Patent ID: 6591422
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A facility (EIN) for assigning transmission channels to terminals (END1, END2) of a service-on-demand system (SYS), characterized in that at least two interfaces (S1, S2) are provided for connecting the facility (EIN) to a plurality of terminals (END1, END2), each of the interfaces (S1, S2) being connected to a group of terminals (END1, END2) by a separate line, that a memory (MEMO) is provided which holds an assignment table containing entries on currently available and currently busy transmission channels for transmitting services requested from terminals (END1, END2), with a variable assignment of transmission channels to terminals (END1, END2) being possible regardless of which group the terminals (END1, END2) belong to, that a control unit (CTRL) is provided which is connected to the interfaces (S1, S2) and the memory (MEMO), and that the control unit (CTRL) is adapted to receive connection requests from individual terminals (END1, END2) for requesting services, to assign at least on& transmission channel to each of the individual terminals (END1, END2) in response thereto and store said assignment in the memory (MEMO) if in the memory the at least one transmission channel is considered currently available, and to notify the individual terminals (END1, END2) that the establishment of a connection is not possible for the time being if in the memory (MEMO) all transmission channels are considered busy.