Managing distributed access to a shared medium
First Claim
1. A method for communicating between a first station and a second station in a network, the method comprising:
- determining that the first station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in the network;
transmitting a first data block, from the first station to the second station over the shared medium during the first time period;
receiving, from the second station by the first station, a first acknowledgement of the first data block, wherein the first acknowledgement includes a request to allow the second station to transmit a burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein the request comprises a count value of a number of the multiple burst data blocks;
determining, by the first station, to allow the second station to transmit during the first time period;
in response to determining to allow the second station to transmit during the first time period,transmitting, by the first station to the second station, an authorization message for the second station to transmit the burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein transmissions of the multiple burst data blocks from the second station to the first station include the count value, wherein the count value decreases in each subsequent burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks; and
transmitting, by the first station to the second station, a burst acknowledgement after receiving a burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks having the count value that indicates a last burst data block has been received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes determining that a first station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in a network. The method includes transmitting, from the first station to a second station over the shared medium during the first time period, wherein stations other than the first station and the second station refrain from transmitting over the shared medium during the first time period. The method includes receiving, from the second station, a request message to allow the second station to transmit during the first time period and a requested amount of time to transmit. The method includes, in response to allowing the second station to transmit during the first time period, determining an authorized amount of time for the second station to transmit during the first time period, and transmitting an authorization message for the second station to transmit and the authorized amount of time.
231 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for communicating between a first station and a second station in a network, the method comprising:
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determining that the first station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in the network; transmitting a first data block, from the first station to the second station over the shared medium during the first time period; receiving, from the second station by the first station, a first acknowledgement of the first data block, wherein the first acknowledgement includes a request to allow the second station to transmit a burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein the request comprises a count value of a number of the multiple burst data blocks; determining, by the first station, to allow the second station to transmit during the first time period; in response to determining to allow the second station to transmit during the first time period, transmitting, by the first station to the second station, an authorization message for the second station to transmit the burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein transmissions of the multiple burst data blocks from the second station to the first station include the count value, wherein the count value decreases in each subsequent burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks; and transmitting, by the first station to the second station, a burst acknowledgement after receiving a burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks having the count value that indicates a last burst data block has been received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for communicating between stations a first station and a second station in a network, the method comprising:
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determining that the first station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in the network; transmitting a first data block, from the first station to the second station over the shared medium during the first time period; receiving, from the second station by the first station, a first acknowledgement of the first data block, wherein the first acknowledgement includes a request to allow the second station to transmit a burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein the request comprises a count value of a number of the multiple burst data blocks; in response to receiving, by the first station, the first acknowledgement from the second station, transmitting, by the first station, an authorization message to the second station to transmit the burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period; and transmitting, by the first station to the second station, a burst acknowledgement after receiving a burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks having the count value that indicates a last burst data block has been received. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A station in a network for communications, the station comprising:
a network interface module having a transmitter and a receiver, the network interface module configured to, determine that the station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in the network based, at least in part, on a contention period to determine selection among stations that include the station; transmit, via the transmitter, a first data block to a different station in the network over the shared medium during the first time period, wherein the stations in the network, other than the station and the different station, refrain from transmission over the shared medium during the first time period; receive, via the receiver from the different station, a first acknowledgement of the first data block, wherein the first acknowledgement includes a request to allow the different station to transmit a burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein the request comprises a count value of a number of the multiple burst data blocks; determine whether to allow the different station to transmit during the first time period; and in response to allowance of the different station to transmit during the first time period, transmit, via the transmitter to the different station, an authorization message for the different station to transmit the burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein transmissions of the multiple burst data blocks from the different station to the station include the count value, wherein the count value decreases in each subsequent burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks; and transmitting, by the station, a burst acknowledgement after receipt of a burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks having the count value that indicates a last burst data block has been received. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A station in a network for communications, the station comprising:
a network interface module having a transmitter and a receiver, the network interface module configured to, determine that the station has been allocated a first time period to transmit over a shared medium in the network based, at least in part, on a contention period to determine selection among the station and other stations in the network; transmit, via the transmitter, a first data block to a different station of the other stations over the shared medium during the first time period, wherein the stations in the network other than the station and the different station refrain from transmitting over the shared medium during the first time period; receive, via the receiver from the different station, a first acknowledgement of the first data block, wherein the first acknowledgement includes a request to allow the different station to transmit a burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period, wherein the request comprises a count value of a number of the multiple burst data blocks; in response to receipt of the first acknowledgement from the different station, transmit, via the transmitter, an authorization message to the different station to transmit the burst of multiple burst data blocks during the first time period; and transmit, via the transmitter, a burst acknowledgement after receipt of a burst data block of the multiple burst data blocks having the count value that indicates a last burst data block has been received. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
Specification