Method and apparatus for sharing a communication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system including a shared communication medium for providing messages, the communication system comprising:
- transmission devices for transmitting the messages over the shared communication medium during periods defined by a sharing pattern, the transmission devices comprising means for buying time on the shared communication medium during unassigned periods when the messages are awaiting transmission and for selling time on the shared communication medium during assigned periods when no messages are awaiting transmission; and
a trading center coupled to the transmission devices for modifying the sharing pattern used by the transmission devices in response to traffic handled by the transmission devices.
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Abstract
A communication system (100) includes a shared communication medium, such as a communication channel or a base station, for providing messages and transmission devices (110) for transmitting the messages over the shared communication medium during sharing periods defined by a sharing pattern (114). A trading center (105) coupled to the transmission devices (110) modifies the sharing pattern (114) in response to traffic handled by the transmission devices (110).
19 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A communication system including a shared communication medium for providing messages, the communication system comprising:
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transmission devices for transmitting the messages over the shared communication medium during periods defined by a sharing pattern, the transmission devices comprising means for buying time on the shared communication medium during unassigned periods when the messages are awaiting transmission and for selling time on the shared communication medium during assigned periods when no messages are awaiting transmission; and a trading center coupled to the transmission devices for modifying the sharing pattern used by the transmission devices in response to traffic handled by the transmission devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communication system including a shared communication medium for providing messages, the communication system comprising:
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transmission devices for transmitting the messages over the shared communication medium during assigned periods defined by a sharing pattern, the transmission devices comprising a broker for transmitting, during an unassigned period, a buy code in response to determining that a number of messages awaiting transmission exceeds a message threshold and for providing, during an assigned period, a sell code in response to determining that no messages await transmission and that an amount of time remaining in the assigned period exceeds a time threshold; and a trading center coupled to the transmission devices for managing buying and selling of time on the shared communication medium and for modifying the sharing pattern used by the transmission devices in response to receiving a number of buy and sell codes that exceeds a modification threshold. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for sharing a communication medium in a communication system comprising transmission devices for transmitting messages over the communication medium and a trading center for managing sharing of the communication medium, the method comprising the steps of:
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the transmission devices transmitting the messages over the communication medium during assigned periods defined by a sharing pattern; the transmission devices transmitting, during an unassigned period, a buy code to the trading center in response to determining that a number of messages awaiting transmission exceeds a message threshold; the transmission devices transmitting, during an assigned period, a sell code to the trading center in response to determining that no messages await transmission and that an amount of time remaining in the assigned period exceeds a time threshold; the trading center modifying the sharing pattern to generate a modified sharing pattern in response to determining that buy and sell activity exceeds a modification threshold; and the trading center providing the modified sharing pattern to the transmission devices, which thereafter share the communication medium in accordance with the modified sharing pattern. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification