Telecommunications system and protocol for avoiding message collisions on a multiplexed communications link
First Claim
1. A method for sharing access to a single channel, bi-directional data link for communications between a plurality of primary users and a plurality of secondary users comprising the steps of:
- establishing a repeating time frame, each frame therein including a plurality of primary and secondary time periods therein;
synchronizing each user to the repeating time frame;
identifying by each primary and secondary user the plurality of primary and secondary time periods, respectively, in each frame as authorized time periods for that user to access said single channel, bi-directional data link and initiate a communication;
accessing said single channel, bi-directional data link by said primary users to initiate a communication with at least one secondary user only during said primary time periods; and
accessing the single channel, bi-directional data link by said secondary users to initiate a communication with at least one primary user only during said secondary time periods.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A location independent personal telecommunications system is presented that utilizes an out-of-band bi-directional burst data communications network to assist in the routing of personal communications via an in-band voice and data communications network. Access to the out-of-band network for communication is regulated by a multiple access communications protocol. Each user is synchronized with the other users of the network to the protocol and will access the network only during certain time periods that are reserved by the protocol for message traffic between network users. A collision avoidance scheme is included in the protocol to resolve instances of simultaneous transmission of message traffic by multiple users during the same time period.
163 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for sharing access to a single channel, bi-directional data link for communications between a plurality of primary users and a plurality of secondary users comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a repeating time frame, each frame therein including a plurality of primary and secondary time periods therein; synchronizing each user to the repeating time frame; identifying by each primary and secondary user the plurality of primary and secondary time periods, respectively, in each frame as authorized time periods for that user to access said single channel, bi-directional data link and initiate a communication; accessing said single channel, bi-directional data link by said primary users to initiate a communication with at least one secondary user only during said primary time periods; and accessing the single channel, bi-directional data link by said secondary users to initiate a communication with at least one primary user only during said secondary time periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A communications network, comprising:
-
a single channel, bi-directional communications data link accessed according to a repeating time frame including a plurality of primary and secondary time periods therein; a plurality of primary network users and a plurality of secondary network users selectively accessing said single channel, bi-directional communications data link to communicate between each other, wherein each primary and secondary user comprises; clock means for timing said repeating time frame; and transceiver means responsive to said clock means for identifying said plurality of primary and secondary time periods and for accessing said single channels, bi-directional communications data link during a selected one of said primary time periods to initiate a communication with at least one secondary user if the network user is a primary network user and for accessing said single channel, bi-directional communications data link during a selected one of said secondary time periods to initiate a communication with at least one primary user if the network user is a secondary network user; and means coupled to said single channel, bi-directional communications data link for transmitting a synchronization message to synchronize the clock means of each primary and secondary network user to the repeating time frame. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A communications system, comprising:
-
a telephonic communications network including means for providing in-band communications service to a plurality of subscribers; a command communications network comprised of a plurality of user transceivers including means for providing out-of-band communications service to the plurality of subscribers via the user transceivers wherein at least one user transceiver is assigned to each subscriber; a central communications control means connected to the telephonic and command communications networks including means responsive to out-of band communications from a subscriber over the command communications network for controlling the manner with which the in-band communications service is provided to that subscriber over the telephonic communications network; and wherein the plurality of user transceivers include a secondary transceiver assigned to each subscriber and at least one primary transceiver for relaying communications between the control means and the secondary transceivers over the command communications network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification