Scheduling in a communication system
First Claim
1. A control module which schedules 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 command, respectively, 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 having at least one data channel;
means, coupled to said means for providing, 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 command and second access request command said means for receiving received first; and
means, coupled to said means for providing repetitive TDM frames and responsive to said means for determining, for scheduling access to said at least one data channel in at least said first TDM frame.
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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 schedules either a small data channel (415) or a large data channel (420), depending on the packet size to be transferred, an acknowledgement channel (425) 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 (415, 420) in the required number of timeslots and the acknowledgement channel (425).
71 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A control module which schedules 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 command, respectively, 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 having at least one data channel; means, coupled to said means for providing, 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 command and second access request command said means for receiving received first; and means, coupled to said means for providing repetitive TDM frames and responsive to said means for determining, for scheduling access to said at least one data channel in at least said first TDM frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system employing a plurality of user modules and a control module to schedule 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 providing an access request command; means, at least 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 at least one user module; and means, coupled to said means for receiving, for scheduling access to said at least one data channel in at least said first TDM frame in response to said receipt of said access request command. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of scheduling 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 a RF link, at least first and second user modules having sent a first and second access request command, respectively, to the control module to request access to at least one data channel, the method of scheduling 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; 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 command said means for receiving received first; and scheduling, responsive to said step of determining, access to said at least one data channel in at least said first TDM frame. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of scheduling in a radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system employing a plurality of user modules and a control module linked to a plurality of external modules, the user modules coupled to the control module via a RF link, 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 said at least a first TDM frame; providing an access request command; sending, at at least 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 at least one user module; and scheduling access to said at least one data channel in at least said first TDM frame in response to receipt of said access request command. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system employing a plurality of user modules and a control module to schedule access to a plurality of data channels, the RF TDMA communication system comprising:
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means for providing repetitive TDM frames including a first TDM frame; means for providing a first data channel and a second data channel disposed in said first TDM frame; means, at a first user module, for providing at least first and second access request commands for requesting access to said first and second data channels, respectively; means, at said first user module, for determining which of said first and second data channels is to be accessed; means, from said first user module and responsive to said means for determining, for sending one of said first and second access request commands during said first TDM frame; means, at the control module, for receiving said sent access request command from said first user module; and means, coupled to said means for receiving, for scheduling access to one of said first and second data channels in at least one of said repetitive TDM frames in response to said receipt of said sent access request command. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of scheduling in a radio frequency (RF) time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication system employing a plurality of user modules and a control module linked to a plurality of external modules, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing repetitive TDM frames including a first TDM frame; providing a first data channel and a second data channel disposed in said first TDM frame; providing, at a first user module, at least first and second access request commands for requesting access to said first and second data channels, respectively; determining, at said first user module, which of said first and second data channels is to be accessed; sending, from said first user module and responsive to said step of determining, one of said first and second access request commands during said first TDM frame; receiving, at the control module, said sent access request command from said first user module; and scheduling access to one of said first and second data channels in at least one of said repetitive TDM frames in response to said receipt of said sent access request command. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification