Patent US5570347A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5570347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Upstream data transmission system with downloadable transmission parameters
Assignee: LG Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1995-02-07
•
Granted: 1996-10-29
•
Expires: 2015-02-07
Abstract
Abstract Each of a plurality of terminals in a two-way communications system includes a series of counters establishing a plurality of time slots synchronized to a downstream reference parameter. Upstream transmissions are effected by each terminal in one or more of the time slots which are defined by a downloaded message as comprising either a reserved slot or a contention slot. The downloaded message, which may also establish terminal transmission power levels and retransmission backoff algorithms for contention time slots, is derived on the basis of the population of subscriber terminals and the usage of the upstream channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Caitlin B. Bestler
- 👤 Khosro M. Rabii
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/16; H04J3/1694; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N21/43; H04N21/4302; H04N21/4305; H04N21/437; H04N21/442; H04N21/44245; H04N21/60; H04N21/61; H04N21/6106; H04N21/6118; H04N21/6156; H04N21/6168; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/173; H04N7/17309
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A two-way communications system for transmitting data from a central facilitity to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and for transmitting data from said subscriber terminals to said central facility in an upstream direction, comprising: means in each of said subscriber terminals for defining a plurality of time slots; means at said central facility for generating a downstream message assigning each of said time slots for reserved use by respective ones of said subscriber terminals for effecting data transmission in said upstream direction or for contentional use by all of said subscriber terminals for effecting data transmission in said upstream direction, said downstream message being generated by said central facility as a self-initiated response to one or more dynamically variable characteristics of said communications system; and means in each of said subscriber terminals for transmitting a data message in said upstream direction during one of said time slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A two-way communications system for transmitting data from a central facilitity to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and for transmitting data from said subscriber terminals to said central facility in an upstream direction, comprising: means in each of said subscriber terminals for defining a plurality of time slots; means at said central facility for generating a downstream message assigning each of said time slots for reserved use by respective ones of said subscriber terminals for effecting data transmission in said upstream direction or for contentional use by all of said subscriber terminals for effecting data transmission in said upstream direction, said downstream message being generated by said central facility as a self-initiated response to one or more dynamically variable characteristics of said communications system; and means in each of said subscriber terminals for transmitting a data message in said upstream direction during one of said time slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said defining means comprises means for defining said plurality of time slots synchronously with a reference parameter used to transmit data in said downstream direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said reference parameter comprises a symbol clock signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more dynamically variable characteristics comprise the number of said subscriber terminals comprising said communications system and wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning said time slots on the basis of said number of subscriber terminals comprising said system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning an increased number of said time slots for contentional use relative to those assigned for reserved use as said number of subscriber terminals comprising said system increases.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said one or more dynamically variable characteristics comprise the amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction and wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning said time slots on the basis of said amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said assigning means comprises means for increasing the number of said time slots assigned for contentional use relative to those assigned for reserved use as a direct function of said amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning respective transmission power levels for effecting said upstream data transmissions during said reserved and contentional time slots, said transmitting means comprising means for transmitting said upstream data message at said assigned transmission power levels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning a retransmission backoff algorithm for use in association with said assigned contentional time slots.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said assigning means comprises means for increasing the retransmission backoff delay characterizing said assigned algorithm as the amount of data traffic in said upstream direction increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a two-way communications system wherein data is transmitted from a central facility to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and from the subscriber terminals to the central facility in an upstream direction, each of said subscriber terminals comprising: means for defining a plurality of time slots; means for receiving a downstream data message from said central facility for assigning each of said time slots for use in effecting upstream transmission on either a reserved or a contention basis, said downstream data message being generated by said central facility as a self-initiated response to one or more dynamically variable characteristics of said communications system; and means operable for transmitting an upstream data message during one of said time slots.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a two-way communications system wherein data is transmitted from a central facility to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and from the subscriber terminals to the central facility in an upstream direction, each of said subscriber terminals comprising: means for defining a plurality of time slots; means for receiving a downstream data message from said central facility for assigning each of said time slots for use in effecting upstream transmission on either a reserved or a contention basis, said downstream data message being generated by said central facility as a self-initiated response to one or more dynamically variable characteristics of said communications system; and means operable for transmitting an upstream data message during one of said time slots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The terminal of claim 11 wherein said defining means comprises means for defining said plurality of time slots synchronously with a reference parameter used to transmit data in said downstream direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The terminal of claim 12 wherein said reference parameter comprises a symbol clock signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The terminal of claim 11 wherein said one or more dynamically variable characteristics comprise the number of subscriber terminals comprising said communications system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The terminal of claim 14 wherein said downstream data message is effective for assigning an increased number of said time slots for contentional use relative to those assigned for reserved use as said number of subscriber terminals increases.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The terminal of claim 11 wherein said one or more dynamically variable characteristics comprise the amount of data transmitted in said upstream direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The terminal of claim 16 wherein said downstream data message is effective for assigning an increased number of said time slots for contentional use relative to those assigned for reserved use as said amount of upstream data transmission increases.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
