Patent ID: 7006530
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of obtaining bandwidth requests from a plurality of users of a communication base station which provides communication uplink bandwidth on request to the users, where each user is an individual connection and the plurality of users is connected to the base station through one or more corresponding customer premise equipment (CPE) stations, the method comprising: selecting a communication parameter which varies over time; determining and storing a parameter value representing the communication parameter applicable to a particular user; selecting a polling rate for the particular user in accordance with the parameter value stored for that user; periodically polling the particular user for bandwidth requests at the selected polling rate, wherein polling the particular user comprises directing the corresponding CPE station to grant un-requested bandwidth to the particular user connection; updating the stored parameter value for the particular user to reflect a change in the communication parameter quantity applicable to the particular user; and changing the polling rate for the particular user in response to the changed parameter value.