MULTIPLE REQUEST INTERVALS

• US 20080304506A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Irvine, David, Becker, Donald W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/02 Hybrid access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are presented for communicating using a shared communication medium. A request is sent over the shared communication medium. The shared communication medium is organized to include a request signal space and a scheduled transmission signal space. The request signal space includes a plurality of request segments each having a different location within the request signal space. The scheduled transmission signal space includes a plurality of scheduled transmission segments each having a different location within the scheduled transmission signal space. The request occupies more than one request segment. Each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by the first node. An assignment is received assigning the request to a transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space. The assignment is made in response to detecting at least one of the more than one request segments. A data transmission is sent using the assigned transmission opportunity.

Claims

1. A method for communicating using a shared communication medium comprising:

sending a request from a first node in a plurality of nodes 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 request occupying more than one request segment from the plurality of request segments, wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by the first node;

receiving an assignment for assigning the request to a transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space, the assignment made in response to detecting at least one of the more than one request segments; and

from the first node, sending a data transmission using the assigned transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request signal space comprises a plurality of request intervals, with the plurality of request segments organized within the plurality of request intervals, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is selected from a different one of the plurality of request intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of request intervals are organized based on an expected loading of the shared communication medium.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of request intervals and the plurality of request segments are organized based on a collision probability of the request.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the request signal space is organized based on code division multiplexing, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by selecting a code word.

6. A method for communicating using a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes including a first node and a second node, the method comprising:

at the second node, receiving a request from the first node 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 request occupying more than one request segment from the plurality of request segments, wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by the first node;

at the second node, sending an assignment for assigning the request to a transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space, the assignment made in response to detecting at least one of the more than one request segments; and

at the second node, receiving a data transmission using the assigned transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the request signal space comprises a plurality of request intervals, with the plurality of request segments organized within the plurality of request intervals, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is selected from a different one of the plurality of request intervals.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of request intervals are organized based on an expected loading of the shared communication medium.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of request intervals and the plurality of request segments are organized based on a collision probability of the request.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the request signal space is organized based on code division multiplexing, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by selecting a code word.

11. An apparatus for communicating using a shared communication medium comprising:

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 request occupying more than one request segment from the plurality of request segments, wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by the first node;

wherein the first node is capable of receiving an assignment for assigning the request to a transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space, the assignment made in response to detecting at least one of the more than one request segments; and

wherein the first node is capable of sending a data transmission using the assigned transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request signal space comprises a plurality of request intervals, with the plurality of request segments organized within the plurality of request intervals, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is selected from a different one of the plurality of request intervals.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of request intervals are organized based on an expected loading of the shared communication medium.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of request intervals and the plurality of request segments are organized based on a collision probability of the request.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the request signal space is organized based on code division multiplexing, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by selecting a code word.

16. An apparatus for communicating using a shared communication medium comprising:

a second node capable of receiving a request from a first node 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 request occupying more than one request segment from the plurality of request segments, wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by the first node;

wherein the second node is capable of sending an assignment for assigning the request to a transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space, the assignment made in response to detecting at least one of the more than one request segments; and

wherein the second node is capable of receiving a data transmission using the assigned transmission opportunity in the scheduled transmission signal space.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the request signal space comprises a plurality of request intervals, with the plurality of request segments organized within the plurality of request intervals, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is selected from a different one of the plurality of request intervals.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of request intervals are organized based on an expected loading of the shared communication medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the plurality of request intervals and the plurality of request segments are organized based on a collision probability of the request.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the request signal space is organized based on code division multiplexing, and wherein each of the more than one request segments is randomly selected by selecting a code word.