The terminal of claim 11 wherein said receiving means comprises means for receiving a downstream data message assigning respective transmission power levels for effecting said upstream data transmissions during said reserved and contentional time slots, said transmitting means comprising means for transmitting said upstream data messages at said assigned transmission power levels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The terminal of claim 11 wherein said receiving means comprises means for receiving a downstream data message assigning a retransmission backoff algorithm for use in association with said assigned contentional time slots.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The terminal of claim 19 wherein said receiving means comprises means for receiving a downstream data message assigning an increased retransmission backoff delay for use in association with said assigned algorithm as said amount of upstream data transmissions increase.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
A two-way communications system for transmitting data from a central facility to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and for transmitting data messages from the subscriber terminals to the central facility in an upstream direction comprising: means in each of said subscriber terminals for defining a plurality of time slots; means at said central facility generating a self-initiated downstream message for assigning each of said time slots for upstream transmission on either a reserved or a contention basis in response to the number of subscriber terminals comprising said system and the amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction; and means in each of said subscriber terminals for transmitting an upstream data message during one of time slots.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
A two-way communications system for transmitting data from a central facility to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and for transmitting data messages from the subscriber terminals to the central facility in an upstream direction comprising: means in each of said subscriber terminals for defining a plurality of time slots; means at said central facility generating a self-initiated downstream message for assigning each of said time slots for upstream transmission on either a reserved or a contention basis in response to the number of subscriber terminals comprising said system and the amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction; and means in each of said subscriber terminals for transmitting an upstream data message during one of time slots.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said defining means comprises means for defining said plurality of time slots synchronously with a reference parameter used to transmit data in said downstream direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said reference parameter comprises a symbol clock signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning an increased number of said time slots for contention use relative to those assigned for reserved use as said number of subscriber terminal comprising said system increases.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said assigning means comprises means for increasing the number of said time slots assigned for contention use relative to those assigned for reserved use as a direct function of said amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning respective transmission power levels for effecting said upstream data message transmissions during said reserved and contention time slots, said transmitting means comprising means for transmitting said upstream data message at said assigned transmission power levels.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said assigning means comprises means for assigning a retransmission backoff algorithm for use in association with said assigned contentional time slots.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said assigning means comprises means for increasing the retransmission backoff delay characterizing said assigned algorithm as said amount of data message traffic in said upstream direction increases.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a two-way communications system of the type wherein data messages are transmitted from a central facility to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and messages are transmitted from each of said subscriber terminals to said central facility in an upstream direction, each of the subscriber terminals comprising: means for receiving a downstream data message from said central facility for establishing an upstream transmission mode, said downstream message being generated by said central facility as a self-initiated response to the population of subscriber units and the amount of upstream message traffic characterizing said communications system; and means for transmitting an upstream message in accordance with said established upstream transmission mode.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
113 words
In a two-way communications system of the type wherein data messages are transmitted from a central facility to a plurality of subscriber terminals in a downstream direction and messages are transmitted from each of said subscriber terminals to said central facility in an upstream direction, each of the subscriber terminals comprising: means for receiving a downstream data message from said central facility for establishing an upstream transmission mode, said downstream message being generated by said central facility as a self-initiated response to the population of subscriber units and the amount of upstream message traffic characterizing said communications system; and means for transmitting an upstream message in accordance with said established upstream transmission mode.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The subscriber terminal of claim 29 including means for defining a plurality of time slots and wherein said downstream data message is effective for establishing an upstream transmission mode wherein upstream data messages are transmitted at selected power levels during one or more reserved or contention time slots.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The subscriber terminal of claim 30 wherein said downstream data message includes a selected backoff algorithm, said transmitting means retransmitting said upstream message in one of said contention slots determined by said backoff algorithm until successfully received at said central facility.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4633462A
Cited
US4528663A
Cited
US4553161A
Cited
US5012469A
Cited
US5150247A
Cited
US5361394A
Cited
US5295140A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |