Channel access control in a communication system
First Claim
1. A control module to control access to a plurality of data channels in a radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system coupled to a plurality of user modules over a RF link, at least first and second user modules having sent a first and second access request commands to the control module to request access to at least one data channel, the control module comprising:
- means for providing repetitive TDM frames, including at least a first TDM frame;
means for providing a data channel disposed in each of said TDM frames;
means for generating an access grant command;
means for receiving at least said first and second access request command in at least said first TDM frame;
means, coupled to said means for receiving, for determining which of at least said first access request commands and second access request command said receiving means received first;
means, responsive to said means for determining, for assigning access to said said data channel; and
means for sending said access grant command in at least said first TDM frame to one of said first user module and second user module in response to said means for assigning.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A CM (105) receives requests for data transfer from a series of UMs (101-103) and from an EM (104). The requests contain the UM (101-103) or EM (104) address and the size of the data packet to be transferred. The CM (105) processes the requests on a FIFO basis, stores the requests in a queue and assigns either a small data channel or a large data channel, depending on the packet size to be transferred, and also the corresponding number of required timeslots. The CM (105) picks the first request off the queue and sends a grant to the particular UM (101-103) or EM (104) which receive the grant and immediately access either the assigned small or large data channels in the required number of timeslots.
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control module to control access to a plurality of data channels in a radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system coupled to a plurality of user modules over a RF link, at least first and second user modules having sent a first and second access request commands to the control module to request access to at least one data channel, the control module comprising:
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means for providing repetitive TDM frames, including at least a first TDM frame; means for providing a data channel disposed in each of said TDM frames; means for generating an access grant command; means for receiving at least said first and second access request command in at least said first TDM frame; means, coupled to said means for receiving, for determining which of at least said first access request commands and second access request command said receiving means received first; means, responsive to said means for determining, for assigning access to said said data channel; and means for sending said access grant command in at least said first TDM frame to one of said first user module and second user module in response to said means for assigning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system employing a plurality of user modules and a control module to control access to a plurality of data channels, the RF TDMA communication system comprising:
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means for providing repetitive TDM frames including at least a first TDM frame; means for providing at least one data channel disposed in at least said first TDM frame; means for generating an access request command; means for generating an access grant command; means, at one user module, for sending said access request command during at least said first TDM frame; means, at the control module, for receiving said access request command from said one user module; means, coupled to said means for receiving, for assigning access to said at least one data channel in response to receipt of said access request command; means, responsive to said means for assigning, for sending said access grant command to said one user module during at least said first TDM frame; and means, at said one user module, for receiving said access grant command and for accessing said at least one data channel during said TDM frames following at least said first TDM frame. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling access to a plurality of data channels in a control module incorporated in a radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system, the control module coupled to a plurality of user modules over the RF link, at least first and second user modules having sent a first and second access request commands to the control module to request access to at least one data channel, the method comprising:
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providing repetitive TDM frames including at least a first TDM frame; providing at least one data channel disposed in at least said first TDM frame; generating an access grant command; receiving at least said first and second access request command in at least said first TDM frame; determining which of at least said first access request command and second access request commands said step of receiving received first; assigning access, responsive to said step of determining, to said at least one data channel; and sending said access grant command in at least said first TDM frame to one of said first user module and second user module in response to said assigning. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling access to a plurality of data channels in a radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system employing a plurality of user modules and a control module, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing repetitive TDM frames including at least a first TDM frame; providing at least one data channel disposed in at least said first TDM frame; generating an access request command; generating an access grant command; sending, at one user module, said access request command during at least said first TDM frame; receiving, at the control module, said access request command from said one user module; assigning access to said at least one data channel in response to receipt of said access request command; sending, responsive to said step of assigning, said access grant command to said one user module during at least said first TDM frame; and receiving, at said one user module, said access grant command and accessing said at least one data channel during said TDM frames following at least said first TDM frame. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification