Patent ID: 6122267
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
Method of transmitting data frames between digital communication means, comprising the steps of:A) providing:at least one said digital communication means being a peripheral digital communication means, each said peripheral means transmitting and/or receiving said data frames by means of a shared transmission medium; anda central digital communication means communicating with each said peripheral means by means of the said shared transmission medium, by receiving uplink frames each coming from a said peripheral means and by broadcasting downlink frames to each said peripheral means;B) with the said central means retransmitting or not, according to a first pre-set rule, each data frame appearing in the uplink frames reaching it, to a destination digital communication means for this data frame; andC) with the said central means including, in each said downlink frame:a service message activating a protocol for controlling access of at least one first digital communication means to the shared transmission medium; anda data frame if, according to a second preset rule, there is one to be included in this downlink frame, so that the central digital communication means is able to retransmit said data frame to a second peripheral means; each said downlink frame thus having systematically a said service message and possibly a said data frame with independent destinations, andwherein each said service message indicates to each said peripheral means whether or not it is authorized to transmit an uplink frame, in return, that is to say as soon as the shared medium becomes free to transmit an uplink frame after broadcast of this service message.