Channel access scheme for use in network communications

• US 6,445,701 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, BRENDA H
• Application Number:
  US09/169,418
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 370/370, 370/470, 370/498, 370/442, 370/458, 370/459, 370/506, 370/508, 370/509, 370/443, 370/444, 370/348, 370/468, 370/329, 370/330, 370/336, 370/337, 370/345, 370/347
• US Class Current: 370/368
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A full service channel access protocol that supports the integrated transport of voice, video and data communications is provided by dividing a communication channel into a plurality of frames, dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots, and dividing some of the plurality of slots into a plurality of mini-slots. The mini-slots are provided for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel. Additionally, a second one of the plurality of slots is divided into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel. The method enables timely and power efficient communications over communication network.

Claims

1. A method of allocating between multiple communication sources a communication channel in a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

dividing the communication channel into a plurality of frames;

dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots;

dividing a first one of the plurality of slots into a plurality of first mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel;

dividing a second one of the plurality of slots into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel; and

dividing the plurality of second mini-slots into a first plurality of second mini-slots that are limited to use by the multiple communication sources that are attempting to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel and a second plurality of second mini-slots that are available to any of the multiple communication sources that are requesting the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the number of the first plurality of second mini-slots as a function of the number of the multiple communication sources that have a preexisting video transmission connection over the communication channel.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising the step of assigning to each of the multiple communication sources that have a preexisting video transmission connection over the communication channel one of the first plurality of second mini-slots.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of preventing the plurality of first mini-slots from being used by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel.

5. A Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame for use in supporting the transmission of voice, data, and/or video information by multiple communication sources to a network router over a communication channel, the frame comprising:

a plurality of slots;

a first slot selected from the plurality of slots that is assigned to a first one of the multiple communication sources for use by the first one of the multiple communication sources in transmitting video information to the network router as an on-going video connection;

a second slot selected from the plurality of slots for use by the network router in accepting a request message from one of the multiple communication sources that at least one of any available slots of the plurality of slots be assigned to the second one of the multiple communication sources as a new connection for use in transmitting voice, data, or video information; and

a third slot selected from the plurality of slots for use by the network router for accepting both the request message from the second one of the multiple communication sources and a request messages from the first one of the multiple communication sources that at least one of any available slot from the plurality of slots be assigned to the first one of the communication sources for use in transmitting additional video information relating to the on-going video connection.

6. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 wherein the second slot comprises a mini-slot for use by the network router in accepting the request message from the second one of the multiple communication sources.

7. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 wherein the second slot comprises a plurality of mini-slots each for use by the network router in accepting a request message from the multiple communication sources requesting that at least one of any available slots from the plurality of slots be assigned to the corresponding one of the requesting multiple communication sources as a new connection for use in transmitting voice, data, or video information.

8. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 wherein the first slot has a first slot time duration, the second slot has a second slot time duration and the third slot has a third slot time duration and wherein the first slot time duration, the second slot time duration, and the third slot time duration are all substantially equal.

9. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 wherein the third slot comprises a first mini-slot for use by the network router in accepting the request message from the second one of the multiple communication sources and a second mini-slot for use by the network router in accepting the request message from the first one of the multiple communication sources.

10. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 wherein the third slot comprises a plurality of mini-slots wherein one of the plurality of mini-slots is for use by the network router in accepting a request message from the first one of the multiple communication sources and the remaining plurality of mini-slots are for use by the network router in accepting a request message from the multiple communication sources requesting that at least one available slot from the plurality of slots be assigned to the corresponding one of the requesting multiple communications sources as a new connection for use in transmitting voice, data, or video information.

11. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of first slots that are each assigned to one of a corresponding number of the multiple communication sources for use by each one of the corresponding number of the multiple communication sources in transmitting video transmissions over the communication network as on-going video connections and wherein the third slot comprises a first plurality of mini-slots each one being used by the network router in accepting a request message from a different one of the multiple communication sources requesting that at least one available slot from the plurality of slots be assigned to the different one of the multiple communication sources for use in transmitting further video information relating to its corresponding on-going video connection.

12. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 11 wherein the third slot comprises a second plurality of mini-slots each one for use by the network router in accepting a request message from the multiple communication sources that at least one available slot from the plurality of slots be assigned to the corresponding requesting one of the multiple communication sources as a new connection for use in transmitting voice, data, or video information.

13. The Time Division Multiple Access protocol frame as recited in claim 5 wherein the second slot is further for use by the network router in accepting a request message from a second one of the multiple communication sources requesting that at least one available slot from the plurality of slots be assigned to the second one of the multiple communication sources for use in transmitting voice or data information pertaining to a related on-going voice or data connection previously established by the second communication source.

14. A computer-readable medium for use in allocating between multiple communication sources a communication channel in a communication network, the computer-readable medium having instructions for performing the steps of:

dividing the communication channel into a plurality of frames;

dividing each of the frames into a plurality of slots;

dividing a first one of the plurality of slots into a plurality of first mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel;

dividing a second one of the plurality of slots into a plurality of second mini-slots for use by the multiple communication sources to request the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel and for use by the multiple communication sources to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel; and

dividing the plurality of second mini-slots into a first plurality of second mini-slots that are limited to use by the multiple communication sources that are attempting to augment an existing video connection over the communication channel and a second plurality of second mini-slots that are available to any of the multiple communication sources that are requesting the establishment of a new voice, data, or video transmission connection over the communication channel.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14 further comprising instructions for performing the step of determining the number of the first plurality of second mini-slots as a function of the number of the multiple communication sources that have a preexisting video transmission connection over the communication channel.

16. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 15 further comprising instructions for performing the step of assigning to each of the multiple communication sources that have a preexisting video transmission connection over the communication channel one of the first plurality of second mini-slots.