Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2004-05-25
Chin, Wellington (Department: 2664)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
C370S395300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06741576
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a communication network in the connection mode, which comprises at least network equipment and user stations, said network equipment having assignment means for assigning at least one connection identifier to a user station in response to a request for a connection from said user station.
The invention also relates to network equipment intended to be used in such a network and an assignment method of assigning a connection identifier intended to be used in such network equipment.
The invention has important applications, notably in the field of cable television distribution networks, for example, in the networks in conformity with the standards DAVIC or IEEE802.14.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,525 describes an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) communication network which comprises at least a network unit in charge of assigning identifiers VPI/VCI (Virtual Path Identifier and Virtual Channel Identifier) to each user who requests the set up of a connection. The assigned identifiers are chosen from a list of available identifiers.
The problem posed is that the number of identifiers that can be assigned is restricted. When no identifier is available any longer, it is no longer possible to set up a connection. The invention notably has for its object to remedy this drawback.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
For this purpose, a network and equipment according to the invention and as described in the opening paragraph are characterized in that said assignment means comprise re-assignment means for re-assigning the connection identifier of the stations that have not used the network for a certain period of time, which are called inactive stations.
Similarly, an assignment method according to the invention of assigning at least one connection identifier to a user station of a communication network in the connection mode in response to a request for a connection from said station is characterized, in that it includes a re-assignment option of re-assigning the connection identifier of the stations that have not used the network for a certain period of time, which are called inactive stations.
The invention makes use of the fact that statistically, in the case of a cable television network, only 30% of the user stations that are connected to the network transmit data simultaneously.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5086507 (1992-02-01), Mela
patent: 5339318 (1994-08-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5483525 (1996-01-01), Song et al.
patent: 5734589 (1998-03-01), Kostreski et al.
“A Tutorial on the Digital Audio-Visual Council (Davic) Standardisation Activity”, A. Donnelly and C. Smythe, Electronics and Communication Engineering Journal, Feb. 1997, pp. 46-56.
Alimi Raphaël
Damien Souad
Teboul Guillene
Belk Michael E.
Chin Wellington
Koninklijke Philips Electronics , N.V.
Pham Brenda
LandOfFree
Re-assignment method of re-assigning a connection identifier... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Re-assignment method of re-assigning a connection identifier..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Re-assignment method of re-assigning a connection identifier... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3236737