response to the first node receiving said subsequent downstream signal, said subsequent request signal including information relating to a request for an allocation of resources from the communication controller for the first node to transmit data to the communication controller;

receiving at the first node, a additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said additional subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to an allocation of resources to the first node for the first node to transmit data to the communication controller; and

transmitting data from the first node to the communication controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one frequency is utilized for transmissions between the first node and the communication controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said at least one frequency utilized for transmission between the first node and the communication controller comprises at least one upstream frequency wherein the first node transmits information to the communication controller and at least one downstream frequency wherein the communication controller transmits information to the first node.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication controller transmits information relating to at least one frequency wherein the first node may utilize for communication between the first node and the communication controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said downstream signal includes information relating to at least one frequency in which the first node may transmit the request signal to the communication controller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said downstream signal includes information relating to at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency wherein the first node may utilize to transmit said request signal to the communication controller.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said information relating to at least one request opportunity wherein the first node may transmit a request signal to the communication controller comprises information relating to at least one timeslot wherein the first node may utilize to transmit said request signal to the communication controller.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said information relating to at least one request opportunity wherein the first node may transmit a request signal to the communication controller comprises information relating to at least one random access request opportunity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said information relating to at least one random access request opportunity is transmitted within at least one common control channel within said downstream signal;

and

wherein said common control channel is comprised of at least one timeslot within at least one frequency.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said downstream signal is transmitted from the communication controller to the at least one network node including the first node;

wherein said downstream signal is transmitted on a common control channel;

wherein said common control channel is at least one timeslot within at least one frequency wherein the communication controller transmits information to at least one network node including the first node regarding random access timeslot request opportunities.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said downstream signal is transmitted from the communication controller within at least one frequency.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one frequency wherein the communication controller transmits said downstream signal is timeslotted.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller to the first node is transmitted within at least one predetermined frequency.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal is transmitted from the first node to the communication controller within at least one frequency.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said least one frequency wherein the first node transmits said request signal to the communication controller is timeslotted.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal transmitted from the first node to the communication controller is transmitted within at least one timeslot within at least one frequency.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal transmitted from the first node to the communication controller is transmitted within at least one common channel, wherein said at least one common channel is at least one timeslot within at least one frequency wherein at least one network node including the first node may transmit a random access request signal.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal transmitted from the first node to the communication controller is a random access request.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal is transmitted from the first node to the communication controller within at least one timeslot.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal from the first node is transmitted within at least one predetermined frequency.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal comprises information indicating to the communication controller that the first node requires an allocation of resources from the communication controller for the first node to transmit said subsequent request signal to the communication controller.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal transmitted from the first node includes information indicating to the communication controller that the first node requires an allocation of at least one timeslot for transmitting said subsequent request signal from the first node to the communication controller.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal transmitted from the first node to the communication controller is a request for at least one channel for the first node to transmit said subsequent request signal to the communication controller.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal transmitted from the first node includes information indicating to the communication controller that the first node is requesting to transmit an amount of data from the first node to the communication controller.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal is transmitted from the first node when the first node has data to transmit.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller to the first node includes information relating to at least one frequency allocated by the communication controller to the first node for the first node to transmit said subsequent request signal from the first node to the communication controller.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal is transmitted from the communication controller to the first node within at least one frequency.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said at least one frequency wherein the communication controller transmits said subsequent downstream signal to the first node is timeslotted.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller is transmitted within at least one timeslot within at least one frequency.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal is transmitted from the communication controller to the first node within at least one common control channel, wherein said at least one common control channel is at least one timeslot within at least one frequency wherein the communication controller transmits timeslot assignment information.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller to the first node is transmitted within at least one predetermined frequency.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal to the first node includes information relating to at least one timeslot assigned to the first node for the first node to transmit said subsequent request signal.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent downstream signal to the first node includes information relating to at least one timeslot within at least one frequency assigned to the first node for the first node to transmit said subsequent request signal.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent request signal is transmitted within at least one frequency.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said subsequent request signal is transmitted within at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent request signal is transmitted within at least one timeslot assigned by the communication controller.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent request signal is transmitted from the first node to the communication controller within at least one dedicated upstream channel, wherein said at least one dedicated upstream channel comprises at least one timeslot within at least one frequency assigned exclusively to a node for transmitting said subsequent request signal to the communication controller.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent request signal transmitted from the first node is a reserved access request.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein said subsequent request signal is transmitted within the at least one timeslot assigned to the first node in the subsequent downstream signal.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein said subsequent request signal comprises information relating to a request for an allocation of resources for subsequently transmitting data from the first node to the communication controller.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said request for an allocation of resources for subsequently transmitting data from the first node to the communication controller is for a request for an allocation of time for transmitting a specified amount of data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein said request for an allocation of time for transmitting a specified amount of data comprises a request for at least one timeslot.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said request for an allocation of resources for subsequently transmitting data from the first node to the communication controller is a request to transmit a specified amount of data.

44. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional subsequent downstream signal is transmitted within at least one frequency.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said additional subsequent downstream signal is transmitted within at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional subsequent downstream signal is transmitted within at least one timeslot.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional subsequent downstream signal is transmitted from the communication controller to the first node within at least one dedicated downstream channel, wherein said at least one dedicated downstream channel comprises at least one timeslot within at least one frequency wherein the communication controller transmits timeslot assignment information for the first node to subsequently transmit data.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional subsequent downstream signal comprises information relating to at least one timeslot within at least one frequency assigned to the first node for transmitting said data.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein said additional subsequent downstream signal comprises information relating to at least one timeslot assigned to the first node for the first node to transmit data.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted from the first node is transmitted within at least one frequency.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the data transmitted from the first node is transmitted within at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the data transmitted from the first node is transmitted within the at least one timeslot assigned to the first node.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein said data transmitted from the first node is transmitted within at least one dedicated upstream channel, wherein said at least one dedicated upstream channel comprises at least one timeslot within at least one frequency assigned exclusively to the first node for the first node to transmit said data.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node transmits at least one signal to the communication controller within at least one timeslot within at least one frequency;

wherein the at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency wherein the first node transmits said at least one signal to the communication controller defines the identity of the first node.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein randomly generated information is transmitted between the first node and the communication controller.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein said randomly generated information may be generated by the first node.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein said randomly generated information comprises randomly generated identification information.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein said randomly generated identification information is at least temporarily associated with the first node.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein said randomly generated information comprises time derived identifying information which is at least temporarily associated with the first node.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein said randomly generated information is transmitted from the first node to the communication controller within said request signal.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein said randomly generated information is transmitted from the communication controller to the first node within said subsequent downstream signal.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the communication controller returns said randomly generated information to the first node within said subsequent downstream signal.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the communication controller returns said randomly generated information to identify said information relating to at least one subsequent request opportunity assigned to the first node for transmitting said subsequent request signal as belonging to the first node.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising the step of:

transmitting node identification information from the first node to the communication controller subsequent to the first node receiving the randomly generated information returned by the communication controller.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein said node identification information is transmitted from the first node to the communication controller within said subsequent request signal.

66. The method of claim 55,

wherein the first node transmits node identification information to the communication controller subsequent to the node transmitting the randomly generated information, and

wherein in response to the communication controller receiving said node identification information from the first node, the communication controller verifies the validity of said node identification information from the first node.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein said data transmitted by the first node comprises an amount of data, said amount of data being comprised of at least one data packet.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said at least one data packet comprises information relating to a number of related data packets.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein said information relating to the number of related packets comprises a countdown value.

70. The method of claim 67, wherein the last data packet of said amount of data transmitted by the first node comprises information indicating that the last data packet is the final data packet.

71. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one timeslot wherein the first node may utilize to transmit said request signal to the communication controller is one of a series of timeslots where network nodes can transmit said request signal, the series of timeslots occurring repeatedly after transmission of said downstream signal from the communication controller and continuing after receipt of said request signal transmitted to the communication controller.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said series of timeslots where the network nodes can transmit the request signal occurs repeatedly without being disabled during operation of the communication controller.

73. The method of claim 1, wherein a communication controller comprises a communication device capable of receiving and transmitting signals to at least one other communication device over any number of frequencies.

74. The method of claim 1, wherein said downstream signal, said subsequent downstream signal and said additional subsequent downstream signal are transmitted on at least one timeslotted downstream frequency, wherein at least one timeslot within the at least one timeslotted downstream frequency forms a channel.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the transmissions from the first node to the communication controller including said request signal, said subsequent request signal and said data are transmitted on at least one timeslotted upstream frequency, wherein the at least one timeslot within the at least one timeslotted upstream frequency forms a channel.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the transmissions from the first node to the communication controller are time division multiplexed over the at least one timeslotted upstream frequency.

