Systems and methods for aggregation of packets for transmission through a communications network
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting packets over a network of communication channels, the system comprising:
- a set of nodes comprising at least one node having a packet aggregation functionality in which the node forms an aggregation frame by aggregating a plurality of packets which have accumulated at the node, wherein, if at least one packet has accumulated at the node, each node is additionally operative to transmit at least one frame, each frame comprising at least one packet;
a network access coordinator, comprising at least partially a hardware component, said coordinator operative to coordinate the access of the plurality of nodes to the network of channels,wherein at least one node is operative to inform the network access coordinator when it has formed an aggregation frame comprising a plurality of aggregated packets and to provide the network access coordinator with comparison information comparing different transmission possibilities for said aggregation frame,wherein said comparison information comprises a comparison of the per-packet times required to transmit at least one of the aggregated packets in said aggregation frame using said different transmission possibilities;
and wherein said network access coordinator is operative responsively to determine which portion, if any, of said aggregated packets can be transmitted including determining an integral number of aggregated packets to be transmitted from among said plurality of aggregated packets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for transmitting packets over a home network of communication channels, typically coax cable, including a set of nodes, at least one having a packet aggregation functionality in which the node forms an aggregation frame by aggregating one or more packets which have accumulated at the node and transmits the frame. A network coordinator coordinates access of the nodes to the channels. At least one node is operative to inform the coordinator when it has formed an aggregation frame comprising a plurality of packets and to provide the coordinator with comparison information comparing different transmission possibilities for the frame. The coordinator, preferably responsively, determines whether, when, and which of, the aggregated packets can be transmitted.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting packets over a network of communication channels, the system comprising:
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a set of nodes comprising at least one node having a packet aggregation functionality in which the node forms an aggregation frame by aggregating a plurality of packets which have accumulated at the node, wherein, if at least one packet has accumulated at the node, each node is additionally operative to transmit at least one frame, each frame comprising at least one packet; a network access coordinator, comprising at least partially a hardware component, said coordinator operative to coordinate the access of the plurality of nodes to the network of channels, wherein at least one node is operative to inform the network access coordinator when it has formed an aggregation frame comprising a plurality of aggregated packets and to provide the network access coordinator with comparison information comparing different transmission possibilities for said aggregation frame, wherein said comparison information comprises a comparison of the per-packet times required to transmit at least one of the aggregated packets in said aggregation frame using said different transmission possibilities; and wherein said network access coordinator is operative responsively to determine which portion, if any, of said aggregated packets can be transmitted including determining an integral number of aggregated packets to be transmitted from among said plurality of aggregated packets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for transmitting packets over a network of communication channels interconnecting a set of nodes, the method comprising:
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using a network access coordinator, comprising at least partially a hardware component, said coordinator to coordinate access of the set of nodes to the network of communication channels by granting permission to transmit to individual nodes from among the set of nodes; forming an aggregation frame by aggregating a plurality of packets which have accumulate at a single node, informing the network access coordinator accordingly, and providing the network access coordinator with comparison information comparing different transmission possibilities for said aggregation frame; wherein said comparison information comprises a comparison of the per-packet times required to transmit at least one of the aggregated packets in said aggregation frame using said different transmission possibilities; and if at least one packet has accumulated at a node, transmitting at least one frame, each frame comprising at least one packet; wherein said using step comprises determining which portion, if any, of said aggregated packets can be transmitted including determining an integral number of aggregated packets to be transmitted from among said plurality of aggregated packets. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification