Method and apparatus for reducing the likelihood of contention and resource misallocation in a packet transmission system
First Claim
1. In a packet transmission system wherein a plurality of remote units request service from a communications controller by transmitting access requests to said controller, a method for reducing the likelihood of request contention and resource misallocation comprising the steps of:
- at a remote unit;
transmitting an access request to the controller;
starting a first timer having a first interval determined as a function of a number of outstanding access requests issued by said remote unit; and
awaiting receipt of an acknowledgment from the controller;
upon receipt of the acknowledgment, starting a second timer having a second interval greater in duration than the first interval; and
transmitting a duplicate request upon expiration of the second timer;
elsetransmitting a duplicate request upon expiration of the first timer when no acknowledgment was received.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A packet transmission system (100) for reducing request traffic contention and the likelihood of resource misallocation includes a communications controller (110) and a plurality of remote requesting units (112) requesting packet transmission services. In response to receipt of a request (302), the controller (110) transmits a grant (306) to a requesting unit (112) when packet transmission resources (304 & 310) are available or a request acknowledgment (306) when packet transmission resources (304 & 310) are unavailable. Each remote unit (112) comprise apparatus structure and method steps for transmitting requests (302) to the controller (110) and starting a first timer having an interval (T) determined as a function of a number (Q) of outstanding requests (302). Upon receipt of an acknowledgement (306), the remote unit (112) starts a second timer having an interval (T1) longer than the interval (T). Upon expiration of either the first timer or the second timer, the remote unit (112) will then and only then transmit a duplicate request (302). By limiting the number of duplicate requests transmitted by a remote unit (112), the present invention operates to reduce request traffic contention and the likelihood of resource misallocation.
169 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. In a packet transmission system wherein a plurality of remote units request service from a communications controller by transmitting access requests to said controller, a method for reducing the likelihood of request contention and resource misallocation comprising the steps of:
-
at a remote unit; transmitting an access request to the controller; starting a first timer having a first interval determined as a function of a number of outstanding access requests issued by said remote unit; and awaiting receipt of an acknowledgment from the controller; upon receipt of the acknowledgment, starting a second timer having a second interval greater in duration than the first interval; and transmitting a duplicate request upon expiration of the second timer;
elsetransmitting a duplicate request upon expiration of the first timer when no acknowledgment was received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. In a TDMA packet transmission system wherein a plurality of remote units request TDM resources from a communications controller within said system by transmitting access requests to said controller, a remote unit for reducing the likelihood of request contention and resource misallocation comprising:
-
a transmitter for transmitting access requests to the communications controller; means, coupled to the transmitter, for starting a first timer having a first interval determined as a function of a number of outstanding access requests issued by said remote unit; a receiver, coupled to the transmitter, for receiving an acknowledgment from the communications controller when packet transmission resources are unavailable; means, coupled to the receiver and the first timer, for disabling the first timer and starting a second timer having an interval greater than the first interval, upon receipt of said acknowledgment; the transmitter, being coupled to the first and second timer, for transmitting a duplicate request to the controller upon expiration of the first interval when no acknowledgment was received or the expiration of the second interval when an acknowledgment was received. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. In a TDMA packet transmission system wherein a plurality of remote units request TDM resources from a communications controller by transmitting multiple requests to said controller, a method for reducing the likelihood of request traffic contention and TDM resource misallocation comprising the steps of:
-
at a remote unit; transmitting a request and starting a first timer in response thereto, said first timer having a dynamic interval determined as a function of a number of outstanding requests issued by said remote unit; awaiting an acknowledgment from the controller; disabling the first timer and starting a second timer having a second interval greater in duration than the first interval, upon receipt of the acknowledgment; and transmitting a duplicate request upon expiration of the second timer, else transmitting a duplicate request upon expiration of the first timer when no acknowledgment was received, thereby reducing the likelihood of request traffic contention; and at the communications controller; receiving requests from the remote unit; storing the requests in memory; transmitting a grant to the remote unit upon receipt of a request and when TDM resources are available; and transmitting an acknowledgment to the remote unit upon receipt of a request and when TDM resources are unavailable, thereby reducing the likelihood of TDM resource misallocation.
-
Specification