77. The method of claim 1, wherein said downstream signal is a recurring signal transmitted from the communication controller to at least one network node,

wherein transmissions between the communication controller and a plurality of network nodes may occur simultaneously over at least one frequency,

wherein the state of operation for each relative node of the plurality of nodes comprises at least a first state for monitoring for a downstream signal from the communication controller, at least a second state for transmitting a request signal from the relative node to the communication controller, at least a third state for monitoring for a subsequent downstream signal from the communication controller, at least a fourth state for transmitting a subsequent request signal from the relative node to the communication controller, at least a fifth state for monitoring for a additional subsequent downstream signal from the communication controller and at least a sixth state for transmitting data, and

wherein the relative state for each relative node from the plurality of nodes is determined by the associated state of operation for each relative node.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein each relative node from the plurality of nodes may operate at a different relative state of operation for each relative node in relation to other nodes from the plurality of nodes.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the state of operation for each relative node comprises at least one other state for receiving incoming data transmissions from the communication controller.

80. The method of claim 77, wherein the state of operation also comprises at least one other state for receiving data transmissions from the communication controller.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein each relative node may operate in more than one state at any given period.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein each relative node may simultaneously send and receive transmissions.

83. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node includes a writing pad for entering the data into the node.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the writing pad is pressure sensitive.

85. The method of claim 83, wherein the writing pad is an LCD.

86. The method of claim 83, wherein the first node includes a keyboard.

87. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node receives information transmitted from the communication controller relating to at least one frequency the first node must utilized in transmitting data to and receiving data from the communication controller.

88. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node may at anytime receive information from the communication controller relating to at least one frequency wherein the first node must utilize to transmit information.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the first node receives information from the communication controller relating to an assignment of at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency wherein the first node must utilize to transmit information.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein said information from the communication controller relating to an assignment of at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency wherein the first node must utilize to transmit information comprises information relating to at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency wherein the first node is assigned to transmit data.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein the first node transmits information upstream to the communication controller within the at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency.

92. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node receives information relating to at least one frequency wherein the first node must monitor for transmissions from the communication controller.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the first node receives transmissions from the communication controller within said at least one frequency.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the first node receives transmissions from the communication controller within at least one timeslot within said at least one frequency.

95. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node may at anytime receive information from the communication controller relating to at least one frequency wherein the first node must utilize in transmitting information to the communication controller and receiving information from the communication controller.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the at least one frequency comprises a list of frequencies the first node must utilized in transmitting information to and receiving information from the communication controller.

97. The method of claim 95, wherein the at least one frequency comprises a range of frequencies wherein the first node must utilized in transmitting information to and receiving information from the communication controller.

98. The method of claim 95, wherein the first node transmits within at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency when transmitting information to the communication controller,

wherein the first node receives transmissions from the communication controller within at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency when receiving information from the communication controller.

99. The method of claim 88, wherein the at least one frequency utilized in transmitting information from the first node to the communication controller can be changed.

100. The method of claim 95, wherein the at least one frequency wherein the first node transmits information and the at least one frequency wherein the first node receives information from the communication controller comprises at least one range of frequencies utilized by the first node in transmitting information to and receiving information from the communication controller,

wherein at least one frequency forming the at least one range of frequencies utilized by the first node in transmitting information to and receiving information from the communication controller is changed.

101. The method of claim 95, wherein the first node determines which at least one frequency the first node will utilize in communicating with the communication controller.

102. The method of claim 100, wherein the at least one frequency is changed via switching of the at least one frequency.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the at least one frequency utilized for switching may be predetermined.

104. The method of claim 102, wherein the first node determines whether switching of the at least one frequency is required based upon signal quality.

105. The method of claim 102, wherein the communication controller controls whether switching of the at least one frequency is required based upon signal quality.

106. The method of claim 95, wherein the communication controller assigns the at least one frequency for the first node to utilize in communicating with the communication controller.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein the communication controller assigns the at least one frequency to the first node for frequency switching.

108. The method of claim 107, wherein the first node is assigned at least one timeslot within the at least one frequency by the communication controller to transmit information.

109. The method of claim 1, wherein any number of frequencies may be used for transmissions between the communication controller and the first node.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein the number of frequencies used for transmissions between the communication controller and the first node need not be fixed.

111. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node receives information from the communication controller assigning a new at least one timeslot for the first node to transmit said subsequent request.

112. The method of claim 7, wherein the first node randomly chooses at least one timeslot wherein the first node transmits.

113. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least one timeslot assigned to the first node in the subsequent downstream signal need not be fixed.

114. The method of claim 49, wherein the at least one timeslot assigned to the first node for transmitting said data need not be fixed.

115. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication controller transmits at least one acknowledgment in response to receiving at least one transmission from the first node.

116. The method claim 1, wherein the communication controller maintains radio resources allocated to the first node after the data from the first node has been received, wherein said radio resources comprises at least one timeslot assigned to the first node for the first node to further communicate with the communication controller, wherein the communication controller may remove the at least one timeslot assigned to the first node when the at least one timeslot assigned to the first node is unused by the first node for a predetermined period of time.

117. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one network node including the first node maintains an active connection to the communication controller after the first node has transmitted the data to the communication controller by retaining at least one timeslot for transmitting additional requests to the communication controller.

118. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication controller transmits information to the first node allocating at least one timeslot to the first node for transmitting additional requests to the communication controller, said additional requests transmitted from the first node to the communication controller being transmitted from the first node after the first node had transmitted all the data.

119. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node may transmit signals and receives signals from the communication controller via at least one antenna.

120. The method of claim 119, wherein the at least one antenna comprises multiple antennas.

121. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node communicates with at least one communication controller in at least one time slot via at least one antenna via at least one frequency.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein the at least one antenna comprises multiple antennas.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein said multiple antennas comprises at least one antenna for transmitting signals from the first node to at least one communication controller over at least one frequency within at least one time slot.

124. The method of claim 121, wherein said at least one communication controller comprises multiple communication controllers, wherein said at least one frequency comprises multiple frequencies.

125. The method of claim 122, wherein said multiple antennas comprises at least one antenna for receiving signals from at least one communication controller over at least one frequency.

126. The method of claim 121, wherein said at least one communication controller comprises multiple communication controllers, wherein said at least one frequency comprises multiple frequencies.

127. The method of claim 121, wherein the first node may transmit signals and receive signals simultaneously.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein the first node may simultaneously transmit signals on multiple frequencies.

wherein the first node may simultaneously receives transmissions on multiple frequencies.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein the first node may transmit a request signal to at least one communication controller while transmitting data to at least one communication controller.

130. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node may simultaneously transmit signals and receive signals with at least one communication controller over any number of antennas over any number of frequencies.

131. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one frequency utilized for transmissions between the first node and the communication controller is comprised of multiple upstream frequencies wherein the first node may utilize to communicate with the communication controller.

132. The method of claim 3, wherein at least one frequency utilized for transmissions between the first node and the communication controller is comprised of multiple downstream frequencies wherein the communication controller utilizes to communicate with the first node.

133. The method of claim 4, wherein said at least one frequency wherein the first node may utilize for communication between the first node and the communication controller comprises multiple frequencies assigned to the first node for the first node to utilize in communicating with the communication controller.

134. The method of claim 1, wherein said information relating to at least one request opportunity wherein the first node may transmit a request signal to the communication controller comprises information relating to at least one random access timeslot request opportunity,

wherein said at least one random access timeslot request opportunity is comprised of at least one timeslot which had been predetermined as being utilizable by at least one node including the first node to transmit a random access request.

135. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal from the first node to the communication controller is transmitted within at least one timeslot;

wherein said at least one timeslot wherein the first node transmits said request signal is at least one predetermined timeslot wherein at least one node including the first node to transmit a random access request.

136. The method of claim 135, wherein said at least one predetermined timeslots where the at least one node including the first node can transmit the request signal occurs repeatedly without being disabled during operation of the communication controller.

137. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first node transmits the request signal and the subsequent downstream signal is not received, the first node will introduce a random back off and resubmit the request signal.

138. The method of claims 137, wherein the resubmitted request signal is a random access request signal.

139. The method of claim 1, wherein said request signal is a random access request signal, wherein when the first node transmits the random access request signal with a randomly generated number, and when the subsequent downstream signal is not received by the first node with a repeat of the randomly generated number for identification, the first node will introduce a random back off routine and resubmit the random access request signal.

140. The method of any one of claim 139, wherein the network is a wide area network.

141. A method of communicating data comprising:

receiving at a first node, a downstream signal transmitted from a communication controller, said downstream signal comprising information relating to at least one timeslot wherein the first node may transmit a random access request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said random access request signal from the first node to the communication controller, said random access request signal being transmitted from the first node to the communication controller in response to the first node receiving said downstream signal;

said random access request signal being transmitted from the first node within the at least one timeslot identified within the downstream signal;

receiving at the first node, a subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to at least one timeslot assigned exclusively to the first node for transmitting a subsequent request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said subsequent request signal from the first node to the communication controller, said subsequent request signal being transmitted by the first node in response to the first node receiving said subsequent downstream signal, said subsequent request signal being transmitted within the at least one timeslot assigned exclusively to the first node in the subsequent downstream signal, said subsequent request signal including information relating to a request for an allocation of resources from the communication controller for the first node to transmit data to the communication controller;

receiving at the first node, a additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said additional subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to an allocation of resources to the first node for the first node to transmit data to the communication controller; and

transmitting data from the first node to the communication controller.

