Patent ID: 6104708
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L

Abstract:
A method for providing data communications between terminals having different throughput capabilities, the throughput capabilities being expressible in multiples of a preselected minimum throughput rate, said method comprising:establishing a frame interval comprising a plurality of time slot intervals, with each time slot interval comprising a predetermined plurality of symbol intervals, the number of symbol intervals being essentially equal to the number of symbols which can be transmitted or received during a time slot interval at said preselected minimum throughput rate;establishing at least one pseudo noise (P/N) code, said code comprising a predetermined multiplicity of chips, said code being usable by cyclic rotation in each bit interval at a number of different phases corresponding to said predetermined multiplicity;assigning a single respective phase to any terminal operating at said minimum throughput rate;assigning a plurality of sequential consecutive phases to terminals having capabilities greater than said minimum throughput rate; andassigning, to each terminal of capability greater than said minimum throughput, a number of time slots in accordance with the amount of data traffic to be carried by that terminal and the number of code phases assigned to that terminal, any terminals operating at said preselected minimum throughput rate utilizing all time slots.