DEFAULT ASSIGNMENT OF SCHEDULED TRANSMISSIONS
First Claim
1. A method for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
- (a) sending a request from a first node in the plurality of nodes, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space including a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent in a request segment that is one of the plurality of request segments;
(b) obtaining an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space;
(c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request in accordance with the assignment; and
(d) wherein the plurality of scheduled transmission segments includes at least one default use segment, the at least one default use segment being available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are presented for conducting communications over a shared communication medium, involving (a) sending a request from a first node, the shared communication medium organized to include (i) a request signal space including request segments each having a different location within the request signal space and (ii) a scheduled transmission signal space including scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent in a request segment, (b) obtaining an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment, (c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request, and (d) the plurality of scheduled transmission segments including at least one default use segment available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
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(a) sending a request from a first node in the plurality of nodes, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space including a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent in a request segment that is one of the plurality of request segments; (b) obtaining an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space; (c) from the first node, sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request in accordance with the assignment; and (d) wherein the plurality of scheduled transmission segments includes at least one default use segment, the at least one default use segment being available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes including a first node and a second node, the method comprising:
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(a) at the second node, receiving a request from the first node, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space including a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the request sent in a request segment that is one of the plurality of request segments; (b) at the second node, making an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space, and sending a corresponding assignment message; (c) at the second node, receiving a data transmission from the first node in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request; and (d) wherein the plurality of scheduled transmission segments includes at least one default use segment, the at least one default use segment being available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments.
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12. An apparatus for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, comprising:
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(a) a first node capable of sending a request over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space including a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the first node capable of sending the request in a request segment that is one of the plurality of request segments; (b) wherein the first node is capable of obtaining an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space; (c) wherein the first node is capable of sending a data transmission in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request in accordance with the assignment; and (d) wherein the plurality of scheduled transmission segments includes at least one default use segment, the at least one default use segment being available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for conducting communications over a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, comprising:
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(a) a second node capable of receiving a request from a first node, the shared communication medium organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space, the request signal space including a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space, the scheduled transmission signal space including a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space, the second node capable of receiving the request in a request segment that is one of the plurality of request segments; (b) wherein the second node is capable of making an assignment, in a first tier of assignments, associating the request with a scheduled transmission segment selected from the plurality of scheduled transmission segments, the assignment taking into account location of the request within the request signal space, and sending a corresponding assignment message; (c) wherein the second node is capable of receiving a data transmission from the first node in the scheduled transmission segment associated with the request; and (d) wherein the plurality of scheduled transmission segments includes at least one default use segment, the at least one default use segment being available for use by a default entity if the at least one default use segment is not assigned in the first tier of assignments.
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Specification