142. The method of claim 141, wherein said at least one timeslot wherein the first node may transmit a random access request signal to the communication controller is one of a series of timeslots where network nodes can transmit said random access request signal, the series of timeslots occurring repeatedly after transmission of said downstream signal from the communication controller and continuing after receipt of said request signal transmitted to the communication controller.

143. The method of claim 142, wherein said series of timeslots where the network nodes can transmit the random access request signal occurs repeatedly without being disabled during the operation of the communication controller.

144. The method of claim 143, wherein the communication controller transmits to a second node information relating to at least one additional request opportunity wherein the second node may transmit a additional request signal.

145. The method of claim 143, wherein said information relating to at least one additional request opportunity wherein the second node may transmit said additional request signal may be transmitted from the communication controller at anytime.

146. The method of claim 143, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at a second node, the subsequent downstream signal transmitted from a communication controller, said subsequent downstream signal further comprising information relating to at least one timeslot wherein the second node may transmit a additional random access request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said additional random access request signal from the second node to the communication controller, said additional random access request signal being transmitted from the second node to the communication controller in response to the second node receiving said subsequent downstream signal, said additional random access request signal being transmitted from the second node within the at least one timeslot identified within the subsequent downstream signal;

receiving at the second node, the additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said additional subsequent downstream signal further comprising information relating to at least one timeslot assigned exclusively to the second node for transmitting a additional subsequent request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said additional subsequent request signal from the second node to the communication controller, said additional subsequent request signal being transmitted by the second node in response to the second node receiving said additional subsequent downstream signal, said additional subsequent request signal being transmitted within the at least one timeslot assigned exclusively to the second node in the additional subsequent downstream signal;

said additional subsequent request signal including information relating to a request for an allocation of resources from the communication controller for the second node to transmit data to the communication controller;

receiving at the second node, a next additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said next additional subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to an allocation of resources to the second node for the second node to transmit data to the communication controller; and

transmitting data from the second node to the communication controller.

147. The method of claim 146, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at a third node, the additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from a communication controller, said additional subsequent downstream signal further comprising information relating to at least one timeslot wherein the third node may transmit another additional random access request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said another additional random access request signal from the third node to the communication controller, said another additional random access request signal being transmitted from the third node to the communication controller in response to the third node receiving said additional subsequent downstream signal;

said another additional random access request signal being transmitted from the third node within the at least one timeslot identified within the additional subsequent downstream signal;

receiving at the third node, the next additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said next additional subsequent downstream signal further comprising information relating to at least one timeslot assigned exclusively to the third node for transmitting another additional subsequent request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said another additional subsequent request signal from the third node to the communication controller, said another additional subsequent request signal being transmitted by the third node in response to the third node receiving said next additional subsequent downstream signal, said another additional subsequent request signal being transmitted within the at least one timeslot assigned exclusively to the third node in the next additional subsequent downstream signal, said another additional subsequent request signal including information relating to a request for an allocation of resources from the communication controller for the third node to transmit data to the communication controller;

receiving at the third node, a further next additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said further next additional subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to an allocation of resources to the third node for the third node to transmit data to the communication controller; and

transmitting data from the third node to the communication controller.

148. The method of claim 142, wherein when the first node transmits the random access request signal and the subsequent downstream signal is not received, the first node will introduce a random back off and resubmit the random access request signal.

149. A method of communicating data comprising:

receiving at a first node, a downstream signal transmitted from a communication controller, said downstream signal comprising information relating to at least one random access request opportunity wherein the first node may transmit a request signal to the communication controller;

transmitting said request signal from the first node to the communication controller, said request signal being transmitted from the first node to the communication controller in response to the first node receiving said downstream signal, wherein randomly generated information is transmitted from the first node to the communication controller within said request signal;

receiving at the first node, a subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to at least one subsequent request opportunity assigned to the first node for transmitting a subsequent request signal to the communication controller, wherein the communication controller returns said randomly generated information to the first node within said subsequent downstream signal;

transmitting said subsequent request signal from the first node to the communication controller, said subsequent request signal being transmitted by the first node in response to the first node receiving said subsequent downstream signal, said subsequent request signal including information relating to a request for an allocation of resources from the communication controller for the first node to transmit data to the communication controller;

receiving at the first node, a additional subsequent downstream signal transmitted from the communication controller, said additional subsequent downstream signal comprising information relating to an allocation of resources to the first node for the first node to transmit data to the communication controller; and

transmitting data from the first node to the communication controller.

150. The method of claim 149, wherein when the first node transmits the random access request signal with a randomly generated number, and when the subsequent downstream signal is not received by the first node with a repeat of the randomly generated number for identification, the first node will introduce a random back off routine and resubmit the request signal.

151. The method of any one of claim 150, wherein the network is a wide area network.