Multiple-access communications system
First Claim
1. A multiple access communications system for use between a base and a plurality of substations and having a first channel for transmission of data from the base to the substations and a second channel for transmission of data from the substation to the base, wherein the system has, in use:
- i) assigning means at the base for assigning each of the substations to one of a plurality of groups,ii) allocating means at the base for allocating each of a plurality of slots in the second channel to a particular group,iii) reporting means at the base for reporting to the substations via the first channel the number of substations in each group, andiv) analyzing means at each substation for analyzing the numbers of substations in each of the groups and for making a judgment based on these numbers as to which group to assign each respective substation to in order for that substation to communicate next with the base in the slot or slots allocated to that group.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple access communications system for use between a base and a plurality of substations and having a first channel for transmission of data from the base to the substations and a second channel for transmission of data from the substation to the base. The system has, in use, provision at the base and/or substations for assigning each of the substations to one of a plurality of groups, and for allocating, from the base, each of a plurality of slots in the second channel to a particular group. There is provision at the base for reporting to the substation via the first channel the number of substations in each group, and there are analyzing means at each substation for analyzing the number of substations in each of the groups and for making a judgement based on those numbers as to which group to assign each respective substation to in order for that substation to communicate next with the base in the slot or slots allocated to that group.
17 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A multiple access communications system for use between a base and a plurality of substations and having a first channel for transmission of data from the base to the substations and a second channel for transmission of data from the substation to the base, wherein the system has, in use:
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i) assigning means at the base for assigning each of the substations to one of a plurality of groups, ii) allocating means at the base for allocating each of a plurality of slots in the second channel to a particular group, iii) reporting means at the base for reporting to the substations via the first channel the number of substations in each group, and iv) analyzing means at each substation for analyzing the numbers of substations in each of the groups and for making a judgment based on these numbers as to which group to assign each respective substation to in order for that substation to communicate next with the base in the slot or slots allocated to that group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a multiple access communications system for use between a base and a plurality of substations and having a first channel for transmission of data from the base to the substations and a second channel for transmission of data from the substation to the base, comprising the following steps:
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i) assigning each of the substations to one of a plurality of groups (l to k), ii) the base allocating each of a plurality of slots (l to t) in the second channel to a particular group (l to k), iii) the base reporting to the substations (Bl to Bn) via the first channel (C1) the number of substations in each group (l to k), and iv) each substation (Bl to Bn) analyzing the number (Ul to Uk) of substations in each of the groups l to k) and making a judgment based on these numbers as to which group (l to k) to assign itself to in order next communicate with the base (A) in the slot or slots (t) assigned to that group. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A multiple access communications system for use between a base and a plurality of substations and having a first channel for transmission of data from the base to the substations and a second channel for transmission of data from the substation to the base, characterized in that the system has, in use:
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i) assigning means at the substations for assigning each of the substations to one of a plurality of groups, ii) allocating means at the base for allocating each of a plurality of slots in the second channel to a particular group, and iii) reporting means at the base for reporting to the substations via the first channel the number of substations in each group, the assigning means analyzing the numbers of substations in each of the groups and making a judgment based on these numbers as to which group to assign each substation to on joining the system.
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Specification