Communication system with request-enable, request, and grant made over timeslotted multi-frequency channel

Abstract

A communication system is provided for communication between network nodes and a communication controller. In the network, a request-enable signal is transmitted from the communication controller to identify one or more timeslots or frequencies of a communication channel that a node may transmit. When a first individual node has data to transmit, the first individual node transmits a request signal to the communication controller over the same communication channel. In response to the request signal, the central control node transmits a grant signal over the communication channel. Finally, data is transmitted from the node as authorized by the communication controller.

1 . A method of operating a data communication system comprising: 
 transmitting a request-enabling signal from a communication controller to at least one node including a first node;    transmitting a request signal from the first node to the communication controller when the first node has a data to transmit, wherein said request signal is transmitted from the first node in response to receiving the request-enabling signal;    transmitting an authorization signal from the communication controller to the first node in response to the communication controller receiving the request signal from the first node; and    transmitting the data from first node to the communication controller in response to receiving the authorization signal from the communication controller,    wherein the request-enabling signal, the request signal and the authorization signal are transmitted over at least one communication channel, said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request-enabling signal is a timeslotted signal carried on a predetermined frequency, wherein at least one timeslot of the timeslotted signal being associated with the first node.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the request signal, the authorization signal, and the data are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the numbers of the frequency and timeslots may be varied.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal, the request signal, and the authorization signal are transmitted over said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the numbers of the frequencies and timeslots may be varied.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data is transmitted on at least one communication channel comprised of at least one frequency, wherein the number of frequencies is not fixed.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one communication channel wherein said data is transmitted is further comprised of at least one timeslot, wherein the number of time slots is not fixed.  
     
     
         7 . A method of communicating data comprising: 
 receiving a request-enabling signal at a first node, said request-enabling signal having been transmitted from a communication controller to at least one node including the first node;    transmitting a request signal from the first node to the communication controller when the first node has a data to transmit, wherein said request signal is transmitted from the first node in response to receiving the request-enabling signal;    receiving an authorization signal from the communication controller, said authorization having been transmitted from the communication controller to the first node in response to the communication controller receiving the request signal from the first node; and    transmitting the data from first node to the communication controller in response to receiving the authorization signal from the communication controller,    wherein the request-enabling signal, the request signal and the authorization signal are transmitted over at least one communication channel, said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the request-enabling signal is a timeslotted signal carried on a predetermined frequency, wherein at least one timeslot of the timeslotted signal being associated with the first node.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the request signal, the authorization signal, and the data are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the numbers of the frequencies and timeslots may be varied.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal, the request signal, and the authorization signal are transmitted over said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the numbers of the frequencies and timeslots may be varied.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data is transmitted on at least one communication channel comprised of at least one frequency, wherein the number of frequencies is not fixed.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one communication channel wherein said data is transmitted is further comprised of at least one timeslot, wherein the number of time slots is not fixed.  
     
     
         13 . A method of communicating data comprising: 
 transmitting a request-enabling signal from a communication controller to at least one node including a first node;    receiving a request signal transmitted from the first node to the communication controller, said request signal being transmitted from the first node to the communication controller when the first node has a data to transmit, wherein said request signal is transmitted from the first node in response to receiving the request-enabling signal;    transmitting an authorization signal from the communication controller to the first node in response to the communication controller receiving the request signal from the first node; and    receiving the data transmitted from first node to the communication controller, said data transmitted in response to the first node receiving the authorization signal from the communication controller,    wherein the request-enabling signal, the request signal and the authorization signal are transmitted over at least one communication channel, said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the request-enabling signal is a timeslotted signal carried on a predetermined frequency, wherein at least one timeslot of the timeslotted signal being associated with the first node.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the request signal, the authorization signal, and the data are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the numbers of the frequencies and timeslots may be varied.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal, the request signal, and the authorization signal are transmitted over said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the numbers of the frequencies and timeslots may be varied.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data is transmitted on at least one communication channel comprised of at least one frequency, wherein the number of frequencies is not fixed.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said at least one communication channel wherein said data is transmitted is further comprised of at least one timeslot, wherein the number of time slots is not fixed.  
     
     
         19 . A node in a data communication network, the data communication network comprising at least one communication controller and at least one node, the node comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory; and    at least one interface,    wherein the interface is configured to receive a request-enabling signal from a communication controller, said request-enabling signal having been transmitted from a communication controller to at least one node including the first node,    wherein the memory stores code to cause the processor to provide a request signal for transmission to the communication controller, said request signal being provided from the first node to the communication controller when the first node has a data to transmit, wherein said request signal is provided from the first node in response to the first node receiving the request-enabling signal,    wherein the interface is further configured to transmit a request signal to the communication controller, said request signal being provided by the first node when it has data to transmit,    wherein the interface is further configured to receive an authorization signal from the communication controller, said authorization having been transmitted from the communication controller to the first node in response to the communication controller receiving the request signal from the first node,    wherein the memory stores code to cause the processor to provide for transmission of the data from first node to the communication controller, said data being transmitted in response to receiving the authorization signal from the communication controller,    wherein the interface is further configured to transmit data to the communication controller in response to the reception of the authorization signal from the communication controller, and    wherein the request-enabling signal, the request signal and the authorization signal are transmitted over at least one communication channel, said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot.    
     
     
         20 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein the request-enabling signal which the node is configured to receive is a timeslotted signal carried on a predetermined frequency, wherein at least one timeslot of the timeslotted signal being associated with the node.  
     
