Communication system with request reservation timeslot management
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between at least one communication controller and a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising:
- monitoring use of reserve request slots assigned to the nodes to transmit requests to transmit data packets to the communication controller;
determining if any of the reserve request slots are unused; and
eliminating assignment of the reserve request slots which are determined to be unused,wherein requests provided in the reserve request slots and other signals transmitted between the network nodes and the communication controller are provided on at least two different frequencies,wherein the requests include a first request provided from a first node in a reserve access request slot, andwherein the other signals comprise;
a grant transmitted to the first node in response to the first request from the first node, the grant authorizing the first node to transmit data packets to the communication controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system is provided for communication between network nodes and a communication controller that provides for request timeslot management. In the network, when an individual node has data to transmit, the node transmits a request signal to the communication controller over an assigned timeslot. The timeslots are assigned to individual ones of the nodes, and the timeslots assigned recur in a repeating fashion. If a timeslot is unused for a predetermined period of time, such as when a node is turned off or simply has no data to transmit, the timeslot is either eliminated or reassigned. Eliminated timeslots reduce unnecessary time delay before request timeslots recur.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between at least one communication controller and a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising:
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monitoring use of reserve request slots assigned to the nodes to transmit requests to transmit data packets to the communication controller; determining if any of the reserve request slots are unused; and eliminating assignment of the reserve request slots which are determined to be unused, wherein requests provided in the reserve request slots and other signals transmitted between the network nodes and the communication controller are provided on at least two different frequencies, wherein the requests include a first request provided from a first node in a reserve access request slot, and wherein the other signals comprise; a grant transmitted to the first node in response to the first request from the first node, the grant authorizing the first node to transmit data packets to the communication controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 39)
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32. A method of communicating between at least one communication controller and a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising:
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monitoring use of reserve request slots assigned to the nodes to transmit requests to transmit data packets to the communication controller; determining if any of the reserve request slots are unused; and eliminating assignment of the reserve request slots which are determined to be unused, wherein reserve requests provided in the reserve request slots and other signals transmitted between the network nodes and the communication controller are provided on different frequencies, wherein the requests are transmitted in the reserve request slots by the nodes on a first frequency, and wherein the other signals comprise; data signals carrying the data packets transmitted by the nodes when the reserve requests have been granted, the data signals being transmitted on a second frequency different than the first frequency, assignment signals carrying assignments of the reserve request slots that are transmitted to the nodes from the controller on a third frequency different from the first frequency and the second frequency, and grant signals transmitted to the nodes from the controller in response to the requests, wherein the grant signals are provided on a fourth frequency different from the first frequency, the second frequency and the third frequency. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. A method of communicating between at least one communication controller and a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising:
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monitoring use of reserve request slots assigned to the nodes to transmit requests to transmit data packets to the communication controller; determining if any of the reserve request slots are unused; and eliminating assignment of the reserve request slots which are determined to be unused, wherein requests provided in the reserve request slots and other signals transmitted between the network nodes and the communication controller are provided on different frequencies, wherein the requests are transmitted in the reserve request slots by the nodes on a first frequency, the requests including a first request from a first one of the nodes, and wherein the other signals comprise; a slot assignment request signal provided to the controller for a slot assignment from a second node on a second frequency when the second node is seeking initial access to the controller, wherein the first request to transmit data packets can be received at the controller from the first node simultaneously with the slot assignment request from the second node, and wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency; and an assignment signal for transmitting a slot assignment from the controller to the second node on a third frequency; and a grant signal transmitting a grant from the controller to the first node in response to the first request to transmit data packets from the first node, wherein the grant signal is transmitted on a fourth frequency different from the third frequency, and wherein the slot assignment to the second node and the grant signal to the first node can be transmitted simultaneously from the controller. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. The method of communicating between at least one communication controller and a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising:
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monitoring use of reserve request slots assigned to the nodes to transmit requests to transmit data packets to the communication controller; determining if any of the reserve request slots are unused; and eliminating assignment of the reserve request slots which are determined to be unused, wherein requests provided in the reserve request slots and other signals transmitted between the network nodes and the communication controller are provided on at least two different frequencies, wherein the requests include a first request provided from a first node in a reserve access request slot, and wherein the other signals comprise; a slot assignment request from a first node, the slot assignment request provided in a random access slot; downstream authorization information transmitted from the communication to the first node in response to the slot assignment request, said downstream authorization information relating to assignment of one of the reserve request slots wherein the first node can transmit the first request; a grant transmitted to the first node in response to the first request from the first node, the grant authorizing the first node to transmit data packets to the communication controller; and the data packets received from the first node. - View Dependent Claims (38, 40)
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Specification