Patent ID: 6195565
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of controlling bandwidth in a packet-based data system comprising a base station and a plurality of network interface units (NIUs), comprising the steps of:(a) transmitting special data from the base station to the NIUs, wherein the NIUs are organized into two or more groups and the special data identify which groups of NIUs are authorized to transmit upstream messages to the base station; and(b) transmitting upstream messages to the base station from only authorized NIUs, wherein:each NIU is assigned two or more group words identifying its group;the special data contain authorization information identifying which groups of NIUs are authorized to transmit upstream messages to the base station;the authorization information is contained in two or more code words corresponding to a multi-dimensional pattern, where each code word corresponds to a different dimension of the multi-dimensional pattern; andeach set of group words assigned to an NIU corresponds to a single location in the multi-dimensional pattern such that if the location in the multi-dimensional pattern corresponding to a particular group is set, then NIUs assigned to the particular group are authorized to transmit upstream messages to the base station.