Patent ID: 6026082
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: H04M,H04W

Abstract:
A method for operating a system having a plurality of terminal units each having an active and an inactive state with respect to a time multiplexed communications medium, said system further including a control unit, comprising the steps of:allocating, when a number N.sub.A of said terminal units are active, an amount of time T.sub.A,i per unit time for transmissions via said communications medium by each respective i'th one of said active terminal units, said control unit transmitting, via said communications medium, indications of said amounts of time T.sub.A,i for each of said active units;said control unit receiving, via said communications medium, requests from at least one of said terminal units for at least k of said inactive terminal units to become active;said control unit transmitting an approval of said requests via said communications medium; andallocating, when a number N.sub.B of said terminal units are active, N.sub.B =N.sub.A +k, an amount of time T.sub.B,i per unit time for transmissions via said communications medium by each respective i'th one of said active terminal units, said control unit transmitting, via said communications medium, indications of said amounts of time T.sub.B,i for each of said active units,wherein T.sub.B,i <T.sub.A,i for at least a first one of said active terminal units.