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Method and apparatus for assigning communications channels in a cable telephony system

  • US 5,818,825 A
  • Filed: 11/29/1995
  • Issued: 10/06/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A communications system comprising:

  • a cable distribution network;

    a base communications unit connected to the cable distribution network;

    a plurality of communications units connected to the able distribution network;

    an input/output interface connecting the base communications unit to the cable distribution network, wherein data transmissions are sent on the cable distribution network and received from the cable distribution network using the input/output interface;

    a plurality of channels within the cable distribution network, each of the plurality of channels being assigned a portion of a frequency spectrum in which the portion of frequency spectrum is divided by time into a plurality of time slots, wherein the plurality of channels includes a set of access channels used for accessing the communications system and a set of data channels used for transmitting data;

    the base communications unit transmitting identification information on a first channel in the set of access channels in the cable distribution network, wherein the identification information includes an identification of access channels used for accessing the communications system, the base communications unit further assigning channels within the set of data channels in response to a request for access on the set of access channels;

    each communications unit within the plurality of communications units monitoring the identification information on the first channel and utilizing the identification of the set of access channels to send data transmissions to the base communications unit in the cable distribution network on one of the identified access channels, wherein data transmissions between the base communications unit and each communications unit are identified by unique identifiers associated with each communications unit; and

    a processing unit having a number of modes of operation including;

    a first mode of operation in which the processing unit transmits identification information on the first channel via the input/output interface;

    a second mode of operation in which the processing unit monitors the set of access channels, using the input/output interface, for a request to access the communications system from a communications unit;

    a third mode of operation in which the processing unit assigns a data channel to the communications unit in response to receiving a request, on an access channel, for access on the communications system; and

    a fourth mode of operation in which the processing unit transmits information, via the input/output interface, to the communications unit on the access channel, wherein the information identifies the assigned data channel.

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