CONTENTION-BASED COMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. A method for conducting communications using a shared communication medium, the method comprising:
- sending a message over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space, the allocation of node identification signal space including a plurality of node identification segments each having a different location within the allocation of node identification signal space, the allocation of data transmission signal space including a data transmission segment, the message including a node identification portion and a data transmission portion;
wherein the node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space, and the node identification portion occupies a node identification segment that is one of the plurality of node identification segments, the node identification segment being associated with an access node;
wherein the data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of data transmission signal space, and the data transmission portion occupies the data transmission segment, the data transmission segment capable of being occupied by data transmission portions of other messages transmitted from other access nodes;
wherein a measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium is based on a number of occupied node identification segments detected in the allocation of node identification signal space; and
wherein, depending on the measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium, the data transmission portion in the allocation of data transmission signal space is processed.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are presented for conducting communications using a shared communication medium. A message is sent over the shared communication medium. The shared communication medium is organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space. The allocation of node identification signal space includes a plurality of node identification segments. The allocation of data transmission signal space includes a data transmission segment. The message includes a node identification portion and a data transmission portion. The node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space and occupies a node identification segment. The data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space and occupies the data transmission segment.
143 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for conducting communications using a shared communication medium, the method comprising:
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sending a message over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space, the allocation of node identification signal space including a plurality of node identification segments each having a different location within the allocation of node identification signal space, the allocation of data transmission signal space including a data transmission segment, the message including a node identification portion and a data transmission portion; wherein the node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space, and the node identification portion occupies a node identification segment that is one of the plurality of node identification segments, the node identification segment being associated with an access node; wherein the data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of data transmission signal space, and the data transmission portion occupies the data transmission segment, the data transmission segment capable of being occupied by data transmission portions of other messages transmitted from other access nodes; wherein a measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium is based on a number of occupied node identification segments detected in the allocation of node identification signal space; and wherein, depending on the measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium, the data transmission portion in the allocation of data transmission signal space is processed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for conducting communications using a shared communication medium, the method comprising:
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receiving a message from an access node over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space, the allocation of node identification signal space including a plurality of node identification segments each having a different location within the allocation of node identification signal space, the allocation of data transmission signal space including a data transmission segment, the message including a node identification portion and a data transmission portion; wherein the node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space, and the node identification portion occupies a node identification segment that is one of the plurality of node identification segments, the node identification segment being associated with the access node; wherein the data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of data transmission signal space, and the data transmission portion occupies the data transmission segment, the data transmission segment capable of being occupied by data transmission portions of other messages transmitted from other access nodes; determining a measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium based on a number of occupied node identification segments detected in the allocation of node identification signal space; and depending on the measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium, processing the data transmission portion in the allocation of data transmission signal space.
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14. An apparatus for conducting communications using a shared communication medium, comprising:
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an access node capable of sending a message over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space, the allocation of node identification signal space including a plurality of node identification segments each having a different location within the allocation of node identification signal space, the allocation of data transmission signal space including a data transmission segment, the message including a node identification portion and a data transmission portion; wherein the node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space, and the node identification portion occupies a node identification segment that is one of the plurality of node identification segments, the node identification segment being associated with the access node; wherein the data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of data transmission signal space, and the data transmission portion occupies the data transmission segment, the data transmission segment capable of being occupied by data transmission portions of other messages transmitted from other access nodes; wherein a measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium is based on a number of occupied node identification segments detected in the allocation of node identification signal space; and wherein, depending on the measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium, the data transmission portion in the allocation of data transmission signal space is processed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for conducting communications using a shared communication medium involving a plurality of nodes, comprising:
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a second access node capable of receiving a message from a first access node over the shared communication medium, the shared communication medium organized to include an allocation of node identification signal space and an allocation of data transmission signal space, the allocation of node identification signal space including a plurality of node identification segments each having a different location within the allocation of node identification signal space, the allocation of data transmission signal space including a data transmission segment, the message including a node identification portion and a data transmission portion; wherein the node identification portion is transmitted in the allocation of node identification signal space, and the node identification portion occupies a node identification segment that is one of the plurality of node identification segments, the node identification segment being associated with the first access node; wherein the data transmission portion is transmitted in the allocation of data transmission signal space, and the data transmission portion occupies the data transmission segment, the data transmission segment capable of being occupied by data transmission portions of other messages transmitted from other senders; wherein the second node is capable of determining a measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium based on a number of occupied node identification segments detected in the allocation of node identification signal space; and wherein the second access node is capable of processing the data transmission portion in the allocation of data transmission signal space depending on the measure of occupancy of the shared communication medium.
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Specification