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US6061340A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Transmission of digital data messages in digital telephony

Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1995-09-08
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2015-09-08
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Abstract

Abstract In a communications between a base station and subscriber unit in time slots within fixed length time frames, different types of messages require different numbers of timeslots per frame to maintain transmission rate. At least a portion of the message is detected to determine the type of message, and if appropriate, additional time slot(s) are assigned.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard John Albrow
  • 👤 Simon Alexander Black
  • 👤 Leigh Carter
  • 👤 Rupert Leslie Alexander Goodings
  • 👤 Paul Maxwell Martin
  • 👤 Neil Philip Piercy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 21:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W28/00; H04W28/16; H04W28/18; H04W28/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message in time slots within fixed length time frames between a sending unit and a receiving unit, a time slot or slots in successive frames being assigned for transmission of the message, in which at least a portion of the message is detected to determine a parameter of the messages, and said parameter is used to deduce which, if any, of an assignment of at least one further slot and a deassignment of at least one slot is appropriate for transmission of the message, and in which the number of slots which are used to carry the message is increased or decreased in accordance with said deduction without terminating the message transmission between the sending unit and the receiving unit, in which method selectable at least one further slot is assigned dependent upon whether the message comprises speech, or non-speech voice-band data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 149 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message in time slots within fixed length time frames between a sending unit and a receiving unit, a time slot or slots in successive frames being assigned for transmission of the message, in which at least a portion of the message is detected to determine a parameter of the messages, and said parameter is used to deduce which, if any, of an assignment of at least one further slot and a deassignment of at least one slot is appropriate for transmission of the message, and in which the number of slots which are used to carry the message is increased or decreased in accordance with said deduction without terminating the message transmission between the sending unit and the receiving unit, in which method selectable at least one further slot is assigned dependent upon whether the message comprises speech, or non-speech voice-band data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, by radio.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which the message is allocated to the assigned slots for transmission and reconstituted after reception at the receiving unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which the first slot or slots and the further slot or slots are included in each frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which the sending unit is a base station and the receiving unit is a subscriber unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 5, in which assignment of slots is undertaken by the base station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which non-speech voice-band data is modem data, facsimile data or an ISDN message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 54 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which a second slot is assigned for carrying a facsimile message such that two slots per frame are used for carrying the facsimile message unless a second slot is unavailable due to the large amount of communication traffic at that time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which at least one further slot is assigned such that ISDN message are carried on between two and five slots per frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which the steps of detection to determine the parameter and further slot assignment are undertaken at the sending unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which the detection step includes determining whether the message includes a characteristic expected if the call includes voice-band data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method of transmitting a digital data message according to claim 1, in which the characteristic is standard modem answertone or facsimile handshake signalling or ISDN call set-up signalling.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 184 words
Communication means for communicating a digital data message in time slots within fixed length time frames, the communication means including a sending unit and a receiving unit, at least one of said units including first slot assignment means operative to assign a time slot or slots in successive frames, and at least one of said units including second slot assignment means operative to selectively assign at least one further slot or deassign at least one slot, the second slot assignment means including detection means to detect at least a portion of the message to determine a parameter of the message and including assignment means to selectively assign said at least one further slot or deassign at least one slot dependent on the parameter without terminating the message transmission between the sending unit and the receiving unit, the sending unit including means operative to divide the message between the assigned slots, and the receiving unit including means operative to reconstitute the message, in which the assignment means selectable assigns at least one further slot dependent upon whether the message comprises speech, or non-speech voice-band data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 184 words
Communication means for communicating a digital data message in time slots within fixed length time frames, the communication means including a sending unit and a receiving unit, at least one of said units including first slot assignment means operative to assign a time slot or slots in successive frames, and at least one of said units including second slot assignment means operative to selectively assign at least one further slot or deassign at least one slot, the second slot assignment means including detection means to detect at least a portion of the message to determine a parameter of the message and including assignment means to selectively assign said at least one further slot or deassign at least one slot dependent on the parameter without terminating the message transmission between the sending unit and the receiving unit, the sending unit including means operative to divide the message between the assigned slots, and the receiving unit including means operative to reconstitute the message, in which the assignment means selectable assigns at least one further slot dependent upon whether the message comprises speech, or non-speech voice-band data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 14 words
Communication means according to claim 13, in which the sending unit sends by radio.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
Communication means according to claim 13, in which the receiving unit is at a fixed location.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 23 words
Communication means according to claim 13, in which the sending unit is a base station and the receiving unit is a subscriber unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
Communication means according to claim 16, in which the base station comprises the second slot assignment means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 169 words
A base station comprising transmission means for transmission of digital data signals in time slots of fixed length time frames and reception means for receiving digital data signals in corresponding time slots of fixed length time frames, the base station including means to assign a slot or slots in a frame for communication with a subscriber unit, means to detect at least a portion of the transmitted signal to determine a parameter of the transmitted signal, means to deduce from said parameter which, if any, of an assignment of at least one further slot and a deassignment of at least one slot is appropriate for communication with the subscriber unit and means to increase or decrease the number of slots used for communication with the subscriber unit in accordance with said deduction without terminating communication with the subscriber unit, in which the means to increase or decrease the number of slots selectable assigns at least one further slot dependent upon whether the message comprises speech, or non-speech voice-band data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 169 words
A base station comprising transmission means for transmission of digital data signals in time slots of fixed length time frames and reception means for receiving digital data signals in corresponding time slots of fixed length time frames, the base station including means to assign a slot or slots in a frame for communication with a subscriber unit, means to detect at least a portion of the transmitted signal to determine a parameter of the transmitted signal, means to deduce from said parameter which, if any, of an assignment of at least one further slot and a deassignment of at least one slot is appropriate for communication with the subscriber unit and means to increase or decrease the number of slots used for communication with the subscriber unit in accordance with said deduction without terminating communication with the subscriber unit, in which the means to increase or decrease the number of slots selectable assigns at least one further slot dependent upon whether the message comprises speech, or non-speech voice-band data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 20 words
A base station according to claim 18, operative to transmit TDM digital data signals and receive TDMA digital data signals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4736371A Cited
EP0399611A2 Cited
US5214638A Cited
US5058133A Cited
US5446739A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-05-09 2003-11-08 2004-05-09 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-05-09 2007-11-08 2008-05-09 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-05-09 2011-11-08 2012-05-09 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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