Method and apparatus for communicating control data in an asynchronous communications channel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a receiving unit;
a transmitting unit operatively coupled to the receiving unit via a first channel, the transmitting unit being configurable to transmit a first data stream to the receiving unit in the first channel, the first data stream containing communications data and control data, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the first data stream so that communications data is transmitted in a grouping that complies with an asynchronous protocol and the control data is transmitted within a segment of the first data stream that is specified as unused for communications data according to the asynchronous protocol;
wherein the receiving unit extracts communications data from the grouping in the first data stream and extracts control data from the segment in the first data stream; and
a device coupled to the receiving unit, wherein the device is configured to exchange communications data with the receiving unit over a second channel in a second data stream conforming to the asynchronous protocol.
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Abstract
A communication system communicates control data in unused segments in the data stream of an asynchronous channel. The communication system includes a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit transmits communications data to the receiving unit via the asynchronous channel, in compliance with the channel'"'"'s asynchronous protocol. However, the transmitting unit transmits control data to the receiving unit in unused segments of the data stream.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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a receiving unit; a transmitting unit operatively coupled to the receiving unit via a first channel, the transmitting unit being configurable to transmit a first data stream to the receiving unit in the first channel, the first data stream containing communications data and control data, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the first data stream so that communications data is transmitted in a grouping that complies with an asynchronous protocol and the control data is transmitted within a segment of the first data stream that is specified as unused for communications data according to the asynchronous protocol; wherein the receiving unit extracts communications data from the grouping in the first data stream and extracts control data from the segment in the first data stream; and a device coupled to the receiving unit, wherein the device is configured to exchange communications data with the receiving unit over a second channel in a second data stream conforming to the asynchronous protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for use in a communication system, the communication system having a first channel to support transmission according to an asynchronous protocol, the method comprising:
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detecting a first segment in a first data stream to be transmitted in the first channel, wherein the first segment is specified as unused for communications data according to the asynchronous protocol and wherein the first data stream includes communications data transmitted in a grouping of the first data stream that complies with the asynchronous protocol; transmitting the first data stream in the first channel, wherein the first data stream includes control data being transmitted within the first segment; receiving a second data stream from the first channel, the second data stream containing control data and communications data, the communications data being in a first grouping that complies with the asynchronous protocol and the control data being in a second segment that is specified as being unused for data according to the asynchronous protocol; extracting control data from the second segment; extracting the communications data from the first grouping; and transmitting in a second channel the extracted communications data in a second grouping that complies with the asynchronous protocol. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for use in a communication system, the communication system having a first channel to support transmission according to an asynchronous protocol, the apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting a first segment in a first data stream to be transmitted in the first channel, wherein the first segment is specified as unused for data according to the asynchronous protocol; means for transmitting the first data stream in the first channel, wherein the first data stream includes control data being transmitted within the first segment; means for receiving a second data stream from the first channel, the second data stream containing control data and communications data, the communications data being in a first grouping that complies with the asynchronous protocol and the control data being in a second segment that is specified as being unused for data according to the asynchronous protocol; means for extracting control data from the second segment; means for extracting the communications data from the first grouping; and means for transmitting in a second channel the extracted communications data in a second grouping that complies with the asynchronous protocol. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification