Patent ID: 9385828
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: H04B,H04J,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method executable by a host device that communicates with a plurality of clients via a communications channel, the method comprising: initially operating in a startup mode in which the host device transmits a startup message on the communications channel and, in response to connection requests received from at least some of the plurality of clients during the startup mode, to assign a timeslot in a time division multiple access (TDMA) cycle to each requesting client; and after exiting the startup mode, operating in a normal mode in which the host device initiates the TDMA cycle by transmitting a polling message on the communications channel, wherein the polling message indicates a number of timeslots occurring within the TDMA cycle; receiving a release instruction from one of the clients during the TDMA timeslot that is assigned to the client; and changing the number of timeslots indicated in the polling message from TDMA cycle to TDMA cycle to thereby adapt each TDMA cycle as the number of clients communicating via the communications channel changes.