     
         21 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal which the node is configured to receive are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of the frequencies and timeslots in which the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal may be varied; and 
 wherein the data provided by the node is transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of frequencies and timeslots in which the data is provided may be varied.    
     
     
         22 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal which the node is configured to receive are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, 
 wherein the number of the frequencies and timeslots in which the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal are received may be varied, and    wherein the request signal provided by the node is transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of frequencies and timeslots in which the data is provided may be varied.    
     
     
         23 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein the data is transmitted on at least one communication channel comprised of at least one frequency, wherein the number of frequencies is not fixed.  
     
     
         24 . The node according to  claim 23 , wherein said at least one communication channel wherein said data is transmitted is further comprised of at least one timeslot, wherein the number of time slots is not fixed.  
     
     
         25 . The node according to  claim 19 , further comprising a writing pad.  
     
     
         26 . The node according to  claim 25 , wherein said writing pad is an LCD pressure-sensitive writing pad.  
     
     
         27 . The node according to  claim 19 , further comprising a keyboard.  
     
     
         28 . The node according to  claim 25 , further comprising a keyboard.  
     
     
         29 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein the display is an LCD display.  
     
     
         30 . The node according to  claim 29 , wherein said LCD display may at least in part be comprised of a writing pad.  
     
     
         31 . The node according to  claim 30 , wherein said writing pad comprises a keyboard.  
     
     
         32 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one interface further comprising at least one antenna.  
     
     
         33 . The node according to  claim 32 , wherein said at least one antenna comprises multiple antennas and the number of antennas is not fixed.  
     
     
         34 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one interface further comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.  
     
     
         35 . The node according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one transmitter comprises multiple transmitters and the number of transmitters is not fixed.  
     
     
         36 . The node according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one receiver comprises multiple receivers and the number of receivers is not fixed.  
     
     
         37 . The node according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one interface further comprising at least one antenna, at least one transmitter, and at least one receiver.  
     
     
         38 . The node according to  claim 37 , wherein the node may simultaneously transmit and receive over multiple frequencies.  
     
     
         39 . The node according to  claim 37 , wherein the node may simultaneously transmit signals to the communication controller within multiple timeslots over a variable number of frequencies and the number of timeslots and the number of frequencies are not fixed.  
     
     
         40 . A communication controller in a data communication network, the data communication network comprising at least one communication controller and at least one node including a first node, the communication controller comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory; and    at least one interface,    wherein the memory stores code to cause the processor to transmit a request-enabling signal to at least one node including a first node, said request-enabling signal having been transmitted from a communication controller to at least one node including the first node,    wherein the interface is further configured to transmit a request-enabling signal to at least one node, including the first node,    wherein the interface is configured to receive a request signal from the at least one node including the first node, said request signal being transmitted from the first node to the communication controller when the first node has a data to transmit, wherein said request signal is provided from the first node in response to the first node receiving the request-enabling signal,    wherein the memory stores code to cause the processor to provide for transmission of an authorization signal to the first node, said authorization provided from the communication controller to the first node in response to the communication controller receiving the request signal from the first node,    wherein the interface is further configured to transmit a request-enabling signal to the first node in response to the request signal from the first node,    wherein the interface is further configured to receive the data transmitted from first node to the communication controller, said data is transmitted in response to the first node receiving the authorization signal from the communication controller, and    wherein the request-enabling signal, the request signal and the authorization signal are transmitted over at least one communication channel, said at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot.    
     
     
         41 . The communication controller according to  claim 40 , wherein the request-enabling signal which the communication controller provides is a timeslotted signal carried on a predetermined frequency, wherein at least one timeslot of the timeslotted signal being associated with the node.  
     
     
         42 . The communication controller according to  claim 40 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal which the communication controller provides are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of the frequencies and timeslots in which the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal may be varied, and 
 wherein the data which the communication controller is configured to receive is transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of frequencies and timeslots in which the data is provided may be varied.    
     
     
         43 . The communication controller according to  claim 40 , wherein each of the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal which the communication controller provides are transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of the frequencies and timeslots in which the request-enabling signal and the authorization signal may be varied; wherein the request signal which the communication controller is configured to receive is transmitted over at least one communication channel comprising at least one frequency and at least one timeslot, wherein the number of frequencies and timeslots in which the data is provided may be varied.  
     
     
         44 . The communication controller according to  claim 40 , wherein the data is transmitted on at least one communication channel comprised of at least one frequency, wherein the number of frequencies is not fixed.  
     
     
         45 . The communication controller according to  claim 44 , wherein said at least one communication channel wherein said data is transmitted is further comprised of at least one timeslot, wherein the number of time slots is not fixed.  
     
     
         46 . The communication controller according to  claim 40 , wherein the at least one interface further comprising at least one antenna.  
     
     
         47 . The node according to  claim 46 , wherein said at least one antenna comprises multiple antennas and the number of antennas is not fixed.  
     
     
         48 . The node according to  claim 40 , wherein the at least one interface further comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver.  
     
     
         49 . The node according to  claim 48 , wherein the at least one transmitter comprises multiple transmitters and the number of transmitters is not fixed.  
     
     
         50 . The node according to  claim 48 , wherein the at least one receiver comprises multiple receivers and the number of receivers is not fixed.  
     
     
         51 . The node according to  claim 40 , wherein the at least one interface further comprising at least one antenna, at least one transmitter, and at least one receiver.